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 this year. This is my March 2020 Reading List, which includes my trip to Egypt, which includes the books that I’ve finished, the books in progress and ongoing, and the books that I’ve abandoned.

Books Finished:

Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash

Already owned physical book. Legal/Business/Politics pick for 2020 Reading Plan (swapped March and August books).

I decided to switch some books around because the one that I’d originally picked for March was quite long and not something that I had time to read this month (since it was a physical book and I was traveling for half the month). I’ve used Mary Kay products since I was old enough to need facial cleansers and moisturizers. The woman who created the brand, Mary Kay Ash, is fascinating, and as a result this has been on my TBR list for such a long time. The book details how she started the company, and her philosophy of business. An interesting and not terribly long book.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: A Memoir of Good Food and Bad Boyfriends by Giulia Melucci

Already owned physical book. March Nonfiction/Memoir pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This is part memoir on love and loss, and part cookbook. It was a quick and enjoyable read about the author’s experiences, even though I had a hard time relating to or understanding some of them. I didn’t try any of the recipes, although some of them looked quite tasty, and not difficult to make.

The Pandemic Century: One Hundred Years of Panic, Hysteria, and Hubris by Mark Honigsbaum

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I’d had this on hold on my Libby app for a while, and my hold came up right as coronavirus was really starting to spread worldwide. The timing was sort of strange. This book goes through several epidemics or pandemics in the last 100 years or so. Learning about how each of these pandemics spread, how they were investigated, and how the cause of the pandemic was discovered was enlightening. I think that when you learn about something, some of the fear of it goes away, so I recommend this book as a primer to understanding some of the basics of pandemics in recent history.

When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt by Kara Cooney

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I picked this book as a primer to the history of Egypt. It examined the queens (and sometimes female kings) of ancient Egypt, how they rose to power and what happened after their reign. The author tried to draw some parallels to leaders in the modern era, which I didn’t always agree with and didn’t find useful. I picked the book due to the advertised subject matter, and didn’t really want to read the author’s thoughts on the American political system. So I skimmed through those sections to get back to the main topic at hand, which was fascinating.

Orphan 8 by Kim van Alkenmade

Already owned physical book. Fiction pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This novel tells the story of a Jewish orphan who is experimented on in her orphanage in New York. The story is told from the timeline of her youth, and from her adulthood. It was not entirely what I expected, and not my favorite book. But it was kept me engaged to the end, and the plot did payoff at the end.

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This novel is dystopian fiction. People lose their shadows, and then slowly lose their memories. The story is told from the perspectives of a few different characters, some of whom have lost their shadows and some who have not. The book is fairly long, but does keep moving along. And after a little while, it becomes clear that the players are marching toward a common goal and it’s just a question of how things will turn out.

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I really liked this book. It follows three sisters, their mother, and their grandmother through the summer of 1969 and the changes in their lives and the broader world during this time. I really loved this story, and found the characters so relatable. I recommend this book.

One of Ours by Willa Cather

Already owned Kindle e-book.

Cather regularly referred to this novel as ‘Clyde’ in her letters, and after reading what she said about the novel, I wanted to read it. Willa Cather is a masterful writer, and I really love everything of hers that I’ve read so far. This novel is no exception. It takes place before and during World War I, and follows a young man trying to find his way in the world and to a future.

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

The stories of a grandmother during her youth in Cuba prior to and during the revolution, and her granddaughter returning to the country after her grandmother’s death. This novel includes love, hate, fear, politics, and love of country. I liked this book.

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This is the third and final book in the Scythe series,a book about a future where death has been conquered and a nearly omniscient computer system runs the world. Scythes are tasked with ending lives. This series is fantastic, and I found this final book to be a solid ending. I was engaged in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.

Another Love by Amanda Prowse

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This novel was really good, but also really hard to read. It is about a woman with a family and a wonderful career, who loses everything because of her addiction to alcohol. It is beautiful and emotional and heart-wrenching. I’m so thankful that my sister-in-law turned me on to Amanda Prowse.

Spy by Daniele Steel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Danielle Steel writes some good books, even though she doesn’t get the credit that she probably deserves. This novel is historical fiction set during World War II. The main character comes from a British aristocratic family, and volunteers to serve. Because of her language skills, she is recruited as a spy and operative and serves throughout the war. Then after the war, she continues serving as a spy while her husband works as a diplomat. I would have liked to have had a little more action in the story, but it was still a very enjoyable book.

I Survived!: 5 Bible Characters Who Survived Disasters by Deb Brammer and Art Brammer

Already owned Kindle e-book. March Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Plan.

This book was okay. It had a few bible stories, and talked about how they can help us to deal with disasters in our own lives. The book repeatedly referenced another book that I hadn’t read previously, and didn’t realize that I should read before this one, so that was kind of frustrating. But the subject matter is overall good, and can be helpful to people going through hard things.

John by R.C. Sproul

Already owned Kindle e-book. February Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Challenge.

I’ve been working my way through this book for two weeks. It was fantastic, but I didn’t want to rush through it. The book is a commentary that goes through every story and line in the book of John. It was so illuminating, and I just savored it.

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.

Books In Progress:

Courageously Uncomfortable by Lisa J. Goins (Already owned Kindle e-book.) My bible study group is working through this book.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (Borrowed from a friend.)

The St. Nicholas Anthology edited by Henry Steele Commager (Already owned physical book.)

The Psychopath Test by Joe Ronson

Books Abandoned:

None.