MY 2020 READING LIST.
I’ve always been a bookworm, as a kid learning to cope with the UK winters I would huddle near a source of warmth with a duvet around me, in my own little world. Back then I relied on the limited school library, but now I have an endless amount of books at my hands – especially with a Kindle! I’m never without an overly optimistic selection of books to get through.
This year I’ve set myself a challenge to read 30 books, having been inspired by Anna and her efforts last year. I made it to 15 myself, not a bad feat considering I didn’t set myself a real target. I’m interested to see how many I’ll get through with a bit of a push!
I got a lot of books for my birthday and Christmas so these have been added to what I like to call “The Stack”, a pile of books sitting next to my bedside table. It’s growing at a rapid rate, but I find it oddly comforting to have them all piled up like that.
If you want to keep up with the books I’ve loved and read, you can follow me on Goodreads here!
Our Women On The Ground // Zahra Hankir
I’m cheating a bit here because I’m already part of the way through this one. I saw this randomly on a booklist on Twitter and thought it sounded like the kind of gripping yet educational read my life was missing. I was right; this book is nothing short of incredible. It tells the story of 19 Arab women who report from their war-torn countries. These women have lived through harrowing life-altering experiences, seen what it’s like at the frontline – all to tell the stories at the heart of the conflict. If you read one book this year, make it this one.
I’m cheating a bit here because I’m already part of the way through this one. I saw this randomly on a booklist on Twitter and thought it sounded like the kind of gripping yet educational read my life was missing. I was right; this book is nothing short of incredible. It tells the story of 19 Arab women who report from their war-torn countries. These women have lived through harrowing life-altering experiences, seen what it’s like at the frontline – all to tell the stories at the heart of the conflict. If you read one book this year, make it this one.
Note To Self // Connor Franta
I’m going through a serious ‘life memoirs’ stage at the moment, and when browsing Amazon and Goodreads for book recommendations based on what I’d already read, this one just kept popping up.
Admittedly, when I first added this to my basket I (rather rudely) assumed this was written by a woman. As it happens, Connor is a (male) YouTuber with a very impressive following (I’ve looked him up since, he looks like a lovely chap).
Anyway, Note To Self is a collection of letters, short stories, photography, poems that tell a story about his life so far. It looks like a very uplifting read, and of course the cover is gorgeous.
I’m going through a serious ‘life memoirs’ stage at the moment, and when browsing Amazon and Goodreads for book recommendations based on what I’d already read, this one just kept popping up.
Admittedly, when I first added this to my basket I (rather rudely) assumed this was written by a woman. As it happens, Connor is a (male) YouTuber with a very impressive following (I’ve looked him up since, he looks like a lovely chap).
Anyway, Note To Self is a collection of letters, short stories, photography, poems that tell a story about his life so far. It looks like a very uplifting read, and of course the cover is gorgeous.
Outline // Rachel Cusk
This (also very pretty!) book is a part of a trilogy, Jordan actually got me the three books for Christmas after he spotted another one of Rachel Cusk’s books amongst The Stack. I haven’t actually read any of her work before, bar a quick flick through, but it seems like a dreamy read that sits somewhere between poetry and fiction. I’m interested to delve in to a series, it’s been a while since I’ve done that!
This (also very pretty!) book is a part of a trilogy, Jordan actually got me the three books for Christmas after he spotted another one of Rachel Cusk’s books amongst The Stack. I haven’t actually read any of her work before, bar a quick flick through, but it seems like a dreamy read that sits somewhere between poetry and fiction. I’m interested to delve in to a series, it’s been a while since I’ve done that!
The Most Fun We Ever Had // Claire Lombardo
Another book that I was gifted, this time from my brother and his girlfriend, is this brightly-coloured number. As I unwrapped it, they told me they’d chosen it because it was similar to one of my favourite reads from last year, Expectation by Anna Hope. Whereas Expectation analyses friendships, TMFWEH focuses on the relationship between the four Sorenson sisters. The reviews say it’s gripping, and it’s a hefty ol’ read by the looks of it, but I can’t wait to start this!
Another book that I was gifted, this time from my brother and his girlfriend, is this brightly-coloured number. As I unwrapped it, they told me they’d chosen it because it was similar to one of my favourite reads from last year, Expectation by Anna Hope. Whereas Expectation analyses friendships, TMFWEH focuses on the relationship between the four Sorenson sisters. The reviews say it’s gripping, and it’s a hefty ol’ read by the looks of it, but I can’t wait to start this!
Ordinary People // Diana Evans
I’m adding this one here to hold myself accountable – this was also a present from Jordan (what can I say? I’m vocal about my love of books!), and he said he searched The Stack, my bookshelves and my Kindle to see if I had read this. Luckily I hadn’t, and I planned to start it over the holidays but I just couldn’t get in to it! It has quite mixed reviews, but a lot of people have told me it’s worth sticking to. As you can tell, I love reading books about relationships, especially when the characters are slightly flawed and have a believable authenticity to them – I’m hoping I manage to finish this one.
