This post contains affiliate links.
P.S. I highly recommend Book Outlet! Use my link to receive $10 off your first order of $25 or more.
P.P.S. Have you heard of Bookshop? They are an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. You can check out all of my favorites on this page and I’ll be linking to Bookshop and Book Outlet as much as I can from here on out. I hope you’ll support them too!
#67. THE VERSIONS OF US by Laura Barnett || ★★☆☆☆
Clever premise, but really hard to keep all of the story lines straight. I also have a huge pet peeve with books that encourage the reader to root for/support infidelity and this book was rife with that. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
#68. THE HOURS OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST by Luisa Piccarreta || ★★★★☆
This book is a really unique look at the last 24 hours before Jesus’ death. It’s broken up hour by hour, drawing you into what was happening at that time. Each hour ends with a short meditation from Luisa’s spiritual director. I found this deeply moving and powerful and it will be one that I return to again and again. I think it would be perfect for Lent or for meditating on during a Holy Hour. (FYI: Luisa Piccarreta has an open cause for canonization and is currently a Servant of God.)
#69. THE DIARY OF MATTIE SPENSER by Sandra Dallas || ★★☆☆☆
I was so disappointed with this book. For a “19th century pioneer novel,” it sure did sound a lot like modern times – there was much more sexual content than I expected, infidelity (you know how I feel about that) and the positive view on abortion was heavy handed. I’d pass on this one.
P.S. These Is My Words is still my favorite in this genre.
#70. MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON by Elizabeth Strout || ★★★☆☆
I have said it before: It interests me how we find ways to feel superior to another person, another group of people. It happens everywhere, and all the time. Whatever we call it, I think it’s the lowest part of who we are, this need to find someone else to put down. (p.95)
A quick read. There wasn’t much of a story, but it did cause me to reflect on things unsaid between people, especially family members. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
#71. TOWNIE by Andre Dubus III || ★★★☆☆
I’m not quite sure where I heard about this memoir, especially because I’ve never read any of Dubus’ novels. The book chronicles his childhood following the divorce of his parents and the struggles along the way until he finds his passion for writing in adulthood. To be honest, this book made me mad. It’s the story of the consequences of a selfish father, a broken marriage and the effects on children. It’s the story of a single mother trying to make it work for her four children and the limitations of that. It’s the story of the lack of positive male role models in a boy’s life. It’s the story of trauma manifesting itself in unhealthy behavior. Resilience is admirable but it always comes at a cost.
#72. THE RIVER by Peter Heller || ★★★☆☆
Another pretty quick read. I heard about this suspense novel from Modern Mrs. Darcy, although many of my friends on Goodreads had already read it with varying reviews. The writing was good, but I feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I were more of an adventurer type? Some of the descriptions went right over my head.
_________________________
MY READING IN NUMBERS FOR 2020
Books Read: 72
Pages Read: 20,567
Pages Read: 20,567
Fiction: 41 // Non-Fiction: 31
Kindle Books: 26 // Paper Books: 46
20th Century in Books Challenge: 29/100
Original 2020 books “to-read” total on Goodreads: 414 // Current “to-read” total: 370
_________________________
Kindle Books: 26 // Paper Books: 46
20th Century in Books Challenge: 29/100
Original 2020 books “to-read” total on Goodreads: 414 // Current “to-read” total: 370
_________________________
Ah, I read The River last year! I thought it was captivating and different from a lot of "modern" novels, which always intrigues me because I feel like so many of them are the same. The twist was really good, too, but it wasn't necessarily my favorite.
Totally agree about being completely different that most modern novels! I liked it, but got tangled up in the outdoorsy terminology and descriptions. I would imagine that someone with more knowledge of those kinds of things would LOVE this book.