Top Books of 2020
My current read, which might have made the list if I’d started it earlier, and bookmark from Bookshelf Tees.
I’ve always been a reader, but 2020 has been the year of the book for me. When the pandemic started, I swallowed books whole, tearing through huge numbers of pages over the course of a week as I sought escape and joy in the midst of uncertainty.
My reading this year was probably less diverse in terms of genre than it ever has been, because if you find something that gives you what you need, you stick with it. I read a ton of contemporary fiction this year and a handful of literary fiction, which is an uneven balance for me. I also read less memoir than normal, but lots of narrative nonfiction.
I’m not claiming that these are the best books of the year on any kind of qualitative measurement, but they are books that have made my life better for reading them, or challenged me to change. They are listed in the order I read them, and if you are interested in hearing more, Joe and I talked about our favorites of the year on Paperback Readers.
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center. I wrote a whole post about Katherine Center’s newest book, What You Wish For, and I just love her so much. I attended a couple of her virtual events for this book, and she is just so full of joy and radiating energy--exactly like her books. Happiness for Beginners lives up to its name. It’s the story of Helen, who is a lonely young woman undertaking a Wild-style wilderness adventure to prove to herself that she can do anything. I enjoyed this book so much because of the development both of her character and of her relationships along the way.
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson. I posted about this book recently and have started reading it again. He has so much to say about art and faith, and about how to live an artist’s life.
Tell Me a Story by Cassandra King Conroy. I’ve written before about my love for Pat Conroy. This book, written by his widow, tells of his final love story, the one that calmed the tempestuous nature of his troubled life.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I’ve talked about this book all year long. Comer kindly and thoughtfully explains the need to slow the pace of our lives and gives practical tips to do so.
The Office by Andy Greene. This book showed up in my mailbox at the start of the pandemic and was exactly what I needed. It’s an oral history of the show, which is one of my all-time favorites, and reading it was like starting the whole series over for the first time. A must-read if you’re a fan.
Well Met by Jen DeLuca. It’s an open-door romance (definitely has some very descriptive romantic scenes) set in a Renaissance Faire, and was a perfect escape from a summer of no travel. I’ve never been to a Renaissance Faire, but it’s on the bucket list now.
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb. This was an unusual memoir--Kalb writes it in the voice of her deceased grandmother, imagining what her grandmother would say about her own death and Kalb’s life now. It’s scattered with voice mail messages and emails that her grandmother sent before she passed away, and it is sweet, funny, and heartbreaking.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This book examines wrongful convictions in the prison system, which are mostly of Black men. Stevenson looks at the systemic racism in the justice system and chronicles his own efforts as an attorney to procure justice for these men. It’s haunting, convicting, and challenging, as Stevenson brings an empathetic look at each case and reminds the reader not only of the need for mercy for inmates, but also for ourselves. I wrote about it more here.
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. This may be my favorite book of the year—I said more about it here. Gifty is the child of immigrants who struggles to find herself in America, in her church, and in the science she studies. It is a beautiful examination of science and faith, and I couldn’t get enough of her voice.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. I love everything that I’ve read of Backman’s books, and this was another at the top of my list. It’s the story of a bank robbery gone wrong; it’s the story of idiots; it’s the story of compassion, mercy, and hope; it’s the story of connection; it’s the story of you and me. I loved it so much.
If you are trying to figure out where to start with your reading in the new year, I hope you can find something here to love, and if you do, I hope you’ll let me know.
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