Reading in 2020

Books I Loved During A Crazy Year

I have identified as a reader since I was tiny. I listened to the poems of Robert Louis Stevenson and the words of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Judy Blume read aloud. I devoured the Anne of Green Gables series and then every word that Beverly Clearly wrote and on and on. Through college and grad school and even those early, frantic days of motherhood, I was always able to read. Reading was my happy place and no distraction was too big to keep me from the pages.

But then, there was 2020. Combine a pandemic, with a presidential election and a nation wide awareness of racial injustice and my reading broke. I put down more books than I finished. It took me ages to read a book that I would have flown through in ‘normal times.’ I just couldn’t get into a reading groove. That said, though, I persevered. I am, after all, a reader and I am stubborn. 2020 took a lot of things from me but I refused to let it take my identity as a reader.

So… I read way less than usual but there were some books that really stuck with me. Two of my favorite bookstagrammers and podcasters, Sara and Chelsey, hosted an episode on their podcast, Novel Pairings Pod, titled ‘bookish superlatives’. I thought this was a great idea so I am borrowing it. Some of the superlative categories below are taken straight from the podcast and some are ones I created to fit with books I just had to share.

If you see any titles that you also loved, let’s talk about them. If you see any titles that look fun, please add them to your ‘to be read list’.

And to everyone- here’s to a great reading year in 2021!

BOOK I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT:

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

BEST BOOK FROM A BELOVED AUTHOR:

Writers and Lovers by Lily King

BOOK THAT SHOULD BE IN EVERY CLASSROOM:

Stamped by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

Note: I highly recommend listening to this on audio. Jason Reynolds is the narrator and is a genius at all things.

BEST BACKLIST (a book not published in the current year) BOOK:

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

BEST THRILLER:

Thirteen by Steven Cavanaugh

BEST DEBUT:

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

BIGGEST SURPRISE:

Sisters by Daisy Johnson

Note: I recommend going in to this book the same way I did- clueless. Do not read the jacket copy. Just read.

BEST BOOK OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE:

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Note: If you like me, avoid fantasy, give this one a try. It is super short and a great story. I also loved this on audio but I think any format would work.

BEST YOUNG ADULT:

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo