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 May 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:

Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand

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

Apparently although I don’t ride horses or really know anything about them, I enjoy reading books about them, particularly horses that race. This isn’t my first book about horse raising (American Pharoah by Joe Drape on Audible was also great!). This one was fantastic. Hillenbrand manages to give a whole lot of information about the topic, while keeping the narrative structure and keeping it interesting. I very much recommend this book.

The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

Already owned Audible.

I don’t think that I really liked this book. I’ve read books about the topic of sociopaths/psychopaths before, and this book simultaneously felt like it was questioning whether they are real, and delving into perceived weaknesses in the field of psychology, while simultaneously diagnosing everyone the author came into contact with. I wasn’t really a fan.

Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die: Diving Experts Share the World’s Greatest Destinations by Chris Santella

Purchased physical book this year.

Mike picked this book up this year, and I enjoyed reading it, looking at the photographs of various dive sites, and planning for the eventuality of when we can go diving again. It seemed fairly comprehensive, if a little bit general.

Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger

Purchased this year using Audible credit.

I’ve been on a bit of a space kick lately, with a few books and movies, and the launch of the Space X Dragon. This book is about the lunar orbit mission in the 1960s, and is so fascinating. And the audiobook features excerpts from interviews. This was really good!

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

Continuing my space kick, I learned about this book after watching the 1980s movie The Right Stuff (the book is now on my TBR list too). The movie clearly used this book as source material for the wives’ stories. So fascinating to read about how they had to act, how they rebelled against it, and just what their experiences were like. This was a pretty quick and engaging read.

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout

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

Following the stories of a mother (Isabelle) and her daughter (Amy), I can’t say that I really liked either character that much. But it was a book that I felt compelled to keep reading just to see where the mother daughter stories were going, and whether the dynamic between the pair would improve.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This was a take on the mythological sirens of the ocean which lured sailors to their deaths. It was completely magnetic book, which had me simultaneously attracted and repelled by the characters. I’m a fan of Cass’s books and think this is probably her best book.

The Timeless Tale of Peter Able by Natalie Grigson

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This is the second book in the Peter Able series. The books are really unique, in that the characters of books all live together in a fictional land while waiting for their authors to write more on/of them. They’re sort of funny, and have a mystery, and are just really light fun reading.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

Purchased Kindle e-book this year.

As a cellist myself, the title of this book had me hooked. This novel is a fictionalized account of several individuals living in Sarajevo during the 1990s war and their encounters with a cellist who plays in a city square to honor those killed by a shelling while waiting in a bread line. The book is sort of gutting, but at the same time just beautiful. I loved this boook so much.

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

This novel follows four characters, members of a high school jazz quartet after they leave school and part ways. Their lives intersect many years later when life hasn’t gone well for many of them. The tone of this book is somewhat melancholy, and I found myself getting angry with the characters bad choices. But the book is wonderful, and masterfully written.

Winter World by A.G. Riddle

Borrowed from Kindle Owners Lending Library.

The Solar War by A.G. Riddle

Borrowed from Kindle Owners Lending Library.

A.G. Riddle’s books are so fast-paced and exciting, that I just can’t help but tear through them as fast as I can turn the pages. This has held true for all of his books for me. This series takes place in a current day where the Earth is getting colder, lots colder, and scientists are trying to figure out why. The protagonists are an astronaut on the International Space Station and a brilliant man in prison.

Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus by Floyd McClung

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

This book is about being disciples of and creating disciples for Jesus. The book had some practical tips, but also felt to me a little like a guilt trip. From the other reviews of the book that I’ve read on Amazon and Goodreads, I may be the only one who felt that way, but it was true for me. Not my favorite devotional/spiritual book that I’ve read, but not bad.

Red Letter Challenge – A 40 Day Life Changing Experience by Zach Zehnder

Received as gift this year (from church).

My church all decided to read this book this year. I’m a little behind the curve in getting it finished, due to our trip to Egypt earlier in the year. This book was fantastic, with really practical ways of serving Jesus and transforming ourselves and our churches.

Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World by Eric Mataxas

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

I’m a Lutheran, and have often wondered about the creator of Protestantism. Martin Luther was a fascinating, and very human man. He studied the word and thought deeply about what it says, and how church teachings lined up it or not. He corrected some errors in church teachings, but was also a flawed man who later in life said some pretty horrible things. But this book was very interesting, even considering how long it is.

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.

Pont Neuf by Max Byrd (Already owned Audible.)

Books Abandoned:

Mother and Son: The Respect Effect by Emerson Eggerichs (Already owned physical book. May Legal/Business/Politics pick from 2020 Reading Plan.)

Villetteby Charlotte Bronte (Already owned physical book. Quarterly classic from 2020 Reading Plan.)

Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby (Borrowed from library using Libby.)