My Top 20 Books from 2020

2020 was the year that I discovered goodreads, and this has been life changing. Having a goodreads account has been key in motivating me to make reading a consistent priority in this season of my life. Being able to set reading goals, track my progress, and maintain an ever-growing bucket list of future reads has been a great means of accountability that has gotten me back into doing what I love on a much more regular schedule. As a child, I was rarely without a book (or three) on the go, and I would often read for hours at a time, completely oblivious to the world around me. As an adult, with many competing responsibilities and priorities, it has been much more difficult to maintain a steady reading schedule. When I was in university, I read only assigned readings for my courses. I had the occasional book of my own choosing to carry me through summer vacation or Christmas holidays (when I wasn’t working to pay off tuition), but I certainly didn't have a consistent reading habit to foster joy and inspire reflection, contemplation, research, creativity, and conversation.

I set an ambitious reading goal of 50 books for 2020, which I (probably predictably) failed to meet. However, I did manage to get through over 30 books, audiobooks, and ebooks, the majority of which I found enjoyable, enlightening, and worth sharing. Although a little late (seeing as we are halfway through 2021), I would like to share a list of 20 books that I enjoyed read in 2020. The books are listed in the order that they were read, as I can’t decide on an order of preference. I've linked each title to its goodreads description and reviews.

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This was a delightful read that I was revisiting for the first time since I was a little girl. The charm of the characters, setting, and storyline held just as much appeal for me now as then. I particularly loved the emphasis on the importance of spending time in nature, developing friendship, and taking delight in little things. Although there were a few too many references to the healing power of “magic” for my liking at the end of the book, I mentally replaced this with God and found that my conscience could agree with the sentiment once I had done so.

2. Poustinia: Encountering God in Silence, Solitude, and Prayer by Catherine Doherty

This earned a spot within my top three books that I read for this year. It was my first exposure to the writing of Catherine Doherty, and the simplicity, intimacy, and practicality of her spiritual writing really spoke to me. The theme of creating an interior Poustinia in which one can find God amidst the chaos of a noisy world still resonates with me today. I anticipate doing a more in-depth blog post on this topic in the future…

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This was the first audiobook that I downloaded through my Libby app, and it was probably the longest one I could have chosen - over 20 hours! Thankfully, I was able to listen to it over the course of a few weeks in which I had a lot of housework to complete and driving to do, so my car rides and meal prep time were filled with this delightful recording. The characters were rich, the storyline captivating, and the accents in the audiobook were so realistic I found myself taking them on as my own in ordinary conversation for weeks after finishing the book!

4. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

For me, this read became a classic case of don't judge a book by its title. I had my suspicions that this would be a bit of a fluffy, self-help type book. However, it didn't take me long to realize that this was an accessible scientific analysis of the necessity of sleep and dreaming for positive cognitive function. To this day, I still quote statistics that I recall from the book or tidbits of knowledge that I gained to my family members and friends (my mom has finally commented that it’s probably about time she read the book I've spoken so much about). If you're looking for motivation to make sleep a higher priority in your life, or if you want to understand more clearly the benefits of getting a good night of sleep, this is the book for you.

5. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

There's not much I can say about this trilogy other than

1) These books are classics that I will continue to return to frequently

2) Given my Catholic upbringing and literary interests, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that my first time through these stories was when I was in my mid 20s

3) If you haven't read these books, stop reading this blog post now and go find yourself a set (bought or borrowed) to start on

6. The Sound of Beauty by Michael Kurek

I found this book referenced in the footnotes of another I was reading, and it turned out to be a providential discovery. I ordered it online and read it eagerly in coffee shops with a London Fog in one hand and a pencil in another. A lot of the themes in the book resonated with what I was wrestling with at the time as I contemplated the need for a revival of sacred liturgical music within the Catholic Mass, and how God might be calling me to participate in that process. Additionally, the author shared insights into Beauty as a transcendental that overlapped with an aesthetics course that I had taken as part of my university degree, and I found the throwback to that intellectually stimulating class very satisfying. I highly recommend this book for all lovers of beauty and music.

7. Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times - A Conversation with Peter Seewald

I listened to this series of informal, intimate conversations with Pope Benedict XVI on audiobook, and I was very impressed. As always, Pope Benedict XVI provides astonishing insight into the life and mission of the church. I would love to get my hands on a physical copy of the book someday, as there were many segments I would like to re-read and sections I would like to underline in these conversations.

8. GK Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense by Dale Ahlquist

This is an excellent introduction to the unique wit and wisdom of GK Chesterton. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking for a survey of some of his most significant non-fiction writing. Dale Ahlquist is a leading Chesterton scholar, and his knowledge and love of Chesterton's thought and works adds great value to this book.

9. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

This was one of my favorite Lewis books read to date (aside from the Narnia series). I listened to the audiobook version, which was quite well done. This is a remarkably insightful and entertaining presentation of the reality of spiritual warfare, temptation, and the struggle between good and evil in the modern world.

10. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is a very gifted storyteller, and I found myself convinced of the premise of this book as a result. I could relate on a personal level to the idea behind the tales and anecdotes that Malcolm weaves together, which is that success is not so much a result of unusual and unequaled talent as it is a result of access to the right opportunities. In other words, our socioeconomic background, where we live, where we go to school, what extracurricular activities we engage in, and what kind of investment we receive from teachers, coaches, mentors and parents determines much about where we will end up in life come out what we will end up doing, and how successful we will be at this.

11. The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P. Freedman

This is a practical manual for decision making written in a relatable and accessible style. I found myself underlining a lot of key tips and reminders as I read, calling to mind various situations in my life to which I could apply them.

12. Give Up Worry for Lent! 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ by Gary Zimak

This book is small, but it packs a punch! I've wrestled with worry and anxiety for most of my life, and I was pleasantly surprised at the impact the wisdom in this book had on my practice of prayer and everyday living. It was great preparation for all the changes and anxiety-inducing events that began in the spring of 2020, a season of my life where peace became very difficult to hold on to.

13. Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Pope Benedict XVI

This is currently the only Jesus of Nazareth book I have read by Pope Benedict (there are three), and it was a fantastic read during Lent. The subject matter is dense and academic, so I took it in small bits at a time over several weeks. However, I personally think that Pope Benedict's biblical exegesis is brilliant, and that he does a fantastic job of combining a thorough scholarly analysis of Scripture with the mystical elements of praying with and living in God's Word. True to its title, this book provided me with deeper insight into the person of Jesus Christ as portrayed in the gospels. It helped me better understand the connections of Christ’s Passion to Jewish culture and his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

14. Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri Nouwen

This is a highly quotable book that drew me deeper into the mystery of God’s intimate an incomparable love for each soul he has created, and how we should then live knowing that we are God’s Beloved. It is a short read, but well worth reflecting on (particularly if you are feeling weighed down and spiritually drained by the expectations and responsibilities of modern life).

15. The Giver by Louis Lowry

This was one of my first attempts at reading a dystopian novel, and it met my expectations. Although the writing was bland at times and some concepts overemphasised, I found much material for reflection in the themes of social conformity, memory, purpose, and identity.

16. Island of the World by Michael D. O'Brien

Wow. Just wow. This book tore my heart into a million pieces and left an imprint on my heart. I carried the characters of this book in my mind for weeks, and the spiritual journey I walked along with the protagonist was incredibly real and moving. If you pick up this book, have a box of Kleenex handy, as well as a journal and a space to pray and reflect on what the fictional Josip Lasta’s life will teach you about suffering, sacrifice, identity, and love.

17. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This is a wonderfully well written coming of age story, but I was not prepared for the ending. I think I’ll just leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

18. Evangelli Gaudium (the Joy of the Gospel) by Pope Francis

This encyclical made me more passionate about sharing the faith than I have been in a long time. Pope Francis’ call to Christian mission stoked the flames of my desire to more actively live out the message of the gospel and prayerfully seek out opportunities to accompany others in the journey to experiencing the fullness of God’s love for them. This encyclical has come up frequently in my conversations with friends and mentors ever since, which indicates it clearly made an impact on my heart.

19. I Heard God Laugh by Matthew Kelly

I'm not usually a big fan of Matthew Kelly books, but this one was definitely an exception. I found this to be a powerful and convicting reminder of the simplicity of prayer and the importance of learning to listen to and converse with God daily. This is a quick but insightful read, a practical guide to the often over-complicated (and thus frequently discarded) practice of daily prayer. The Prayer Process he outlines is a wonderful introduction to an expanded and simplified Ignatian examen style of prayer, and could be easily implemented by any person of faith (or even someone who wants to explore the reality of God and the spiritual life but doesn't know where to begin). I highly recommend tips for anyone who is seeking peace amidst daily chaos and develop a more intimate relationship with God.

20. Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Unset

I was wonderfully surprised by how much I enjoyed this trilogy. These three books will be added to that list of novels that have had a significant impact on me and are worth revisiting and sharing as the years go by. Along with Catherine Doherty’s Poustina and Michael O’Brien’s The Island of the World, I would place this within the top three books I read in 2020.

I started this three-in-one novel with the expectation that it would be a bit dry and long-winded (as some other historical fiction I've read), but I found the characters so human and the descriptive prose so compelling that it was easy to be absorbed in the story. There were several moments in the dialogue where truth was spoken so profoundly that I had to pause and reflect on what was just spoken. It was never didactic, but always convicting. For example, there is one line near the end that jumped out at me, its truth highlighted poignantly by the reader's knowledge of the protagonist's lifelong struggle with her guilt and unworthiness before God. The words are spoken to Kristin by a beloved friend and priest: "'But you, Kristin," he said, turning toward her. 'It seems to me that you should have seen so much by now that you would put more trust in God the Almighty. Haven't you realized yet that He will hold up each soul as long as that soul clings to Him?'"