A Year in Books
My 2020 Book Review
I’ve always loved to read and quarantine gave me the time to dive into my long to-read list. I accomplished my 10 book goal for the year, including novels, biographies and non-fiction books. Here is my 2020 reading list rated from lowest to highest:
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
Rating: 2/5 stars
The summary of this novel was incredibly intriguing and the book had over a 4 star rating on Goodreads. As soon as I discovered it, it went to the top of my to-read list. Characterized as a psychological thriller, the story followed Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, as he tried to understand what happened in the murder case of a famous fashion photographer, Gabriel. His wife, Alicia Berenson, was charged with shooting him five times in the face. Following his death, Alicia went mute.
The description reeled me in, but I was quickly disappointed. It felt like a very long read for a book that was only around 300 pages. Theo was a general unlikable character. The twist that comes at the very end of the novel was not all that surprising, in my opinion. Theo’s obsession with needing to treat Alicia and get to the bottom of why she murdered her husband made me believe they had to have some type of link prior to her being his patient. Overall, this novel was very slow and boring, and the ending was not nearly as suspenseful as I had anticipated.
“John Adams Under Fire: The Founding Father’s Fight for Justice in the Boston Massacre Murder Trial” by Dan Abrams and David Fisher
Rating: 3/5 stars
For a historical nerd, this read is heaven. The book reviews the tensions and context surrounding the Boston Massacre, which is a welcome refresher for those who haven’t learned about it since seventh grade social studies. With passages quoted from the Boston Massacre trial transcript, the reader can truly picture the scene that occurred in the courtroom. It also gave a great explanation of the dilemmas John Adams faced while defending the British soldiers.
Although it is slow-moving at times, it is steeped in history. I finished the book with a sense of accomplishment and more knowledge about our nation’s earliest days.
“In Five Years” by Rebecca Serle
Rating: 3/5 stars
“In Five Years” introduces Dannie Kohan as a young, ambitious lawyer who is committed to achieving her career goals. She also accepted her boyfriend’s proposal, and she was well on her way to completing her five year plan. But when she wakes up the next day, Dannie finds herself in a different apartment with a different fiancé five years in the future. As the following four and a half years unfold, Dannie tries to understand how and when everything in her life shifts.
The characters were not relatable and I did not connect with them. The storyline felt rushed. The twist in this novel made me sad and frankly a little upset. If you are looking for a quick novel, this is it. If you are looking for a good story with deeply relatable and interesting characters, skip this.
“The Brain: The Story of You” by David Eagleman
Rating: 4/5 stars
This book is an excellent look into how our brains work. “The Brain” is an easy, quick read that answers questions, such as how do we make decisions and what is reality? The perfect mix of neuroscience and digestible examples, the book is very accessible to a reader who wants an introduction to how our brains function.
Although I knew most of the information about how the brain works from my high school anatomy class, it was still a nice refresher. The stories were compelling and easy to understand, and it was definitely worth the read.
“One Day in December” by Josie Silver
Rating: 4/5 stars
Laurie is sitting on a packed bus during the holiday season when she looks out the window and meets the gaze of a handsome stranger. It was love at first sight. After spending a year searching for her mystery man, she finally meets him. Unfortunately, he is already dating someone — that someone being Laurie’s best friend and roommate, Sarah.
“One Day in December” is a love story and tale of friendship. It was a cute, heartwarming, heartbreaking and slightly steamy book. A good book to cuddle up with on a cold winter’s day.
“Know My Name” by Chanel Miller
Rating: 4/5 stars
Chanel Miller sheds the privacy of being Jane Doe and tells her story of working through the trauma of being raped. She goes in-depth about her memories of waking up in the hospital and having to unpack what happened to her that night at a party she attended near Stanford’s campus, a place she felt was her second home. Chanel shares her experience as Jane Doe in the courtroom, facing her rapist Brock Turner.
Reading the words of a sexual assault survivor is simultaneously heartbreaking and infuriating. Getting a glimpse into Chanel’s thoughts and feelings as she relived the worst moments of her life, shook me to my core. It is such a powerful memoir, and it is a must-read for everyone.
“The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate” by Fran Hauser
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fran Hauser shares strategies on how to maintain who you are as a kind, considerate woman without crumbling to the will of others in the workplace. Being nice does not mean conceding your values or ideas. Fran discusses her personal experiences and shares what she has learned while navigating her career.
As someone who struggles with trying to live up to other people’s expectations, particularly in the workplace, this book was a good reminder that you can stand your ground without being rude. You can be ambitious and confident while maintaining your authentic niceness and use it as a way to stand out from your peers. This is a perfect book if you need a reminder that you can achieve your goals and you can be proud of the person you are while you achieve them.
“The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row” by Anthony Ray Hinton
Rating: 4/5 stars
Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with murdering two men. Although Hinton was at work during the time that the men were killed, he was still wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row. Hinton trusted that the criminal justice system would be fair and eventually correct the mistake, but after a decade behind bars he decided to make the best of the situation. He ended up befriending others on death row and seeing the men and women there as people, not the crimes they committed.
This story was heartwrenching. Hinton spent 30 years imprisoned for murders he did not commit. All of his young adult years, he was locked away and unable to live freely due to a system that was supposed to offer protection. Instead the true murder walked free, while Hinton had to suffer every day smelling and hearing the others who he befriended get electrocuted to death. “The Sun Does Shine” tells an emotional, frustrating story, but one that needs to be told.
“Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump” by Kate Andersen Brower
Rating: 4/5 stars
“Team of Five” is about the most exclusive club — the former presidents. After leaving the Oval Office, the former presidents are often called upon for advice and help by the sitting president. This symbiotic relationship allows the former presidents to do what they love most — serve the country — while the sitting president gets guidance on how to navigate the most difficult situations.
I found this book a bit repetitive but otherwise it was a wonderful. I loved getting a glimpse into the presidents’ lives during their presidencies and how they dealt with relinquishing their power post-presidency. There were also so many fun facts sprinkled in, such as the father-son relationship between George W. H. Bush and Bill Clinton or how George W. H. Bush loved to skydive, doing his final jump at 90 years old. If you enjoy history and love personal stories, this is the perfect book for you.
“First: Sandra Day O’Connor” by Evan Thomas
Rating: 5/5
Sandra Day O’Connor is an inspirational, tough, driven woman who broke a major glass ceiling when became the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice. This biography takes the reader from Sandra’s childhood on her family’s cattle ranch through the end of her distinguished career. This biography illustrates her strong and charming personality through anecdotes from her family, friends and colleagues.
Reading about Sandra Day O’Connor motivated me. She was diligent in her work, charitable with her time, charming while socializing and handled tough situations with grace and integrity. Truly, “First” was the best book I picked up this year, and I will take the lessons I learned from Sandra Day O’Connor and apply them to my life.
