Bookworm's 2020 Reading Journey

Happy New Year! This is my first time posting here and I'm excited to get started. As a person who primarily reads fantasy, this year one of my personal goals is to read more non-fiction books. Another goal of mine is to read more books from Eastern Europe. I studied Russian in my undergrad and would like to keep a link to that culture now that I have graduated. I am participating in three challenges this year and will post the details below.

I try to review most of the books I read and would love to hear your thoughts on the books I finish. Suggestions for books you think I would like are also welcome :)

My Rating System:

Horrible. I wouldn't waste your time on it.

It was alright. I finished the book, but I won't be reading it again.

This was a good book. Nothing amazing, but still enjoyable to read.

Wonderful book! I will probably recommend this book to others.

Fantastic read! I am probably going to revisit this book again and will most likely buy it for my personal collection. It might even become a new favorite of mine.

Currently Reading:

Books Finished in 2020:
1. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
3. The Moment of Lift:How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates
4. Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
6. The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking
7. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaësia by Christopher Paolini
8. Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris
9. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
10. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Books Read: 10

Hours Listened: 31 hours, 33 minutes

TBR Challenge: 2/12

Non-Fiction: 5

ROOT Challenge:

TBR Challenge
I have a primary and a secondary list of books from my To Be Read pile and hope to read at least one each month. I chose to include a secondary list in case I didn't want to read something from my primary list. All are books that I currently own and have been meaning to read but for some reason or another haven't.

Primary
1. Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky Completed 1/26/2020
2. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Completed 3/5/2020
4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
5. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
6. Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring by Bassem Youssef
7. Rise of the Dragons by Morgan Rice
8. The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien
9. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
10. The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse
11. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
12. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Secondary
1. To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
2. The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
3. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris
4. The Seventh Tower by Garth Nix
5. Zodiac by Romina Russell
6. Soulbound by Bethany Adams
7. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
8. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
9. The Amulet of Smarkand by Johnathan Stroud
10. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimentions by Edwin A. Abbott
12. Linchpin by Seth Godin

You don't need to worry about suggestions. They come thick and heavy.

Welcome!

Loved Flatland, even if it did make my head spin. I am distinctly non-mathematical, but read this on the recommendation (read: insistence) of my math teacher husband. I really enjoyed it!

Welcome! Yes, it’s very dangerous for your book-buying budget here.

Welcome and Happy new year! Looking forward to following your reading here.

>1 bookworm148: Welcome to the Green Dragon! I look forward to following your thread.

I actually haven’t read many of the books you mentioned in >3 bookworm148:. I read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy about 20 years ago, and I read Zodiac a few years back. (The Neal Stephenson one?) I tend to be lukewarm on Stephenson, at least what I’ve read so far. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.

>1 bookworm148: welcome to the GD! I have managed the reading of all of four of the 24 books you list.

>1 bookworm148: I'm so glad that you joined us! I see some of my favorites on your TBR list, plus several that are on my own pile. Happy reading!

Welcome! Watch out for the roombas!

Happy New Year!

Look forward to seeing what you think about the books you'll be reading.

>5 MerryMary: This book was actually recommended to me by my high school math teacher! He really enjoyed it (and even let us watch the movie in class) and so when I came across it at a book sale a few years ago, I had to buy it.

THERE'S A MOVIE???

Oh, Lee would have loved that. As it was, he used "Donald Duck in MatheMagic Land" as a teaching treat every year. The kids loved it.

Welcome to the Green Dragon. Cheese and drinks and rumbas. None can be trusted!

Welcome! Happy reading :)

>8 YouKneeK: I'm actually going to read the Zodiac by Romina Russell (I added links and the authors to my list above). I haven't read Neal Stephenson's yet, but maybe I'll give it a go!

>9 hfglen: Which ones have you read so far? What did you think of them?

Очень рада за знакомство!
I am on something of a Russian reading kick myself at the moment, so Notes from the Underground may feature in this year's reading for me also.

I am afraid that I am doing less well than Hugh; I have only read 3 of your proposed list.

Happy reading in 2020!

I've read 3 that I can be sure of (Hitchhikers Guide ..., The Glass Bead Game and The Time Machine) and I have a clear recollection of reading at least some of Flatland; but all of them (except Hitchhikers) long ago.

>18 bookworm148: Hitch-hiker's Guide: First seen as the c.1980 TV series and hooked ever since, so have read and enjoyed all six parts of the trilogy.
The Time Machine: A l-o-n-g time ago. That I remember some of the storyline at a remove of over 50 years speaks well of the experience.
Amulet of Samarkand: I actually own a copy, and may go on to finish it one day.
Flatland: Much enjoyed. Would love to see the movie you mentioned in #13.

>17 bookworm148: Ahhh, ok. I wouldn't particularly recommend the one by Stephenson, so I hope the one by Russell is more enjoyable!

