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 February 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 Power of a Positive No by William Ury

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

I’d previously read Getting to Yes and Getting Past No by William Ury, and picked this one up at a book sale when I saw it. I found this one to be really beneficial, and a very easy read. The author recommended having a scenario in mind that you want to say no to as you read the book. I think this is a good idea, as it makes the strategies seem very practicable as you read through the book. I recommend this book.

The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow

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

This book documents the lifelong friendship of 11! girls from Ames, Iowa. Some of the girls are covered in much more detail than others (one in particular, I felt like was covered too much). But their stories, and the overarching examination of female friendship was fascinating.

Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern Worldby Michael Pollan

Audible Original book, so new but free.

This book examines the history of coffee and tea, and our addiction to caffeine. We don’t often think about it, but caffeine is addictive, and our entire society operates under its influence. A fascinating short listen.

The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing up in Communist Russia by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya

Purchased using Audible credit.

This was recommended for those who had enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Based on that comparison, it wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for. Although it mentioned in passing that the author had initially lived in the Metropol hotel, there was absolutely nothing about that experience. The bulk of the book was about the author’s time  living essentially unsupervised in Communist Russia.

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan

Purchased using Audible credit.

Mike wanted to read this book, after I found it in BookPage magazine. It’s the incredible true story of an extremely prolific serial killer, a true predator, Israel Keyes. He hunted throughout the United States, left kits for torturing and murdering people; and we still don’t know how many deaths he’s responsible for. This book was fascinating, terrifying, and was well written. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Selected Letters of Willa Cather by Willa Cather, Andrew Jewell, and Janis Stout

Already owned physical book.

I’ve taken my time working through book, as a series of letters aren’t the kind of thing one flies through. I’m a fan of Willa Cather’s books; and living near her hometown of Red Cloud, Nebraska makes me appreciate her life and this book even more. It was a wonderful experience learning about her life through her own words.

Climbing with Mollie by William Finnegan

Audible Original book, so new but free.

Climbing with Mollie is the story of a father-daughter climbing duo. It is an interesting look at a sport that I previously knew very little about, as well as the dynamics of their relationship. It was a quick listen, and I enjoyed it.

Rock Needs River by Vanessa McGrady

Already owned Kindle e-book.

This is a memoir about the author’s open adoption of her daughter. And when I say open adoption, I mean very open. The birth parents lived with the author and her daughter for a period of time. The biological parents reminded me very much of clients that I’ve had, or parents that I’ve worked with in some of my juvenile cases, so I could relate to the hope and frustrations experienced by the author in trying to help them. An interesting book.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock’s Greatest Supergroup by David Browne

Borrowed from library.

I’m such a sucker for rock biographies, so this book was just right up my alley and I had to check it out when I saw it at the library. And after I started reading, I realized that the author also wrote another book that I’d previously read–So Many Roads, about the Grateful Dead. I really had no idea of the strife between these four men throughout their career, or the various iterations of the group over that time. This book was fascinating.

High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life by Tiffany Jenkins

Purchased using Audible credit.

This memoir is subtitled “The Shocking True Story of One Addict’s Double Life,” and it is exactly that. The voice in this book is strong, and it’s especially good on audio, as the author narrates the book herself. At times, her story is gutting and painful, at other times it is embarrassing. But in the end, there is hope and redemption. I loved this book.

Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You’re Taking, The Sleep You’re Missing, The Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy by Julie Holland

Purchased using Audible credit.

The premise of this book is that women are naturally moody due to hormone fluctuations, and instead of understanding our own bodies, cycles, and the lifetime evolution of our bodies. It was interesting, and I definitely learned something. But I didn’t agree with all of her conclusions about everything.

Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike by Grant Peterson

Borrowed from library using Libby.

I ride both a Peloton and a rode bike, and decided that I should learn a little more about cycling as a sport, and tips for riding better, so I picked this up on Libby. Pieces of this book were useful, but overwhelmingly the book irritated me. The author basically criticizes anyone who wants nice equipment, and implies we should all ride junk. I wasn’t impressed.

