Reading in 2020

The events of 2020 inspired me to run more, write more, and read more than ever before. In 2020, I: ran 1,322 miles (and biked 331 miles), wrote 225,000 words (135,000 words in blog posts, 90,000 words in my novel), and read 173 books (101 new/72 re-reads, 34 audiobooks). These "three R's" are my hobbies. I always run, write, and read a good amount each year--it's fun, freeing, and fulfilling. However, my reasons for running, writing, and reading sharpened, shifted, and solidified in 2020. 

Running always clears my head, soothes my body, and helps me process life. In 2020, running continued helping in those ways, and I even began to glean some of those benefits from the new-to-me world of mountain biking. Running also took on a fourth role in 2020: trail running filled my thirst for adventure, travel, and beauty! Hitting the trails in reaction to the demands of 2020 added another dimension to my love of running. 

Usually the yearly word count for my writing is based solely on my blog posts, but in 2020, I had the freedom to attempt writing a book for the first time--something I've always wanted to do. I did it! Maybe not well, but I did it! Writing a full-length novel is vastly different than journaling and blogging. I found that writing fiction is fun and satisfying in a different way. The events of the year gave me the opportunity to delve deeper into my writing and learn more about it.

And then there's reading. My most cherished escape. I was three books away from reading twice as many books in 2020 as I read in 2019. Since college graduation, I have read mostly for pure escapist entertainment... until 2019, when I slowly began trying to add a bit more substance to my reading list. The year 2020 brought all kinds of moral, political, and racial issues under major public scrutiny. These issues inspired me to read books to learn how I can be a better human, a better citizen, and more aware of the struggles of others. The explosive nature of the events of 2020 had me examining myself, my assumptions, and my opinions more closely. When I realized how little I knew about hot-button topics like government and politics in general and systemic racism in particular, I channeled my love of reading to learn more. The year 2020 inspired me to dig deeper into a wider variety of books.

2020 was a unique year that involved a whole lot of escaping into my hobbies, yes, but it also inspired me to dig deeper and use those hobbies to fill new needs.

Keeping a yearly reading list is so satisfying! I love looking back and remembering what I read. I keep my list in chronological order, so when I read a book, I add it to the end of the list. Since I read so many books last year, I decided to divide them up by genre for this post. I still read a disproportionate amount of light sweet fluff, and I didn't want my efforts at nonfiction to get lost in the sticky cotton candy. I was pleased to have read more new-to-me books than re-reads last year. I am a huge fan of re-reading beloved books. I enjoy knowing exactly where I'm going, especially if it's a truly delightful story and setting. But the world has millions of books to explore! So I expanded my circle.

For the purposes of this post, I also deleted the 15 books that I read more than once in the calendar year of 2020,  so they are only listed once each instead of twice. Books that I had read before 2020 have a star next to the title; audiobooks have a dash. Audiobooks that I've read before have both a star and a dash. I tried to make brief opinionated notes next to some books. Books without my notes have my approval.

BOOKS I READ IN 2020

Nonfiction: 

1. -A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson: laugh-out-loud funny hiking memoir
2. -North by Scott Jurek: surprisingly sweet, down-to-earth ultramarathoner memoir
3. Hope in the Mail by Wendelin Van Draanen: witty fun writer's memoir
4. -Endure by Alex Hutchinson: fascinating studies about human endurance
5. White Fragility by Robin Diangelo: a good informative starting point for anti-racism reading
6. Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad: digs deep into difficult aspects of racism; informative
7. -For the Love of Europe by Rick Steves: so much fun; felt like I was traveling Europe.
8. Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge: fascinating thoughtful perspective on racism in Great Britain
9. *The Book of Mormon: truth and light, always.
10. -A Promised Land by Barak Obama: amazing presidential memoir, read by the man himself. I learned so much!
11. -The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris: super inspirational breakdown of her personal experiences with battling different broken parts of our country's system

Fiction with Substance: 

