2020 Book Highlights.
By popular demand, here are my favorite reads of the publishing year. Both debut and veteran authors brought their A Games to all our favorite genres: fiction, historical fiction, dystopian fiction, fantasy, memoir and biography.
“Because it seems to me, suddenly, that if it’s the end, really and truly, if you’re making the last migration not just of your life but of your entire species, you don’t stop sooner. Even when you’re tired and starved and hopeless. You go farther.”
Best Of The Best.
Migrations
by Charlotte McConaghy
Charlotte McConaghy has stormed onto the global literary scene with one of the most profoundly moving books that I’ve ever read. Of the 141 books I read in 2020, it stood out well above the others for its deep, intimate honesty and grounded, universal urgency. Franny Stone—the main character—will stay with me forever.
Our reality today and Franny’s reality in Migrations are sadly the same. The planet is deteriorating and its inhabitants are dwindling. Franny leaves everything behind to follow the world’s last Arctic terns on what will likely be their final migration to Antarctica; but, as more time goes by, it becomes clear she is chasing much more than the birds.
McConaghy’s storytelling is striking and layered, and Franny’s journey beautifully and hauntingly captures the ups and downs of navigating a life full of internal and external suffering. This instantly became one of my all time favorites. Don’t miss it.
Also exciting: Benedict Cumberbatch is set to produce the movie adaptation with Claire Foy starring as Franny. Dream team! Although, is a movie ever better than the book? (No.)
The Book of Longings
by Sue Monk Kidd
“I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.”
The opening of Sue Monk Kidd’s latest work is arguably my favorite hook ever written, and it comes at a time when we, as a society, are ready to read it, embrace it and want the story tied to it. Even if Kidd’s extensive and meticulous research was only partly true, Jesus almost certainly had a wife. And if Jesus had a wife, that would make her the most silenced woman in the world.
The book in its entirety is just as impactful as knowing the wife of Jesus likely existed. Kidd doesn’t just give a powerful voice to Ana, she also humanizes Jesus in a way that is accessible to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs or affiliation. He was devout but also impressionable and open to discourse, regularly seeking counsel from Ana. Kidd is making an important statement here: We know a lot about important figures but too often overlook the influential voices in their inner circle that help shape their impact on the world.
If you love historical fiction and intricate storytelling, The Book of Longings will likely be one of your new favorites. If considering the idea of Jesus having a wife feels lofty or ludicrous to you, I implore you to give it some honest thought, and then consider who in your life is closest to you and how their presence shapes your way of being. No one gets to where they’re going alone and acknowledging those influential people helps ensure all voices are heard.
A Children’s Bible
by Lydia Millet
Millet is a longtime author of brilliant fiction and her latest is somehow equally upsetting and entertaining.
The wild romp starts on a forced summer vacation at a sprawling waterfront estate. In attendance are twelve adult-like children and all of their child-like parents. The generational divide grows bigger and bigger until eventually the kids take off to face an apocalyptic world on their own. Unbelievable chaos ensues.
This book got a lot of critical acclaim but some readers struggled with the delivery. My advice? Imagine this story as a Wes Anderson-directed film. It won’t let you down.
Interior Chinatown
by Charles Yu
There seems to be a mad dash to write and publish dark, depressing books about race, sex and identity. They are everywhere and they all produce the same feelings of guilt, shame and rage while reading. While these feelings are absolutely valid, these types of stories often fail to push readers beyond shock and trauma and into educational and healing territory.
Charles Yu turned this on its head with a very different approach to his latest novel inspired by his own Asian American experience. I’ve never seen structure like this before and the result is wonderfully inventive and far more effective at addressing hot-button topics like immigration and cultural assimilation.
No low frequency vibes in this one. Just a playful and stimulating story about transcending the roles we seem to be born to play.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V.E. Schwab
“Because time is cruel to all, and crueler still to artists. Because vision weakens, and voices wither, and talent fades.... Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end... everyone wants to be remembered.”
Master of fantasy, V.E. Schwab, has delivered an unbelievably beautiful and sweeping story no one will ever forget—even though its main character is cursed with the inability to be remembered by all.
In a small French village in 1714, Adaline LaRue makes a deal with the God of Darkness to escape the cage of an arranged marriage. In exchange for her freedom, she is relegated to living an endless and anonymous life where she’s unable to hold on to anyone. Listless and meandering in New York City 300 years later, everything changes when a man in a bookstore suddenly remembers her name.
Told across centuries, countries and art modalities, Schwab creates a magical story about deep love and loss, and about how far we are willing to go in order to put a lasting stamp on the world.
A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir
by Colin Jost
On paper, it is easy to hate Colin Jost. He went to Harvard University and studied both Russian and British literature. He graduated cum laude and was the president of the Harvard Lampoon, the school’s highly prestigious and hilarious publication with former writers including Conan O’Brien, B.J. Novak and John Updike. He was the youngest head writer of Saturday Night Live and is now co-host of the popular Weekend Update segment. Oh, and he is married to Scarlett Johansson.
Don’t let that maddening rundown of his life deter you from picking up his book. His above-average self awareness makes him invariably funny and, in the end, quite lovable. I laughed nonstop and couldn’t believe some of the personal stories he chose to share.
Honorable Mention.
It has been recently estimated that there are upwards of nine hundred books and biographies written about our first president, George Washington. Only one of those has been written by a woman and it was well worth the wait to get it on shelves last year.
Alexis Coe is unparalleled in her research of our nation’s presidents and her take on George Washington’s life and legacy is further proof of her mastery in the niche genre.
If you read one of these books, let’s talk. Please also send me the titles on your to-read list for 2021; they might show up on next year’s highlights! You can follow my reading journey on Goodreads and check out my favorites from 2019 too.
Want to sponsor my reading? You can donate below! I read everything digitally before I invest in hardbacks and unique bindings for our home library.
Metta,
Drewsome.
