Hi. Here’s wishing everyone a very happy holiday week. We are staying put and planning to open gifts from under our tree on Christmas Day. Then we’ll do a couple Zoom calls with relatives in the afternoon. Maybe go for a ski … since we are bracing for a major snowstorm to hit here later tonight and Tuesday, so we’ll be digging out the rest of the week. It’ll be fun to have some snow, we actually need it for the ski slopes. I’ve included a couple photos taken when we were at the cabin in the mountains just a week or so ago. It was a nice winter getaway, and I managed miraculously not to wipe out too badly on the icy cross-country tracks.
In book news, I was thinking about all the 2020 books I wanted to get to but are still waiting (patiently) on my To Be Read list. Throughout the year it seems books rise and fall in priority continually on my list. I hear a bad thing about one then it falls off, then I hear something else and it goes back on and moves up etc. My list is often in flux. Is yours?
Despite the pandemic, 2020 turned out to be a strong year for high-quality reads; certainly most books were written before Covid but still the industry was able to crank them out. Below are several fiction and nonfiction ones from 2020 (in no particular order) that are at the top of my TBR list, which I’m looking forward to pursuing in 2021. I will get to them, though I also have another 20 novels on the list that come after these, sigh.
Fiction / TBR
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (Oct. 2020)
The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare (Feb. 2020)
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar (Sept. 2020)
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora (April 2020)
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (July 2020)
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (Sept. 2020)
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter (Oct. 2020)
Nonfiction / TBR
Sigh Gone, A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran (April 2020)
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald (Aug. 2020)
A Promised Land by Barack Obama (Nov. 2020)
A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom by Brittany K. Barnett (Sept. 2020)
Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Wiener (Jan. 2020)
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson (Feb. 2020)
Let me know if any of these were a thumbs-up or thumbs-down with you, and I will adjust my list accordingly. And now I’ll leave you with a review of an audiobook I finished lately.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary / Flatiron Books / 336 pages / 2019
Granted, a romantic-comedy kind of novel is not something I normally pick up but after all the depressing stuff in the news and with my reading, I thought I needed something fun and light to help me through the holidays, right?
This British debut is a pretty sweet, feel-good story (which now is a label that sort of makes me want to run a bit in the opposite direction but it has a quaint premise) … about a guy named Leon who rents his place and bed to share with a stranger named Tiffy Moore for when he’s not there but working nights and weekends as a hospice caretaker. They never meet but exchange daily menial Post-It notes at the flat for quite awhile — where we learn that Tiffy has had a bad breakup with ex-boyfriend Justin, and Leon’s relationship with his girlfriend is unstable too. The flatmates eventually accidentally bump into one another in a funny scene at the flat that is a bit awkward to say the least and become acquainted over time. There’s subplots having to do with Tiffy’s work (as a crafts book editor) and with Leon’s brother who’s in prison and looking to have his case appealed. Though Tiffy’s main worries concern her past relationship with Justin, who left her for someone else.
It’s a story and genre that reminded me a bit of “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (if you liked that) especially since both ex-boyfriend Justin and Leon come to interact with Tiffy … in a way somewhat reminiscent of Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy with Bridget, though Justin seems more controlling. Despite that, this seems more feel-good and not as humorous a take as the one with the delightfully clunky bad Bridget Jones, though I liked how Tiffy had quite the lively extrovert personality. She has some spunk to her that makes “The Flatshare” not fall totally flat so to speak.
The audiobook narration of Tiffy sounded a bit like it was the singer Adele, ha, but she’s probably too busy to be doing book narration on the side. (In fact, it’s British actress Carrie Hope Fletcher as Tiffy and Irish actor Kwaku Fortune as Leon doing a fine job performing the audio narration.) There’s some fun dialogue and perceptive inner thoughts of both Tiffy and Leon who alternate chapters throughout the novel … but ultimately the story went on a bit much and I just felt it was a bit too sweet for me. It gave me sort of a sugar cavity or head rush, and it all tied up just a bit too perfectly. Still with everything going on, it was fine for a light rom-com break.
And now I can get back to all the grime, grit, death, and drama from the novels I normally pick up.
What about you — have you read this one or reached for anything lighter during these pandemic days? Till next time: a very Happy Holidays to you!
I’m delighted to see that Phuc’s memoir is on your to read list, as you know I loved it. I’m looking forward to your review. The Flatshare does sound like a pre-pandemic book! Can anyone imagine sharing living space with a stranger now? Still, cute premise!
