I have had formatting issues by the thousands while trying to write this post. I originally wrote it in Google Docs during a lunch break and the formatting did not come up the way I needed it to because I wanted to show some examples of pages from the books I read. So...I'm making do with this. Just like how we all finished up 2020, kind of dragging to the finish line, these are my last books of 2020.
They were some good ones, so I knew I didn't want to shortchange this post. I've rewritten it just for you all.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I liked the first 1/3 better than the last 2/3 and it became typically Backman-insufferable toward the end. Look at my review of Beartown to see what I mean by that; he can't just finish a book. He has to spin a wheel of random words and phrases and put them all into the last few chapters. He also splices up pages and chapters with lots of back and forth for no reason at all.
All in all, I have very strong feelings about his writing because I don't like it. I know that an unpopular take. I would 110% bet something is lost in the translation too. However, I finished the book because I liked the story and he provided enough hooks at the beginning to make me interested.*
Then I actually bought it for my mom for her birthday because this is the type of story she can appreciate.
*I was kind of horrified by how horrified all of the characters were at the mere prospect of a gun. For everyone who insists that the U.S. military is too big and costly, this is why: we need to help everyone else in the world who does not feel comfortable with protecting themselves.
Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey
I did a book club for it and I listened to it on Audible+ but this interview the author did with Allie Stuckey is probably worth a listen if you're unsure where to start.
Let's begin with: I hate the title so much. The narration wasn't great. And even listening to the author speak in interviews wasn't my favorite. However, the information is important. If you're a more liberal or progressive Christian, I recommend it as food for thought. The basic idea is that biology trumps feelings, facts equal biology, and facts outlast feelings. Our physical bodies matter. It's actually very difficult to describe the ideas addressed in the book without offending someone, somewhere, but I don't know...maybe we need to be offended. I needed to be offended at one point and I'm glad I was. Being pushed out of your comfort zone is important sometimes.
The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Oscar Serrallach
I could go on about this for awhile. I don't agree with all of it because it gets a little eastern mysticism-ish but I took away a lot. I now add collagen and maca powder to my smoothies, for example. Highly recommend if you are pregnant or postpartum. There are other books out there on this topic too, so I'd pick up at least one if you fall into the categories of being pregnant or having young children!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
This is the type of world-building I can get behind. There are rules to the book but it's not so cemented in fantasy that I have to envision what the place might look like (i.e. The Hunger Games). There's a fantastical element but it takes place in actual locations.
Got very interesting toward the end (this was a tome, at 450ish pages), and I think it's perfectly set up for a sequel.
4 stars
People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd
This is a must for anyone who participates in consuming influencer culture. The beginning was great. The end was weird and, I think, the authors got lazy with it. If they knew where it was going before starting the beginning, I see it. But the beginning was much better than the end. A solid 3 stars and I didn't like the cover. (Also, trigger warnings should be included and I can tell you what those are if you'd like...don't want to give a lot away in my review.)
Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane
A thriller. Pulls you in. I enjoyed it. Another where the beginning was also better than the end. It, also, got weird toward the end but I appreciated that it gave you only bits of information at a time and you had to pay attention or you'd miss clues/important plot points.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
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So those were my books for December 2020 and that landed me at 54 books for 2020. I'll take it.
Have you read anything on this list? I have a ton of books reserved at the library in an effort to get 2021 off to a productive start!
In case you missed my (rather rambly) IG story last week, I am listening to nonfiction this year instead of trying to read it. This shouldn't take away from my physically-read books at all, but will just up my total altogether by the end of the year (if I stick with it).
