It’s Saturday morning, and I’m currently sitting in bed with a cup of coffee. The sun is shining brilliantly through my window, making it slightly difficult to see my screen, and I’m listening to a playlist on Spotify called ‘Calm Morning Piano Songs’. Wholesome? I think so. Oh, the (rare) joys of not drinking too much wine on a Friday night in lockdown.
I’m back with another post. Thought I’d better get going with this one, seeing as it’s called ‘My 2020 book review’, and we’re already 3 months and 6 days into 2021.
I go through phases with reading, as I’m sure we all do. By ‘phases’, I mean there might be weeks where the last thing I feel like doing is opening a book, then there are other weeks where I just can’t get enough. I’d say it depends on a) the book, and b) my mental capacity to absorb sentences on a page. The two go hand in hand: crap book = no absorption.
Another contributing factor is of course finding the time. That work/life balance. However, I don’t think people can really use this as an excuse. If you really want to start reading more, you can 100% find at least 15 minutes a day to do so. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can get through books if you dedicate a small amount of time each day to them.
I’m a strong believer that if you’re still not captivated by a book ⅓ of the way in, it probably isn’t for you. If you’re not enjoying it, put it to the side and start a new one. There’s plenty to choose from. You don’t have to force yourself to finish it just because you started, what’s the point in that?
I also think you can take breaks from books and come back to them. I tend to (controversially) have 2 books going at once. One fiction, and one non-fiction. I find that balance nice, and enjoy switching between the two. But anyone who can have 3 going at once, that’s impressive and I can’t relate.
Matt Haig, one of my favourite authors, has this brilliant quote (along with many other brilliant quotes/opinions) on his Instagram page. It reads:
Reading isn’t important because it helps you get good grades or a job. It’s important because it gives you room to exist beyond the reality you’re given. Reading makes the world better. It is how humans merge. How minds connect. Dreams. Empathy. Understanding. Escape. Reading is love in action. Matt Haig
With that, here is a list of 9 standout books I read in 2020, and what they made me feel. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers!
1. Whatever it takes - Adele Parks
Adele Parks is the author of the no. 1 Sunday Times bestseller, Lies, Lies, Lies. Haven’t read that one, but it’s a gripping domestic thriller that’s on my list. After writing ‘it’s on my list’, I quickly realised I don’t actually have a 2021 book list going yet, so just created one. It’s now on my list.
To be honest, I stumbled across Whatever It Takes because it was free on my kindle. Before I went travelling (shut up Belle we know you went travelling), I had a fleeting picture of my future self lying on beaches every day drinking smoothies next to the ocean whilst consuming incredible literature, and confidently downloaded about 12 books on my kindle. Don’t get me wrong, there were a day or two like that, but 12 was a little optimistic.
Whatever It Takes was 1 of the 12 books I actually got through. It was an easy but grasping read, and set in the UK...so was comforting to read whilst away from home.
My one sentence to sum up this book
Love is complicated, and will always end up a mess if uncomfortable situations aren’t dealt with head-on, or avoided by taking easy, dishonest routes out.
Some quotes I love
In a world stuffed full of people desperate to keep control, be that over themselves or other people, Mark was amazingly refreshing; she adored the way he let go. Eloise knew that the scary thing about the introduction of the subject of love was that there was no set pattern to the course of the events that followed. Whatever It Takes - Adele parks
Why I think you should read it
Through realistic and relatable characterisation, themes of love, getting old, friendship, betrayal, truth, and loss are explored in a way that hits hard and leaves you thinking. All-round great book to be honest.
2. More Myself: A Journey - Alicia Keys
My mum bought me a hard copy of Alicia’s Keys’ book for my 23rd birthday. We both found out about it after listening to Berné Brown’s podcast ‘Unlocking Us’. As the guest for this episode, Alicia Keys discusses how writing this book allowed her to deeply reflect upon the ups and downs of her journey in becoming the woman she is today.
I have to agree with Berné on this one, I first thought I’d read this book and learn more about Alicia (which I did), but I didn’t realise how much I’d actually learn about myself as well.
My one sentence to sum up this book
Alicia Keys is the definition of a girl on fire; being vulnerable and unstable is uncomfortable at first, but will ultimately make you a stronger person who knows who they are.
