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 October 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:

The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt

Purchased physical book this year.

From the author who wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The City of Falling Angels is the same concept but set in Venice. The book is nonfiction and begins with the fire at La Fenice. The author’s interviews and interactions with the city’s residents are simply fascinating. And the intrigues he discovers are entertaining.

History of Bourbon by Ken Albala

Audible Original, so new but free.

I listened to this while driving in Maine. It made for subject matter that kept my attention, but wasn’t distracting from driving, which is perfect for an audiobook. I’ve never been a bourbon drinker, but learning about it was still fun. And who would have thought that there would be quite that much history, and even drama surrounding bourbon.

Tales from Misery Ridge: One Man’s Adventures in the Great Outdoors by Paul J. Fournier

Purchased physical book this year.

I picked this book up while in Maine for work. It is a memoir of the author’s years living and working in Maine. He discusses his teenage years as a guide, time as a camp owner, a bush pilot, and with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. His life was a series of backwoods adventures, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read about it in this book.

Nine Mile Bridge: Three Years in the Maine Woods by Helen Hamlin

Purchased physical book this year.

I also picked this book up in Maine. This is also a memoir of the author’s years in Maine, particularly Aroostook County, Maine, which is the area where I was. She however, was there in the 1950s when it was far less developed, and she was in the most remote areas of the county and state. She even wintered over in remote warden cabins without access to the outside world. It was so fascinating to read about, as it’s not something that I will experience (or care to!).

Bless the Beasts & Children by Glendon Swarthout

Borrowed from a friend.

My friend Dennis initially talked about this book; and my friend Sierra purchased it. She loaned it to me, and I read it right away. It is the story of several misfit boys at a summer camp who want to rescue bison who are held at a sporting camp for people to “hunt.” I use that word, although there wasn’t much that was either sporting or hunting. The story is a coming of age story, with moments of immense joy, and moments of incredible sadness. This was wonderful, and I recommend it.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Purchased physical book this year.

Sharp Objects is so psychologically disturbing and wonderful. It is the story of a woman who goes home to report on a murder of a young girl in her hometown. The woman clearly has some pretty significant emotional baggage, and a messed up family. And it just gets darker and more twisty from there. This book was a page turner, and I couldn’t put it down.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Purchased on Audible this year.

I listened to this book on Audible, and the narration was quite good. Audible recommended it to me, and it was a good recommendation, as I’m a fan of Bradbury’s writing. In it, a circus comes to town, but it’s not a happy occasion. The circus is spooky and dangerous, and two boys have to stop the bad things that will inevitably come with it.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This was a Kindle First book that I thought would be perfect for October. Haunting is in the title, after all. I started reading, and right away from the epigraph saw a reference to the illustrated man, which is a character in Something Wicked This Way Comes. I thought it was just a coincidence, but kept reading. An illustrated (tattooed) man is a main character in this book, and the book by Ray Bradbury, The Illustrated Man plays a role. The timing of these things sometimes is astounding. This is the story of a woman who has had tragedy in her life, and goes to a cute touristy town to spend the summer and recover. She stays in a boarding house with some interesting folks, and begins to have some disturbing dreams and experiences. This is a little spooky, but not terrifying, and the mystery is great.

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

Borrowed from the library on Libby.

After reading the previous book, I just had to read The Illustrated Man. This is essentially a series of short stories which are tied together with the illustrated man being the overarching theme. I listened to this one, and also really enjoyed it in that format.

The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch

Purchased physical book this year.

This book is a lovely little story of a woman finding love and forgiveness and bringing love and healing to a whole lot of other people. The characters are quirky and fun, while also being relatable. And the plot device of hearing from the bees themselves was wonderful. Just an enjoyable little book.

Inside Jobs by Ben H. Winters

Audible Original, so new but free.

This Audible Original is a series of short stories set during the early stages of our current pandemic, when things were largely locked down and people were quarantined. Most of the stories were enjoyable, with funny and cringe-worthy moments that we can all relate to.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

A woman moves back to her hometown of LA after a rough go of things. Her friends throw a welcome home party for her, and at the end of the night she decides whether to stay at the bar with her former boyfriend, or to go home with her friends. And that is where the story splits. Think ‘choose your own adventure’ story. This was so very good. I think that Taylor Jenkins Reid is probably one of my very favorite authors, having read this and Daisy Jones and the Six.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This is my book club’s pick for November. It is historical fiction set in World War II, so right in my wheelhouse, but not a genre that I’ve read a tremendous amount of lately. And this book is a little different than many other World War II books, in that it is set in Italy. The book is based on the true story of a boy who helped Jews escape over the border into Switzerland, and who spied for the Allies while working as a Nazi driver. The events seem almost unbelievable, but are apparently all true. It’s a very good book.

In the Backyard of Jesus by Steven N. Khoury

Purchased physical book this year.

Steven Khoury lives in Israel/Palestine. He is a Protestant Christian. This book is a memoir of sorts, where he tells about his journey to becoming a Christian and a minister. He also tells stories of his family and parishioners, and their experiences living in Muslim Palestine and dealing with hatred and opposition for their beliefs and evangelism. Fascinating.

How Should I Live in This World? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

Are People Basically Good? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I’m writing about these to booklets together, as their subject matter is largely similar. The topics are just as the titles would indicate. The first tells readers expectations for how to demonstrate a belief in Christ, and the second looks at original sin as a basis for understanding that people are not basically good, without the forgiveness of Christ.

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:

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

Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study by Barb Ravelin (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.) My bible study is working through this book.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (Purchased using Audible credit.)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (Already owned physical book and Kindle e-book. Quarterly Classic from 2020 Reading List)

The Sweet Hell Inside: The Rise of an Elite Black Family in the Segregated South by Edward Ball (Already owned physical book. October Nonfiction/Memoir pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead  (Already owned physical book. October Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

Books Abandoned:

The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine by Sue Monk Kidd (Already owned physical book. October Spiritual/Devotional pick from 2020 Reading Plans.)

Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)

Too Proud to Beg: Self-Empowerment for Today’s Dog by John T. Olson and Cindy Cobb-Olson (Purchased physical book this year.)