2020 in Books
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Last year, I wrote a glowing 2019 in review blog post sharing everything I was proud of accomplishing that year. We all know 2020 has been a hard year; it doesn’t feel quite right to write a 2020 in review post. It’s not that I didn’t achieve things this year--I did! I worked with some amazing clients on social media strategies, I got voted in as the new Chair of the Cameron Community Ministries Board, and I ended my passion project to make space for other creative endeavors in my life.
Instead of talking about any of that, I’m going to share some of the books that helped me get through this difficult year of social distancing and remote everything. I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through this pandemic without the solace of books. Going into 2020, I set a goal of trying to read less. In 2019, I read a whopping 118 books. This year, I wanted to read just half of that, 59 books. I even tried not reading for a week. Once the pandemic was underway, I gave myself some grace and allowed myself to read freely. To date, I’ve read over 80 books this year, but I do think I’ve felt a shift in my own reading habits. I’m now reading more intentionally, giving thought to what I pick up and why, what I’m hoping to gain from it. I’m paying attention to sentence structure and storytelling and symbols. I’m reading for inspiration rather than for an escape. And that’s an amazing thing.
Without further ado, here’s my 2020 in books.
Pre-Pandemic
The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter
I can’t say enough good things about this novel. It’s grotesque and beautiful, surreal and haunting. I’m constantly thinking of rereading it; I’m sure there’s more to uncover on each subsequent reading. I was lucky enough to take a writing course with the author in June and that was definitely a highlight of 2020 for me!
Odes to Lithium by Shira Erlichman
These poems about life with Bipolar Disorder and the author’s relationship with lithium are lovely and creative.
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
In a year where it would be crucial for everyone to care for their mental health, I’m glad this was our first read for the Serve Me the Sky Book Club! It normalizes therapy and manages to be both fun and educational.
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
I tend to gravitate toward heavier books, then balance them out with fluffy, entertaining ones. Tweet Cute was funny, relevant, and highly enjoyable!
Early Pandemic
Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas
As a leader of a nonprofit board, I found this book insightful. The author argues that tech giants and billionaires who are deemed generous by society are using their philanthropy to exert control and maintain a status quo that benefits them.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
One of my absolute favorites this year. Another book club pick, and one that had me gripped the whole way through. I sobbed multiple times. Pachinko is a stunning, intergenerational saga about a Korean family living in Japan.
The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
This charming middle grade novel features two Black protagonists, one of whom has two dads. There’s no homophobia in the novel, just tons of love and a sensitive exploration of racism and history.
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
A powerful, vibrant portrait of human life. It’s short but breathtaking.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
In this fantastic LGBTQ+ story, it’s not coming out at the center of the novel, but love and self-discovery. Callender does a great job balancing hardship and happiness.
Pandemic Summer
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Translated from Japanese, this novel is surreal and haunting. It still feels super relevant today despite being published 25 years ago!
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Bennett’s second novel is even better than her first. It features twins, passing, a trans character, and thoughtful explorations of identity and family.
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
I feel lucky that so many of my book club picks turned out to be so awesome! This was one of them. Broom’s writing is incredibly detailed and powerful, diving into intergenerational traumas and what it means to be from a place.
Gutshot by Amelia Gray
One of my favorite short story collections I read this year! Gray’s unique and inventive stories felt like one gut punch after another (in the best way). I’m still obsessed with “Fifty Ways to Eat Your Lover” and think of it often.
Homie by Danez Smith
I read this on my back deck in a single afternoon. It’s full of beauty and love and surprises.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
A grief-filled, heartbreaking YA novel that’s gorgeously written. Really enjoyed discussing this with my book club!
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
This deeply strange Shirley Jackson novel just kept escalating in bizarre ways. Jackson brilliantly gets at the social discomfort of being a human in the world. I took a seminar through McNally Jackson on this novel and it was so fun to dissect it with a group!
Luster by Raven Leilani
Leilani’s debut manages to critique capitalism, paint a portrait of a Black woman artist navigating the world, and also be surprisingly funny the whole time.
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin
This Shirley Jackson biography taught me so much about Jackson’s life; I gained a whole new appreciation of Jackson and her work.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! By Jessica Kim
I read this middle grade novel in a day and it was such a delight. The protagonist has an entertaining journey to finding her voice and learning to speak up for what she wants.
Pandemic Fall
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh
This book was brilliant. While the narrator is severely depressed, I also found her deeply funny and smart. The ending was a beautiful, uplifting surprise.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
A stunning memoir that documents emotional abuse from a past relationship in inventive vignettes of drastically different styles. There’s even a Choose Your Own Adventure section!
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett
I accidentally read two memoirs in a row about emotional abuse, but no regrets. Jollett is the lead singer of the Airborne Toxic Event and an incredible writer. I found his memoir so emotionally satisfying that I was in tears by the end.
No Filter by Sarah Frier
As a social media professional, I found this book excellent. Frier tells the story of how Instagram became the behemoth it is today, and perfectly illustrates how it’s shaped both the world and the way we experience it.
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
This romance novel was so nuanced and thoughtful. I appreciated how it blended grief and growth with love and new beginnings.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Once again, I found Machado’s work brilliant and inspiring. It surprised me often and I enjoyed her creative portrayals of what it’s like to be a woman in our cruel society.
I’m grateful to the stories that carried me through 2020. Looking back, I realize that I managed to read 15 out of 20 of the 20 Books for 2020 I said I’d read this year. Did you have any favorite books that helped you cope with 2020? I’d love to hear! Tweet me at @servemethesky.
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