1. The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick: fun, everyday type of story
2. -*Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
3. Bel Lamington by D. E. Stevenson: can't go wrong with sweet light D. E. Stevenson! I love stories about introverts.
4. Fletcher's End by D. E. Stevenson
5. -The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
6. *The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
7. *My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
8. Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb: good but sad and heavy on the WWI details
9. -*Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary
10. -*Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
11. The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper: interesting fictional perspective on Amy Alcott
12. -*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
13. *Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson
14. *Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson
15. -*My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
16. -The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
17. A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano: a bit heavy-handed with the Christian moralizing, but still a well-written compelling story
18. -*The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
19. Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano
20. -*A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King
21. *The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
22. -*A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King
    *The Marriage of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King-- a novella
23. From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon: too intense to read again, with some uncomfortable love scenes that weren't fully explicit, but still too much for my sensibilities (wouldn't want my daughters to read this!)
24. -*The Moor by Laurie R. King
25. -*O, Jerusalem by Laurie R. King
26. The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde: my least favorite Thursday Next book, but still silly and clever and confusing like all seven books in the series.
27. Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay: one of her best; a modern take on Jean Webster's Daddy Long Legs story
28. My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows: a fun, funny, rollicking western with werewolves
29. -*Justice Hall by Laurie R. King
30. -*The Game by Laurie R. King
31. -*Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King
32. -*Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
33. *My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
34. -*The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King
35. -*The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King
36. -*Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy by WVD
37. The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins: a poingnant well-written hopeful book about healing and aging
38. -*Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf
39. -*Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King
40. The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay: another fun well-written one
41. Unforgettable by Eric James Stone: total action flick guy book (borrowed from Jay)
42. Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay: sad because there's cancer, but also very meaningful.
43. -*Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Mustache Mary by WVD
44. Of Lands High and Low by Martha Keyes: heavy due to smallpox, but still a nice love story with other themes woven in.
45. -*Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King
46. A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay: really liked this one, especially once they move to Italy--she paints Tuscany with words so well.
47. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: compelling cliff-hanging Beauty and the Beast rendition
48. A Heart so Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer: the sequel; equally compelling and cliff-hanging
49. -*The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King
50. -*Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes by WVD
51. *The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery: dear and sweet, every time. Also: super satisfying to read the first five chapters when I'm feeling gloomy, because Valancy's live is so miserable, haha.
52. *Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer: sweet story by a friend of mine.
53. *Second to No One by Natalie Palmer: sequel--my least favorite in the trilogy
54. Last Second by Natalie Palmer: a fitting finale to the trilogy; a bit teenage angsty, but still fun
55. Finding Lady Everly by Joanna Davidson Politano: liked this one--this clean author always has such good plot twists.
56. -*Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King
57. The Christmas Foundling by Martha Keyes: sweet and tragic and hopeful
58. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig: fun kids book version of Santa Claus's origins

Romantic Fluff:

