2020 Reading: Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down

#8 A book with an upside-down image on the cover

It was fun to see all the influences that the creators used when coming up with the ideas and characters for the show. It brings back nostalgia and really shows how much they really loved that genre. I can't wait to see if there is going to be more of the show.

2020 Reading: If I Was Your Girl

#2 A book by a trans or non-binary author

I could not put this book down and finished it in less than 24 hours because it was so good. Normally I don't like books that go back and forth in time a lot, but this seemed to just make sense to gt a feeling of what the main character was going through and how her life got to be where it is. And to think that at least part of this was based on the author's actual life is amazing.

2020 Reading: Persuasion

#50 A book with a main characters in their 20s

While it took me a while to get into the story, I enjoyed this book. I still have trouble with the long descriptions and the style that the sentences take sometimes, but this was a pretty nice story. Some of the usual Austen-type situations and shenanigans. I don't know if I would say this was my favorite, but maybe I'll watch an adaptation of this one now that I have read it.

2020 Reading: One Flew Over the Cuckoos Next

#41 A book written by an author in their 20s

I actually went into this book not knowing anything about it. I have never seen the movie so I figured I would read this before I did so. Now I don't think I want to. This book was fantastic and I don't think I want to ruin it by seeing an adaptation. I actually love the way this was written, with no real chapters and just sort of a brain flow from a quiet observer. It helped give the story a perspective that it wouldn't have had if it was from the main character only or from a omnipotent point of view. You got to take the journey with them, which was nice.

2020 Reading: Colour Me In

#44 A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics

There's a little blurb on the back of this book that says Lydia Ruffles is like an "artsy, British John Green" and after reading this I am inclined to agree with that assessment. I thought this book was fantastic and had unique and powerful ways to describe heartbreak and depression that really stuck with me. I'm glad that I went out of my way to buy a copy of this book (because it's British and not available in most places around here).

2020 Reading: The Princess Diarist

#14 A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name

I love Carrie Fisher. I've read her other non-fic books and I think she is one of the most hilarious people that ever walked the earth. I honestly thought this book was going to be... something different than what it was. But that doesn't mean that I am disappointed! I just thought it would be more of what her mindset was while filming all those years ago, and it turns out it was just all about Harrison Ford...

So...

There's that.

2020 Reading: Invisible

#7 The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed

Surprisingly, this prompt was not as easy as it looked. Since I work in a library, I am very familiar with the shelves and picking one "at random" wouldn't really be random for me. So I had to find another way of making it random. I had a friend of mine answers some questions that would lead me to an unknown book and no matter what it was, I would read it. The questions and answers went as follows:

Backward or forwards? Backward
Any number 1-16? 13
Any number 1-5? 3
Left or right? Left
Head, shoulders, knees, or toes? Shoulders

So, using the answers, I started at the back row, moved 13 shelves backward, took three steps into the stack, turned to my left and stuck my hand out shoulder height to touch a random book. Easy enough.

I've never read anything by James Patterson before, and from what I hear, I still haven't. I think I'll just give all credit to David Ellis in this instance since that's how things usually work now. The book was a fast read and had an interesting plot with an ending that I honestly did not see coming. So, all-in-all, I would consider this a good read.

2020 Reading: Butter

#21 A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins

Gluttony.

I actually found myself really enjoying this book. It was sad and a little disturbing, but in a realistic way that cuts you down to your soul, especially if you are a bigger person as I am. There were so many parts where I could, maybe not sympathize, but certainly step into the shoes of the main character.

I kind of wish I'd read this book when I was younger. It might have made a bigger impact on me back then. I don't know.

2020 Reading: Night Shift

#11 An anthology

I think I'm just going to start reading all of Stephen King's stuff (pre-accident of course). There's just something about his writing that is captivating. I recently made a list of all the movies and television that have come out of his writing and the sheer number of things on that list is surprising. And that's not including remakes and the like.

There's another Stephen King on the list for this year so we'll see how that goes. Might have to see if I can fit some more in next year.

2020 Reading: Anne of Green Gables

#33 A book set in a country beginning with "C"

Dear God, someone make this child stop talking. Just... Shut... Up. I would have thrown her off the cart at the very beginning and be done with it.

This is one of those books that has no real overarching plot, but it's just a series of tidbits that add up to a bunch of nothing in the end. Those kinds of books are good sometimes, but I much prefer something with a firm story line. I guess I'm just to old for this book now, but something tells me I really wouldn't have liked it as a kid either.

I'm glad that's over with.