I’ve never been great at tracking the books I read – and I’ve been known to question whether I’ve already read a book that appeals to me. Rebecca and I tend to share books, so she’s the person I can say “you know that one about ….” And she actually does know.

For 2020, I decided to make more of an effort and use this forum to keep me accountable. My reading tastes are wide-ranging, from fiction to memoir and WWII to mystery/thriller. My gift lists are always books, and the holiday haul made for a good start in January.

I began with Gloria Steinem’s The Truth Will Set You Free, but First It Will Piss You Off. Gloria and I go way back, and she’s one of the people I would choose to have coffee with if it were an option. I’ve read her work over the years, so this new book was like visiting an old friend. It’s a book of short essays and quotes by strong women on topics such as family, work, and aging. A quick read with an empowerment booster.

Next, I was glued to Cilka’s Journey, by Heather Morris, which delivers a completely different boost of solidarity and empowerment. Holocaust novels appear regularly in my reading, and this was one of the best. A fictionalized version of a true story, the novel was both horrifying and poignant, with a level of detail not often spelled out. It also leaves the reader with a sense of redemption and hope, which I appreciate in such a stark read. I haven’t read Morris’ Tatooist of Auschwitz yet, but I intend to.

Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane was another choice on my Christmas list. The novel combines issues of mental health, family violence and rupture, love, and forgiveness – right up my alley of dysfunction. The tale is told through the eyes of different characters, offering empathy to each as it progresses.

A friend loaned me Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell. This psycho-thriller was a nice change of pace and hooked me on the first page. Details of an unsolved disappearance of a teenager and the ripples of family impact years later are teased out through thoughts and memories of key characters. A fun, but chilling read.

What can I say about Jhumpa Lahiri and her collection of stories titled Unaccustomed Earth? This is a deep, insightful collection of stories reflecting how we often misinterpret what others are thinking and feeling. Lahiri shares relationship-based stories of Indian protagonists and culture in various settings; my favorite of her works so far. Like real life, sometimes the outcomes are sad.

In anticipation of reading Margaret Atwood’s 2019 follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale, I reread it to refresh my memory on details. (I didn’t watch the tv series.) I remember the dystopian feel of Handmaid’s Tale when I originally read it, some 30 years ago. I found it more horrifyingly prophetic in 2020, with its limitations on women’s roles and rights in society. Women are strong, though, and thankfully, the novel provides redeeming moments. If you never read it, this would be a good time. Look for thoughts on The Testaments next month.