Best of the Bunch (December 2020)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in December. Also, a programming note: Best of the Bunch will no longer go up at midnight ET on the last day of the month. Starting in January, the linkup will go up at midnight ET on the first day of the next month.

Of the 4 books I read this month, I had one 5-star read, which was my best of the bunch!

The Parker Inheritance was a very satisfying read — a middle grade mystery with both present-day and historical timelines. It wasn't as focused on the puzzle/mystery as I expected, but that ended up being OK. The sections from the 1950s provide a great middle-grade level look at the experiences of Black Southerns in that time period, while the modern-day sections dive into subjects like divorce and bullying. I really liked that there wasn't a shoehorned romance between Candice and Brandon; sometimes boys and girls can just be friends (and mystery-solving partners)! The mystery was great — I didn't figure most of out on my own (and what I did figure out, the characters were right behind me), but everything fit together nicely and it didn't seem like a stretch that they would be able to figure it out the way they did. This was the first recommendation I've read from my TBR bibliologist and they hit it out of the park!

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: The Seeress of Kell, The Next Evangelicalism, and I Bring the Voices of My People
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch and The Quran
Ten years ago I was reading: Human Happiness

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Top Ten Fiction Reads of 2020

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

Last week I shared my favorite nonfiction of the year. This week I'm sharing my favorite fiction of the year! (I'm in the middle of two long nonfiction reads that I don't think I'll finish before the new year, so that's why I feel confident sharing these favorites now!)

1. A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green

2. Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

3. Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

4. Greenglass House by Kate Milford

5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

6. Love, Creekwood by Becky Albertalli

7. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

8. Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

9. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

10. Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

What were your favorite fiction reads this year?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Sorceress of Darshiva, The Next Evangelicalism, and I Bring the Voices of My People
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch and The Quran
Ten years ago I was reading: Human Happiness

Top Ten Nonfiction Reads of 2020

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

Just like last year, I'm splitting my favorites lists over two weeks, starting this week with my favorite nonfiction of the year!

1. Ace by Angela Chen

2. The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

3. The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale

4. Everyday Antiracism ed. by Mica Pollock

5. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

6. How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids by Carla Naumburg

7. How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones

8. I Bring the Voices of My People by Chanequa Walker-Barnes

9. I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown

10. Women, Race, & Class by Angela Y. Davis

What were your favorite nonfiction reads this year?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Sorceress of Darshiva, The Next Evangelicalism, and The Women of Brewster Place
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch, The Unthinkable, The Quran, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: I Like Being Married

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett: This is a memoir of Patchett's relationship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy. It was a realistic depiction of the kind of relationship that is deeper than friendship, someone who becomes chosen family and a non-romantic kind of soulmate. The story will feel familiar both to anyone who has this kind of a relationship in their life, as well as anyone who has ever loved someone with an addiction, a mental illness, and/or a chronic health condition.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson: This was a lovely and powerful YA book about finding your voice and smashing expectations. The main character, who has tried not to draw attention to her Black, poor, queer self for the four years of high school in a white Indiana suburb, finds herself in the running for prom queen solely because she needs the associated scholarship to afford her dream college. Along the way she sparks a romance, re-kindles an old friendship, and absolutely blows up what the town has always thought "prom royalty" should be.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende: I quite liked Allende's Island Beneath the Sea, but this one was a much different style that I did not enjoy. The characters in this book were all a little bit fantastical and hard to relate to, and the character we spend the most time with is a truly terrible human being. I actually appreciated the historical fiction aspect of this that gave an on-the-ground look at living through the political upheaval Chile went through in the 1970s, but I wish she hadn't done it through this mess of a family saga of over-the-top characters who make bizarre choices and treat one another terribly.

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie: This was a solid contribution to Christie's oeuvre. I wasn't able to put all the pieces together until it was explained, and while the solution was complex, it wasn't unbelievable. I still prefer Poirot's pomposity and deduction to Miss Marple's meek and humble way of hiding in the shadows of the story and intuitively knowing the answer before she has any logic to back it up. But this was an enjoyable and quick read and made me more interested in continuing with the Miss Marple series.

