Five books to pick up as the months get cooler!

Five books to pick up as the months get cooler!

The Malta Book Festival 2019 is fast approaching on 6-10 November. This promises to be an exciting event with a range of different activities. These include the chance to meet authors and pick up new foreign language skills. The event will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. Free bus shuttles will be provided throughout the event from the main station. The best part, the event is free! The theme for this year’s festival is science fiction and fantasy. It’s time to get lost in our fantasies! In honour of this event, I recommend five new and best-selling books to read this Autumn.

Autumn seems to be the perfect time to snuggle down with a couple of blankets and get lost in a book. This is especially true during this time as the rain starts to pour. As we know in Malta, when it pours it really pours. There will be weekends when you don’t even want to leave the house. Reading a book is the perfect way to escape this temperamental weather. Hopefully this list will provide you with some inspiration for your next read. Don’t forget the candles!

The Testaments – Margaret Atwood

The anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale has finally arrived. A dystopian novel set in the future, where women no longer have a say. In a time of declining births, women have lost control over their own bodies. The novel also became a hit TV series that is still going strong. The Testaments is set 15 years later and looks at how life in Gilead has changed. It answers the questions that left readers speculating. The sequel takes a different spin as it is told through the eyes of three women. Will we find out what happened to Offred? Is Gilead still as ruthless? What happened to the children that grew up in this regime? Atwood answers these questions and more, gaining inspiration from the real world today. This novel continues to question the notion of power.

Girl, Woman, Other – Bernadine Evaristo

Joint winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, alongside Atwood’s The Testaments. This is another novel that tells the stories of women, so there seems to be a recurring theme for winners. Evaristo writes about 12 characters, most of them women, discovering what it means to be black in today’s world. Often misrepresented, the author wants to provide a voice of the many challenges black women face in today’s society. From someone exploring their gender identity, to another struggling from a failed relationship. No overarching story exists, but a representation of the struggles and joy all these women face. There is something truly beautiful about a novel that just looks at the complexities of life.

Blue Moon – Lee Child

This is one for all the thriller lovers out there. The prominent author Lee Child is back with another novel. The perfect story to keep you elevated as the winter months get quieter. Sometimes it can get a little too quiet during Autumn, so you need something that will excite you. This time round, Jack Reacher sets out to help an elderly couple caught in trouble. Two rival criminal gangs compete for control over their city. But what has an old man got to do with all of this? Jack Reacher may finally have met his match in this thrilling novel. A story gripping with excitement. It will be sure to keep making you turn those pages.

Me – Elton John

Music icon Elton John has been in the spotlight a lot lately. The autobiography is published after the huge success of his movie, Rocketman. The movie offers a thrill of exhilaration. It leaves nothing behind as it shows all aspects of Elton John’s life. His honesty captures the eyes of his fans, both young and old. His autobiography looks at his whirlwind of a life – from struggling with a drug addiction to finally finding happiness through becoming a father. Delve into the life of one of the world’s most extraordinary pop icons. This promises to be a spectacular read following a pop star’s journey. We all could only ever dream of having this life. This is his only autobiography and promises to be as extravagant as the movie.

Seven Worlds One Planet – Foreword by David Attenborough

The perfect book for the coffee table. The book accompanies another anticipated documentary series by David Attenborough. The book explores the wonder of all the seven continents. It offers a wealth of knowledge about all the unique eco-systems that exist. This is a chance to learn and appreciate the complexities of nature and wildlife across the planet. Seven Worlds One Planet offers a wealth of spectacular photography. It guarantees to make you appreciate the world we live in. An ideal book to cosy up to after a long day of work. This book will not only delight you, but all of your guests. Be sure to also check out the documentary for another exhilarating experience from our favourite natural historian.

To find out more about the festival check out https://ktieb.org.mt/national-book-festival/ . The website also hosts the full programme of events. There are over 80 events to choose from! There is sure to be something that takes your fancy. It will also meet everyone’s needs if you’re a family. There are loads of activities for children of all ages. You may also find your next favourite book there!

Malta is an exciting island and there is always something to do. The island doesn’t just go quiet as soon as the summer is over. If you crave a relaxed and fun lifestyle, Malta is the perfect place to be all year round. Malta is a great place to live and there is stuff to do all throughout the year. If you’re basking for some island lifestyle and looking for an apartment to rent in Malta, be sure to get in touch with one of our agents at QuickLets. They’ll be sure to offer the best advice when it comes to finding your new apartment.

Yana Walker
Written By

Yana Walker