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 July 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:

Frogmen: The True Story of My Journeys With Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the Crew of Calypso by Richard E. Hyman

Already owned physical book. July Nonfiction/Memoir Pick from 2020 Reading List.

I picked this book up a couple of years ago and was able to get around to reading it finally. It was essentially journals or a diary turned into a slightly more narrative version of the author’s time on Cousteau’s Calypso in his late teens/early twenties. Because of the subject matter, it was interesting, although not the best written book that I’ve read. But as I mentioned the topic was so interesting that I kept at it and finished it.

Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Thomas L. Friedman

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

Thomas Friedman is one of my favorite authors. We see eye-to-eye on some issues, and are totally opposite on others. But he always strikes me as thoughtful about the subjects that he writes about. This book is about the ‘age of accelerations’ in which everything is speeding up exponentially, and how we need to pause and reflect from time to time, as well as engage in lifelong continuing learning to keep up with life. I agreed with many of the points in this book, while finding some of his conclusions baffling. But all in all, the book made me think, so it was right in line with the other books that I’ve read by Friedman.

Break Shot: My First 21 Years by James Taylor

Audible Original book, so new but free.

James Taylor is a really interesting guy. Like, did you know that James Taylor played the cello?! Fascinating stuff. This Audible Original was about his early years. I love music biographies, so I had to have this one. It was short and did not disappoint.

Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I am a huge fan of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As a child, I never thought that much about what elements were true, what were based on a true story, and what were fiction. Prairie Fires talked a lot about Laura’s view on truth vs. fiction. It also delved into Laura and Almanzo’s relationship with their daughter Rose Wilder Lane, and Rose’s own strange life. From the descriptions of Rose, I have no doubt that she was mentally ill, probably with Bipolar Disorder. The book was very interesting, with one caveat. I felt like the author had a pretty clear liberal bias, and couldn’t understand why anyone would have more conservative or libertarian viewpoints, or why anyone would want to live on the prairie or more untouched lands.

On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane

Purchased physical book this year.

After reading Prairie Fires, I discovered that there were more Little House books that I’d never read. On the Way Home is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s journal kept on their journey from DeSmet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri in their own covered wagon. It was fascinating to me to read about what this journey was like for them, having traveled in the region in modern times. It is so different, and it just sparks the imagination to think about it.

West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and Roger Lea MacBride

Purchased physical book this year.

West from Home is a book comprised of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s letters to her husband Almanzo while visiting Rose Wilder Lane at her home in San Francisco. Laura visited Rose during the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition held in San Francisco. Laura and Rose visit it several times, as well as other area attractions. Her descriptions are intricate, and make you feel as if you’re seeing and experiencing the same things. This is one of the things that I loved so much about the Little House books as a child, in that the descriptions made me feel as if I was right there too.

The Indian Child Welfare Act Handbook by Kelly Gaines-Stoner, Mark C. Tilden, and Jack F. Trope

Already owned physical book.

If you are a caseworker or attorney working in juvenile cases, this is a book that you should probably read. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) applies to juvenile cases involving Indian children. There are a whole series of additional requirements that need to be met in these cases, and it is important to have a handle on them before one of these cases starts. I’d read both of the previous versions of this book, but wanted to refresh my memory and update my understanding, after some recent cases came out, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) adopted regulations in place of the guidelines that had been in effect for decades before.

To Siberia by Per Petterson

Already owned physical book. July Fiction Pick from 2020 Reading List.

I purchased this book at a wonderful used bookstore in Washington, D.C. called Capitol Hill Books. It was packed absolutely to the gills with books, and I spent a delightful couple of hours browsing the stacks to see what was there. I picked this one up, and thought it would fit right into my love of historical fiction, as it was described as taking placed during World War II in Scandinavia. The book largely took place before and after World War II, skipping over the characters’ experiences during the war, which was disappointing. The characters were not very likable, and the sexually tense relationship between the siblings was troubling. The writing was bleak, and although I finished the book, I didn’t really like it. Unfortunately, the book-buying experience was much more enjoyable than the book that I ended up purchasing.

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

Purchased on Audible this year.

Mike listened to this book before I did, and was raving about how good and unique it was. I listened to it and found it to have a really slow start. It felt like the story took a really long time to set up before any action started. But once the action got going, it was fast paced and I didn’t want to stop listening to it. Some people really didn’t like Judy Greer’s narration, but I loved it and felt like it fit the main character perfectly.

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang

Kindle First book, so new but free.

This book was wonderful. It was a new look at the story of Dracula, a series of murders, a strong female protagonist with a drug problem, and other characters with mixed motives. It was really good and also different from other books I’ve read recently. Refreshing.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Borrowed from the library using Libby app.

I heard about this book from a friend first, and then later on the What Should I Read Next podcast. It was available on Libby, and I was between audiobooks, so I borrowed it right away. The characters are all, well, characters. They are funny and unique, and relatable. The story is fun and sucked me right in from the outset. In the middle of the book, I almost stopped listening, as the husbands are awful and sexist, and treat their wives terribly…while the wives just allow it! I was so mad, and seriously almost gave up. But my friend assured me that the story got better (even though the husbands’ behavior didn’t), so I stuck it out. I’m so glad that I did, because she was absolutely right. The wives show their strength later on, and the book struck me as almost a commentary on dysfunctional and unhealthy relationships in addition to the vampire slaying. This was great, and I’ll be looking out for more from the same author.

You Can Trust God to Write Your Story: Embracing the Mysteries of Providence by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Robert Wolgemuth

Already owned Kindle e-book.

I have been dealing with a pretty tough and sad situation this month, and was really glad that I’d downloaded and started reading this book. It is so good to remember that God is in control even during tough times, and can bring good out of bad times.

Does God Control Everything? by R.C. Sproul

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

I also read this book due to the really hard situation I’ve been working through this month. I wanted some books that could give me reassurance of God’s love for us and that he indeed has a plan that overarches feelings of sadness and things being out of control. Sproul is wonderful at reinforcing this message.

 

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 Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life by Fred Siegel (Already owned physical book. July Legal/Business/Politics Pick from 2020 Reading List.)

Three Slices by Chuck Wendig, Kevin Hearne, and Delilah S. Dawson (Purchased Audible this year.)

The First Mrs. Rothschild by Sara Aharoni (Purchased Kindle e-book this year.)

 

Books Abandoned:

All This I Will Give to You by Delores Redondo (New but free Kindle e-book.)

Taming the Tongue: The Power of Spoken Words by Alex Uwajeh (Already owned Kindle e-book. July Devotional/Spiritual Pick from 2020 Reading List.)