I like to write about the books I’ve read each year. It serves as a good reminder of what I have read in the last 12 months — and I really do like to share my reading habits!
This year is no different — I read a total of 56, just one more than last year, despite a good couple of months of non-reading (at the beginning of lockdown and at the end of the year when my cat was poorly then passed away).
Here are some stats!
- 29 in book form (an increase from 14 last year, this is a direct result of lockdown and wanting to support independent book shops in 2020!)
- 16 on Kindle
- 8 through Audio (this is lower than I thought, perhaps a consequence of no more commute in 2020?)
- 3 Apple Books (new as I attempt lower Amazon purchases — does this even count?!)
- A total of 43 by women up from 33 last year
I did want to read more LGBTQ+ books this year — and I’ll be honest, at this point I can’t say if I did. Unless I specifically seek a book out that’s by a LGBTQ+ writer, I generally don’t know if they are. I will have a proper think about this for this coming year of reading.
In 2020, Black Lives Matters was important to me. I did seek out new writers in this field. Specifically Layla F. Saad, Brittney Cooper and Audra Lorde played a part in my education and for this I give thanks.
2021
For 2021 — I would like to continue my aims of 2020 and beyond, as well as focus on reading more non-fiction (I read 18 non-fiction books in 2020) — as well as sharing my thoughts quicker in order to retain more info and share my learning.
Back to 2020
Some 2020 special mentions:
Non Fiction
Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Hands down the best book of 2020 for me. Chanel Miller was raped by Brock Turner in 2015. I remember this case so well, even in the UK. I remember calling my sis-in-law up and asking her to specifically talk to her two older sons about it. I remember reading Chanel’s letter and how powerful it was was. This book is quite simply exquisite. It deals with an extremely difficult and unpleasant subject but it’s the most beautifully written book. Chanel Miller is a true artist and has found words to describe her experiences in a way that I could never have imagined. It should be mandated reading in Secondary/High School. Go buy it and read it.
Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by B.J Fogg. I was just looking at last year’s post and see that James Clear made my cut — after I read Tiny Habits, I was so meh about that book! How times change. BJ Fogg is a behavioural scientist who has pioneered the ‘Tiny Habits’ method to build and stick to habits. My key learnings — keep iterating until it works (ie it’s not your lack of discipline, the habit reminder isn’t working) and break down the habits to build the tougher ones. I keep coming back to this book for advice on building meaningful and useful habits.
Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber by Susan Fowler. I read this before lockdown and just flew through it. Susan Fowler has had to fight every inch of the way in her life and her story is just so amazing. For those of you who haven’t heard of her, Susan wrote an incredibly powerful piece about her time at Uber which went worldwide. This book is about her life in the lead up to her time at Uber and why her challenging the status quo should come as no surprise.
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino. This set of essays based on personal experience was so important to me this year. Jia Tolentino somehow manages to put into words all these feelings I’ve been having about a variety of topics and especially around toxic/ non altruistic feminism. She just cuts through the bullshit with clear and frank words and I really enjoyed reading this book. Have sent to two friends already!
Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition by Viv Groskop. This came off the heels of reading Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino and I felt confused and challenged by “feminism”. It was a perfect next read to distill what women need and what they can do so support other women. It’s an extremely practical and useful guide. Another one I’ve gifted to friends!
An Extra Special Mention to #ENTRYLEVELBOSS by my boss, Alexa Shoen! This book came out about 3 weeks into the UK lockdown — as such a good time for graduates, but such a tricky time for the book industry. If you’re jobseeking, whatever stage you are in — this is an extremely helpful read.
Fiction Special Mentions
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. Quite simply a delight to read! A beautifully written modern day love story. If you’re not sure what to read and want something happy and joyful this is the book for you.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. I had heard so much about this book and it did not disappoint. A genuinely heartfelt coming of age story.
Pachinko by Min Kin Lee. A recommendation from Barack Obama no less! (I always love checking out his playlists and book lists!) My longest book, by far, a family dynasty story, which I love.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Such a dark dark read but somehow compellingly enjoyable. Not about what you think it will be!
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. I love Ann Patchett! I kind of saved this book up for my ‘summer read’ (LOL summer!) and I was so glad. Another family saga novel, centred around the house in which the family lived.
And an extra Special Mention to: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan for getting my out of my initial early lockdown funk when I thought I might never read again!
Full list
- Year of Yes — Shonda Rhimes
- American Spy — Lauren Wilkinson
- Unsheltered — Barbara Kingsolver
- Love is Blind — William Boyd
- The Sudden Appearance of Hope — Claire North
- The Fair Fight — Anna Freeman
- Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything — B.J Fogg
- A Simple Favour — Darcey Bell
- Who Am I, Again? — Lenny Henry
- Autumn (Seasonal, #1) — Ali Smith
- False Value (Rivers of London, #8) — Ben Aaronovitch
- The Flatshare — Beth O’Leary
- Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone — Brené Brown
- Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber — Susan Fowler
- Anything Is Possible — Elizabeth Strout
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor — Layla F. Saad
- Queenie — Candice Carty-Williams
- The Miracle Of Mindfulness: The Classic Guide to Meditation by the World’s Most Revered Master — Hanh Thich Nhat
- Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1) — Kevin Kwan
- China Rich Girlfriend (Crazy Rich Asians, #2) — Kevin Kwan
- Pachinko — Min Kin Lee
- The Lido — Libby Page
- The Pisces — Melissa Broder
- Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 — Cho Nam-joo
- An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (The Carls, #1) — Hank Green
- My Year of Rest and Relaxation — Ottessa Moshfegh
- It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage — Arlan Hamilton and Rachel Nelson
- Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians, #3) — Kevin Kwan
- Girl, Woman, Other — Bernadine Evaristo
- Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close — Aminatou Sow & Anne Friedman
- Daisy Jones & The Six — Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Untamed — Glennon Doyle
- Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower — Brittney Cooper
- Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
- The Farm — Joanne Ramos
- Most Likely (Most Likely #1) — Sarah Watson
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion — Jia Tolentino
- Blue Ticket — Sophie Mackintosh
- Lift as You Climb: Women and the Art of Ambition — Viv Groskop
- The Dutch House — Ann Patchett
- Know My Name — Chanel Miller
- Lot: Stories — Bryan Washington
- The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Embrace Opportunity and Carve Your Own Path Through the Squiggly World of Work — Helen Tupper & Sarah Ellis
- Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches — Audre Lorde
- Land of Shadows (Detective Elouise Norton #1) — Rachel Howzell Hall
- Skies of Ash (Detective Elouise Norton #2) — Rachel Howzell Hall
- Trail of Echoes (Detective Elouise Norton #3) — Rachel Howzell Hall
- Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work That Lasts — Ryan Holiday
- City of Saviors (Detective Elouise Norton, #4) — Rachel Howzell Hall
- Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1) — Diana Wynne Jones (re-read)
- More Myself: A Journey — Alicia Keys
- The Lives of Christopher Chant (Chrestomanci, #2) — Diana Wynne Jones (re-read)
- Thornyhold — Mary Stewart (re-read)
- The Best of Me — David Sedaris
- Dominicana — Angie Cruz
