I will not bother you with another introduction explaining how hard 2020 was. Dear reader, I am pretty sure you already know all of that well enough. If there was, however, one silver lining, I had much more time to read books. I managed to read 50 of them, a number I haven't reached since I was in high school. So, here is the best of them. Hopefully they can provide you with an escape from the ordinary world. A kind reminder that my ranking system is a bit odd. Indeed, it is not because I gave five stars to a book on Goodreads that it will end up here. If a book has faded from my memory since I read it (despite its high quality), it did not stand the test of time and, therefore, deserves no place here. On the other hand, a book that I gave four stars to might end up on the list because of its long-lasting impact. In a way, this list is more about my most memorable reads of the year. I also included for the first time a non-fiction section because I spend so much time reading books for school. I wanted my struggle to serve a purpose (other than obtaining a university degree, of course). (If you want a full summary and review of the books mentioned in this article, click on the title where you will find either a link to my review on the blog or to the Goodreads page as I do not review every book I read.) In no specific order, here are my top reads of the year. Fiction 1. Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck (tr. Susan Bernofsky) Three words: Immigration, old man main character (is it just me or is that an immediate selling point?), awakening No great surprise here. I know I just told you that these will be in no specific order, but I am making an exception just for this one. This is easily my #1 book of the year and one of my favourite books ever. Go, Went, Gone is the story of humanity in many ways. It is a tale of migration, immigration and struggle, but also of hope for change. 2. Villains #2 Vengeful by V.E. Schwab Three words: Action-packed, superheroes, girl power It was Vengeful that made me purchase the box set of Schwab’s other series, A Darker Shade of Magic. This speaks volumes (pun) because I personally never buy box sets. However, the book cemented Schwab’s undeniable talent to write suspenseful, character-driven stories. The Villains series is like Marvel on steroids: same thrill, but with a better, more creative plot and unique characters. Vengeful also showed tremendous growth from the first novel in the series, Vicious. Watch out for my Darker Shade of Magic review next year and maybe for a third volume in the Villains duology-turned-potentially-trilogy? 3. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum Three words: Immigration, coming of age, intergenerational Rum's work is essential. It tells the story of too many women, women who feel the pressures of conformity, integration and male dominance. It is raw and can be triggering for some people due to scenes of abuse. It is this honesty in A Woman is No Man that makes it so memorable. Rum's work is promising, and she is an author to watch out for in the coming decade. 4. La douleur de Marguerite Duras Trois mots: Deuxième guerre mondiale, drame, histoires courtes *Merci HB pour le prêt. La douleur est un de ces livres auquel j’ai donné quatre étoiles lorsque je l’ai lu cet été. Par contre, depuis, il me trotte dans la tête. Sa force: le style de Duras qui mélange poésie et dureté. Il est surprenant que La douleur ne soit pas une des œuvres phares de l’autrice, malgré cela elle mérite d’être lu pour son portrait poignant de la France sous l’occupation nazie et la subséquente libération de Paris pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale. 5. The Handmaid’s Tale #1 The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Three words: Psychological thriller, dystopian society, better than the show As I mentioned already in my review of The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, I initially did not review the first volume since everyone has already read it and loved it. So, I shall only confirm what is already public knowledge: this is Atwood at her best. It is a chilling story due to its plausibility. Indeed, Atwood's writing process includes exclusively using real-life situations regarding the treatment of women. So, if you are thinking to yourself that the plot is far-fetched, well, you would historically be proven wrong. It is a shame that the sequel was not on par with the original, but it is still a modern classic worth reading. Non-fiction 1. Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics and the Loss of Aboriginal Life by James Daschuk Three words: Indigenous history, disease, Canadian politics Clearing the Plains should be a mandatory read in high school history classes. It is simple and definitely approachable for all readers, not just intellectuals. Daschuk’s thesis is highly ambitious, but he succeeds in showing us the origins of the health disparities between non- and Indigenous communities today. The government is no longer an innocent observer incapable of helping the Plains population, but a prominent actor in their demise. I would highly encourage everyone to read the newest edition of this book (2019) as it includes interesting forwards and notes. 2. Desire: A History of Sexuality in Europe from the Greeks to the Present by Anna Clark Three words: Sexuality in Europe, survey, approachable Desire is, unfortunately, marketed mostly towards scholars. However, it is surprisingly still accessible. Indeed, due to the massive scope, covering over a thousand years, Desire is the perfect introductory work to those interested in the study of sexuality. Clark also deconstructs several modern-day assumptions about sex and its many practices. Clear and concise, but also fun, Clark's book is a classic for just about everyone. 3. No Choice: The 30 Year Fight for Abortion on Prince Edward Island by Kate McKenna Three words: Canadian history (Maritimes especially), religion, activism No Choice was such a lovely surprise on my mandatory reading list for a class. Semi-autobiographical, non-academic works are rarely read, even less so when they are about activism. McKenna, a journalist, writes honestly about the struggle to make abortion healthcare accessible to women living on PEI, a fight she got heavily involved in as a student on the island. She draws a fascinating picture of this tiny community united by the Catholic church and its various anti-abortion organizations who cultivated a culture of shame and repression for decades. It is an ode to women's rights activists who persevered despite the alienation and were, ultimately, successful. 4. Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky Three words: social history, funny, survey I love books that explore seemingly meaningless ‘things’ and shed light on the ways they are not so unimportant after all. The story of cod (yes, the fish) is definitely more fascinating than it sounds. It is the story of the Americas' 'discovery,' the rapid growth of cities and the eternal attempt to feed people. Kurlansky also notes occasionally on the current situation of fishermen on the American East Coast struggling to compete against big fishing conglomerates. While it may not be the best-written work, it is utterly captivating. 5. True Relations: Reading, Literature and Evidence in Seventeenth-Century England by Frances E. Dolan Three words: methodology, history and literature studies, seventeenth-century England Rare are the books that get better as you write an assignment. True Relations is the exception to the rule. The book caters to a hyper-specific group of individuals. Indeed, unless you are doing advanced research in history, I would not recommend this book. It is dense, hard to get through and full of academic jargon. However, for those who persevere, you will find that Dolan is a brilliant scholar with a creative new approach to methodology. She pleads the reader to utilize analysis methods from both history and literature departments so we can all benefit from a more comprehensive view of classic texts from the seventeenth-century like witch trials depositions, Shakespeare plays and others. True Relations’ argument is poignant and should be considered by anyone doing academic research in history. (Honourable mentions)
The Cemetary of Forgotten Books #3 The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Nadja de André Breton
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