I have read 7 of your books. Putting in a plug for Magpie Murders, very entertaining, very Agatha Christie-ish.

>3 bookworm148:, >21 hfglen: As usual, you and I are overlapping, Hugh. Mine were Hitchhiker's, The Time Machine and The Fall of Arthur. Flatland has been on my TBR pile for ages. You two are motivating me to try to dig it out.

Hello, welcome to the pub!

>15 majkia: Cheese? Surely cheese can be trusted?

The Dragon Republic is the second book in The Poppy War series.

It was really difficult to get into this book because of how Rin is portrayed. I found myself frustrated with her actions and not relating to her as much as I did in the first book. The primary reason for her character shift is that she is attempting to deal with the aftermath of the Third Poppy War and come to terms with her role in it. It is difficult to read about her experience with PTSD and how it changes not only Rin, but also her friendships. That being said, once I got into the book, I was completely absorbed.

Something that I really appreciated about this book is you never really know what’s going to happen. There are many stages of the book where you think you’ve finally figured it all out and can see how the rest of the plot will unfold, but then something happens or new information is revealed and things could go either way.

Readers should be warned that Kuang doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war and often goes into detail when describing things. She doesn’t gloss over anything, instead showing readers the brutal nature of humans during and after wartime. If you have a weak stomach/heart, this book might not be the best for you (though if you made it through the first book, The Poppy War, you should be fine).

While there are some truly beautiful moments, they are almost overshadowed with the dark themes of addiction and war. This isn’t surprising as it is an aftermath story at its core, but make sure to take a moment to appreciate those moments while they last.

Personally, I think that this book is better than The Poppy War because there isn’t as much jumping through time to move the plot ahead. The book ends in a great setup for the third (and final?) book and I will be reading The Dragon Republic again in preparation for the next release.

Overall this was a fun listen. It was interesting to learn more about Michelle's life before she met Obama and see how she grew over the years. I was especially interested to hear about her approaches to dealing with hardships and how she adjusted accordingly.

The main reason I gave this 3 1/2 stars is because there was nothing exciting in her autobiography. I understand that I should have expected this, but the audiobook is 19 hours long (more on that later) and something that long should have something new to say. Honestly, I could have googled most of the information in this book and it would have been quicker. Michelle spent most of her time retelling her life story, but neglected to include reflections or any intimate insights that would add some much needed depth to this book. I would have liked to have heard more about what she thought and felt throughout her life rather than her timeline. Perhaps I feel this way because this is my first time reading an autobiography, but I wouldn't read this book again.

If you decide to listen to this audiobook, I would suggest bumping the speed up to at least 1.25x...possibly 1.5x. Michelle is a very slow reader and can make parts of the book lag, but she has a clear and strong reading voice that was pleasant to listen to.

I went into this book with the idea that it would be your typical feminist book that talks about empowering yourself, but was pleasantly surprised. The Moment of Lift is about meeting the need of women around the world and how to successfully accomplish that. Melinda isn’t on a high horse telling everyone that they’re wrong and that the only way we can fix things is her way. She opens the dialogue to everyone about their needs and how their foundation can help them meet those needs. In the book, it feels like Melinda wants her readers to understand that there are many ways of lifting women up, and that the only ones who truly understand what they need are the women she is trying to help. Listening to their stories is a huge part of this book.

Often, when organizations work with people from other countries, I see them try to “correct” things without any attempts at understanding that cultures motivations. I appreciated what Melinda said about not telling a culture that their practices and traditions are wrong. It is more important to understand why they do what they do and address the deeper issue. You won’t create change by alienating everyone by telling them they are wrong. Melinda includes many stories that demonstrate how beneficial it is to take a step back and listen to what the people you’re working with actually needs.

My favorite story in this book was about the community that came together to banish Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Rather than walking in to this community, the Gates foundation had local midwives talk to their communities about the health risks and then they listened to the counter argument from the community members. As it turns out, traditions are not always easy to break and are usually much more complicated than outsiders might think.

Though there are stories in this book that are hard to hear about because of their violent nature, but I am glad she included them because those stories deserve to be heard.

If you’re looking for a book that will offer insight to issues that women face around the world (that are often glossed over or completely ignored in the news), this is the book for you. It may also give you a new lens to look at your own community with.

What if? Is a book that gives serious answers to ridiculous questions (some that I didn’t even know I had) in a way that the average person can understand. Everything is explained in detail so that it is really easy to follow the path towards the final answer. It’s the perfect blend of science, sarcasm, wit, and humor.

The book itself feels like a quick listen because each chapter is a different “what if…” question. This prevents the book from having any parts that lag or are easier to gloss over. However, if there is a question that is of no interest to you, feel free to skip over that “chapter” and move on to the next one.

