When I counted up the books for this year, I was surprised to find that I hadn’t read as much as I had in the past couple of years, given that we spent most of 2020 under quarantine for COVID-19. But like a lot of people, I found it really hard to concentrate during the first couple of pandemic months. I followed a bunch of public health experts on Twitter, consumed political news like it was my job, and watched a LOT of TV. But here is what I did read in 2020:
January
The Dearly Beloved – Cara Wall. This was a great start. I loved this novel about two couples who meet when the husbands take jobs as joint pastors of a church. It’s a great exploration of all four personalities and two marriages over time. The writing is great too. A hearty recommendation on this one.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk – Kathleen Rooney. This was a book club choice that I didn’t finish. I’ve started to be a little wary of books with these cute titles.
Less – Andrew Sean Greer. I reread this for another book club. Check out April 2019 for what I thought last time. I still thought the writing was great and the story of a formerly “promising young writer” turning 50 hit home. Also hilarious.
February
The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia – L. Liebovitz, M. Oppenheimer, S. Butnick, Ed. I had heard all about this on one of my favorite podcasts, Unorthodox, so I couldn’t wait to get my copy. It was funny and interesting and I even met Stephanie Butnick and had her sign my copy when she spoke at a synagogue nearby!
The Overstory – Richard Powers. One of my book clubs read this Pulitzer fiction winner that ends up focusing on environmental activists in the Pacific northwest. I don’t remember a whole lot about it, other than that I felt kind of meh about it.
Nothing to See Here – Kevin Wilson. I was excited about this novel after reading his previous book, The Family Fang. This one had a great creative premise--a young woman takes a job caring for a couple of kids that spontaneously--and repeatedly--burst into flames. Yes, you read that right. I did enjoy that part of the story but there wasn’t much more to it.
Talking to Strangers – Malcolm Gladwell. I always like Malcolm, but this wasn’t my favorite book of his. Read one of the older ones, or listen to his podcast Revisionist History instead.
Shattered Love – Richard Chamberlain. I stumbled on this memoir at the library. And I may or may not have rewatched the entirety of The Thorn Birds miniseries after I read it. I adore Richard Chamberlain and I don’t care who knows it. Was the memoir any good? Who cares?
The Gifted School – Bruce Holsinger. This was a terrific novel about a group of parents obsessed with getting their elementary schoolers into the new gifted school. Funny and insightful; great writing. If you’ve been a 21st century suburban parent, you will see yourself and (hopefully) laugh.
The Book of Speculation – Erika Swyler. I enjoyed this novel about a mysterious family with circus connections. The story wasn’t perfect, but it had some great imagery and nice twists and turns.
March
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies – Hilary Mantel. The third book in the trilogy shipped in the middle of the month, so I spent a few weeks rereading the first two books. So, so good. (I also rewatched the PBS miniseries.)
April
The Mirror and the Light – Hilary Mantel. I have been waiting for this finale for literal YEARS. I was not disappointed. Please tell me there’s going to be a continuation of the miniseries too. This brings the story of Thomas Cromwell to its unhappy end. The picture of the unhinged Henry VIII felt particularly salient in the U.S. in 2020.
May
Let's assume I spent May bingeing West Wing reruns.June
Polio: An American Story – David Oshinsky. Shout out to another great podcast for this one. An episode of historian Jon Meacham’s Hope, Through History told the history of the polio epidemic and recommended this book. It was fascinating and provided a great background on pandemic management and vaccine development that really helped me understand developments this year.
The Patron Saint of Liars – Ann Patchett. I am a big Ann Patchett fan so I have long meant to read her first novel. I definitely enjoyed it, maybe not as much as her later books, but you can really see her warming up to them here.
July
The Big Rock Candy Mountain – Wallace Stegner. Like the Ann Patchett novel, this was an early work by an author I love. It was a little tough to track down, and I’m glad I read it to go all the way back to the beginning with Stegner, but I wouldn’t really recommend it unless you’re going for the completist thing. It has a pretty interesting historical sweep and some of the Stegner writing I die for, but it’s also pretty depressing and kind of plodding in places. Go read Angle of Repose again.
August
Leadership in Troubled Times – Doris Kearns Goodwin. I almost skipped this one about Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, thinking I had read so much about each of them that I wouldn’t find much new here. So glad I was wrong! Doris Kearns Goodwin organized this in such an interesting way, examining how each of “her guys” handled a particular period of challenge in his life. Great writing, fascinating history.
