What I Read and Watched In 2020

Gentle reader, 2020 is nearly over, can you believe it? I can't. Here's hoping that the remaining days of your year are uneventful.

 

My twin sister, who I admire greatly as a reader and writer, has kept a list of the books she has read since at least (I think) the year 2006. I've always admired and envied that list--wouldn't it be fascinating to look back at your past selves through the lens of what you were reading at the time? To that end, I thought it would be fun to make a record of my reading in 2020.

 

I have been incredibly lucky this year but have also struggled with the challenges of my 2020. I have gotten through it by reading and watching stuff that has comforted, challenged, distracted, and engaged me. Using my public library account records, kindle reading history, and Amazon purchase history, I've put together the following list. There may be one or two books where the loan expired before I finished them, but I've done best to record only books I read from beginning to end.

In 2020 I read more than 170 books...

But watched only a dozen or so movies and completed a mere handful of TV shows. The same has been true with my listening habits: over the past year I've become a big fan of podcasts but mostly stuck with listening to the few shows I'd followed previously. I hasten to add that not all of the books on the list were new to me this year: I returned to books by Lois McMaster Bujold, Patricia Briggs, Lisa Kleypas, Diana Gabaldon, and Madeline L'Engle as comforting old friends in an uncertain world.

Before I subject to you the full list, here is a best-of digest...

My Recommendations

1. For the contemporary romance fan...Alexa Martin's Playbook series. Smart, funny sports romances which made this Extremely Not a Sportball Fan actually care about the lives and loves of American football players. 
2. For the devoted reader of historical fiction...you must read The Beacon at Alexandria. It's an epic story of the fourth-century Roman world told from the perspective of a young woman growing into who she is and wants to be.
3. For your kitchen bookshelves...I've probably cooked more recipes from Mamushka this year than any other cookbook I borrowed from the library. My father grew up in a Pennsylvania town that was mostly Polish Catholic, so he has a lot of fond memories of eastern European food which he passed down to me and my sister. It made me think of him and the food he likes so often that I gave him a copy for Christmas. Don't miss the Armenian chicken stuffed with prunes, onions, and walnuts.
4. For the science fiction fan...I've already recommended A Memory Called Empire, which you should read if you haven't already, but I'm going to recommend something different here: N.K. Jemisin's The City We Became is sprawling, glorious, joyfully reclaims the best of Lovecraft, has serious New York City hustle and attitude, and is possibly the most fun I've had reading anything all year. Occasionally, when I get my hands on a book I really like, I make myself savour it over the course of days rather than gobbling it up. This was like that.
5. For the fan of autobiography...Abby Stein's Becoming Eve, a fearless and loving memoir of growing up as a transgender woman in an Hasidic Jewish family.
6. For young adult fiction fans...I read very little YA--in general, if I'm going to read fiction with a contemporary setting, I'd rather read about adults than teenagers. But Pulp, which was recommended to me through the magic of the Overdrive e-book app, is a wonderful YA historical novel about lesbian pulp fiction, which is a genre of midcentury literature I never knew existed, and taught me about the Lavender Scare, which I shamefully never knew existed either. For all that it touches on serious historical subjects, it also shows queer people leading happy and fulfilled lives. It's a wonderful book.
7. For a book that lives up to the promise of its title..this is another romance novel recommendation, but I read so many I'm allowing myself to recommend two. The Mercenary Librarians series (what a title!) is set in a dystopian United States where infrastructures have fractured and information is a valuable commodity. Deal With the Devil was just a fun read through and through: forks as weapons! Road trips and diners! Sisters! A Rogue Library of Congress! It's the first of its series and I'm looking forward to the publication of the next book.
8. For your short story needs...these aren't on the list below, but in the spring and summer I revisited two of my two favourite short stories, 'In the House of the Seven Librarians' by Ellen Klages and 'Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros' by Peter S. Beagle, and they are even better than I remembered.
9. For your listening pleasure...the ladies of the Keeping Track Podcast, all world-class runners, produce a consistently excellent show. The one interview that made me want to grab everyone I know and be like 'YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS' was their hilarious and moving 2019 interview with American long jumper and Olympic champion Tiana Bartoletta, 'Physics Don't Give A F**k'.
10. I don't know why this captured me but it did...in 2017, renowned You-tuber and YA author John Green attempted to have a healthy midlife crisis with his best friend Chris. They made a series of YouTube videos about their fitness journey, called 100 Days, and for some reason I found it compulsively watchable.
11. If you want to read literary fiction...The Book of Joan by Lydia Yuknavitch is a dark sci-fi retelling of the story of Joan of Arc, and its inventiveness and beauty astonished me. Warning: this is not a comfort read.
12. TV highlights...4722 Hours from Agents of Shield blew my mind. The amazing pacing scene from Bridgerton's The Duke and I made me laugh. I can't pick a single favourite episode of Farscape--it's too gloriously flawed and weird and Out There for a me to pick just one, but Revenging Angel is the epitome of the show's inseparable mix of silly and serious.
    

