While I was enjoying the Christmas break, I got one of my favorite emails from Goodreads: My year in books!
I was surprised to see I was able to read 43 books this year. When the quarantine landed upon us I thought for sure I was going to sit and just read. Unfortunately, the exact opposite happened. I was unable to focus and didn’t read a page. The book that I had already started that sat on my nightstand for two months waiting for my attention? Bel Canto by Ann Pachett.
Two months later, I was able to focus again and finished Bel Canto. That poor book took the brunt of my annoyance which it didn’t deserve, and I was finally able to move forward.
Here is my year in books. I didn’t put the books in the order I read them but more how I enjoyed them by saving my absolute favorites for last.
Overall, I think I was pretty fortunate this year that I did not pick up anything horrible. I enjoyed them all, although some more than others.
The books I enjoyed this year are:
These are the books I enjoyed a little bit more than the ones above:
At the end of the year I sometimes forget the storyline to some of the books I read. I have to go back and read the cover to remember what the book was about. When I saw the cover to the “The Witch Elm” the first thing that came to mind was, “Oh yeah, remember what happened there? Wow!” It really stood out.
“A Tale for the Time Being” was a magical realism book I really enjoyed.
“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” had some annoying parts, but such an interesting concept, I could forgive certain passages. From Goodreads: France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
My favorite books of 2020:
I laughed so hard at the dry humor of “Straight Man.”
I was SHOCKED at the end of “The Silent Patient.”
But my favorite read this year was “The Midnight Library,” by Matt Haig. A magical realism book that asks, “Do you feel like your life would be better today if you had made a different choice in the past? If so, would you change your choice?” From Goodreads: Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?
With just two days left in the year I do not think I will be able to finish anymore books. Bob and I did not exchange gifts this year, but I did get a couple of books I am excited to start in 2021. Here’s hoping for hours of enjoyable reading ahead in the new year!
That Matt Haig book sounds like it’s telling a story of the multiverse in print. After I read his book The Humans, I sent him a tweet along the lines of “how is it possible that at age 35 you have the whole universe figured out.” I meant it in a praising way, he didn’t respond but of course he’s got a million followers. This book sounds perfect for me. Looking forward to it.
Awesome! I hope you like it!
Hi Robyn, I got about 40 pages into the Midnight Library and I gave it up for good (at least for now). When you posted this, I reserved it at my library. I just got it last week. It was super triggering of all sorts of bad feelings in me. Too bad, it seemed like a really interesting book. Regrets is a topic area I studiously avoid in my self actualization.
I’m sorry it made you feel bad. In the beginning I felt kind of bad too. I started focusing on all the things that I regret in my life. I kept going, took the book journey and left the book feeling inspired – that each new day is a new day to change what I don’t like and be the new person I want to be. Nothing is stopping me. Well, that’s the moral of the story and I liked it – if I could just get pass my own fears then the story would really work for me.
I was thinking this is where the book was going but I started in a pretty low place and didn’t want to go down from there. Maybe I’ll revisit it in the future.
I hope you are feeling better soon!
Mostly already.
Books are awesome 🙂
I agree! They’re the best! 🙂
Congrats on getting a ton of reading done this year! You have a wonderfully eclectic taste. I enjoyed The Hunger Games prequel too!
Thank you! I loved The Hunger Games books and wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this new one. I saw it at Target and just went for it! I found it to be very entertaining, which was great because when everything shut down I needed something I could really count on in a book!
I’ve had reader’s block, it has some cracks in the wall and I’m reading a book by a fellow blogger, Paula Light called “Ghosted”. I’ve read 3 or 4 chapters. Which is amazing and sad.
I used to devour books… 2 or 3 a week. I haven’t read a complete book in sooooo long.
Here’s hoping for reading time and no more blocks for everyone!🤞💕
I was with you – so blocked. I just couldn’t focus on a book and I got annoyed just re-reading the same chapter over and over again. It may have been the book (which turned out to be okay) but I think it was more a testament of what was happening around us.
I agree – Here’s hoping for more reading time without blocks for everyone!
Wow, that’s a good number. I read 32 books this year. Thanks to Goodreads for the data.
I am preparing my post on this topic only. I hope it will be completed by today.
I love Goodreads for giving me the data and the recap. So fun to go back and see all that we read in a year!
Seriously. I too loved it nad surprised to know how much I read this year.
Good for you! Im dying to get my hands on a book 📖
Thank you!
43 books is great going. Straight Man is such a funny book. Happy New year Robyn.
Thank you! You too!
I see that you reviewed a lot of books over the course of this year. However, I challenge you to review my book ” Autistic Spectrum Disorder A New Outlook. It is available on Amazon. Both in print and on Kindle.
Wow Robyn ma’am:)
Great to read your insights on your books read. Sounds interesting and informative.
I would love to take-up your reads for sure.
Happy New year 2021!
Happy New Year!!
Wow very impressive!
Well done, Robyn.
Greater heights with your reading goals this year.
Thank you!
Impressive list. I might have read four or five books in 2020, as opposed to my usual five or so a month. I might figure out how to use Goodreads to help me keep track. I only use them to check ratings and descriptions of books. How exciting it would be to get an email recapping my reads.
I actually added a reading list to my bullet journal this year and was wishing that you were still posting your Wednesday books to give some inspiration for the list. So far it has one book. LOL.
Thanks for this post. I’m hoping for a more readerly year.
I love Goodreads. I like how I can see what I read and I never pick up a book without checking the reviews. I know! I kind of left the WWW crowd and totally miss all of their reviews. I agree, I really used their reviews for my to read list!
I just got on Overdrive and checked out “A Tale for the Time Being” to my Kindle. We will see how far I get.
I really liked that one – I hope you do too!
What did you think of the Murakami book, Robyn?
I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads. I was so excited to read this book and I guess it kind of fell a little short. I really like Murakami’s writing, I like his characters but sometimes the magical parts of his books are just too magical for me. I think that is what happened with this one at the end with the painting, the hospital room, the caves, the commendatore “idea” – the pregnant wife. And because it was so long, the end kind of disappointed. But I think that is more me because the book is a true Murakami. What did you think?
Well, not as good as 1Q84 and not as good as The Windup Bird Chronicles, but an interesting read. His endings are often a let down. Sometimes it feels like he just… STOPS…
1Q84 is on my to read list. I feel like I need to space out my Murakami reads though, so maybe I will pick that one up next year.
Great collection. I’m jealous! 😁
Thank you!
Thank you for the recommendations. 💙
Nice 😊👍 also read our review and comment https://gobookmart.com
Cool! Another bookworm like me. I read 62 last year. I got some new ideas for books from your list, thanks for sharing!
Awesome! I love to read what others are reading too! I’ve found a ot of good books for my TBR from other book worms!
Whoa, that’s a ton of books right there. Love that an Ann Patchett book is there too, though I haven’t read this exact one. Looks like it’s been a great 2020 in review!
Thank you!
These all look like great reads. Happy Reading 📖
Thank you! You too!