I don’t know about you, but this has not been a great reading year for me. Reading is one of my favorite things to do because it is a great way to relax while not staring at a screen. But, since September, I have been in a terrible reading slump. I hit my Goodreads goal and suddenly all my motivation to pick up a book went out the window. It also hasn’t helped that I’ve read a few duds recently that have also put me out of the mood to read. Hopefully, I’ll get out of my reading slump within the last month of 2020 because there are still so many books I want to get to by the end of the year!
1. “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie
I read “And Then There Were None” at the end of my freshman year of high school after watching a miniseries adaptation of Agatha Christie’s acclaimed novel. I absolutely loved this book the first time around. I am hoping that by rereading an old favorite of mine, it will get me back in the swing of things! Plus, winter weather has the perfect ambiance for a murder mystery.
2. “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara
“A Little Life” came out in 2015 and has been a hot topic in the book community ever since. The content of the novel is known to be pretty disturbing and upsetting because it deals with traumatic events. The novel has also been referred to as “a modern classic”. It’s been on my radar for a while now and I’m excited to finally see what all the buzz is about.
3. “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo
My friend has been pushing me to read the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy since the spring. I tried reading the first few chapters last month, but I was not in the mood to read a fantasy at that time as fantasy is not my thing. Everyone in the online book community seems to absolutely adore these books, so I hope to be one of those people soon! Also, if I’m being completely honest, I really just want to read the spinoff duology of “Six of Crows” to see what all the hype is about.
4. “Lovely War” by Julie Berry
A girl on YouTube I’ve watched for years keeps recommending “Lovely War” as a must-read for historical fiction fans, and I fully trust her opinion. The premise sounds very interesting to me. Most of the historical fiction I read is set in the World War II era, therefore, this will be a venture into some new territory for me. And who doesn’t want to read a novel from the point of view of the Greek gods?
5. “The Raven Boys” by Maggie Stiefvater
I seriously don’t know why I haven’t read this book yet. As a proud Virginian, I feel like I need to support my fellow Virginian Maggie Stiefvater. All four books in “The Raven Cycle” have been out for a while. Now seems like the perfect time to give the first book a read!
6. “Clap When You Land” by Elizabeth Acevedo
Everyone and their mother seems to love Elizabeth Acevedo’s books. Earlier this year after seeing the book recommended everywhere, I listened to the audiobook of her debut novel “The Poet X.” Unfortunately, I really wasn’t a fan. The plot wasn’t for me, but I did love that the book was written in verse rather than prose. “Clap When You Land” sounds much more up my alley and I’m happy to give Elizabeth Acevedo another chance as her writing is beautiful.
7. “Girl in the Blue Coat” by Monica Hesse
As a history major, I definitely should prioritize historical fiction more. “Girl in the Blue Coat” seems really interesting. I attended the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. last year and Monica Hesse spoke at a session I went to. She is one of the sweetest authors I have ever met and I really need to start reading her works.
Moving into the last month of 2020, I hope all of us are going to be able to meet our reading goals and enjoy what we read! Happy reading, collegiettes!