Some quotes I love
Coming from a place where the sense of struggle lingers as strong as the smell of piss, I’d grown up seeing life through a single lens: survival. … and from that vantage point, opportunity is never a promise, rather it’s a hope and powerful hustle I watched my mother keep up year after year. More Myself - Alicia Keys
Why I think you should read it
It’s a masterclass in courage and vulnerability. Dimming your inner light to please others may be inevitable sometimes, but this book will help you understand when and how you need to truly let it shine.
3. Brazzaville Beach - William Boyd
This is the first William Boyd book I’ve read, and it did not disappoint. Partly because of the many intertwining styles and storylines (which get you thinking), and partly because it’s just beautiful to read.
My one sentence to sum up this book
A gripping story about mankind and the complexity of the human mind.
Some quotes I love
You felt as if the resolution of human problems demanded passion and brute unreason, some spitting and shouting. But then I have taken new comfort and refuge in the doctrine that advises one not to seek tranquillity in certainty, but in permanently suspended judgment. The unexamined life is not worth living. Brazzaville Beach - William Boyd
Why I think you should read it
Boyd’s eloquent style makes the actual process of reading enjoyable. Yes, the themes are rather complex, and yes, some will probably go over your head...but the way in which the words are put together in the first place is a sensation within itself.
4. I am not your baby mother - Candice Brathwaite
This was a fascinating read which gave me insight into the realities of black motherhood in the UK. I love Candice Brathwaite and everything she’s about.
After the tragic news surrounding George Floyd in May 2020, the world spoke on a large scale. Are we still speaking? I’d say so. We’re having those uncomfortable conversations, and I’ve been taking time to educate myself.
If you have social media, chances are you posted something. I put up a story which read:
"Yes, social media is a great platform to show you care and gain insightful information from others. But however you decide to show you care, someone out there will criticise you and say you’re doing it wrong. Let’s be real, we’re never going to get it completely right… but don’t let this stop you. We all care, and we’re all doing the best we can to cope with this new age of information overload. It can get really overwhelming. Share what you are doing to inspire others, but take more time actually doing those things rather than posting about doing them. I know everyone reading this has probably heard this a thousand times, but it’s what you do offline that counts. And these things you do offline don’t need to be groundbreaking, take it at your own pace and do what you can. This week, I’ve been educating myself.”
Any ways, back to Candice Brathwaite's book.
My one sentence to sum up this book
Motherhood is universal, and it’s about time the British media portrays it in a way that is representative of our society as a whole.
Some quotes I love
I want black women to know that their version of motherhood is as righteous and as sacred as any other and deserves to be as protected as any other woman’s. The Black Woman is one with many faces. This is not because we want to fool the world, but because we must work overtime to ensure the world doesn’t fool us. There were general stereotypes and beliefs directly projected onto black women that I just wasn’t here for. Like every other race on earth, we are varied and nuanced and we were long overdue to see a more balanced representation of ourselves. I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite
Why I think you should read it
You just should, really.
5. The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
I read Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment last July. I was lucky to spend a week working for accommodation on a beautiful farm up in Hertfordshire. Surrounded by the rolling hills and nature, it was an enchanting setting to take in Tolle’s words and reflect.
As the title implies, this book is all about focusing on the present moment. It got a little too spiritual for me towards the end, but I enjoyed it immensely nonetheless. Also, I just want to say that focusing on the present is really difficult, and it doesn’t come naturally because humans aren’t wired to think like that. Looking ahead to the future and planning is ultimately how we survive and go about our daily lives, but taking a step back from this sometimes to just ‘be’ is one of the most powerful and beneficial exercises we can train our mind to do.
My one sentence to sum up this book
Eckhart Tolle reminds us how important it is to surrender to the present moment from time to time, where problems don’t exist and the opportunity to remember that we are already complete and perfect arises.
Some quotes I love
It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living. Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life. I have lived with several Zen masters -- all of them cats.
Why I think you should read it
It will help you understand how to have a better, more peaceful relationship with your thoughts - because at the end of the day, the one person you’re going to spend the most time with throughout your life is… you!
6. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
I also read this book last summer, whilst staying on the idyllic channel island of Jersey.
This fable is about a young shepherd called Santiago who adventures from his home in Spain to the Egyptian pyramids in search of treasure. On his travels, he meets a gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist. These characters help the shepherd along his journey, but eventually make Santiago realise that the true treasure is found from within.