1. The Lady and the Gent by Rebecca Connolly: book 1 in the London League series, a fun Regency spy series by a reliable author (#1-4 on this list)
2. A Rogue About Town by Rebecca Connolly
3. A Tip of the Cap by Rebecca Connolly
4. By Hook or By Rook by Rebecca Connolly: so exciting and fun!
5. Abigail by Jess Heileman: new Regency author who writes better than most; loved this book
6. *Blackmoor by Julianne Donaldson
7. *Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
8. *Austenland by Shannon Hale
9. *Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
10. *Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright
11. Fall from Trace by Rebecca Connolly: book 5 in the London League (Regency spy) series; not as good as the first four, but still adventurous and romantic.
12. Love Out of Focus by Rebecca Connolly sweet modern day romance about a wedding photographer
13. My Double Life by Janette Rallison: hilarious teenage romance, kind of prince and the pauper-ish
14. Faceoff by Rebecca Connolly, Heather Moore, and Sophia Summers: this pro hockey sports romance series is pure fun fluff (#14-17 on this list)
15. Powerplay by Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers, and Rebecca Connolly
16. Rebound by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly
17. Crosscheck by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, and Heather B. Moore: my fave in the series
18. Hitching the Pitcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, and Heather B. Moore: LAME
19. *Intertwine by Nichole Van: always love this fun time travel series
20. *Divine by Nichole Van
21. *Clandestine by Nichole Van
22. *Refine by Nichole Van
23. *Outshine by Nichole Van
24. *Suffering the Scot by Nichole Van: good but more serious than her last series
25. Romancing the Rake by Nichole Van: way better than its cringe-worthy title
26. Falling for Centerfield by Sophia Summers, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly: pro baseball series: mostly lame, but very beach-read light (#26-30 on this list)
27. Charming the Shortstop by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, and Sophia Summers
28. Snatching the Catcher by Rebecca Connolly, Sophia Summers, and Heather B. Moore
29. Flirting with First by Sophia Summers, Rebecca Connolly, and Heather B. Moore
30. Kissing on Third by Heather B. Moore, Sophia Summers, and Rebecca Connolly
31. A Note of Change by Esther Hatch, Nichole Van, and Annette Lyon: sweet collection of novellas
32. Beauty and the Baron by Joanna Barker: Regency adaptation of Beauty and the Beast--right when I thought I'd seen it all. HA!
33. Maiden in the Tower by Heidi Kimball: another Regency fairy tale adaptation (Rapunzel); sweet
34. Her Three Suitors and Lady Mary Contrary by Anneka Walker: more Regency fairy tales; ok
35. *Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van
36. *Love's Shadow by Nichole Van
37. *Lightning Struck by Nichole Van
38. *A Madness Most Discreet by Nichole Van
39. Breakaway by Heather B. Moore, Rebecca Connolly, and Sophia Summers: another pro hockey romance--fun and light
40. Her Billionaire Mistake by Lucy McConnell: absolute cliche Hallmark movie story: billionaire land developer comes to small town to build ritzy neighborhood, falls in love with local candy shop owner. Clean fun fluffy vacation read.
41. Wyndcross by Martha Keyes: Fun smuggling regency story with spunky heroine, book 1 in Family of Dorset series (the next 3 on this list are also part of the series)
42. Isabel by Martha Keyes: sweet and fun
43. Cecilia by Martha Keyes: darling story, relatively well written.
44. Hazelhurst by Martha Keyes: sweet and fun; this series grew on me
45. Her Flyboy Billionaire Boss by Holly Stevenson: GAG at the title, but this was a fun, if completely unbelievable clean little chick lit romance. More beach read than re-read.
46. Lucy McConnell's Billionaire Bachelor Cove box set: three kind of short billionaire romances in one. By Lucy McConnell 1--Her Beast of a Billionaire Boss {cute fun beauty and the beast rendition, terrible overly-alliterative title}, 2--Her Awkward Blind Date with a Billionaire, {really liked it: funny and sweet} 3--Her Marriage Pact with a Billionaire {kind of lame}
47. Shootout by Sophia Summers, Heather B Moore, and Rebecca Connolly
48. The Merry Lives of Spinsters by Rebecca Connolly: this Spinster series has ridiculous titles, but the writing and stories are surprisingly substantial, with relatable kind characters. (the next 5 on this list)
49. The Spinster and I by Rebecca Connolly
50. Spinster and Spice by Rebecca Connolly
51. My Fair Spinster by Rebecca Connolly
52. God Rest Ye Merry Spinster by Rebecca Connolly
53. What a Spinster Wants by Rebecca Connolly
54. Road Through Rushbury by Martha Keyes: good less high-brow Regency romance
55. The Rivals of Rosennor Hall by Rebecca Connolly: funny, slightly unlikely enemies-to-love story
56. A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton: I liked it. It was a cozy world.
57. California Dreamin' Collection by Heather B. Moore and 5 others (6 beach-ish romance novellas): unbelievable, but who said fluff has to be believable? It's clean!
58. Falling for You by Holly Stevenson: Pine Ridge series--short, simple, no frills clean romances
59. Perfectly Planned by Holly Stevenson
60. Christmas in Pine Ridge by Holly Stevenson
61. The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold: liked it.
62. A Well-Trained Lady by Jess Heileman: sweetest proposal scene; well-written Regency story
63. To Sketch a Sphinx by Rebecca Connolly: the final book in the London League series: loved it!
64. *Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: it had been a while, so I decided to read these again. They were kind of nostalgic, but almost too much to get through. I do appreciate Stephenie Meyers' tidy endings.
65. *New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
66. -*Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man by Wendelin Van Draanen
67. *Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
68. *Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
69. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer: rehash of the Twilight story from Edward's perspective. More fan-lit than actual adding to the story. I was burned out from reading the entire Twilight series before I started this one.
70. Loving a Lady by Nichole Van: I really liked what the author said about art and creation.
71. A Foolish Heart by Martha Keyes: loved this "Regency Shakespeare" retelling trio. So fun, if slightly unbelievable.
72. My Wild Heart by Martha Keyes
73. True of Heart by Martha Keyes
74. Spinster Ever After by Rebecca Connolly: the final book in the good Spinster series:  
75. The Cottage by Coniston by Deborah M. Hathaway: liked it (Regency romance)
76. A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton: really liked it (another Regency romance)
77. Secrets and Suitors by Joanna Barker: Regency romance
78. Love in Disguise by Anneka Walker: another fun Regency romance
79. A Guarded Heart by Heidi Kimball: and another
80. Escape to Everly Manor by Chalon Linton: and another
81. Snowed in at the Ranch by Holly Stevenson: unlikely, cliche, clean, lovable cowboy romance
82. Goodwill for the Gentleman by Martha Keyes: this book and the rest of this list are mid-grade Regency Christmas romances. All sweet, but I did get tired of the Christmas theme by the end of them, haha. Vacation reads.
83. The Earl's Mistletoe Match by Ashtyn Newbold
84. Nine Ladies Dancing by Deborah M. Hathaway
85. A Duke for Lady Eve by Kasey Stockton
86. All is Mary and Bright by Kasey Stockton 
87. Her Silent Night by Kasey Stockton
88. Thawing the Viscount's Heart by Mindy Burbidge Strunk