Welcome to the 2020 book reviews by yours truly. Thanks to the ever-changing conditions of this wacky year, I was very grateful for the time I gained back to read. I have been able to get lost in a mix of self-help books with a lot of f*cks in them and some other classic utopian tales that make days go by a lot faster than wanted. Hope you enjoy.
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Where the Crawdads Sing
By Delia Owens
Set in the marsh areas of North Carolina in the 1950s, a young girl is raised by a broken family and grows up more independently than most. The writing is lyrical, poetic, and simply beautiful and enjoyable read with coming of age themes.
Rating: 8/10. Easy to read and gets you lost in the book quickly.
Find Your F*ckYeah
By Alexis Rockley
This book is one of those books that everyone in the current workforce should read. Alexis breaks down some dense psychology papers focusing on the science of happiness. Through this 3 act book, she gives you the science then processes to explore and find what makes you happy to finally provide you with ways to enjoy downtime while not going full throttle to your f*ckyeah .
Rating: 10/10 Easy language and very entertaining narrator.
F*ck No!
By Sarah Knight
Another self-help book centered around finding the okay-ness of being happy and doing what you want. I found this book very relatable and hilarious with its hypothetical (real) situations. Throughout the book, there are great visual graphs and diagrams that walk the reader through situations.
Rating: 10/10 Easy, insightful, & you end up changing bad habits.
Conversations with RBG
By Jeffrey Rosen
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has forever been a woman of great stature when it comes to politics. She was a trailblazer in the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Serving as the second woman ever to be selected for the US Supreme Court and this is just the beginning. Rosen narrates and contextualizes specific conversations through the decades and her words, learning lessons, and especially her vocabulary are exemplary.
Rating: 8/10 Dense legal terminology yet great moral lessons.
Handmaid's Tale
By Margaret Atwood
Wow. This book was very worth the wait, the way Atwood tells the story of the dystopian United States where men and religion are put on top of the health and safety of women really impacted me. I think this is not a book for everyone, very slow burn with internal monologues and actions hopefully never taken.
Rating: 8/10 Very interesting, takes a toll emotionally.
Normal People
By Sally Rooney
This novel, really did a number on me. I think every person in their 20s and growing up with certain societal expectations should read this. Relationships are already complicated and there is no rule book. This novel can be considered the guide of what to avoid because it teaches us to be healthy with ourselves before we are choosing to be with other for the wrong reasons.
Rating: 9/10 Great book, you get sucked in quick.
The Secret
By Rhonda Byrne
Even though this book was the craze during the late 2000s, I usually thought this was a ton of mumbo jumbo. Now reading this, has helped me trust the universe, the law of attraction, and the love of a good and loving life. Having a positive outlook, great people in your life, challenge yourself throughout your years. Growth happens if you let it, and what you create is what you experience.
Rating: 7/10 Thought-provoking and inspiring.
The Alchemist
By Paulo Coelho
Throughout this novel, I kept feeling like I was on uneven ground. I really enjoyed how there were a lot of complex beliefs like "everything is connected" and speaking "a universal language". The thing that struck me in the best way, Santiago (the main character) follows his happiness. He chooses to make himself happy and choosing this path and not giving up. The evolution of life and the sacred relationship with nature was a beautiful theme throughout.
Rating: 9/10 Enjoyable and worth multiple reads.
Talking to Strangers
By Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell is so smart, I think he has a fascinating brain and that's something I rarely say. This book was very much a mystery when I first got it, and now I believe in the "don't judge a book by its cover" line but in almost all aspects. His writing, structure, and examples (especially during these times) defiantly stand proud for breaking stereotypes and systemic policies.
Rating: I0/10 Behavioral Analysis in incredible.
Becoming
By Michelle Obama
This book was a magical and easy escape from the end of year reality. I took my time with this book, it is quite a piece of writing. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would about law and public service and what better teacher but the former First Lady. Her personal accounts on how she has made who she is today are very interesting & inspiring for hope. Michelle is a woman of poise and power.
Rating: 10/10 Michelle is a great storyteller & teacher.
The Four Agreements
By Don Miguel Ruiz
This was my second time reading this book, almost a guide for anyone and everyone to really center themselves and introduce these agreements. I read this 6 years ago in high school thinking I was going to become a perfect human. Yeah no. Now re-reading it, my eyes are open to everyday is a new opportunity for self-improvement and not every day's 100% will be the same and that's ok. We are human and we often need to recharge. 2020 has been that time to reconnect with these agreements & start practicing them again.
Rating: 10/10 Light, insightful and easy to implement.
Atomic Habits
By James Clear
I enjoyed this book a lot, it explained the science behind these successful habits and how psychology works behind it. Its all about the mindset, and wow, I do love learning about these things. Especially during 2020 which challenge a lot of different aspects of our daily tasks, this provided me with a good foundation of how to enforce and introduce habits into my daily life.
Rating: 10/10 Great book and self-growth is an add -on
Call Me By Your Name
By Andre Aciman
Currently Reading-
Rating: ?/10
You Are a Badass
By Jen Sincero
This book was very interesting, I think it is one of those companion books that will go with you. It becomes a close friend of mine, being a pretty good sounding board for important questions. I really enjoy the structure and relatability, at the same time. Throughout these couple of months where the holidays usually bring extravagant joys, it helped me appreciate the small moments of hope and faith, and growth through this year of chaos.
Rating: 9/10 Very enjoyable and great writing.
Tuesdays with Morrie
By Mitch Albom
This book made me cry like a baby, such a eye-opening and easy to read book. The message behind it is amazing, it is very sad. I was happy I could read it in my early 20s. I am happy to be able to learn from people who have lived so much and lived so greatly. I agree with the message of "love will always be the answer" throughout the swift story.
Rating: 10/10, I cried a lot after it was done, and am so thankful to learn from Morrie.
Educated
By Tara Westover
So, to begin with I consider myself really lucky to be able to have learned from such open-minded people and leaders in the world. This book seriously challenged my belief inflicted by different adults in my life. I learned how I choose what I believe, and at the end of the day, I choose to learn and branch out. I want to thank Tara for writing so honestly and providing us with such an extreme case of how education can completely shift a person's trajectory in life.
Rating: 10/10 lowkey-Mormons can be really weird.