Favorite reads of 2020

It was the best of years; it was the worst of years. 

I think we can all probably agree that this was the worst year in our memories for all the obvious and well-known reasons, but for me, it was also the best year in my memory and that is all down to the books that I read. I read 91 books this year, of which 41% received a five-star rating from me. 

Now I'll be the first to admit that I may sometimes be too generous with my ratings. On the other hand, sometimes I take a dislike to a book and I may be hypercritical. So sue me! 

Anyway, I say all that to explain that it has been extremely hard for me to narrow down a list of the best of the best of 2020. I've tried to limit my final list to books that were actually published this year or last year, even though that means I've left out a few terrific books. Here then, in the order that I read them, is a list of my favorite reads of 2020, with links provided should you want to look at my review.

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anaparra

Weather by Jenny Offill

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Run Me to Earth by Paul Yoon

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald

The Searcher by Tana French

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donaghue

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - My last read for 2020 which I haven't reviewed yet, but trust me when I do it will get 5 stars.

I am so grateful to all of these wonderful writers for taking me out of myself and showing me other worlds and other ways of being in a year when this world was too much with us. I hope that your reading year has been equally enjoyable and worthwhile and here's looking forward to an even better year for all of us on every level in 2021. Happy New Year! 

 


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