Ahlam Bolooki, festival director of Emirates Literature Festival, shares the books that shaped her year

#BolookisBooks: 6 of the best books you'll read in 2020
#BolookisBooks: 6 of the best books you'll read in 2020
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Big Topic: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

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Dhs85 at Book Depository

After a year that caused the world to sit up and take notice of the Black Lives Matter movement, it is vital we keep the conversation going. Kendall’s book is a big step forward, as it examines and explains how factors like education, the housing crisis, gun violence, and more, are all feminist issues. We need to take these seriously if we’re to make serious progress. This book is great food for thought which will leave you with a deeper understanding of feminism, and issues that affect all of us.

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One to Watch: Love in Other Colours by Bolu Babalolu

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Dhs90 at Book Depository

If this last year has taught us anything, it’s to celebrate the power of love, and that’s just what Babalolu does in this recently published collection of short stories, each of which is a retelling of an African myth. With each story now updated and translated to the 21st century, Babalolu showcases why it is that some tales continue to remain timeless, and what it is that makes us fall for love stories in the first place. It’s a confident debut from an exciting new author, and one I can’t wait to see more from.

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Self-Development: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

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Dhs60 at Amazon

After what seemed like the ‘Year of No,’ it feels only right that Rhimes’ memoir be the one that helps us focus on the year ahead. In it, the successful Hollywood producer behind hit shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, outlines what life was like for her younger, more introverted self — and how she went on to achieve the success she is known for now. It’s an entertaining read that lets you forget all your worries while inspiring you to take charge of your own future.

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The Classic: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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Dhs40 at Noon

There’s a reason why some classics endure, and Alcott’s beloved work is one of them. Her best-selling tale of four sisters — talented tomboy (and future author) Jo, beautiful Meg, romantically-minded Amy, and sweet, but frail Beth — and their deep devotion to one another as they attempt to survive the Civil War. It delves into many timeless themes that readers today can still relate to; be it the pull of personal ambition versus family responsibilities, or the joys and pain of love and war, Alcott captures it all.

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The Beach Read: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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Dhs100 at Book Depository

It really is no surprise that this charming mystery novel became a record-breaking best-seller. It has all the makings of a classic Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery, but filled with Osman’s warm humour. The book sees four armchair detectives who gather to solve unsolved mysteries become forced to apply their sleuthing skills to a real-world crime when a brutal killing takes place in their peaceful retirement village. Elisabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are an unlikely foursome, but you will be wishing you could join the group by the end of the book.

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The Contemporary: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

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Dhs110 at Noon

Mandel’s follow-up novel to the acclaimed Station Eleven only cements her skill as an author. She takes readers on a journey through two separate, yet intersecting events: the collapse of a Ponzi scheme that devastates countless lives, and the years-later disappearance of a woman who goes missing while on a ship at sea. With stunning prose that digs deep into humanity’s capacity for greed and guilt, while also blurring the lines between the living and the dead, Mandel paints a portrait of a world almost crippled by financial collapse and the ways in which we search out meaning.

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