2020 Top Books that I Read and Loved: Part 1
So much has changed since my last post, with what’s happening in the world and my personal life too. Through all these changes, besides relying on my friends and family, books have there for me every step of the way; whether to educate myself, research for class, or pure escapism. It dawned one me recently that when I get stressed, I stress read. That was how I was able to read so much late last year as I started my first semester of grad school in the fall and was thrown piles of weekly academic research papers that I needed to counter with my own readings. Another reason for why I read so much is from time to time, I suffer from insomnia. That is when I turn to my books in effort to not expose myself to more blue light.
I had school this spring and then Covid hit, which was emotionally tiring and stressful. Quarantine has inspired me to reread books that I loved or give them another shot. This led me to reread the Harry Potter series for the third time because it is my comfort blanket. On the flip side, when I first read The Girl with Dragon Tattoo (TGDT) by Stieg Larsson when all the craze was happening, I remember thinking it was ok, while my friend loved it. The book had sat on my shelves ever since. I reorganized my bookshelves during quarantine and designated an area for books I want to read. No real reason, but I decided to put TGDT there. It ended up being Book 49 for me and I could not stop reading. I ordered the other two books that are a part of the Millennium trilogy and finished reading the last one, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, last week.
Considering I ended up reading 46 books last year, I thought it was feasible for me to set my Goodread Reading Challenge 2020 to be 50 books. What I did not expect was to already hit that goal halfway through the year 😅 I thought it would still be fun to share my favorite reads from this year as a part 1 and then do another one at the end of this year as a part 2.
You might be wondering…am I going to read another round of 50 books by the end of the year? My answer is I’m not sure. I have some pretty hefty reads that I want to get to in the months to come so those might take up sometime. But at the end of the day, it is just a number and I already hit my goal.
In light of current events, my goal for the rest of the year is to consciously read more POC authors and racism. My ask: if you have any recommendations for those two categories, please comment below on this post. I’m not a picky reader so it can be about anything. Here are my current to-read lists for POC authors and books on racism. Now scroll down for my 2020 top reads part 1!
Top Books of 2020 Part 1
In no particular order. Included links where you can get a copy yourself.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If I had to pick one book from this list as my favorite, it is this one. This was my first time reading Reid’s work and did not know she is the author for Daisy Jones and the Six, which is on my to-read list. I finished the book…in one read. Yes, I sat down to start the book prior to bed and could not stop. I did not go to bed until 3:30am if I remember correctly. All the characters are multi-dimensional and the various twists are well thought out yet not over-the-top. Extremely well-paced, no unnecessary fluff. It deals with themes like power, sexuality, identity, or race to name a few. As someone who has lived in Los Angeles for nearly twenty years and has a passion for the entertainment industry, it is always interesting to read about the lengths that people go to make it and how toxic it can be as well, even if it is fiction.
I ended up reading two of Reid's other work as I like her writing style. Evelyn Hugo is by far still my favorite one. I saw mixed reviews for Daisy Jones, but I will probably still read it whenever I can get a copy.
2. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
I love a good investigative journalism book and this book did not let me down. Through my various readings and even talking to people (visited Ireland summer 2019), I am aware of the bloody history of the IRA in Northern Ireland. What attracted me to this book is how recent the events were as some of the key players are still alive and well, i.e. Gerry Adams (still denies he was part of the IRA). In addition, I wanted to read about a different era than WW2 as that was something I was gravitating towards in the past. It starts off with the disappearance of a mother right in front of her children and from there, Keefe expounds on the history, politics, and backgrounds of main characters. I appreciate how Keefe covers the events from all different perspectives, not just the IRA. The book ends on a heavy note and makes you think about the tragedy and damage of war, especially since there are no real winners here.
3. Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl
Anyone who knows me can tell you I love food, both dining out and cooking at home. I can do street-food, hole in the wall places to Michelin star restaurants. My only requirement: it just needs to be good food. With this interest, I would always read about what is happening within the restaurant industry to keep myself updated. So I am surprised that I have not heard of Ruth Reichl until I read her memoir. This is my first time reading her work and I wished I discovered her sooner. The book mainly focuses on her time as EIC of Gourmet magazine before being folded in 2009. I know running a magazine is tough, but Reichl’s insider perspective makes me appreciate the work even more. The way Reichl describes food honestly makes me swoon. It is sublime food writing and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, as if I am there dining with her, eating the same meal.
