A look back over all we have read and loved in 2020.
Children’s reads
Hitler’s Canary by Sandi Toksvig, based on Toksvig’s family in Denmark during World War 2, was a brilliant read. It was also a useful starter for ten when it comes to Scandinavia during the war. It certainly offers a slightly different take on the well covered Auschwitz/German angle. OK so it wasn’t actually published in 2020 but this is a look at books READ in 2020 not just published.
Orion Lost by Alistair Chisholm was a 2020 book and what a cracker. A pacey deep space thriller for the older middle grader with a strong female lead. It had me gripped from the get go and I binged read every last word.
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell was loved by me and my 11 year old. A full blown jungle adventure, it was old fashioned yet somehow modern at the same time. I also read The Good Thieves by Rundell who is rapidly becoming my favorite children’s author.
YA/Teen reading
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas is a brutal, realistic look at life in the hood in modern day America. A coming of age book about finding yourself and speaking out as teenager Starr witnesses the shooting of her black best friend by a white police officer. It’s powerful stuff that has only become more relevant as the year has gone on, The prequel Concrete Rose is out in 2021 and I have a proof copy!!!!
A queer reimagining of Grease was the word when we reviewed Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales. This had all the feels and despite it being about two gay boys it didn’t feel overly woke which YA has a tendency to be at the moment.
K-Pop Confidential by Stephen Lee was a scream of a book. Think Korean X Factor. Quite simply, I adored it.
Non Fiction reads
Notes from A Small Island felt at times as though I had crawled into Bill Bryson’s head and written the pages myself (if only). I folded so many pages over at things that made me laugh or nod my head in agreement. Most astonishing however was how current the 1995 book is to today. An excellent portrayal of modern Britain. I’ve now bought the follow on Little Dribling.
If I wasn’t in love with Claudia Winkleman before, I am smitten after reading her musings on life, love and eyeliner: Quite. Yes Strictly is mentioned but so are tiny fridges, cheese and fake tan. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure and I want Claudia to be my best friend.
Classic reading
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier may be more modern classic than age old classic but whatever, it’s bloody brilliant. Full of talking points, drama and a certain way of life that oozed off the page. FAB U LOUS.
Adult Fiction reads
That Air Gradia plane! I found Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, read in late January, hauntingly beautiful. Mandel examines beauty, love and what fulfils us in a pre/post apocalyptic world. Set around the unusual concept of a Shakespeare performing Travelling Symphony, why? Because survival is insufficient. This stayed with me for a very long time.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King shot to the top of my favorite King books after reading it. The tag line reads ‘Sometimes dead is better’ which King goes on to perfectly illustrate. The horror of losing a loved one is explored more than his outright supernatural stuff and it’s just gold dust.
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor is a hug in a book. In a year that has been hard, this coming of age book set in Yorkshire had everything you need to just feel happy. Laughs, cups of tea and the fastest milk girl in Yorkshire. Put the kettle on and enjoy.
Last but not least, Here Is The Beehive by Sarah Crossan is a griping read told in verse. A toxic affair, a brutal spiral into grief. It is many layered, clever and visceral and it might just be my read of the year.
Quick mention must also go to The Hunger, and My Sister the Serial Killer. There is only so many books a blog can take but they were equally really good reads. So that was our year. What was yours?