Reading

 

Cookbooks  

1. Sweet Potato Soul by Jenne Claiborne
   
2. The Food of Sichuan by Fuschia Dunlop 
3. Bosh! Simple Recipes, Amazing Food, All Plants by Henry Firth
4. Run Fast, Eat Slow by Shalane Flanagan
5. Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow by Shalane Flanagan
6. The No-Meat Athlete Cookbook by Matt Frazier
7. Food52 Vegan by Gena Hamshaw
   
8. A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipies for Every Day and Every Mood  by Diana Henry
   
9. Mamuska by Olia Hercules
10. Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey
    
11. Chicken and Rice by Shu Han Lee 
12. Oh She Glows Every Day by Angela Liddon
    
13. Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
    
14. Go Faster Food by Kate Percy 
15. The Inspired Vegan by Bryant Terry
    
16. Dishoom: from Bombay with Love by Shamil Thakar

Fiction and Historical Fiction

1. The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw 
2. The Sand-Reckoner by Gillian Bradshaw 
3. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo 
4. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
5. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
6. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
7. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
8. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
9. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
10. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
11. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
    
12. Divas Don't Knit by Gil McNeil
13. Carthage by Joyce Carol Oates
14. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers
15. Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliffe
16. Pulp by Robin Talley
17. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis 

Science Fiction and Fantasy

1. Gideon Smith and the Brass Dragon by David Barnett
   
2. Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs 
3. Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs 
4. Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs 
5. Balance Point by Robert Buettner
6. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold 
7. The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold 
8. Falling Free by Louis McMaster Bujold
9. The Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold
10. A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold
11. The Binding by Bridget Collins
12. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett
    
13. Fantastic Hope ed by Laurel K. Hamilton
    
14. The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb
15. The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
    
16. The Real and the Unreal: Selected Stories of Ursula LeGuin by Ursula LeGuin 
17. The Unreal and the Real Selected Stories Volume 1 by Ursula LeGuin 
18. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
19. The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffery
20. The Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
    
21. Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon
22. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
23. Lightspeed Magazine: Women Destroy Science Fiction! ed by Christie Yant 
    
24. The Book of Joan by Lydia Yuknavitch

Romance 

1. Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
2. Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
3. Delivered Fast by Annabel Albert
4. Couldn't Ask for More by Kianna Alexander
5. Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh
6. At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh
7. First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh
8. Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh
9. Ryker by Sawyer Bennett 
10. Zack by Sawyer Bennett
11. Lucas by Sawyer Bennett
12. Roman by Sawyer Bennett
13. Max by Sawyer Bennett
14. Reed by Sawyer Bennett
15. Van by Sawyer Bennett
16. Hawke by Sawyer Bennett
17. Alex by Sawyer Bennett
18. Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
19. Marek by Sawyer Bennett
    
20. Waiting in the Wings by Melissa Brayden
21. What a Lady Need for Christmas by Grace Burrows
    
22. Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton
23. Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton
24. One Perfect Kiss by Jaci Burton
25. Anyone but You by Chelsea M. Cameron
26. Fighting Attraction by Sarah Castille
27. Strong Hold by Sarah Castille
    
28. Double Time by Olivia Cunning
    
29. Broken Resolutions by Olivia Dade
    
30. How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare et al 
31. The Historical Collection by Tessa Dare
    
32. Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
    
33. Loving a Warrior by Melaine Hanson
34. A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
35. Work for It by Talia Hibbert
36. Just for Him: the Complete Series by Talia Hibbert
37. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
38. Untouchable by Talia Hibbert
39. Damaged Goods by Talia Hibbert
40. That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert
41. A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
42. Wanna Bet? by Talia Hibbert
43. the Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert
44. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
45. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
46. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
    
47. A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
48. Seduce me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
49. Mine Til Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
50. Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
51.  Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas
52. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
53. Ruining Miss Wrotham by Emily Larkin
    
54.  Fumbled by Alexa Martin 
55. Intercepted by Alexa Martin
56. Blitzed by Alexa Martin
    
57. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 
    
58. Mrs Martin's Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan
    
59. Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh
60. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
61. It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
62. When he was wicked by Julia Quinn
63. To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
64.  Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
65. An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
66. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
67. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
68. The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn et al
69. A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
70. Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha
71. Beyond Series Bundle (Books 1-3) by Kit Rocha
72. Beyond Series Bundle (Books 4-6) by Kit Rocha
    
