Out of Commission Archives - 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 November 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:

Lucky by Alice Sebold

Already owned physical book. November Nonfiction/Memoir pick from 2020 Reading Plans.

This book was a tough read, but so worth it. It is a memoir of Sebold’s rape in college, and the aftermath, including seeing her rapist on the street and his eventual trial. I think this should be mandatory reading for those who involved in criminal cases, as prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, and victim advocates. It really is such an honest look at what was done well, and what wasn’t. I’m really glad I read this book.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Already owned physical book and Kindle e-book. Quarterly Classic from 2020 Reading Plans.

Told as the author’s reminiscence and journals from his adventures and shipwreck, this story is at times really exciting, and at times incredibly tedious. There are pieces of the story where the age that it was written in, and which are quite racist to a modern reader’s sensibilities. But the book is still considered a classic, and in my opinion worth a read.

The Ambassador’s Daughter by Pam Jenoff

Already owned physical book. November Fiction pick from 2020 Reading Plans.

This book was good, but at times a little slow moving in terms of the pacing. There seemed to be a lot of waiting around for the action to happen, and a long of hand-wringing by the main character about how to get herself out of a jam. But the end of the story is fast-paced and interesting. Overall a good book, but probably not among my very favorites this year.

The Man on the Mountaintop by Susan Trott

Purchased on Audible this year.

I listened to this Audible Original book while traveling to Rapid City, South Dakota to visit my family in early November. That Stanley Tucci narrated in part, drew me to this book and made it more enjoyable. It is about a holy man on a mountain, the people who visit him, and the people who live on the mountain with him. This book is just so good! It is inspiring, and motivating, and just made me so, so happy.

Out of Commission: Getting Every Christian Back to the Great Commission by Paul Chappell

Already owned Kindle e-book. November Devotional/Spiritual pick from 2020 Reading Plans.

This book is about how if you truly are a Christian your commission from the Bible is to bring unbelievers to Christ. The author talked a lot about his church’s experiences and plans for soulwinning. Although some of those plans aren’t in my comfort zone, this book definitely made me think about how I can better be sharing the Good News of Jesus with more people in my daily life.

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.)

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

Books Abandoned:

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.)

Dan Rather: Stories of a Lifetime by Dan Rather (Audible purchased this year.)

In 2019, I planned to try to reduce the number of unread books in my collection by 75, by participating in the Unread Shelf Project. But I had also just come off of several years doing reading challenges that by the end made me feel really restricted, and wanted freedom. So I didn’t make a plan as to how to accomplish that goal reading of books that I already owned. And in the end, I ended up with many more unread books in my collection than when I started, and was way off my goal of reading 75 already owned books.

In 2020, I want to continue participating in the Unread Shelf Project. But I recognize the need for structure in my reading life. At least since I started reading, I’ve done my best to read at least one devotional/spiritual book, one nonfiction book, and one fiction book each month. This has worked well, but has sometimes lead to me skipping legal/business/political books, as well as skipping classic literature. So this year, I’m drawing on things that have worked well for me in the past, as well as those things that I’d like to change about my reading life.

Each quarter I will read at least one classic. And each month, I’ll read one book from each of four categories: legal/business/political, nonfiction/memoir, fiction, devotional/spiritual. And the books that I’m putting into the stacks for each quarter and month are all drawn from physical books or Kindle e-books that I already own but have not yet read. I’ve put together books that I think will work well together, but am reserving the right to substitute other books or to abandon books that just aren’t working for me. And in addition to these books, I’ll continue reading a few books for fun that just strike me, and listening to audiobooks while driving. This should reduce my number of unread already owned books by at least 52 this year, which is much better than last year!

So without further ado, here is my 2020 Unread Shelf Project Reading Plan. Feel free to join in on any that are of interest to you, and tell me what you think of them!

Quarterly Classics

Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott (Already owned physical book.)

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster (Already owned physical book.)

Villette by Charlotte Bronte (Already owned physical book.)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (Already owned physical book.)

January

Legal/Business/Politics: The Making of a Country Lawyer by Gerry Spence (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Tipperary by Frank Delaney (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: John’s Story: The Last Eyewitness by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (Already owned physical book.)

February

Legal/Business/Politics: The Power of a Positive No by William Ury (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: John by R.C. Sproul (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

March

Legal/Business/Politics: The Last Trials of Clarence Darrow by Donald McRae (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkenmade (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: I Survived!: 5 Bible Characters Who Survived Disasters by Deb Brammer and Art Brammer (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

April

Legal/Business/Politics: Gosnell by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Driving to Mars by William L. Fox (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Panther in the Basement by Amos Oz (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: A Heart Like His by Beth Moore (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

May

Legal/Business/Politics: Mother and Son The Respect Effect by Emerson Eggerichs (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus by Floyd McClung (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

June

Legal/Business/Politics: Thank You for Being Late by Thomas L. Friedman (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Son of a Gun by Justin St. Germain (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis (Already owned physical book.)

July

Legal/Business/Politics: The Prince of the City by Fred Siegel (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Frogmen by Richard E. Hyman (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: To Siberia by Per Petterson (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Taming the Tongue by Alex Uwajeh (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

August

Legal/Business/Politics: Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: We Seven by The Astronauts Themselves (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon by Kaye Gibbons (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Come Thirsty by Max Lucado (Already owned physical book.)

September

Legal/Business/Politics: Please…Don’t Kill Me by William C. Dear and Carlton Stowers (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: A Map of Heaven by Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

October

Legal/Business/Politics: And the Good News Is…Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side by Dana Perino (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: The Sweet Hell Inside by Edward Ball (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd (Already owned physical book.)

November

Legal/Business/Politics: Duty by Robert M. Gates (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: Lucky by Alice Sebold (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: The Ambassador’s Daughter by Pam Jenoff (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Out of Commission by Paul Chappell (Already owned Kindle e-book.)

December

Legal/Business/Politics: That Used to Be Us by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum (Already owned physical book.)

Nonfiction/Memoir: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (Already owned physical book.)

Fiction: The Mermaid’s Chair by Sue Monk Kidd (Already owned physical book.)

Devotional/Spiritual: Unshakeable by Christine Caine (Already owned physical book.)

Books Finished:

Books Ongoing through 2020:

Books in Progress:

Books Abandoned:

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