11 Books I’ve Read in 2020 (So Far)
Escapism – the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy…
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably made quite the dent in your reading list this year. No one could have predicted the global pandemic and resulting shutdown that would offer up more time for reading than we seem to have had in years.
Whether for inspiration or just a short escape for the rollercoaster news cycle that’s been 2020 so far, I’ve been diving headfirst into my reading list from fiction to non-fiction and today I’m pulling together some of my favourites to share with you.
Perhaps you’re finally starting that digital book club you’ve been thinking about since March or maybe you’re just looking for a bit of a mental escape. Either way, add these titles to your reading list and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Dolly Alderton provides a voice that feels like Bridget Jones for the millennial generation. From friendship to work to dating in a world where online dating feels like the only option, Dolly’s anecdotes are heartbreaking, hilarious and so incredibly relatable that it often feels like you’re reading the diary of a friend you’ve known your entire life.
If you’re like me and this memoir leaves you wanting so much more, know that Dolly’s novel Ghosts comes out October 2020 and you can also catch her on the podcast The High Low with fellow writer Pandora Sykes.
Buy It Locally: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Known to the world for many years as Emily Doe, Chanel Miller unravels her story of sexual assault, trauma and the uphill battle of healing with a voice that is both deeply observant and extraordinarily talented. This memoir will not only challenge your belief in the justice system but provides an eye-opening glance into the overwhelming ways in which our systems continue to fail survivors.
A powerful story of courage, vulnerability and the strength and struggle that comes hand-in-hand with reclaiming one’s identity.
Buy It Locally: Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Laugh-out-loud funny is probably the best way to describe this novel by writer and journalist Caitlin Moran. A coming-of-age novel centred on reinvention and self-discovery, the story of Johanna Morrigan will make you laugh, break your heart and force you to cringe with second-hand embarrassment, sometimes all at once.
If you love this novel as much as I did, know that it was made into a movie in 2019 starring Beanie Feldstein which you can now immediately add to your watch list.
Buy It Locally: How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran
Admittedly, this one took me a moment to get into but once I got into it a bit more I was hooked. A tale of motherhood told from two very different perspectives, this book will draw you in and make you wonder about the stories we don’t know that happen behind closed doors.
Living in the world that we do, where the idea of things looking perfect from outside dominates, Celeste Ng‘s novel sheds light on the dangers of perfection or rather, the appearance of it and its effects on our ability to understand and relate to one another.
Buy It Locally: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
When I say this book made me sob. Relationships are so incredibly complex and few writers manage to capture their complexity as artfully and as heartbreakingly as Sally Rooney has with her tale of Connell and Marianne.
A story that spans friendship, love, distance and back again in a painful account of the reality of loving someone when the timing is just never quite right. I couldn’t put this book down and it’s been my number one recommendation to everyone this summer as I binge the TV adaption starring Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal.
Buy It Locally: Normal People by Sally Rooney
This book had been on my list for ages and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. It’s not super long (like 180 pages) but its packed with inspiration and a deep sense of meaning that will stick with you. Framing itself around an inspiring metaphor of the power in following what calls to your soul, this book reminded me that there’s bravery in trusting what the universe places in our path.
A read that will easily become one of those forever books, the kind you always want a copy of on your shelf.
Buy It Locally: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Written like a cross between a Rolling Stone interview and an E! True Hollywood Story, Daisy Jones & The Six tells a story of sex, drugs and the rise and fall of 1960’s rock band Daisy Jones & The Six.
The book’s unique interview-style format makes you feel like you’re getting the ultimate backstage pass with stories and memories that will grab at your heart. A nostalgic tale of fame and a captured sense of mystery we’ve lost in today’s world when it comes to getting an inside look at our idols.
Buy It Locally: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you’re looking for an easy read with an Agatha Christie, whodunnit type of vibe, then The Guest List is a great pick. A Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club selection for June 2020, this book offers up a mystery and thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
A sinister plot with a colourful cast of characters, this is the ideal book to curl up on the couch with on a rainy day or dive into for a summer road trip. The audiobook is also narrated by a full cast of voice actors which adds a little something to the listening experience.
Buy It Locally: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
A recommended read for anyone looking to become a more informed voice in discussing and repairing the systemic issues within our world. Educator Robin DiAngelo delves into the deeply entrenched biases and beliefs that make talking to white people about racial issues so challenging.
DiAngelo’s words make us question not only our silence but reflect on the ways in which anger, fear and guilt get in the way of opening meaningful dialogue for change.
Buy It Locally: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Another book that’s been on my reading list for quite a while, Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl” of Barkley Cove, North Carolina and the rumours that circulate when a young man turns up dead not far from where she lives.
A heartbreaking story of loneliness, the importance of human connection and the wonderful things we can learn from the natural world, Where the Crawdads Sing reminds us that at our core, all we want is to love and be loved in return.
Buy It Locally: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Vanishing Half was my most recent read, telling the story of the Vignes twins and the ways in which identity, social structures and bigotry can shape our existence.
Reminiscent of some of the writing’s of Toni Morrison, Bennett spins a story that delves into family, American history and the deep meaning that’s carried through racial identity. This book will make you think deeply about privilege and perception in a way that delivers a rich examination of race both historically and today.
Buy It Locally: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
What’s Up Next?
Here’s what’s next on my reading list, let me know what you’ve been reading and what I should be adding to my list down in the comments or over on Instagram @coldteasocial!