73. Beyond Series Bundle (Books 7-9) by Kit Rocha
    
74. Beyond Series Novella Bundle by Kit Rocha
75. Deacon by Kit Rocha
76. Ivan by Kit Rocha
77. Ashwin by Kit Rocha 
78. Deal with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians) by Kit Rocha
    
79. It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian
80. The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian
81. A Duke in Disguise by Cat Sebastian
82. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
    

Nonfiction 

Autobiography, Biography, and Memoir

1. Under the Tump: Sketches of Life on the Welsh Borders by Oliver Balch 
   
2. Endurance: the Extraordinary Life and Times of Emil Zapotek by Richard Broadbent 
3. Leaving Before the Rains Come by Alexandra Fuller 
4. The Irrational Season by Madeline L'Engle  
5. A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle 
6. The Summer of the Great-Grandmother by Madeline L'Engle 
7. Two Part Invention by Madeline L'Engle   
8. Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation by Judith Mackrell  
9. Becoming Eve by Abby Stein
   
10. Ellison 'Tarzan' Brown by Michael Ward 
    
11. Delancey by Molly Wizenberg 

Environment and Nature

1. Few and Far Between: On the Trail of Britain's Rarest Animals by Charlie Elder 
   
2. What We Need to Do Now For a Zero Carbon Society by Chris Goodal   
   
3. The Running Hare: the Secret Life of Farmland by John Lewis-Stempel
4. How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum 
5. Vita Sackville-West's Sissinghurst: the creation of a garden by Sarah Raven and Vita Sackville-West

History and Journalism

1. Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd 
2. Quiet by Susan Cain
   
3. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Volume 1: A.D. 180 to A.D. 395) by Edward Gibbon 
4. Women are the Future of Islam by Sherin Khankan
5. Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W Loewen
   
6. Reigning cats and dogs: a history of pets at court since the Renaissance by Katherine R MacDonogh 
7. The Saffron Road: a Journey With Buddha's Daughters by Christine Toomey 
8. Secrets of Saffron: the Vagabond Life of the World's Most Seductive Spice by Pat Willard  
   

Magazines and Periodicals

1. Brown University Alumni Magazine
2. Cambridge University Alumni Magazine
3. University of Leeds Alumni Magazine
4. Contingent  
   
5. JSTOR Daily
   
6. Lapwing
7. Piecework (many, many issues)
   
8. The Public Domain Review

Other

1. Elizabeth Bishop: Poems, Prose and Letters by Elizabeth Bishop
2. Sidelines: Talks and Essays by Lois McMaster Bujold
3. Dumped by Maryjane Farley
4. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
5. What If? by Randall Monroe
6. Christmas Dodos by Steve Stack 
   
7. Selected Letters by Virginia Woolf

Running

1. Spirit Run by Noah Alvarez 
   
2. Wild Running by Jen Benson
3. Run to the Finish by Amanda Brooks
   
4. The Runners' Brain by Jeff Brown 
5. Galloway's Marathon FAQ by Jeff Galloway
6. The Perfect Run: A Guide to Cultivating a Near-Effortless Running State by Mackenzie L Harvey
7. Faster Road Racing by Pete D. Pfitzinger
   
8. Going Long by Runners World
9. The Runners' World Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training
   

Viewing

 

Movies

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
2. Avengers Assemble
3. Black Panther  
4. Brittany Runs a Marathon
5. Captain America: The First Avenger 
   
6. Captain America: the Winter Soldier
7. Divergent 
   
8. How to Train Your Dragon
   
9. Incredible Hulk 
10. Iron Man
    
11. Iron Man 2
12. The Knight Before Christmas
    
13. Let It Snow
14. Pacific Rim: Uprising

Podcasts

1. Keeping Track
2. Into the Mystic
3. The Moth Radio Hour 
   
4. New England Legends 
   
5. A Runner's Life

TV Shows

1. Avatar (stalled in the middle of Season 3)
   
2. Bridgerton (all) 
3. Farscape (all) 
   
4. Good Omens (all)
   
5. Gotham (all)
6. Iron Fist (1 episode)
   
7. Lost in Space (all)
   
8. Marvel's Agents of Shield (Seasons 1-4)
9. The Story of God With Morgan Freeman (Season 3)
10. Salvation (all but the last 2 episodes)
    
11. Supernatural (Seasons 1 and 2)
12. Walking with Dinosaurs (2 episodes)

Youtube

1. 100 Days
2. The Run Experience
3. Vlogbrothers