What I Read - September to December
Happy end of 2020! Who else is glad to close out this year? I know I am.
Didn't get much writing done this year. Well, I was going strong until March. Other writers I know made such good use of being home - happy for them. I'm hoping to start again in January - new year, same book. And - I'm aiming to finish it and start a new one.
I posted about all the books I read this past summer here: https://marthareynoldswrites.com/2020/09/19/what-i-read-this-summer/
Here's what I read from September through to yesterday:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I couldn't put it down. It was timely and riveting. Read it with an open heart. https://www.amazon.com/Hate-U-Give-Angie-Thomas/dp/0062498533/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
The Mothers by Brit Bennett. I gobbled up this book soon after I'd finished reading The Vanishing Half, also by Bennett, who is one of my favorite authors. From the book description: "All good secrets have a taste before you tell them, and if we'd taken a moment to swish this one around our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before its season."
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. This is Book 2 in the Amgash series, and I read this one before Book 1 (which I list farther down the page), but it didn't really matter. Elizabeth Strout is so skillful at digging into human emotions, and all of the stories in this book are connected.
Sing for Me by Maggie Clare. This is the first in a series of three books by Maggie Clare, the pen name of award-winning author and my pal Tabitha Lord. Tabitha, as Maggie, writes steamy romances, and Sing for Me checks all the boxes. A great escape novel!
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. Here is the first book in the two-book Amgash series. You can read this one first, but it's not necessary. I love the way Strout uncovers, layer by layer, the history and deep-seated emotions of each character.
The Land of Last Chances by Joan Cohen. Cohen tells an interesting story in this book, featuring an executive in her late forties who has an unexpected pregnancy. While some unexpected pregnancies can be too, too cliché, Cohen manages to put a fresh spin on the doubt and uncertainly the character experiences.
Woman on the Edge by Samantha Bailey. Wow! I feel as though I'm still catching my breath! Samantha Bailey's debut novel is a thriller in every sense of the word. Bailey shows us how to begin a story: A total stranger on the subway platform whispers, “Take my baby.” She places her child in your arms. She says your name. Then she jumps...
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The search for identity, and a home, defines this amazing novel about two Nigerians trying to fit in in the U.S. and the U.K. The writing is absolutely gorgeous and the story will capture you.
Saturday Night Sisters by Kathleen Irene Paterka. My friend Kathleen has written eight novels, all of them good, but I think this one is probably her best yet. Creating four distinct and compelling characters - all woman in their 60s - is not easy, but Paterka does it, and writes a captivating tale that will keep you immersed until the end.
Beach Read by Emily Henry. Don't be fooled by the title - this isn't Elin Hilderbrand. But it is a great read. It's got romance, some heat, and a depth you might not anticipate. Well-drawn characters and a plot that, for me, never got stuck.
I don't keep track of how many books I read (should I?). I know I read more this year than in previous years (thanks, COVID-19 and staying home). If I'm able to get back to my own writing in 2021, I won't read as much, so I'm glad I was able to complete as many books as I did this year.
How about you? Do you have a favorite book that you read this year?