It’s book review time!
Some of you will be happy to hear that it’s time for my annual recap and reveal of my favorite books of 2020.
If you’re new around here, I started writing reviews of the books I read several years ago when I realized friends were turning to me for recommendations. You can find my previous posts by clicking on Books in the menu above (and can catch up with my favorite 2019 books here).
Reading allowed me to escape some of the chaos (and sometimes the monotony) of this past year. I can dive right into someone else’s troubles, mysteries, joy, or utter hopelessness. Mostly, though, this year my reading helped me understand just how fortunate I am.
Her Last Flight was a beautifully-written novel that I just loved. Inspired by the mysterious circumstances revolving the disappearance of Amelia Earhardt, the novel vacillates between the missing pilot’s viewpoint and a photographer who is trying to figure out the mystery. Even better, much of the novel is set in Kauai, so I enjoyed pretending I was right there with them listening to the waves …
WOW. This book opened my eyes. I saw this book recommended on so many lists over the past couple of years. I’m the first to tell you that I have mistakenly held certain beliefs and acted in certain ways in the past that make me cringe today. Although I do not agree with everything in this book, I do wholeheartedly recommend it to someone who might want to learn more about this difficult topic.
Bakman does it again with Anxious People. You know I love Bear Town, Us Against You, and A Man Called Ove. He’s one of the few authors I read who makes me want to pull out a highlighter several times. His quotes blow me away. One of my favorites from Anxious People is “if there’s one thing that life and the Internet have taught us, it’s that you should never expect to win a discussion simply because you’re right.”
After seeing Elin Hildebrand recommend this book, I was curious enough to add it to my holds list and boy am I glad she did. The main character dies over and over and you’re able to go down the road of “what happened if …” I kept finding myself laughing and saying “what?” as I read this book. It was so interesting and it actually reminds me a bit of The Time Traveler’s Wife (which I read at least 10+ years ago). I recommend it if you’re wanting something a little different.
After reading Life After Life I immediately had to read Atkinson’s next work. Although I didn’t like it quite as much as the first, I thoroughly enjoyed it too. It’s exhilarating finding a new author to love!
If you’re looking for a light read to give you several chuckles, then read Greenlights. The charismatic Matthew McConaughey takes you on a ride through his life – with a lot of crazy, a lot of perseverance, a lot of alliteration, and a lot of “you’ve gotta be kidding me.” Get the audiobook, though. You’ll just be happier feeling like you’ve been chatting with MM throughout your day. 🙂
How did I miss the Outlander series for so long? Some friends of mine mentioned they loved the series and that it started as a book. I added it to my list and have to admit it took awhile for me to get into it. When I did, though, I was in DEEP! The author drops you into Scotland in the 1700s with some incredible characters. Geez, am I thankful for so much … indoor plumbing, electricity, and the list goes on. I recommend this one if you like historical fiction alongside a bit of fantasy.
If you need a beach read or want to pretend you’re lying on a beach, this book is perfect for you. Super cute. Super easy. I recommend it!
Some of my friends in book club recommended this book to me and the description alone really weirded me out. This is a novel in which the idea is what if Jesus had a wife. Yep, super strange. However, it was interesting.
I loved this book! You just might see this book down below in my favorites list … I hate to give away any secrets or anything. If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, you’ll likely enjoy this one. Even better if you enjoyed it and also love 90s pop.
So many have raved about this book. I just didn’t love it. That’s it.
This was another eye-opener for me. It’s a memoir of a man who grew up in poverty in Kentucky. His stories illuminate from the inside the culture of the white working-class Americans who find themselves stuck in poverty. I enjoyed Vance’s stories and appreciated his honesty.
This was such a sweet little Christmas book. I’m actually thrilled that it’s the first in a series of six so I now have a handful of light reads to add to my list!
Four Points Mom Favorites of 2020
Click here to see the Best of 2019, Best of 2018, and the Best of 2017. Here are my top four books of 2020 (because I just can’t narrow down to one) …
Even though 2020 brought tons of not-so-great stuff, it brought me several amazing books. I’d love to hear your thoughts and please recommend any books that should make my list in 2021.
1 thought on “Four Points Mom & Books – 2020 Recap”
Comments are closed.