I’m adding this one here to hold myself accountable – this was also a present from Jordan (what can I say? I’m vocal about my love of books!), and he said he searched The Stack, my bookshelves and my Kindle to see if I had read this. Luckily I hadn’t, and I planned to start it over the holidays but I just couldn’t get in to it! It has quite mixed reviews, but a lot of people have told me it’s worth sticking to. As you can tell, I love reading books about relationships, especially when the characters are slightly flawed and have a believable authenticity to them – I’m hoping I manage to finish this one.
My Favourite Manson Girl // Alison Umminger
I have a slightly morbid fascination with the Manson Family; I read The Girls by Emma Cline (which I ADORED), when I was in Los Angeles a few years ago and have been looking for something similar ever since. This popped up on my Goodreads recommendations and I thought it sounded like just the read I was looking for.
Set in LA, the story follows Anna who sets off for a new life in the city – she hopes for a glitzy summer of celebrities and parties, but I’m guessing that’s not exactly how it goes down. I’m just itching to read this!
I have a slightly morbid fascination with the Manson Family; I read The Girls by Emma Cline (which I ADORED), when I was in Los Angeles a few years ago and have been looking for something similar ever since. This popped up on my Goodreads recommendations and I thought it sounded like just the read I was looking for.
Set in LA, the story follows Anna who sets off for a new life in the city – she hopes for a glitzy summer of celebrities and parties, but I’m guessing that’s not exactly how it goes down. I’m just itching to read this!
Juliet The Maniac // Juliet Escoria
One of my favourite genres (of books, TV, film…) is definitely ‘coming of age’, although this book sounds darker than your average teen memoir. This was recommended to me after I read Three Women (which was possibly my favourite book of 2019), and the reviews are pretty strong.
The story documents teenage Juliet’s journey of self-destruction and emotional turmoil, it sounds like a heavy one but the reviews say it’s also incredibly moving. I’ll keep you posted…
One of my favourite genres (of books, TV, film…) is definitely ‘coming of age’, although this book sounds darker than your average teen memoir. This was recommended to me after I read Three Women (which was possibly my favourite book of 2019), and the reviews are pretty strong.
The story documents teenage Juliet’s journey of self-destruction and emotional turmoil, it sounds like a heavy one but the reviews say it’s also incredibly moving. I’ll keep you posted…
Ask Again, Yes // Mary Beth Keane
I don’t own this book yet but it keeps popping up on all my recommended lists so I know it won’t be long before I cave and add it to The Stack. This story centres on two families, specifically their two children Kate and Peter, who grow up together until one day tragedy divides them. Years later they reunite – the reviews say it’s quite a sad story but brilliantly written, which sounds right up my street!
I don’t own this book yet but it keeps popping up on all my recommended lists so I know it won’t be long before I cave and add it to The Stack. This story centres on two families, specifically their two children Kate and Peter, who grow up together until one day tragedy divides them. Years later they reunite – the reviews say it’s quite a sad story but brilliantly written, which sounds right up my street!
Cold Sunflowers // Mark Sippings
This book first came to my attention when I noticed it had almost a full five stars on Amazon – unheard of, I tell you! I’ve already got this downloaded to my Kindle (I think I have some sort of long-buried anxiety over having no books to read…), and it sounds like a really lovely story.
The description introduces two characters, 17 year old Raymond who seems to be a bit of an awkward kid, and Ernest, a man in his seventies who has lived a very full life serving in the war. Their unlikely friendship is the focus of the story, which sounds incredibly endearing!
This book first came to my attention when I noticed it had almost a full five stars on Amazon – unheard of, I tell you! I’ve already got this downloaded to my Kindle (I think I have some sort of long-buried anxiety over having no books to read…), and it sounds like a really lovely story.
The description introduces two characters, 17 year old Raymond who seems to be a bit of an awkward kid, and Ernest, a man in his seventies who has lived a very full life serving in the war. Their unlikely friendship is the focus of the story, which sounds incredibly endearing!
Commonwealth // Ann Patchett
I keep seeing Ann Patchett books pop up all over the place and I’m desperate to see what all the fuss is about! I’ve added Commonwealth to my ‘to read’ list, it seems like a good place to start.
This is the tale of two families torn apart by a chance encounter, and the story is spread over five decades – so quite a beefy read I can imagine! The reviews say it’s wonderfully written and surprisingly funny, so it sounds like my kinda thing.
I keep seeing Ann Patchett books pop up all over the place and I’m desperate to see what all the fuss is about! I’ve added Commonwealth to my ‘to read’ list, it seems like a good place to start.
This is the tale of two families torn apart by a chance encounter, and the story is spread over five decades – so quite a beefy read I can imagine! The reviews say it’s wonderfully written and surprisingly funny, so it sounds like my kinda thing.
So I have quite the list to get through! Have you read any of these? What’s on your to-read list?
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