Will Wheaton was the perfect person to read this! He had a great pace and knew when to use inflection. It would have been a very different experience had they chosen someone with a flat or monotone voice, and I’m not sure I would have been able to stick with it. Overall, “What if?” was a really enjoyable book to listen to, and I would highly suggest anyone who has ever wondered, “what if…”.

I found it very difficult to get through part one. If you’re struggling to read it, I would suggest listening to at least the first half. Personally, I only listened to part one and went back to reading once I got to part two. The second part of the book is much easier to read because it is less like a rant, and more of a narration.

Like when I read Of Mice and Men, I spent quite a bit of this book wondering why so many people have suggested this book to me and it wasn’t until the end that I finally understood. All of the pieces fall into place and you can finally see what Dostoevsky wanted to say. I’ve been told that Dostoevsky is someone you either love or hate because he has such a dreary outlook on human nature. I believe I fall in with those who love him. I can see how he could be perceived as being a pessimist, but personally I feel that he more of a realist.

While some people might see the Underground Man as depicting the scummiest side of humans, I don’t feel that he should be seen in such a negative light. His feelings and even his reactions are not uncommon and, while not the ideal way to feel or react, it shouldn’t be depicted as horrible. Being jealous and angry are human emotions, they aren’t something that we can all pretend we don’t feel. Also, most people in society might not actually act the way he does, but I’ll bet that we’ve all had similar scenarios play out in our heads. Humans are not always happy and nice people, we go through good streaks and bad streaks. And each one of us is capable of horrendous things.

I wanted a short, fun book that I would be able to get through really quickly, and that’s exactly what I got. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to slow down for a moment and enjoy an easy read. I think this book is best enjoyed with a warm beverage, sitting in your comfiest chair, wrapped up in your coziest blanket.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this book other than I enjoyed listening to it and learned some interesting concepts that are found in the Danish culture (as well as some from other countries). It was really interesting to see how important the concept of Hygge is to the Danish and I was surprised that the “hygge-factor” was influential in choosing a restaurant and such.

While I already enjoy some aspects of Hygge, I hope to implement some more into my life. It’s easy to forget how important the environment you are in can affect your mood, and this book does a good job reminding you that you need a happy space in your life.

>29 bookworm148: I loved What if?! My favourite was what would happen if you laid out all the elements of the periodic table in order. I also enjoyed the questions people sent in that he wouldn't answer.

>32 Sakerfalcon: I thought the questions he didn't answer were hilarious! Especially when he would include a sarcastic comment regarding why he wasn't answering it.

>29 bookworm148: If you ever get a chance to see Randall Munroe live, don't miss it. He's great on stage.

>34 haydninvienna: What does he do live? Is he a comedian or something?

>35 bookworm148: Just like the books and cartoons, only with sound, colour and movement. He tells basically the same stories plus some extra ones. I'm not sure that it's comedy in the ordinary sense, but he (with Tim Harford as emcee) packed out the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford pretty well, and kept the audience laughing.

>36 haydninvienna: That sounds fun! I live in a pretty small town, so I doubt he'll be near me soon. But I'll keep an eye out!

We return to the world of Alagaësia, not too long after the fall of Galbatorix, and get to check in on some of our favorite characters (as well as a few new ones). This is not a book about Eragon, though he does appear occasionally, but rather three short stories that focus on a specific character. I think it is important to come into reading this knowing that the point is not to further the Inheritance Cycle plot and think of it as bonus features. Anyone who has read any of the other books will enjoy this novella.

It was so fun to revisit Eragon and see how Paolini's writing has improved since he wrote his first book at 19. My favorite chapter is "Fork" because I got to read about my favorite character from the original series. There is one chapter that was actually written (or at least partially written) by Paolini's sister, Angela, which is pretty cool. I challenge you to guess which one she helped with!

I would read anything set in this world, and while I think the saga ended in a good place, I would not be opposed to some more stories from this world. Perhaps similar to how this one was written, or maybe with a completely new set of characters and problems. Maybe even delving into Alagaësia's history. It seems like a shame to never return to the rich world that Paolini has created.

March got away from me and April has been flying by. However, I am hoping to get caught up on my reviews and get back into reading on a regular basis. I used to read primarily on my commute, but now I am working from home that time is spent sleeping in a little bit. While I am a little guilty I haven't been reading, that extra sleep has done wonders for my migraines.

>39 bookworm148: As much as I love reading, I’m a firm believer that sleep is more important when one has to choose between the two!

I’m glad you’ve been able to work from home. I’ve been doing the same for about a month now, and I couldn’t entirely say where my commute time is going! I think mostly toward the computer since I tend to just shift from one computer to the other (personal vs work) when my day starts and ends.

>39 bookworm148: & >40 YouKneeK:

My reading has also suffered from working at home. The commute is gone, I switch from one computer to the other, and when I am not on a computer the family wants a film.

We have a lot in common. :-)