Apparently this is my first Bookworm post in six years! With all of the craziness of this year, one good thing that came out of it was that I finally got to read a novel for the first time in two years.
Since basically everything I've read previous to now has been parenting books and articles, I'll start with the three I read this year:
The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
This is a great introductory book that give practical advice and tips, and has wonderful reference charts for quick look-ups.
Ready Set Go!: A Gentle Parenting Guide to Calmer, Quicker Potty Training by Sarah Ockwell-Smith
After giving it a go with the "three day method," and being extremely stressed, I read this book in one sitting and felt so much better about everything!
1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 by Thomas Phelen
I didn't love it; I didn't hate it. There were some good reminders and things to think about, but not a diehard fan like some I've seen.
Achtung Baby: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children by Sara Zaske
I actually started reading this a few months after Rainier was born (in 2018), and was only able to read it in bits and pieces until I finally finished it early in 2020. This was part parenting, part memoir, part German history. Some parts were a little sluggish, but it was mostly interesting to read about how things are done in another country, especially as a new parent!
Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery by Andrew Shaffer
Yes, you read that title correctly LOL. As the pandemic really set in and things were starting to get tense, this was the perfect "fun" read, even though it was a murder mystery. The writing started off kind of pretentious, but once I looked past that, it was an interesting story. It was weird though because Biden became the Democratic nominee as I was in the middle of the book. Reading fake dialogue from a real person was a whole other experience in and of itself!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
One of my team members let me borrow this after I told her I liked to read books about the World War II era. It's over four hundred pages, so I laughed and said "When am I ever going to have time to read this?!" HAHA you win 2020. It is based on a true story and riveting! There are definitely some truly devastating parts, but as we know, real life is not always sunshine and rainbows. An inspiring read.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
I have to be honest-- I had never heard of this book until I watched the Hulu miniseries (we'll blame it on the two year old). The series was so amazing and brilliant, that I decided to let it rip my heart out in print too. I hesitate to write this, but I think I liked the series better than the book. It hit me in a different way. Honestly, they made so many changes, it's hard to compare them. The series was able to dive deeper into the characters, and I recommend reading some of the things that Celeste Ng had to say about why that is. It is still a well written book and I would be interested in reading her other novel.
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
I know this book is "controversial," but it was interesting. Social justice is important to me, and even I came away from some passages thinking "yikes! I've done that!" There were lots of updates and clarifications of terminology that I found helpful, particularly that the term racist should be attributed more to actions that people. The book brought another level of awareness that people could benefit from. I started to notice more about situations around me and have felt an even stronger pull to speak up when necessary.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
This was the long awaited The Hunger Games prequel and I think it was mostly worth the wait. It definitely was slower paced than the trilogy, but awesome to read the backstory of President Snow. I gained a lot of insight into his actions later in life. It made me want to go back and read the other books again (of course!).
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A much shorter book than I anticipated, this memoir is a series of letters that Coates wrote to his son, describing his experiences as a black man in America. I've seen others say that it's a hard book to describe, and I agree. All I can say is that Coates is one of the most gifted writers I've ever read.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This book is soooo devastating, yet sooooo good. I cannot recommend it enough. If you struggle through nonfiction, but really want to learn more about the current situation in our country, this is the book to read. Thomas is such a talented writer and you can't help but relate to the main character in some way.
Too Much and Never Enough: How my Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump
I debated reading this book, but curiosity finally did me in. Mary L. Trump is not the best writer, but this is different than the rest of the Trump books and articles because it explains the WHY. Donald Trump had a terrible upbringing that directly contributed to the way he behaves as an adult. I had to renew it from the library three times to finally finish it, which means I finished it during election season, but it was an interesting read!
Nothing Like I Imagined collection by Mindy Kaling
I love Mindy Kaling. I want her to be my best friend. I love everything she writes. Next time you're watching The Office, check out who wrote the episode-- Mindy's were some of the best. To end 2020 on a high note, she put out a collection of six short story memoirs. They are funny, easy to read, and quick! Perfect for mommies! (Full disclosure-- I have one left, but I plan to read it by the end of the weekend.) If you haven't read anything by Mindy, you should start with these, but you should also read her other two memoirs. I always recommend them when people are looking for something to read!
As you can see, my reads were all over the place this year, but well rounded reading makes a person better, right? What did you read this year? Does anything on this list jump out at you?