I’m relieved to hear you aren’t traveling over the holidays. We’re also hoping for fresh snow. Our family in the USA and the UK isn’t gathering outside households beyond 2 Zoom chats. Even my son isn’t coming home, and his girlfriend postponed until spring her annual Christmas visit to her family in South England. I’m grateful that my British father in law is getting vaccinated on Wednesday, best Christmas gift!
That’s terrific Sarah that your F-I-L will get the vaccine! So great. I’m hoping too the food trucks will be able to get back into the U.K. soon as well.
As for Phuc’s memoir I first heard about it from your blog & it came up on some best of lists too — so I’m keen on reading it. Thx for recommending it. The Flatshare does have a sweet pre-Covid premise, so that worked enough for me.
I’ll stop by your site & see what’s going on there. Have a wonderful Christmas … despite not all being together … 2021 will be better.
Love your photos. It makes me want to go to a National Park, right now! Something we didn’t get to do this year.
Yeah, feel good books just never quite work for me, though I certainly understand your decision to turn to one.
Since I have been keeping up with my reviews lately you know how I feel about the books on your TBR which I have read.
Last night we watched Just Mercy on DVD from Netflix. I think it was you who made me aware of it, so thank you. I thought it was so well done.
Back to crime, grit, death and drama. I have been reading some Indie published books lately. You will hear about them soon.
Happy Solstice!!
Thanks Judy. I’m glad you thought the movie version of Just Mercy worked … I have not watched it yet … we started it once but then it got late … so I must return to it. I look forward to your Indie book reviews. I guess since it’s now post-Solstice the days are getting longer! Enjoy your Christmas.
Susan, such a pretty, peaceful view. We also got about 10″ of snow last week.
My book lists constantly change as well. I tend to rely on opinions of respected bloggers and others who tend to have my taste in books. Have a lovely Christmas.
Thanks Diane. Wow has your 10 inches of snow stuck around? I heard about that Nor’easter storm. We are in the midst of a big storm now! And I have to go out to walk the dog in the howling conditions, yikes. I’m glad to hear your book lists constantly change as well … other bloggers insights help me too. Enjoy your Christmas.
This was a year that I read less books then I would have liked. I have been working a lot of hours and watching more television and those are the culprits.
Happy holidays!
Thanks Brian. Yeah it was very hard not to be totally distracted this year away from reading books. I have been stuck watching too much News too, but perhaps after #45 gets out of office we can relax for a second? Hope so. Enjoy your Christmas! 2021 should be better.
Many of the books on your Fiction TBR list are also on mine. Someday. If I could just focus. Things are so out of control here in LA County and you would never know it by the amount of people doing everyday things. So many people out.
Your weather looks quite cold. We hit 82 yesterday. I spent it reading Pride and Prejudice at the park, in the sun, with my daughter. We had a lovely picnic and then she read her book and I read mine. This is a new thing as she is not a reader. Her sleep patterns are all messed up so I am trying to get her vitamin D levels back up. I’m seeing small improvements here and there.
Christmas this Friday and it DOES NOT feel so at all. It’s all weird and I can’t even plan the meal properly. Our Christmas Eve plans are cancelled and my son is not coming down. We were toying with the idea of driving up to see him Christmas Day as he is off but nothing will be open food wise and he has roommates so we can’t mingle there. I feel like any other day besides Christmas would be better but his work schedule is pretty full. We probably won’t know until the day before.
Yeah Ti, perhaps it’s better just to stay put on Christmas Day. Yesterday I cancelled my flights to LAX on Jan. 5th sigh — I really wanted to go but it’s just too crazy there now so I’ll postpone it to another time — maybe March?? I’m glad to hear your TBR list is similar … the past few months have been particularly distracting to me for reading with the election & the virus … and a lot of my reading has gone towards this new freelance gig — but I’m trying to figure what kind of reading goals I’ll have for 2021. Once #45 is gone — I’ll be more at peace I think. take care!
Stay warm and safe this week with all of that snow! So glad you were able to get a little vacay in the mountains.
All of those books on your list are mine too! I just started Vesper Flights and it’s great so far. I started Obama’s book as well but that one is going to take me awhile. I read bits and pieces here and there. I’m also getting Transcendent Kingdom for Christmas so I’m hoping I can get to that one this winter.
The Flatshare looks fun. I haven’t heard of it before.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Thanks Heather, it was good to get into the mountains. And I’m glad to hear you started Vesper Flights – I need to get that one back from the library. So many books right now! We’re pretty much stuck here for awhile and we got a lot of snow yesterday, wow. I hope you have a great Christmas and I look forward to reading your reviews.
