A good book is not only a great way to pass the time - you can also dream yourself into other worlds. So when the ceiling falls on your head at home during quarantine (or because of coronavirus in general), pick up one of these books and let yourself be carried away. From thrilling crime thrillers to tender coming-of-age novels, everything is included.

"The great summer" by Ewald Arenz

The first jump, the first love, the first great misfortune. What sounds like a typical coming-of-age novel was named the 2021 "Independent's Favorite Book". This is almost certainly because you can lose yourself wonderfully in the author's delicate choice of words and the finely drawn characters. For one summer, the reader accompanies:in protagonist Frieder. Instead of the traditional family vacation, he has to study for his exams that summer - with his strict grandfather. But luckily there is Alma, Johann - and Beate, the girl in the bottle-green swimsuit. In these few weeks that summer, Frieder experiences everything: friendship and fear, respect and trust, love and death. And, above all, moments that change him forever.

Pages: 316
Price: 20 Euro (Hardcover)

© Annika Wagner

"Hard Land" by Benedict Wells

I (Annika) read this gem of a book during my own 14-day quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic. As the coming-of-age novel is "only" 352 pages long, the daily reading dose was carefully rationed so that each day contained a little bit of the summer atmosphere in Missouri from the book. In short, I could have devoured it in a day. But as Benedict Wells fans know - stories by this author are treated with the utmost respect.

"Hard Land" is the fifth novel by Benedict Wells and tells the story of 15-year-old Sam. To escape the problems at home, he takes a vacation job in an old movie theater. And for one magical summer, everything is turned upside down. He makes friends, falls in love and discovers the secrets of his home town. For the first time, he is no longer an inconspicuous outsider. Until something happens that forces him to grow up.

Pages: 352
Price: 24 Euro (Hardcover)

"Identitti" by Mithu Sanyal

This novel is wonderfully funny, entertaining and at the same time very instructive without being preachy. Author Mithu Sanyal tells the story of a student of Indian origin studying intercultural studies in Düsseldorf and her (not entirely honest) lecturer, who - as it turns out right at the beginning of the book - was not entirely honest: Sarawatsi is white! Using the fictional character as an example, readers learn a lot about identity politics in theory and, above all, in practice, as the protagonist spirals into a full-blown identity crisis.

Editor Julia promises you: You will devour the novel, learn a lot, laugh and empathize!

Pages: 432
Price: 22 Euro (Hardcover)

© Luba Schwirtz

"Arséne Lupin, gentleman crook" by Maurice Leblanc

Anyone who couldn't get enough of the Netflix series "Lupin" should definitely read the stories of the fictional master thief from France. As there are so many of his volumes, I recommend buying the "Best Of" collection. The adventures of Arséne Lupin are divided into individual stories so that you can put the book down for a short while without losing the thread. Follow him through a whole series of puzzles, a meeting with Sherlock Holmes and lots of clever tricks. In Maurice Leblanc's stories, you follow the gentleman crook through castles, deceive prison guards, decode mysterious messages and, of course, steal all kinds of jewelry.

Editor Lu was amazed by the deceptions and disguises that Arséne Lupin is capable of. And it's wonderful to share in the excitement, because you never know whether the master thief will be caught this time...I read the book in English, but it is also available in German.

Pages: 279
Price: 17.49 euros (paperback)

© Anouschka Hoffmann

"The Circle" by Dave Eggers

If you want to reduce your own screen time, you should pick up this book: in "The Circle", you read about frighteningly realistic future scenarios relating to social media, data collection and the power of algorithms that will make you question your own smartphone use.

"The Circle" was published in 2013 and became an international bestseller. You can argue about the sometimes flat main characters or clumsy dialog, but what makes the novel stand out are Dave Egger's ideas for describing the future - in particular the incredible power of the fictional tech company "Circle". This has a monopoly position, combining everything that is now Google, Apple, Meta and more. Protagonist Mae starts her new job in this company and as a reader you follow her journey. While the first half of the book is a little drawn out, the second half is all the more exciting and at times you can't believe how she and all the other "Circlers" live and work in sect-like structures and see this as the only true innovative future.

Pages: 560
Price: 12 Euro (paperback)

© Lisa Göttler

"Animal" by Lisa Taddeo

The design of this book alone makes you want to read it: After her huge success with "Three Women", Lisa Taddeo follows up with "Animal" - a tip for anyone who is enthusiastic about feminist literature. In "Animal", the author tells the story of Joan, who has had to endure the cruelty of men all her life. She loves a man, but he rejects her coldly - and the man who loves her kills himself in front of her eyes. Angry and full of pain, she tries to overcome her past and stop humiliating herself in front of men - in a very radical way.

This journey into the past and the confrontation with the men in Joan's life are told in a highly provocative way and therefore left editor Lisa very shaken up in some places while reading. But it doesn't have to and shouldn't always be light fare. That's why I highly recommend reading it!

Pages: 416
Price: 22 Euro (Hardcover)

This content has been machine translated.