Hello Hello as promised I'm finally getting around to sharing my final few reads of 2020. So sorry for the delay on this but these style posts take much longer than you'd expect, particularly as it involves a wee bit of research as chances are I've forgotten about certain elements of the plot... I have a sieve for a brain!
2020 was the year that I read the most books in any other year of my life, I think. Maybe not those early years of my life but certainly in my adult life. I can't believe I read 20 books (if you include the audio book I also read in that) I'm super duper proud of myself and I'm glad I managed to hit that target before a wee tiny thing comes along and takes all of my attention 🥰
2019 brought with it 13 books and 2020 brought with it 20. If I can read 10 books this year I'll be very happy indeed, I've already read 2 so I really am on a roll right now, thanks lockdown...
So, here goes with the mini reviews, I hope you enjoy and as always be sure to check out the other book club posts if you're in need of some further inspiration of what to read this year. We're focusing on 5 books today, the 5 propped up in the image below, Ghosts by Dolly Alderton, The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, So Lucky By Dawn O'Porter, Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid and Half a World Away by Mike Gayle.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
I think I'd go as far as saying this was one of my fave reads of the year. It was easy, it was relatable and it flowed really nicely with super believable characters that I'm certain we all have in our lives in some way of another. Ghosts is about Nina Dean, in her early thirties, a food writer with a close family and supportive pals. She has everything going for her including a new home that she paid for herself, everything except someone to share it with, that is until Max comes along.
Max and Nina share the beautiful moments we all go through during the start of a new relationship and it's really lovely to read about until the inevitable happens...
Relationship problems mixed with family illness and friends moving to the suburbs it's a story I think we can all relate to in some way as we navigate our thirties and what we feel we "should" have done and "should" have achieved by now. I just bloody loved it!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
A truly heartbreaking story of life at Auschwitz from the perspective of Lale Sokolov a Slovakian Jewish Man who finds himself as the tattooist of Auschwitz, an extremely troubling yet privileged job role in the camp. He is imprisoned for two and a half years and uses his privileged position to help others and keep his fellow prisoners alive. Lale witnesses a lot whilst imprisoned and at times it's such a hard read that left me in floods of tears and unable to continue, however he also witnesses acts of bravery, compassion and love too.
It's a hard yet beautiful book and one that I will always remember.
So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter
My second book by Dawn O'Porter and such a bloody good one at that. I devoured this book, it was my first read back after a couple months of not being able to concentrate on anything and it was the perfect book to allow me to find my reading groove once more.
An easy read as all of O'Porter's novels seem to be but beautifully written with some fantastic characters.
So Lucky follows the lives of wedding planner Beth, retoucher Ruby and social media influencer Lauren, all of who have very different lives. Beth hasn't had sex in over a year, Ruby constantly feels like she is failing and Lauren is living a lie, yet to one another, they seem to be leading that perfect life. But is anyones life really ever perfect?
Such a Fun Age by Kiely Reid
Another one of my absolute fave reads of 2020 I completely devoured it in just a couple of sittings at the end of the summer. Such a Fun Age follows the life of white super blogger Alix Chamberlain and her black babysitter Emira. Such a Fun Age explores many topics that are SO relevant including white privilege and how the best intentions can sometimes be selfishly mismanaged.
I saw this review on Good Reads and I think it sums up this book perfectly "Wow. The writing in this book is so light and breezy and easy to read that it can take a while to appreciate the depths the author takes us to in Such a Fun Age. Combine the compelling writing with a cute font on the cover and this book is seriously deceiving." LOVED IT LOVED IT, deffo give it a read!
Half a World Away by Mike Gayle
I also completely LOVED this book too and I vividly remember not wanting it to end. Half a World Away is about lead characters Kerry and Noah, two people living completely separate lives, worlds apart from one another.
Kerry is a single mum living on a tough estate in London, she was taken into care when she was a child, something she cannot ever forget and will do anything to not let the same thing happen to her own son.
Noah lives in Primrose Hill with his wife and daughter and has a successful career as a barrister. Noah was adopted as a baby and has since never wanted for anything, particularly looking into his past. It's a juicy must read in my opinion!
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