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown: This was my favorite read of November. Channing Brown has written a book that goes beyond those of earlier generations trying to turn a spotlight on America's racism; she starkly faces down the well-meaning white people who run progressive organizations and talk about diversity, pointing out the specific ways in which white guilt is handed to her to absolve and a barrage of microaggressions are explained away by those who want to consider themselves the "good" ones. I'm glad this book finally got more attention this year, and glad that I finally got around to reading it.

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny: Well, I gave Penny another chance, and I'm still not really a fan. Penny has done a nice job of painting a picture of this small town and its inhabitants, and she can craft a mystery well, but there are too many haphazard details sprinkled in that come out of nowhere and aren't always resolved. I'm not feeling a strong pull to continue with the series at this point.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Next Evangelicalism, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch, The Unthinkable, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: I Like Being Married

Top Ten Books on My Winter TBR

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

I finished almost all the books on my fall TBR list. I'm just slowly making my way through the very long audiobook of Strangers from a Different Shore. However, once this week is over it will be winter break and then I will be on parental leave for several months, so I plan to get a lot of reading done! Here's some of what I plan to read in the next few months.

1. Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
I recently read Truth and Beauty, Ann Patchett's memoir of her friendship with Lucy Grealy. I had seen Grealy's book before but didn't have any particular interest in reading it until I heard Patchett's story of her friend's life. Now that I've gotten an outside perspective, I'm interested to read Grealy's own account of her life.

2. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
My book club's theme for January was "winter," and while I haven't yet read this I've seen it recommended so many times that I thought it would be a good one to nominate, and it was chosen to be our January selection. So now I plan to read this on audio just as soon as I'm done with the Asian history book.

3. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Like almost everyone else, I loved The Hate U Give, and I thought Angie Thomas' sophomore novel, On the Come Up, was also excellent. This book is a prequel to The Hate U Give that comes out in January and I'm excited to read it!

4. Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer
This book was recommended by our Episode 29 podcast guest and I'm looking forward to diving in!

5. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Last month I read The Switch and thoroughly enjoyed that light-hearted romance, and it sounds like this other one of O'Leary's will be more of the same. It'll be a nice change of pace after all the heavy nonfiction I'm reading.

6. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
I've heard this one recommended for forever, and I think it's time I finally pick it up!

7. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
After our second son was born, my great-aunt recommended an obscure children's book that has two characters with our two sons' names and is intended to be a parody of this classic story. I've had this on my list for quite a while, so it gave me a push to finally put it on hold. (And the audiobook is narrated by Martin Jarvis, who I love!)

8. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
I'm still slowly working my way through the Miss Marple books. This one is up next!

9. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
This is a book from my "shelf of shame" — one I can't believe I haven't read yet because it comes up over and over and over again. I've decided it's finally time.

10. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
It's been a while since I took the time to read a long, sweeping novel like this one, but based on what I've heard about it I think I'll really like it, and I will hopefully have the time and quiet on parental leave to focus on this one.

What do you plan to read in the next few months?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Next Evangelicalism, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch, The Unthinkable, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: I Like Being Married

Top Ten Books I Want to Reread

I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

Way back in 2014 I shared some of the books I wanted to reread, and no surprise to anyone, I still haven't reread most of them. It's just hard for me to prioritize something I've read before over all the many titles I have yet to experience. Usually I only reread books if they're chosen for one of my book clubs (and sometimes I'll nominate books I want to reread for this reason!). These are ten I'd still like to reread.

1. 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam
I was just telling a friend how helpful this was for figuring out how I wanted to spend my time, and it led me to revisit my "List of 100 Dreams," many of which I've now accomplished. My daily life looks a lot different than the first time I read this book, and I'd love to revisit it.

2. The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
I've read much of what Kingsolver has written, but this was the first. I read it in high school and have never returned to it since then, but I'd like to experience the story again as an adult to see if it resonates with me in the same way.

3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I haven't read this since middle school, though I did finally watch the movie in the past couple years and it reminded me how good this story is. It's a long one, though, so it would be quite an investment of time to reread it, which is why I haven't picked it up yet.

4. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
This is another one that I read in high school, and I don't remember anything about it. I was dating a white guy from South Africa at the time, and I wonder if I would have a different perspective on the book now.

5. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
I've admittedly been disappointed in some of E. Lockhart's recent works, but this is still one of my favorite books. Given how much I recommend it, I think I should reread it and see if it's as good as I remember.

6. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield
This book is one of the most beautiful works of fiction I've ever read, but I rarely see it mentioned; it doesn't seem to be well known. I've recommended it to one of my book clubs to read, and I'm looking forward to the chance to revisit it.

7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This is another classic I read long ago when I was in school, and I'd like to have a fresher perspective on it, but it's also quite long and I'm not sure I'll ever make the commitment to rereading it.

8. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich
I read this one for a college English class with a teacher I really didn't like, and that surely colored my reading of this. I've had so many other Erdrich books recommended to me since then, and I'd like to read those, but I also think I should return to this one at some point.

9. Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon
I read this before becoming a parent, and I've said forever that I need to revisit it, but I still haven't. Now that we have a second child, this might be a good time.

10. With Burning Hearts by Henri J. Nouwen
This is a powerful little book, and I knew after I finished it that I would want to return to it in the future. I think once the pandemic is over and our church reopens, I might want a reminder of all there is to love about the Mass.

What books do you want to reread?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Demon Lord of Karanda, The Next Evangelicalism, and Airships
Five years ago I was reading: Middlemarch, On heroes, lizard and passion, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: The Happiness Project

Best of the Bunch (November 2020)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in November.

Of the 10 books I read this month, I had one 5-star read, which was my best of the bunch!

I stayed up late to finish I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. Channing Brown has written a book that goes beyond those of earlier generations trying to turn a spotlight on America's racism; she starkly faces down the well-meaning white people who run progressive organizations and talk about diversity, pointing out the specific ways in which white guilt is handed to her to absolve and a barrage of microaggressions are explained away by those who want to consider themselves the "good" ones. I'm glad this book finally got more attention this year, and glad that I finally got around to reading it. I would recommend it broadly, but I especially think it's valuable for white American Christians to read.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Demon Lord of Karanda, The Next Evangelicalism, and Airships
Five years ago I was reading: Twelve Years a Slave, On heroes, lizard and passion, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: The Back of the Napkin

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Click here to enter

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Identity, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen: My favorite read of October. Chen not only explores the personal experiences of those who identify as ace, but also shows how the same cultural forces that make asexuality misunderstood and stigmatized limit the possibilities for people in all kinds of relationships. I definitely recommend picking it up.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: This was good, but it didn't make me into a fan of multi-generational family stories. There was nothing particularly objectionable and for the most part I enjoyed it, but personally I would have liked more from it.

Sabriel by Garth Nix: This was fine, but it was a little too "classic high fantasy" for me. I enjoyed the parts of the world-building I did understand, but I found it overly complex, and the book's romance was contrived. Still, it's always nice to read a classic high fantasy book with a female protagonist.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: I have repeatedly expressed my frustration with how beloved and frequently taught this book is, and it was time I finally reread it so I could see if I was being fair in my characterization of it. In a word: yes. There are so many books that have been written in the past 60 years that better accomplish everything that Lee set out to do here. Let's give them their time in the spotlight.

Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris: I can be a bit skittish around Christian books, but this one was recommended long ago by Rachel Held Evans and so I figured I could trust it. I found the author's experiences with faith relatable and the scholarly-memoir format enjoyable, even if Norris' "progressive" faith in 1999 still reads a bit old-fashioned today.

The Switch by Beth O'Leary: This was JUST delightful. This is like a Hallmark Christmas movie if it was in book form and took place in the spring. Predictable, yes, but funny, sweet, heart-wrenching, silly, and just plain fun.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune: This was a very sweet story about a by-the-book caseworker whose job involves investigating orphanages for magical youth. His journey is one of realizing that even marginalized populations who are "well cared for" are still marginalized. I had a couple of small hesitations, but on the whole I really enjoyed the read and would recommend it.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: This was quite a clever retelling of the Cinderella story. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a plot twist was glaringly obvious about a quarter of the way into the book, and then the book ends on an abrupt cliffhanger. I understand why it's popular, but I mostly found it disappointing.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Demon Lord of Karanda, The Next Evangelicalism, and Girt
Five years ago I was reading: Justice, Sula, and A Snicker of Magic
Ten years ago I was reading: The Back of the Napkin