Happy New Year, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break! Here’s to hoping 2021 is kinder to all of us. One thing is for sure, I did a lot more reading in 2020 than I have in recent years. And for that, I’m not sorry. But I am really behind with my book reports, so I thought I’d start the year with a quick catch-up post.
The Most Beautiful, My Life with Prince by Mayte Garcia
Reading Prince – The Beautiful Ones left me wanting more, so I decided to read this book that his first wife wrote about their relationship. I’m honestly unsure how I feel about this one. It’s clear that she loved him very much, and obviously, I read it because I wanted to know more about my favorite artist. But since he’s not alive to share his side of their love story, I was left wondering…….would he have wanted her to share these intimate details?
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper
In this beautiful memoir, Michele Harper doesn’t just share her personal war stories from work as an ER doctor in a VA hospital. She shares her own journey of self-healing from childhood trauma. Raw, real and emotional, this one left a mark on my heart.
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favorite authors. And while I absolutely adored The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings, I think this is the best novel she has ever written. This book is a true masterpiece! This fictional story of Jesus’ wife is just so inspiring, unforgettable, and beautiful. It was the September pick for my Instagram book club @4readingwomen, and all four of us gave it 5 stars!
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
This second book in the Crazy Rich Asians series wasn’t as good as the first, but it was a good quick “palette cleansing” kind of read. And sometimes after reading such heavy, thought-provoking stories, you just need something light and fun. I do hope they continue this series on the big screen!
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
So, I have a lot of thoughts. I think I was a freshman in high school the first time I read Wuthering Heights. And my 14-year-old self fell head-over-heels in love with what I thought was a tragic love story. I loved it so much that I’ve always counted it in my top 5 favorite books of all time.
And with all the stay-at-homeness that 2020 brought, I thought it might be fun to reread this classic novel. And wow. I was not at all expecting to come away with so many big feelings. But my 42-year-old-married-for-20-years self didn’t just not like it; I hated it this time. And I very rarely, if ever, use the word hate.
What my 14-year-old self read as a tragic love story my 42-year-old self read as toxic. Turns out it’s not a love story at all but rather a story of jealousy and resentment. This re-reading experience has me examining all of my old favorites.
Have you ever experienced a complete 180 like this?
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
With so much buzz and praise surrounding this book, I went into it with high expectations. But I thought this novel was just so-so. It starts as a story about identical twin sisters who are inseparable as children but decide to live in two very different worlds in adulthood, one black and one white. But as it spans 4o years and introduces the twins’ daughters, the story takes a bit of a turn diving more into identity and what makes us who we are. I liked this book, but it’s not in my top 5 for 2020. I was left wanting in the character development department. However, the word is this book will be adapted for an HBO limited series, and I have a feeling this story will really come alive on screen.
This was the 4 Reading Women October book club pick, and we all had mixed feelings about this story. Have you read this novel? What did you think?
Fierce, Free and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker
I love Jen’s writing style. Her books feel more like a pep talk or a letter from a dear friend. Maybe that’s why I feel comfortable calling her by her first name? 😉 This one is a good one. Her words are life-giving and inspiring. Just what I needed at the end of 2020.
Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
I never read the first book, but of course, I’ve seen the movie a million times. And after introducing my daughter to The Devil Wears Prada, I decided I needed to find out what happens next in this story. The sequel was good, not great, a quick, easy, and entertaining read though.
The Silence by Don DeLillo
Set in the near future about five people gathered together in a Manhattan apartment in the midst of a catastrophic event where all digital connections are severed, this was an eery, mysterious story. And it just might be the strangest book I’ve ever read. I really struggled to get through it, and it’s a very short story. Truth be told, I only finished because it was the 4 Reading Women November book club pick. It makes for a good discussion, but it just wasn’t for me. I don’t think I’m cool enough. 😉
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
This story jumps back and forth between post-Civil War Louisianna and modern-day. It brought to life actual Lost Friends advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers as people searched for their loved ones after the war ended. I found this story to be both heartbreaking and hopeful. Highly recommend.
What I personally love most about historical fiction is that it gives me the opportunity to learn about things I was never taught in school.
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
As soon as I heard that this book by Big Little Lies author, Liane Moriarty, was headed to Hulu, I added it to my reading list. The story follows nine strangers who gather at a remote health and wellness resort, all for different reasons. And what ensues while they’re there isn’t exactly what any of them were expecting. This story and its characters are a total mixed bag. It’s dramatic but funny, quirky, and totally unexpected. And absolutely nothing like Big Little Lies!
But Nicole Kidman will be playing the role of the resort’s director, Masha, and I can’t wait to see her bring this character to life! Not my favorite book by Liane Moriarty, but I did really enjoy this story.
A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
I don’t know how I’ve lived this long without reading this well-known and highly rated book that was published in 1978, the year I was born. But here I am at 42, and wow, I won’t soon forget the impact this book has had on me. And I only regret I didn’t read it sooner. Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey wrote this book to tell her grandmother’s story, and it’s mostly made up of the letters her grandmother Bess wrote to loved ones. The whole of her life is told in these letters, and what a life it was!
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Do yourself a favor if you’re going to read this book. Listen to the audible version. There’s nothing better than his voice in your ear. Did I say that out loud? 😉 Seriously though, celebrity memoirs are a dime a dozen these days. And while there are some definite self-congratulatory moments in this book, all-in-all, I found his optimism and honesty refreshing. He’s a really great story-teller!
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
I love me some Dolly! And this was such an enjoyable tour of her career in country music. Plus, I loved learning the backstory of the lyrics of so many of her memorable songs. Each word intentional, and every song tells a story. I listened to this on audible as well, and it brought me so much joy!
The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile
I wanted to end the year with some deeper learning. 😉 And since I’ve become such an enneagram enthusiast, this felt like the right call. I’m already fairly well versed with regard to my own type, but I wanted to learn more about the other 8 types. And this book delivered the information in a concise, practical way. If you’re just starting to learn about the enneagram, this book feels like a really good place to start!
The Enneagram in Love by Stephanie Barron Hall
My natural curiosity then led me to this book that focuses more on how learning more about your own type as well as your partner’s type can positively impact your relationship. This book breaks down every possible pairing as well, and I found the section that related to my husband and me utterly fascinating! I’ve never felt so exposed. Ha! This might be a fun one to read as a couple or to give as a gift to newlyweds!
What did your reading life look like at the end of 2020? Later this week, I’ll be sharing my top 5 favorite reads of the year!
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