Books that enjoyed 2020 more than me
It comes as no surprise that another year has passed us. Its success rate would call for a discussion, but I hope I can speak for all and say it is on the tail end of disastrous. Since activities were limited, reading became the race, against all the time in the world (for seven months). So begins my 2020 reading list.
Non-Fiction:
The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves — Stephen Grosz
My first non-fiction read of the year which politely intruded on sessions between psychoanalyst Grosz and his patients. Each session has something new to share and offer. Some with laughs, others laden with irony. Perhaps we take away something from this, just as the patients did. Link to GoodReads.
SAFE — Derek Owusu
This collection gave me an insight into the psyche of Black Men in Britain today. These essays embark on truth, identity and family in order to understand themselves and if the world has a place for them. Link to GoodReads.
Humans of New York — Brandon Stanton
An extension from his social media, this book offers a visual intimacy with portraits of the daily storytellers of New York. I have never smiled so hard at the reactions and faces of these beautiful people. I hope they continue to stir out their stories with the honesty and comedy I felt. Link to GoodReads.
Poetry:
Completed Poems — Maya Angelou
Since lockdown began in March, I could not bring myself to write anything, let alone poetry. I found solace situating myself in the comfort of words that transform emotions into a crafted bubble. Maya Angelou served this purpose nicely. Link to GoodReads.
Wild Embers — Nikita Gill
This was the first anthology I read outside of school. I remember reading excerpts in passing but never fully focused my attention on the poet. The collection breeds a rebellious beauty that many of us can associate with. To be comfortable not only in our skin but ourselves. It’s one I love to revisit now and again. Link to GoodReads.
Graphic novel:
Killing & Dying: Stories— Adrian Tomine
Sleepwalk and other stories — Adrian Tomine
Total reading time: 45 minutes. The quickest read this year (I say this as a slow reader). The stories waver between isolation, sentimentality and horticulture-inspired sculptures… or is it sculpture-inspired horticulture? More often, these stories leave the characters on a cliff-hanger, so we don’t have to. Link to GoodReads.
Fiction:
The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho
When I first heard about this book, there was a lot of discourse about the genius of it, or lack thereof. So I waited for the dust to settle.
Verdict: the genius is drizzled over the fantastical moments; the ones that grab your attention. Coelho builds momentum in a way I have not come across. It surpasses expectations due to the misdirection. A wonderful read. Link to GoodReads.
1980. Barcelona. Cobbled streets. Gothic architecture. An aesthetic that slowly grew on me the more I read this book. A tale leading two teenagers into a mystery that overwhelms them. A woman hiding more than meets the eye. The imagery and symbolism in this book is more than enough to encourage my curiosity of this city. However, 1980 is a long way away from 2020.
It was not the easiest of years but possibly the most profitable. I read more, cooked more. I even partook in DIY. Anything that could occupy my worries I sought out. Company was discovered in the borders of comfort zones that we have now broken. I hope these reads bring as much light to you guys as they have brought to my doorstep.
Merry Christmas & stay safe.