Paulo Coelho’s fable reminded me of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novella ‘The Little Prince’. They are both enchanting, simple stories that creatively tell us how to best deal with life’s challenges through the eyes of innocent, young souls.
My one (two) sentence(s) to sum up this book
You should never hide away from your true feelings, as this will ultimately cost you everything that is important; life will inevitably get in the way, but we can’t let this disrupt what our hearts truly desire.
Some quotes I love
It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. “Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked. “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.” There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
Why I think you should read it
It’s a lovely, comforting read coloured with warmth and magic.
7. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
A classic that many of us probably read at school. I never got to it at school, but used this lockdown-time to delve into Harper Lee’s historic masterpiece.
Set in the American South, this novel follows the awakening of young Jean Louis as she battles with the challenges and confusions of racism and prejudice.
Lee based the character of Jean Louis on herself, the character of Dill on her childhood friend Truman Capote, and the character of Atticus Finch on her own father, Amasa Coleman Lee. Amasa Coleman Lee was also a lawyer, and the story is partly inspired by his unsuccessful defense of two African American men who were convicted of murder.
My one sentence to sum up this book
A sensitive, dramatic novel that strips back human behaviour to its roots and inspires compassion.
Some quotes I love
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs. They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Why I think you should read it
It’s educational, it’s raw, and it’s beautifully written.
8. One Day - David Nicholls
One of those books that you just can’t put down. I had read the first chapter or two of ‘One Day’ years ago, but for some reason didn’t finish it. Life got in the way that time, but this time I quickly glided through, with Nicholls' emotive writing tugging at my heartstrings the whole entire time.
My one sentence to sum up this book
Over a period of 20 years, the story of Emma Morely and Dexter Mayhew is a heart wrenching exploration of the grief, pain, comfort and relief that comes with loving someone deeply and unconditionally.
Some quotes I love
You're gorgeous, you old hag, and if I could give you just one gift ever for the rest of your life it would be this. Confidence. It would be the gift of confidence. Either that or a scented candle. I'm not the consolation prize, Dex. I'm not something you resort to. I happen to think I'm worth more than that. You feel a little bit lost right now about what to do with your life, a bit rudderless and oarless and aimless but that’s okay… That’s alright because we’re all meant to be like that at twenty-four. One Day - David Nicholls
9. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
Last but certainly not least, the Number 1 Sunday Times best seller, ‘The Midnight Library’, by one of my favourite authors Matt Haig.
To me, Matt Haig is one of those writers who just seems to get it. What do I mean by ‘it’?
If I’m honest, I’m not too sure. ‘It’ can be anything you’re going through right now, or something you feel but don’t know how to describe. ‘It’ can be an emotion, or lack of emotion, a friend or an enemy. Whatever ‘it’ means to you, likelihood is Matt Haig can put it into words.
Some may argue that Haig’s writing and whole persona is a little too fluffy; a cushion that’s too soft, meaning there’s a danger of getting too comfortable and not achieving our full potential. There are some cruel and ruthless people in power and systems in place that tell us to work hard and leave your emotions at the door. Want to be the best? ‘Man up’ and face the world, this is just the way it is.’
This, of course, is changing. Matt Haig is a huge advocate for Men’s Mental Health and Suicide prevention. He highlights that being utterly vulnerable and in touch with your feelings is one of the most courageous things someone can do.
Any ways, back to ‘The Midnight Library’. I’m purposefully not going to say too much about this one, because I really think everybody should just read it.
My one sentence to sum up this book
You must trust that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be on your life journey right now, because you are.
Some quotes I love (and there are quite a few)
A person was like a city. You couldn’t let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don’t like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile. ‘Never underestimate the big importance of small things,’ Mrs Elm said. ‘You must always remember that.’ It wasn’t the shock of having been close to death, It was the shock of realising she actually wanted to live. Maybe even the most seemingly perfectly intense or worthwhile lives ultimately felt the same. Acres of disappointment and monotony and hurts and rivalries with flashes of wonder and beauty. We don’t have to do everything in order to be everything, because we are already infinite. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
Why I think you should read it
Reading this book is like getting a big warm hug from someone who really cares about you, and you care about them too.
And that, was my 2020 book review.
Hope you enjoyed. Got some recommendations? Let me know! Big love,
Belle x
Comments