April 2020 - Luggage and Literature

This year, I’m participating in the Unread Shelf Challenge 2020 with a goal to read 75 books that I already own. Each month, I’ll read one fiction, one nonfiction/memoir, one law/business/politics, and one devotional/spiritual book. Quarterly, I’ll be reading one book of classic literature. I’ll be listing where each book came from, whether from my existing collection, I borrowed the book, or purchased the book new this year. This is my April 2020 Reading List, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinny and Phelim McAleer

Already owned physical book. April Legal/Business/Politics pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

Kermit Gosnell’s actions were shocking. He was convicted of murder of babies and of a woman who went to him seeking an abortion. And he operated a pill mill where he sold narcotics to drug dealers. This book delves into the investigations into his clinic, the horrors of what was occurring, and the trial of Kermit Gosnell. If you’ve not heard about this, you should read this book. If you vaguely remember something about this story, you should read this book. If you know all about this, then you probably already read this book.

Driving to Mars: In the Arctic with NASA on the Human Journey to the Red Planet by William L. Fox

Already owned physical book. April Nonfiction/Memoir pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

I’m a NASA and space nerd. I love watching, reading, and learning more about the subject. This book came from a book sale and of course had to come home with me, since it’s about Mars. The book covers some of the Mars missions that have happened so far, but more so looks at the experiments happening here on Earth, in a very remote crater in Canada, where the science needed to have humans visit Mars is being pushed forward every year. The book was fascinating and a pretty quick read.

Public Health Law in a Nutshell by James G. Hodge, Jr.

Received as a gift this year (from author).

I’m legal counsel for a public health department and sit on a board of health. I try to stay up to speed on legal issues involving public health, largely through The Network for Public Health Law. With all of the focus on coronavirus in the last month (and even longer in the public health world), the Network has had a series of webinars on COVID-19 legal issues. The author presented a few of them, and they were really interesting. He e-mailed webinar attendees afterward and offered a copy of this book. I snapped it up, as I wanted a primer on public health law in general, and this book is that. It’s a solid baseline of information about public health law.

Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth

Already owned physical book.

This book is a memoir, an adventure story, and just downright fantastic. I was looking forward to reading this book about the author’s time as a cave diver for the content, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the writing itself is wonderful as well. I could not put this book down and finished it in a day. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone, divers and nondivers alike.

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry

Purchased on Audible this year.

This book is really good. I first learned of it in The Pandemic Century, which I read last month. As it turns out, Mike purchased it, and so I’ve been listening to it this month. The author covers some of the history of medicine up to the Spanish Influenza outbreak, the likely epicenter of the disease, how war time effected the reporting and response to the outbreak, and efforts to identify a vaccination or treatment. This is a really comprehensive and informative book, and I’m enjoying it (as much as one can, considering the subject matter).

Panther in the Basement by Amos Oz

Already owned physical book. April Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

Amos Oz was an Israeli author who I discovered a year or two ago when I read his memoir, A Tale of Love and Darkness. I just love how he crafts his tales (fiction or nonfiction) and puts them together. He’s a master, and I will definitely be reading more of his works. Panther in the Basement is a novel told from the perspective of a little Hebrew boy at the time that the British were pulling out of Palestine. The boy befriends a British soldier and has extremely mixed feelings about it. This book is wonderful and you should read it, and others by Oz.

Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott

Already owned physical book. Quarterly classic from 2020 Reading Plan.

I read Little Women several times as a child and loved it. I picked this up at a library book sale and am glad for the opportunity to finally read it. It was perfect for reading while snuggling up in bed sick, as the story is sweet and doesn’t have scary or too serious of subject matter. Good Wives is the continuation of the story of the sisters from Little Women, so you probably should read them in order. I have a couple more of Louisa May Alcott’s books on my Kindle, so maybe now is the perfect time to dig into them.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Borrowed from a friend.

This book was a serious struggle for me. It took me a long time to get through it, and I’ve been trying to figure out why. I think it’s just that the book was sort of depressing to me, and I couldn’t just dive into it and read it for long periods of time. That is, until the end. At some point, I just clicked with the book and powered through to the end. The end is satisfying, while still horrifying. But I can certainly see why this book is a modern classic, even if it won’t be among my favorites.

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg

Already owned physical book.

With everything going on in the world, as well as my own personal diagnosis and isolation from COVID-19, I needed something light and escapist. Fannie Flagg fits the bill. I didn’t realize until after I started this book, but it’s part of the Elmwood Springs series. I’d previously read The Whole Town’s Talking, also from the same series, so I was familiar with a few of the characters. This book was enjoyable, light, while with moments of heartfelt emotion. It was what I needed at the time that I read it.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Continuing my need for light and escapist reads, I picked up book #4 in the series of The Selection books. The main character in this book (and the next in the series) is the daughter of the main characters from the first three books. In this book Princess Eadlyn is 18 years old, and figuring out how to follow in her parents’ footsteps and bring peace to her country. In order to divert attention while working on peace solutions, Eadlyn has a selection of her own, and searches for a Prince Consort.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Already owned physical book.

Agatha Christie is just a master. This book reminded me so much of Clue or a murder mystery game, or something similar, in that the characters are invited to a home, and then are murdered one by one. This book is very much a who-done-it, and I didn’t figure it out until it was explained at the end. Not very long, but simply wonderful.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Borrowed from a friend.

This book was just a little slow getting into, but then I read until after midnight one night because I couldn’t put it down. It is the story of a girl growing up in the marsh of North Carolina in the 50s and 60s. She ends up alone after her family leaves her, and is essentially raised by the swamp. She struggles with love and loss and people treating her badly. But the story is beautiful, and there’s an element of mystery in it that is paid off so well at the very end. This book was beautiful.

A Heart Like His: Intimate Reflections on the Life of David by Beth Moore

Already owned Kindle e-book. April Devotional/Spiritual pick from 2020 Reading Plan.

In this bible study, Beth Moore examines the life of David through the books of Samuel and Psalms in detail. I’ve read David’s story before, but hadn’t delved so deeply into it. This book is very well done. And as often happens to me, the topics and bible stories from this book seemed to link up with events in my life as well as with information that I have taken in from other sources.

Courageously Uncomfortable by Lisa J. Goins

Already owned Kindle e-book.

My bible study has been working through this book very slowly. I’d also read it previously on my own. The book is about admitting when we are not fine, being okay with going deeper in conversations and talking about hard things, and forming real relationships, even when it’s uncomfortable. Great for a bible study with a group, or to read as an individual.

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.) This is a daily devotional that I’ll be reading all year.

Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day by Clemency Burton-Hill (Already owned physical book.) This book has daily readings about classical music generally, various sub-genres of classical, and a daily piece of music to find and listen to. I’ll be working through it all year.