Top Reads of 2020
or… ‘Of Reading in the time of COVID’
Probably the only upside of being in lockdown for most of 2020 was the chance to read more books.
Once again, I’ve completed a spreadsheet of everything read with various data points —
You can see 2020s list here (plus a number of previous years).
As always — I like to do a data-driven approach to my reading; so first the stats:
2020 was a very diverse year: with 16 countries covered (defined by place of birth of Author). USA (frustratingly) continues to be the clear leader — (I haven’t been able to read less than 25% from the USA!!) but a few new entries with Ethiopia ‘The Shadow King’ making the list as well as a bunch from Peru as I was late to the party discovering the amazing books of Isabele Allende.
The Women Had It (again!): with over 66% (or two thirds!) of the books read in 2020 by female authors — including some pretty strong feminist themes (the key ones making my top 10).
29,707 pages read; that’s an average of 81 pages a day — and approx 333 per book — just nudging up last year's tally. The shortest was the graphic novel ‘Persepolis’ by Iranian author Marjane Satrapi (4-star rating — and I think I finally understand the appeal of adult graphic novels!) Technically the longest read was ‘Ducks, Newburyport’ at 1,003 pages, but since I bowed out at page 509 (that one long sentence thing got tiring after a while) — not sure it officially counts. The official longest then was ‘Free Food for Millionaires’ at 648 pages. Nice but not nearly as amazing as her legendary ‘Pachinko’.
It was a year for new releases!: Despite the publishing industry delaying a lot of new novels, 36% of the books read this year were published in 2020 and another 32% from last year. Oldest was the fabulous 1965 book ‘Don’t Stop the Carnival’ by Herman Wouk — which is a fun and dated Fawlty Towers type novel set in the Caribbean.
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Below are what I have claimed as my Top 10 Reads for the Year — and a little review for each. They won’t be books that appeal to all — so make sure you check out a few other reviews to see if this is the right book for you. Listed in alphabetical order, by title.
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‘10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World’ — Elif Shafak (Pub, 2019) (Female, Turkey)
Could this be the perfect book? Simple premise — a girl dies, in the last 10 minutes and 38 seconds of her life, her memories fill out her story. Her family, her journey to be an Instanbul prostitute. Her Five Friends. Part two is her friends coming together and a very loose murder mystery.
‘American Dirt’ — Jeanine Cummins (Pub. 2020)
(Female, USA)
I didn’t think I’d like because of all the controversy — but wow. A gripping read from start to end about a woman escaping Mexico and the cartels with her son.
‘A Burning’ — Megha Majumdar (Pub. 2020)
(Female, India)
I’ve tasked myself to read more books from India — and this is a winner. With three distinct voices — it follows an apparent terrorist attack — and what happens from there.
‘The Girl with the Louding Voice’ — Abi Dare (Pub. 2020)
(Female, Nigeria)
‘Girl, Woman, Other’ — Bernardine Evaristo (Pub. 2019)
(Female, UK)
This could be my book of the year. A collection of women and their stories, how they intertwine. It’s got race, it’s got gender it’s got feminism — it’s perfect.
PS. This totally should have won the Booker Prize ahead of The Testaments.
‘Honeybee’ — Craig Silvey (Pub. 2020)
(Male, Australia)
Easily one of the best Australian books of the Year. I fell in love with Silvey’s ‘Jasper Jones’, so was curious to see how the follow-up would fare. I was hooked from page 1 — and over the rest of the novel, swerved from near tears to warmed cockles of the heart with this cast of beautiful, broken characters. Like an Adults Only version of #theboyinthedress, mashed with #boyswallowsuniverse with a beautiful glittery sprinkling of #priscillaqueenofthedesert.
‘Rules of Civility’ — Amor Towles (Pub. 2011)
(Male, USA)
I just loved this book. Probably the only white American male writing about New York that I’ll excuse. The fabulous life of Katey Kontent in 1938/9.
‘Shuggie Bain’ — Douglas Stuart (Pub. 2020)
(Male, UK)
I got absolutely lost in this book for the days I was reading. So depressing — young Shuggie with his alcoholic mother Agnes in Thatcher Era Scotland. But devastatingly beautifully written Holding my breath to see what happens.
‘Three Women’ — Lisa Taddeo (Pub. 2019)
(Female, USA)
Jesus Christ what a book. Three Women. Three stories of sexual desire and victimization at the hands of men. Gripping but triggering.
‘Transcendent Kingdom’ — Yaa Gyasi (Pub.2020)
(Female, Ghana)
Easily another contender for book of the year. I absolutely loved Gyasi’s debut ‘Homegoing’ and this is a super strong follow-up. Even at just 260 odd pages, this novel takes on an abundance of themes from immigrant life and racism, science versus theology as well as addiction and depression. At the heart of this story is a woman trying to come to terms with her brother’s battle with opioid addiction — but so so much more. Pacey, gripping, gritty, and with great characters. Spot on every point.