I began The Girl with the Louding Voice, but had to put it back on the shelf and will try it again at some point. I was in the mood for something easy and that novel is written in dialect, which requires more concentration than I was prepared to give at the time.
Yeah I can relate Helen. I had started The Girl with the Louding Voice on audio once but due to dialect & all — I decided to stop & read a print copy, which I haven’t done yet. I heard good things about this book! So I will have to get to it when more time for concentration. Enjoy your Christmas.
You’ve got some excellent reading ahead on your TBR list. I have Homeland Elegies on mine and am looking forward to reading it soon.
I hope your holiday season is joyful, peaceful, and safe. And I hope 2021 is a much better year for all of us.
Thanks Dorothy, yeah 2021 has got to be better right? With more of the vaccines becoming available & with Biden coming in … I am hopeful. So far the holiday is indeed peaceful and very white here — due to a big snowfall yesterday. A lot of shoveling going on. I’ll be really interested to hear if you have high regards for Homeland Elegies … I have heard a lot about it. & plan to get to it. Merry Christmas!
A lot of the books on your TBR are on mine too. I’m reading A Promised Land right now. I’m about 250 pages in and I’m still on his first weeks after inauguration! I put it down for a while and read a couple of other books. It’s too long for me to read straight through with no breaks. I do really like it though.
Happy Holidays!
Thanks Rachel! Good to hear from you. I totally can relate about the Obama book — it’s too much all at once … I will read it in bits and pieces likely. I will keep checking your site to see what you’re reading & what you’re liking. So many stacks of books lately! Enjoy your holidays.
It would be so wonderful to live where there was snow. We did wake up one Christmas to snow everywhere, and that was a magical day. So enjoy your snow for all of us who do without.
Thoughts about books on your list: Splendid and the Vile…a big yes. Vesper Flight…just lovely. Hamnet…don’t miss it.
Happy holidays!
Thanks Deb, great thoughts on those three books! My sister too really liked Hamnet so I will get to it! I will send snow in a package to you, ha ! We currently have too much of it here right now …. but I like it! The shoveling yesterday was nonstop but we have dug out! Have a great week.
Hooray for a snowy Christmas! It’s been years since I’ve skied, but I’ve never tried cross country skiing. Looks like fun.
Yes, my reading list is always in flux. Last year I decided to look at the very first book I listed as TBR on Goodreads. It had been there since 2012, so I added it to my stack and read it in February. What was it, you ask? The Snow Child, which wound up being one of my favorite reads in 2020. So today I looked to see what I could pick to read this year and so many of those early choices didn’t appeal to me any longer, so I deleted a bunch, but added Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman to my January stack. I also pulled a bunch of books off my shelves to focus on in January. Some have been there since 1994. What have I been waiting for?! I’ll share a photo of my stack in another week or so. I love reading from my old stacks.
Of course, there are new books that I can’t wait to read, too. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is high on my list and I plan to nominate it for my book group’s 2021 list. Hamnet is also on that list. I have The Splendid and the Vile in my stacks and will probably save it for the Nonfiction November challenge. My husband said it’s very good.
I’m currently listening to a “feel good/fluffy” romantic story (The Overdue Life of Amy Byler), which is also not my usual genre, but it seemed like a good choice to listen to it while I ride the bike since my “in print” books have all been nonfiction for the past two months. I still have a few more hours of listening time, but it’s been entertaining in a brain-candy sort of way. It won’t make my 2020 list of favorites, but sometimes a little fluff is necessary to make us appreciate those more literary works.
Have a safe and Happy New Year. Good riddance to 2020!
Thanks Lesley, 2020 be gone! good feedback comments as usual. We are often on the same reading wavelength. I too read The Snow Child this year & liked it a lot. So much back list & front list to read. I have high hopes for Addie LaRue. We will see. Here’s wishing you & your husband a very happy 2021! May our reading year be bright, and covid be gone.
I’m planning to read Hamnet and Vesper Flights in 2021 as well–heard great things about both of them.
I absolutely loved The Splendid and the Vile – Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors and this is one of his best books.
I absolutely love your photos – what gorgeous views, especially from an armchair near the fire! Stay healthy and read on!
Hey thanks Jane. Good to hear from you. I’m glad you really liked the Erik Larson book …. my favorite Larson book is In the Garden of Beasts which blew me away … but I need to read more of his. Many people loved Hamnet so I will get to that one too. Hope your Christmas time has been great. Read on!