The Minuteman by Greg Donahue

Audible Original book, so new but free.

This is the true story of Nazis in America, and the Jewish mob’s efforts to stop them. I’d never heard anything about the topic at all, so this was completely new to me. The audiobook is fairly short, and kept me engaged throughout.

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi

Already owned on Audible. Fiction pick (substituted for The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver) for 2020 Reading Plan.

This audiobook was fantastic! I really loved it, and have been telling everyone about it. The premise is that out of the blue, people can’t be murdered, and if they are, they come back to life in their own homes. Dispatchers help make this happen. But one has gone missing, and his friend has to help find him and figure out what happened. This is a great book, and I recommend reading it.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Borrowed from library.

I’m steadily working my way through everything that Neil Gaiman has written, and picked this up at the library recently. The story is told from the perspective of a man who returns to his hometown for a funeral, as well as the man as a little boy living through a crazy and traumatic time. This story is wonderful, but definitely for adult only readers, as the book can be really difficult in terms of subject matter, at times.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Audible Original book, so new but free.

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan. But I’d never read it before. This production of Peter Pan, complete with cast narration, was very good. I enjoyed the book.

Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles

Already owned physical book.

This book is out of print, and only available from Shakespeare and Company New York’s online store. But I just love Amor Towles’s books and purchased it at the tail end of 2019. And the copy that I bought is even autographed! This is a novella that follows Rules of Civility. It follows the character Evelyn Ross after she leaves New York. Each of the six stories are told from a different perspective. If you loved Rules of Civility, then you should read this one too.

You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles

Purchased using Audible credit.

I purchased this thinking it was a stand alone audiobook, and I suppose it probably is. However, what I was really looking for was Forward: Stories of Tomorrow by Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N.K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, and Andy Weir. So I’m going to decline to write further about this short story until I’ve read the whole collection that it’s a part of.

The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson

Borrowed from library.

This book is part adventure story, part mystery, part ghost story. It is written in dual timelines, one in the present day and one in the 1600s. The characters were relatable and engaging. The two timelines wove together in a wonderful plot. I enjoyed this book.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Already owned Audible.

I’ve had this book on my Audible account for a few years now, and finally took the plunge to listen to it. I found it very slow going, and difficult to get through, even with the narrator that I enjoyed so much in The Hobbit. I have the second and third books also downloaded in Audible, but may take a little break before starting them.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

Won by my book club.

My book club won this book, and discussed it at our February book club meeting. It’s a mystery/detective type story, but with a professor of archaeology as the protagonist. She gets brought into the case, as she’s an expert on bones. I appreciated that she was not a skinny, beautiful, perfect type of character, but instead seemed real and had her flaws. I didn’t appreciate the Christianity bashing in the book. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, and found it to be a quick and entertaining read.

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths

Borrowed from library using Libby app.

After finishing The Crossing Places, I noticed that the second book in the series, The Janus Stone, had no holds on Libby and checked it out. I enjoyed this book too, but wonder how long the series can really be stretched before the plot runs thin. It doesn’t after two books, but we’ll see if I keep reading further.

Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran

Won from library giveaway.

This is a short graphic novel. The story is a new take on the fairy tale of Snow White, from the perspective of the Queen. In this take, Snow White is a vampire. The story is a bit terrifying. The artwork is beautiful, but also quite graphic in nature. It was an interesting one for sure!

The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux

Already owned Kindle e-book.

I picked this up in 2019 after scrolling through my wish list and downloading free and low-cost books. I think I heard about it on a podcast from some ladies that I know. The book is the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, her childhood and entry into the church as a nun, and then about her life in the convent. It is an autobiography, so it’s in her own words. I didn’t agree with all of her thoughts, which makes sense since I’m not Catholic, but I never mind reading about another perspective.

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.

Johnby R.C. Sproul (Already owned Kindle e-book. Devotional/Spiritual pick for 2020 Reading Challenge.)

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.)

Books Abandoned:

Malcolm and Me by Ishmael Reed (Audible Original book, so new but free.)

The Power of Self-Compassion by Laurie J. Cameron (Audible Original book, so new but free.)