There are affiliate links in this post.
In an attempt to fill in the gaps from the pandemic, I am writing up some posts and backdating them.
In 2020, I ended up reading/ listening to 68 audiobooks. My goal was 52, but as the pandemic kept going and going, I needed something to occupy my mind. Books do that very thing for me. At times, I’ve felt burned out from books. Other times, it has been soothing for my anxiety. It has not been easy to be immunosuppressed during an international pandemic. My previous activities and social life have become smaller and smaller as the pandemic has gone on and my need for books to escape has become bigger and bigger.
These are the books that kept me sane in 2020.
Most depressing books
Most depressing books- The Great Alone
This book is such a popular read, but its also like reading a Lifetime movie and it is VERY melodramatic. There were times when Devin would be reading his own book next to me, and would stop because he heard something crazy and listen. Then it would descend into more madness. I don’t recommend this book. There were a lot of very traumatic scenes and the plot became just too all over the place. - Where the Crawdads Sing
Oh my word. It is hard for me to believe this is the author’s first novel. Her writing and descriptions of the swamps and marshes are honestly magical, the story is heart breaking and surprising, and I would 100% recommend it. However, buckle up, because this book is emotional.
Black History topics
With the world in uproar over what feels like everything, I wanted to try to educate myself more on other people’s experiences.
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I’ve been meaning to read this for years, but I put it off because I could still remember the movie. The movie and book differ greatly, and the book is better. - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I’ve always been intrigued by Maya Angelou because of her legacy of quotes, however, reading her autobiography was heartbreaking. She knew up in a town near where my family did in Arkansas and then moved to Saint Louis. This story tells more than just her experience of being an African American woman, but also the state of women after abuse. - How to Kill a Mockingbird
I haven’t read this since I was in middle school. I was surprised at how much I remembered. This is the first book I remember reading that when I finished, I thought “wow, that was really well written” and then thought about it for weeks afterwards. I think I may add this into a lineup of books I read every few years. - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
This is the autobiographical account of Harriet Jacobs. This book was horribly sad and not easy to read, however, it is history and it is written by the very person who experienced it. I think books like these should be more recognized so people can read the stories of slavery by the people who experienced them first hard.
Favorite series
- Harry Potter
An oldie, but goodie re-read series. Heck, I might even re-read it again soon! I loved listening to the audiobook, which would have prevented me from mispronouncing half of the names for most of my pre-teen experience. - The Selection
Political alliances, caste systems, and arranged marriages. I really enjoyed this young adult romance/ dystopian novel! - Midnight Sun (the Twilight series from Edward’s point of view)
We all need guilty pleasure reads, and for me, that’s what the Twilight series was for me in college. I really enjoyed the book a lot more than even the original series. I feel like the author fixed some of the problematic parts and I liked some of the unexpected things she added too! - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: A Hunger Games Novel (the Hunger Games series from Snow’s perspective)
Uh wow, this was REALLY amazing! I listened to the book a lot faster than I should and have a semi-functioning life. You start to sympathize with Snow and root for him, but then… . The background and character development for the series is such a game changer!
Authors I want to watch
- Future Home of the Living God
This is a really interesting end of the world dystopian novel. If you’re religiously very sensitive, I don’t recommend it because it takes some religious concepts with biology in a very science fiction way. There was a little bit of adult content in this book. It’s a super interesting and well written book, but not the one to read if you need something upbeat.
Thought provoking books
- Hidden Valley Road
This is the biography of a large family that ends up having six children diagnosed with schizophrenia. It discusses their experiences, trauma, dysfunction, and their contribution to schizophrenia research. Some of this book is incredibly sad. I wasn’t aware of the health issues long term anti-psychotics can cause and a lot of the adult children in the family pass from complications to that. There is a lot of adult content in this book with mentions of sexual abuse. - American Dirt
This is the fiction story of a mom and her child crossing borders to arrive in the United States. Her husband is a journalist that often covers drug cartel information, and when he publishes a story on the drug lord in their area, their life changes a lot. As a former ELL teacher, immigration stories are always very interesting to me. This story kept me very glued, also had me crying. I feel like the author did a wonderful job in her background research to share people’s border crossing hardships. - Hill Women
I saw in the reviews people compare this to Educated and to Hillbilly Elegy. After reading the book, and the others, I completely agree. This describes a lot of the sociological impacts of life in Appalachia, but written in a memoir format from the author’s perspective. I grew up in Kentucky and I feel like this book and Hillbilly Elegy both describe cultural nuances of the area that I haven’t seen matched and described by others.
Self help
- The Path Between Us
I read a lot of books about the enneagram in 2019 and 2020. This one was one of my favorites! This discusses the enneagram from the perspective of relationships. If you’re going to read two books about the enneagram, I suggest this one and this one (read it first).
Feel good
- Running with Sherman
Okay, I checked out this book because there was literally nothing else available. I was pleasantly surprised. This book is SO funny. The author rescues a rescue donkey out of nowhere, lives in Amish country, and is just wild haha. Devin would overhear stuff from the book and start laughing too, even without context. I will be reading this one again! - Little Women
I thought this book was really sweet. I grew up watching the movie with Winona Ryder in it, and the book was just as wonderful. I did try to read the other books in the series though, and they just didn’t do it for me.