Rachel's 2020 Reading Recap

Every January, I analyze my past year's reading list to ensure that I am choosing books from as many cultures and genres as possible. Full disclosure: I try to avoid supporting Amazon, but Goodreads, which is owned by the company, has been a godsend in this endeavor.

I managed to read 88 books in 2020. I hadn't expected to reach such a high number, since I spent the last year completing my MBA while also working part-time. Then again, given how many seasons of Silent Witness I watched this past fall, my overall book total should probably be a lot higher.

I wasn't immune to pandemic stress, which was reflected in my reading list. I tend to prioritize reading new (to me) books and recently published works, but this year I occasionally reached for comfortable old favorites. I listened to a higher proportion of audiobooks than in 2019, as they're one of my favorite remedies for insomnia. When times were particularly bad, I tended to favor my default genre: books written for middle-class white women by middle-class white women (I know, I know....) That being said, I have maintained my commitment to diversify my reading list. I am a mood reader, so I chose what to read next based on how I'm feeling at that moment. I keep lists of books by authors of all ethnic and religious backgrounds on Hoopla, Libby, and Goodreads to ensure I always have a mix of options queued up. I aim for at least 1 out of every 3 books to be by an author of color, though that proportion occasionally increased to 1 out of 4 or 5 books this year (sometimes I needed to sneak in an extra Louise Penny novel to survive).

Like everyone else, I found it challenging to focus in 2020. I read a couple of books over 700 pages, but my average book length was around 300 pages. Shorter books can be an excellent palate cleanser; a way to feel productive while preventing reading slumps. I normally read a few poetry collections to fulfill this purpose. This year, I tended to pick up graphic novels by authors of color instead ("Good Talk" by Mira Jacob, "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei). Other reading trends this year: for someone who hadn't read a romance novel before 2018, I found 2020 to be the perfect year to indulge in HEAs ("Happily Ever Afters") (see "Don't You Forget About Me" by Mhairi McFarlane; "Take a Hint, Dani Brown" by Talia Hibbert). Scottish authors occasionally appeared on my list thanks to recommendations from neighbors ("Bird Summons" by Leila Aboulela; "Raven Black" by Ann Cleeves). I also found myself missing live sports, so I read soccer and baseball histories ("Under the Lights and In the Dark" by Gwendolyn Oxenham and "Moneyball" by Michael Lewis). And every year I read at least one classic for the first time (since 2020's selections were short, I read two: "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare and "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery).

Here are a few recommendations from my 2020 reading list:

A Pandemic in Perspective: Three books perfectly summarized my pandemic/lockdown experience.

1. "Severance" by Ling Ma. In a complete coincidence, I read a book about a pandemic the week my university shut down and Scotland entered its first lockdown. Some people find this book slow, but I found it starkly beautiful. Give it a chance, read it, and call me. I'm eager to talk about the ending with someone.
2. "The Sun Does Shine" by Anthony Ray Hinton. If you thought lockdown was bad, try spending 30 years on Death Row for a crime you didn't commit. Hinton was wrongfully imprisoned for most of my life, and I found his experiences to be deeply moving. He even started the Row's first book club.
3. "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics" by Carlo Rovelli. These short essays were a perfect way to put life in perspective. To quote Rovelli directly, “I believe that our species will not last long. It does not seem to be made of the stuff that has allowed the turtle, for example, to continue to exist more or less unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, for hundreds of times longer, that is, than we have been in existence. We belong to a short-lived genus of species. All our cousins are already extinct. What’s more, we do damage.” Humans may suffer during our lives, but the universe will continue on in ways we can't even begin to contemplate. Also, black holes bounce?! Mind blown.

My Top Reads: While I read many wonderful books this year, a few stood out.

1. "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells. Put this at the top of your reading list. The book is depressing and horrifying, but it's crucial for all leaders to know what challenges we face in the years ahead thanks to climate change. 2020 will be a cakewalk in perspective, so buckle up.
2. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown. This is the year I got on the Brené Brown trend thanks to my MBA Personal Development professor (thanks, Amanda!) I was skeptical due to the general hullabaloo about Brown's books, but her thorough research and forthright, unassuming presentation forced me to confront many of my behaviors and tendencies. One of the rare works that lives up to the hype.
3. "My Dark Vanessa" by Kate Elizabeth Russell. This book is NOT an easy read. It's highly disturbing, but does an extraordinary job of addressing the mixed emotions young women may feel while first exploring their sexuality. The urge to be desired can easily be manipulated with devastating results. The book is both sensitive and hard-hitting - just be prepared to squirm. Extra points for Russell being a writer from Maine - even her throwaway descriptions of life in Portland were spot on.

Diversify Your Reading List: Looking for some #OwnVoices books to diversify your TBR list? Here are some of my 2020 favorites.

• Black author: "Queenie" by Candice Carty-Williams. Funny, sympathetic, and a terribly accurate flashback to dating in my twenties.
• East Asian author: Once you've read the aforementioned "They Called Us Enemy," try "Offerings" by Michael ByungJu Kim. It's not a perfect novel, and the author is sometimes criticized for his wealth/experiences as a financier, but I found it a worthwhile mediation on father/son relationships, immigration, and modern Korean history. If you'd rather not support someone in the 1% or if you prefer something lighter, try Ali Wong's "Dear Girls" (not for the prudish).
• Indigenous author: "Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings" by Joy Harjo (America's Poet Laureate). We'd all be better off listening to more of what our indigenous elders say. Get the audiobook so you can hear Harjo sing.
• Latino/a/x author: "Clap When You Land" by Elizabeth Acevedo (I would have given anything for this fellow Dominicana's books to have been around when I was a teenager) and "Furia" by Yamile Saied Mendez (a book about a young Argentine futbolera? I'm in.) You get two recommendations here because the publishing industry tends to forget that the lives of my fellow Latin Americans involve more than extreme poverty, illegal immigration, and drugs.
• South Asian author: While I read several books by South Asian authors this year, "Good Talk" by Mira Jacob was my favorite. Internalized prejudice in communities of color is an unpopular topic, and Jacob tackles it head on. She also addresses the challenges of loving people who support politics that minimize your humanity.
• Southeast Asian author: "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong. While technically a novel, it reads like poetry (as is expected given his other work). You can savor his storytelling through the audiobook, but you may find yourself wanting to linger over the richness of the prose.
• LGBTQ+ author: "New Year, Same Trash" by Samantha Irby. This is a short piece that can be completed during your lunch break. I almost never laugh out loud while reading. This book had me cackling audibly by the first page. I hadn't read any of Irby's work before, but her essays are now at the top of my To Be Read list for 2021.
• Jewish author(s): "Attached" by Dr. Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. Not an #OwnVoices book, but important non-fiction. I read a lot of social science books in 2020, but "Attached" was the only one independently recommended by multiple friends. It provides a clear framework for understanding why certain relationships fail or struggle to thrive (not that we're all reevaluating our relationships and interactions during the pandemic or anything....)
• Muslim author: "That Can Be Arranged" by Huda Fahmy. I feel that 99% of comparisons to Jane Austen are overstated, but this graphic novel truly felt like a worthy heir. Fresh, funny, and short enough to read in one sitting.

And now... on to a fresh year and a new reading list! First up, Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club" and Kevin Wilson's "Nothing to See Here." My plan for 2021 is to read more from outside America/Europe, particularly books in translation or from Africa/South America/South Pacific, and more works from LGBTQ and indigenous authors. Feel free to connect with me on Goodreads and share what you're planning to read next -- hopefully a book purchased from your local independent bookstore!