4. How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams
I have read my fair share of self-help books, but this one is probably my favorite so far. Adams seamlessly incorporates humor and life lessons without going on these endless loops and stories that self-help books tend to do. He covers a wide range of topics, from personal health to career, and presents it in a digestible straightforward way. Through the various career opportunities Adams pursues, it reinforced several ideas for me: 1) you will probably have various career chapters in your life, whether it is the same industry that you started off in or completely different 2) it is ok to not have things figured out 3) it is ok to fail, BUT learn from those so hopefully you won’t make them again 4) create systems, not goals, as that will help you better achieve the lifestyle you want.
5. Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia
My family is Taiwanese and I lived in Taiwan for seven years. Growing up, I would hear my parents, relatives, and family friends talk about historical events that happened to get a better understanding of my culture outside of what I was taught in my American curriculum. One of the recurring topics was the exodus of 1949. I have married in relatives and family friend’s parents who were a part of that. The exodus was always something I wanted to learn more about, but just never got to. It was not until I saw one of my favorite influencers, Tina Craig of BagSnob, post about this book on Instagram that I decided to get it. Zia focuses on four real people and their personal journeys while incorporating historical details during the tumultuous times of post-WW2, Mao’s uprising, and escapes. Each chapter is clearly labeled which character it is about and the time period, making it easier to follow along. I like how Zia included pictures of the characters throughout the book so readers can actually envision them and their hardships.
6. Becoming by Michelle Obama
The whole premise of this book is a memoir, not politics, although that does come into play in some aspects. It is easy to read and straightforward, with Michelle detailing the inner turmoil she was going through from a young age on the South Side of Chicago all the way to the present day as Former First Lady. Choosing to share these struggles humanize her even more, both as a mother and wife. I love how she talked about her marriage struggles in the early days, when Barack was gaining political traction and how she was at home dealing with the children. Fed up with how Barack was not putting enough effort into their relationship, they ended up seeing couples therapy and worked it out. This is just one of the many examples of private moments Michelle shares in the book, probably for the first time ever publicly. How can you not admire her even more after this book?
7. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This was a very cute read if you are looking for an easy summer romance book. I did not realize it was a gay romance until I started reading it, but it is sweet and sassy. Both of the main characters, Alex and Henry, are well-developed and you cannot help but root for their happiness as the story unfolds. The first half of the book is more about their developing romance while the last half focuses on the boundaries surrounding social media and politics, along with the support and representation of LGBTQ+ community. One may argue it is politically charged with some parallels to current events, which I can see, especially towards the end of the book. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed it!
8. Red Notice by Bill Browder
This was a wild read that I could not believe is all true. It reads like a thriller and spy novel. Browder is a financier who saw the opportunity of the Soviet collapse to go into Moscow, set up a hedge fund, and proceeded to make millions. It was through one of his dealings he started noticing discrepancies in the state owned assets that he worked with. Armed with his own research into these dealings, Browder accused of the local government of corruptions, which ended up blowing up to a full diplomatic issue that led to the torture and death of Browder’s Russian lawyer, Putin calling him out, and Browder becoming a human rights activist. You need to read it to believe it yourself.
9. Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Yes, I’m a bit late to the train. I am honestly not sure why I thought the first book was ok when I first read it and in hindsight, now that I read books 2 and 3, I can see why. The first book is a little bit slower as it gets bogged down by the numerous character names being thrown around. Book 2 and 3’s pacing is much better and there is purpose to the complexities and twists to these multilayered thrillers (all the books are quite hefty, with 600+ pages each). I would still read the first book so you can get a better understanding of the main characters as the other two books refer back to events from Book 1. In Book 1, readers only get a glimpse of who the badass Lisbeth Salander is as she has many secrets herself and does not trust many—or any people really. Salander’s origin story becomes the main focus throughout Book 2 and 3, shining light as to why she does what she does. What I can say is she is someone you do not want to mess with or else you will absolutely regret it, period.
I know in recent years, three other books came out written by David Lagercrantz, who continues the story that Larsson created (If you did not know, Larsson passed away in November 2004. His three books were published posthumously.). The reviews for Lagercrantz work seems pretty good so I’ll add those onto my to-read list as well.