2020 books thread

Trying (as ever) to read more for fun this year here goes!

I’ll do my January reads so far, and then update as I go from today...

1. GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER - BERNADINE EVARISTO - ooooft. Powerful, excellent, wonderful. Definitely should win some kind of prize.

2. TWAS THE NIGHTSHIFT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - ADAM KAY - I love Adam Kay’s writing. Mostly heart warming, a little heart-breaking. Diaries of six Christmases as an NHS junior doctor.

3. WE ARE ALL GRETA - VALENTINA GIANNELLA - breaks down big issues into easy to understand chunks. Suggests day to day actions for individuals and families to positively impact the world around us.

4. LIFE UNDERCOVER: COMING OF AGE IN THE CIA - AMARYLLIS FOX - a memoir of being recruited by the CIA and living as an undercover agent I didn’t love it, but it was definitely a page turner...

5. BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD - TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI - I don’t read much fiction as I can find it a bit hard to ease into it, as I did with this. A gentle read about a time-travelling coffee shop chair

6. A LOVE STORY FOR BEWILDERED GIRLS - EMMA MORGAN. Two fiction books in a row is WILDLY unusual behaviour from me. Three intertwined stories of young women and love.

7. INSOMNIAC CITY - BILL HAYES. This was the most beautiful and tender read; on love and New York, and his relationship with Oliver Sacks. I inhaled every word, and I didn’t want it to end.

8. I REMEMBER NOTHING - NORA EPHRON. I love Nora Ephron , Heartburn is the novel I re-read when I’m sick or tired or away from home and need something comforting. This collection of essays and reflections on ageing is charming and funny and a little sad too.

9. HOME FIRE - KAMILA SHAMSIE - An engrossing read about citizenship and state power and family bonds.

10. GRATITUDE - OLIVER SACKS. I’ve had this book for a while though have put off reading it as I worried it would be terribly sad. Its not; its a wonderful reflection on living, and though poignant, it’s illuminating and beautiful.

11. NIGELLA LAWSON - EATING. On the delights of eating (including a wonderful section on eating alone), and how to get more joy from food.

12. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BURQA - MARIAM KHAN (eds.) a collection of essays by Muslim women on faith, feminism, sexuality and race.

13. FATE - JORGE CONSIGLIO. A beautiful translation of a totally enchanting book, where characters endeavour to take control of their fate. I’m trying to read more translated novels this year, and @PortyBooks and @CharcoPress are really helping with this!

14. SUCH A FUN AGE - KILEY REID (I forgot to keep updating this). Ooh I really liked this book and read it in a couple of sittings. A sharp read on race and feminism and privilege. VG.

15. EVERY BODY YOGA - JESSAMYN STANLEY. I’ve been dipping in and out of this for a few months and finally finished it. I really loved it. It’s so good at helping you move from being uncomfortable in your body to being more kind and at ease with yourself in your practice.

16. HEARTBURN - NORA EPHRON. I thought I'd be reading loads during time at home, but I'm having a hard time concentrating on new reads. So I dug out this dog-eared comforting classic and read it in bed with a cuppa this morning.

17. SAVE YOURSELF - CAMERON ESPOSITO. I really loved this. It’s funny and honest and painful. Her experience really resonated and it was really great to have such a journey to self acceptance illustrated so honestly and with kind humour

18. GOTTA GET THEROUX THIS - LOUIS THEROUX. A bout of insomnia saw me finish this hefty tome last night/this morning. A great companion piece to his documentaries, and v interesting to hear more process and backstories (though in places quite dark).

19. LETS EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS - DAVID SEDARIS. This was a re-read, and about neither diabetes nor owls. I like David Sedaris, though find this essay collection a bit variable, and enjoyed some bits more than others.

20. MATILDA - ROALD DAHL. this 30th anniversary special edition was a 30th birthday present from @yclepit I read it all last night with a cup of tea and it was wonderful escapism.

21. THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS - ROSS GAY. I heard of this essay collection on @Radiolab and thought it’d be a good read for these times. Ross Gay spent a year noticing and describing small joys and delights. It’s a lovely read.

22. I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK - NORA EPHRON. Charming, kind and gentle essays on ageing. My attention span is v poor at the moment so I like reading essays in little bursts.

23. IN THE DREAM HOUSE - CARMEN MARIA MACHADO. I’m not really sure how to describe this. I finished it late last night, and it’s been sitting alongside my thoughts all day. I think it’ll take a while to process. It’s very, very good.