The Female Persuasion – Meg Wolitzer. The latest from another one of my favorite novelists. Two friends meet a famous author they admire and what happens after that. A great exploration of female friendship and mentorship over many years. It made me think about one of my all-time favorites, The Finishing School by Gail Godwin. Read both of them.
My Grandmother Said to Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman. I have to confess to not finishing this one. I thought Backman’s big hit about Ove was kind of clever, but I’m done with that shtick.
The Lazy Genius Way – Kendra Adachi. This is becoming a podcast list as much as a book list (which might explain why I got less reading done this year) but this is another podcaster I never miss. Even though I had heard a lot of the information on The Lazy Genius podcast, I still found more that was useful in this practical and good-humored self-help book.
September
Midnight in Chernobyl – Adam Higginbotham. I Could. Not. Put. This. Down. I am squeamish about crime or violence of most any kind, but give me a nuclear disaster with the destruction in graphic detail and I am THERE FOR IT. Even though I was aware of this event in real time, I was shocked to read about just how much we--and even the local population--didn’t know about what was going on with the nuclear accident at the plant in Chernobyl. Absolutely fascinating.
The Tiger in the Grass – Harriet Doerr. Harriet Doerr is one of my favorite writers but I had never read this story collection. The stories were written early in her career and published much later. You can see some warm-ups for themes and characters she explored later (and, I have to say, better) in her later books, Consider This, Senora and Stones for Ibarra.
The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo, read by the author. This coming-of-age novel in verse was a great book club pick. I recommend both the text and the recorded editions. In the text you can appreciate the visual structure of the poetry (especially the last poem), but in the audio version you get to hear the rhythms in the author’s own voice and accent.
Catastrophic Happiness – Catherine Newman. I love Catherine’s blog Ben and Birdy, and she’s also the terrific advice columnist for Real Simple magazine, but I had never read one of her books. This one about parenting young children was laugh-out-loud funny and full of wisdom at the same time.
Yes Please – Amy Poehler. It was particularly fun to read this memoir at the same time we were making our way through Parks and Recreation for some uplift during quarantine. I’m sure if I ever met Amy we would be best friends.
October
The Sympathizer – Viet Thanh Nguyen. I reread this one for book club--liked it again--and I’m interested to see that the author’s next novel is a sequel. Hope to read that in 2021.
November
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era – James McPherson. Every year I love reading one of these glorious doorstops that are part of the Oxford History of the United States. This year was no different. I would like to go back and be an undergraduate again now knowing that I love history. This particular copy came with annotations from a previous reader who was VERY SALTY about the confederacy. Lots of underlining and commentary, but thoughtfully done in pencil, so I erased all of it. You’re welcome Fullerton Public Library. I’m sorry I sometimes have overdue books.
December
The Soloist – Steve Lopez. Yet another book club reread--but I was actually happy about all the rereads. No exception here. Definitely check out this poignant story of an LA Times columnist getting to know a homeless mentally ill musician, and also enjoy the movie.
My Name is Lucy Barton – Elizabeth Strout. I had had this book on my list for a long time, and I liked other things by this author, but I found this novel just ok.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess – Jen Hatmaker. I followed Jen Hatmaker’s blog for a while and I liked her style, so I picked up this book about her family’s year trying minimalism in 7 different areas of their life. Not being a Jesus person, this was pretty heavy on the Christianity for me, but I still got a lot out of it and I enjoyed Jen’s friendly writing.
HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style – Elizabeth Holmes. This author comes on the business-related public radio show Marketplace from time to time to talk about the British royal family and fashion, and that’s where I heard she had written a book about the language of style employed by Queen Elizabeth II, the late Princess Diana, Catherine, the Duchess of Windsor, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. The book is gorgeous and fascinating.
Fleishman is in Trouble – Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Darn. I had been so looking forward to reading this novel by a New York Times writer I love to read. But though I was interested enough to read all the way through, I just didn’t enjoy it very much.
Crampton Hodnet – Barbara Pym. A comfort reread after being disappointed by Fleishman. Barbara Pym wrote several of these cozy, sly, and humorous novels about mid-20th century English country life. Listen to the audiobooks if you can find them.
Well that does it for 2020. It was still a good reading year, but good riddance to it all around. Here’s to better times in 2021.
