On a global and national scale 2020 was incredibly painful, and I feel that keenly. But on a very small personal scale, 2020 was one of the best years of my life. I loved having my children home again and the relationships we deepened, I loved the slow pace of our days, I loved the continued healing God brought to my body and mind, I loved the precious gift of time. It wasn’t an easy year, but my own hell came two years earlier, and so I felt acutely aware of the incredible gift of life during these months of pandemic. And–there was a lot of time for reading!
Books I Read in 2020 (in order of completion, with year of publication)
Persuasion by Jane Austen, FIC, 1818
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Mystery, 1939
Song of the Lark by Willa Cather, FIC, 1915
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson, NF, 2019
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally, Biographical FIC, 1982
Why Smart People Hurt by Eric Maisel, NF, 2013
Emma by Jane Austen, FIC, 1815
The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge, FIC, 1963
A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, FIC, 1928
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, FIC, 1811
The Chosen by Chaim Potok, FIC, 1967
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle, NF, 1972
The Summer of the Great-Grandmother by Madeleine L’Engle, NF, 1974
Flags Out Front by Douglas Wilson, FIC, 2017
The War In Our Hearts by Eva Seyler, FIC, 2019
The Small Rain by Madeleine L’Engle, FIC, 1945
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor, NF, 2014
A Severed Wasp by Madeleine L’Engle, FIC, 1982
Kristen Lavransdatter Vol. 1: The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset, FIC, 1920 (Archer and Scott translation)
Colliding With the Call by Corella Roberts, NF, 2020
Kristen Lavransdatter Vol. 2: Mistress of Husaby by Sigrid Undset, FIC, 1921 (Archer and Scott translation)
Sounder by William H. Armstrong, FIC 1969
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy, FIC, 2015
Escape From Reason by Frances A. Schaeffer, NF, 1968
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, FIC 2017
Upstream by Mary Oliver, NF, 2016
Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, NF, 1955
God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchins, NF, 2007
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, FIC, 2012
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, FIC, 1847
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, FIC, 1847
The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins, FIC, 1859
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, FIC, 1970
The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens, NF, 2010
Silas Marner by George Eliot, FIC, 1861
Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, NF, 1946
The Promise by Chaim Potok, FIC, 1969
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, FIC, 1972
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, FIC, 2012
Spring Came On Forever by Bess Streeter Aldrich, FIC, 1935
Jack by Marilynne Robinson, FIC, 2020
The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, FIC, 1990
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, FIC, 1972
Family Violence Across the Lifespan by Barnett, Miller-Perrin, textbook, 2011
Exploring Lifespan Development by Laura E. Berk, textbook, 2018
Davita’s Harp by Chaim Potok, FIC, 1985
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, FIC, 1843
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, FIC, 1994
Dear God, Have You Ever Gone Hungry? by Joseph Bau, Memoir, 1990
Devotions (an anthology) by Mary Oliver, Poetry, 2017
Books I loved but didn’t finish: Pensees by Blaise Pascal, Seeds of Hope by Jane Goodall
The oldest book I completed: Sense and Sensibility, 1811
Most impactful book: Dear God, Have You Every Gone Hungry? A concentration camp memoir by Joseph Bau, who calls himself “one of Schindler’s Jews”. His illustrations are incredible.
Most beautiful prose: Kristin Lavransdatter (Scott and Archer translation)
A book that may have changed my life: Why Smart People Hurt
The book I savored the longest: Devotions – poetry by Mary Oliver. I began reading on January 1st and finished on December 30th.
A book that made me cry: A Man Called Ove
A book that made me laugh: A Man Called Ove
An author I know in real life: Eva Seyler (Almost. I’ve been friends with her husband since we were teens, so I feel like I know her)
Favorite new-to-me authors: Sigrid Undset, Bess Streeter Aldrich
Favorite fiction I read for the first time: Kristin Lavransdatter, A Man Called Ove
Favorite non-fiction I read for the first time: Adorning The Dark, Devotions
Favorite books I have read multiple times: The Chosen, Jane Eyre
My least favorite book of the year: A Severed Wasp (my apologies to L’Engle). I also greatly disliked The Keeper of Lost Things and Learning to Walk in the Dark.
Total books completed: 50
My daughter gave me Devotions by Mary Oliver for Christmas last years and I love it. she also gave me Why I Rise early also by Mary Oliver.
Isn’t it wonderful, Jean? And thanks for mentioning the second book. I’ff off to put it on hold at the library.
This is a grand list and it is making me wish I were reading more! But, with an apt metaphor, someone recently told me: “Don’t try to live your whole life in this one chapter.” So I’m saying that I can’t do more reading *for now* but another chapter will come later in which there is time for books. I’m inspired by your list and your reflections!
Kessia, yes to other chapters. For most of my parenting career I read very few books compared to the last two years. And this year I’m already busier – I don’t expect such a long list next January. But I’m so thankful 2020 got to be filled with books!
Just got your email — and I’m happy you’ll be writing again. You’re a gem, Harmony Moore. Love and best wishes.
Jayne Eyre is the book I have read the most times ❤️ I’ve enjoyed all the Mary Oliver I’ve read; now I have inspiration to add her to my shelf.