We've been in and out of COVID lockdown for 18 months now. Here are the books that made those cabin fever days a little more bearable.

Laughable Loves by Milan Kundera

A short collection of how even the smallest mistakes in love can cause ruin.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I don't have to explain this one; you've heard of it. But finally move it from your to-read pile.

The Bear by Andrew Krivat

A novella on how nature takes care of us, complete with a good dose of magical realism.

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

A look at how technology can provide spiritual healing. Yeah, really.

The Push by Ashleigh Audrain

An honest take about how motherhood can be absolutely terrifying.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguru

An exploration of our relationships with AI and one another.

Blindness by José Saramago

What if a pandemic caused the whole world to go blind?

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A trippy experience through a world created from intellect.

The Wall by John Lanchester

A climate-fueled dystopia and exploration of "the other."

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

A rich novel about the power of community.