I'm so bored lately, I think I'll do a 2020 book review tonight. Winter is dragging on. Covid is dragging on. We've watched everything of interest on all the streaming platforms. Yep, it's the dregs of winter.
So here's what I read last year:
Update: I left out Elton John's autobiography!
Elton wrote a thoroughly entertaining and seemingly honest story about his life. I think most of the movie was based on the book. He's quite transparent about his faults, failures, and problems. He didn't have the typical 70s rock star look and he played piano. Elton is definitely one of a kind and you have to applaud him for always being himself. It's what made him such a success.
Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream by Neil Young
I ended up skip-skimming through this book. It wasn't as interesting as I expected.
I ended up skip-skimming through this book. It wasn't as interesting as I expected.
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Interesting book that explores what makes high achievers different from the rest of us.
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
I know people despise him, but I find Snowden fascinating. Read this and discover what was really going on in the name of national security and Snowden's journey in exposing it. My opinion is, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F. Kennedy, Interviews With Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
She is one of my favorite historical people. She never wrote about her life, never gave interviews. In 1964, she sat down with a trusted Kennedy friend while he taped his questions and her answers. Those tapes were locked away for an agreed upon number of years, then edited for this book by her daughter. Read her memories of life with JFK, the politicians and socialites they interacted with, life in the White House, and after.
Life by Keith Richards
This one surprised me. Other than his drugs and extreme rock&roll lifestyle, he seems like a neat guy! This was an entertaining book with lots of stories about Keith, the Stones, and assorted other rockers whose music most of us grew up listening to and whose lives were fodder for celebrity gossip rags.
The Power of Favor by Joel Osteen
From Keith Richards to Joel Osteen. Nobody can ever say I have narrow interests. I find Joel to be immensely encouraging. In these harsh times, I don't know about you, but I need all the positivity I can get.
Lady in Red: An Intimate Portrait of Nancy Reagan by Sheila Tate
This was another skimmer. I enjoy inside looks at the world of politics and entertainment, but this book was a bit of a snoozer. Sheila was Nancy's press secretary and it's evident she greatly admired her. She treads ever so gently around her memories of working with Nancy Reagan. Not juicy.
Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Progressive Elite by Peter Schweizer
So, like, what else is new? Yawn.
Live Free or Die: America and the World on the Brink by Sean Hannity
Unless you're a student of history, civics, or government, you'll want to pass on this book. It was like reading a high school textbook. Besides, it's too late. The reason he wrote it was to sound the alarm about the dangers of the extreme left before the 2020 election. Apparently, not enough people read it.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I love back stories. This one tells how Coriolanus Snow developed into the cold, ruthless President of Panem and the origin of the Hunger Games.
Waco: A Survivor's Story by David Thibodeau
After seeing the movie on Netflix, I had to read this to see if the movie was accurate. What a horrific event. I don't understand how the government and EffBeeEye got away with murder. Oh wait, I answered my own question...
Diana: Case Solved, the Definitive Account that Proves what Really Happened by Dylan Howard
Oh my word. Do not ever bother with this author's self-back-patting account of how he "thinks" he uncovered all the answers to this tragic moment in history. I can't give this book enough thumbs down.
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman
Another Netflix series that made me want to read the book. It was disappointing to learn that the series took a lot of artistic liberties with Deborah's story. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating look into a world that I had no idea still existed today.
The Fall of Gondolin by JRR Tolkien
I almost didn't include this one. I checked it out and tried to read it, but couldn't get past the first few pages. I used to love Tolkien's prose, but now I don't have the attention span to follow it. Only for die-hard Tolkien fans.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Yet another streaming series that made me want to read the book. The series deviated a little bit from the book. What's really fascinating is that Huxley wrote this in the 1930s about things that are commonplace today. It's like he had a window into the future. Fortunately, we are not quite in the world where most of his story takes place. Yet. A good book, but the series was better.
Sarah Sanders: Speaking for Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders
I really enjoyed this book. I thought Sarah did a great job as Trump's press secretary. She provides some interesting behind-the-scenes stories and several heart-warming ones. She had a warm relationship with the president and presents a side of him that the media never will.
What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action by Jane Fonda
She inspires two things in people - love and hate. I've read all her books and really enjoy her acting. So I guess you could say I'm not one of the people who hates "Hanoi Jane." I also find her so inspiring. She's 80 years old and still doing meaningful things! While I don't agree with a lot of the information in this book, I did find it educational and it helped me understand the concerns for climate change.
Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump
The family history of famous people is always interesting because it can give insight into the person (we think) we know today. But when that history is written by a woman angry at how her father was treated by her grandfather, angry about how it affected her own life, it loses some credibility. I dunno; her bitterness stained a lot of the pages in this book.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
A friend was reading this book and raving about it. I confess - it came with several others I had on hold and I didn't get around to reading it before it had to be returned. But it is one that I plan to check out again, based on the enthusiasm of my friend's recommendation.
The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones by Kim Renfro
You know I love all things GoT and this book didn't disappoint. It brought back memories of key scenes and great stories in the series and I really enjoyed reading about how it was made.
Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon: Game of Thrones and the Official Untold Story of the Epic Series by James Hibberd. Very similar to the Unofficial Guide mentioned above but entertaining nonetheless.
Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us by Donald Trump Jr.
Nothing surprising or new here, but it reads as if Don Jr is sitting there at your kitchen table, kvetching about the left.
Finding Freedom: Harry & Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie
The author breathlessly takes us from the moment the lovebirds met up to their departure from "The Firm." She's a shameless fangirl, fawning all over the royal love story. It got interesting when she wrote about the events that swirled around the Sussex's decision to break away, the negotiations, and the move to the west.
Rage, by Bob Woodward
I saved this one until the last days of Trump's presidency. I've read most of Bob's books and always thought they were objective and informative. I didn't think he could pull that off when it comes to the controversial president. But, for the most part, I think he did. I wasn't surprised by anything; however, the most illuminating information had to do with the current pandemic. I recommend this book for that alone.
Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given by Duane Chapman
Duane Chapman is also known as Dog, the Bounty Hunter. In our winter boredom, we watched some of his old shows. I had to know a little more about this crazy guy, where he came from, how he got into bounty hunting, his family (who were all part of the team). It's an older book, but had some interesting info.
The Harbinger II: The Return by Jonathan Cahn
I hated the first book. But in light of the election outcome, all the controversy surrounding it and the "prophets" wailing and travailing, I decided to have a look at Harbinger II. To be honest, it just made me mad. The style he's chosen to use to make his prophetic point is annoying at best, terrible at worst. I completely disagree with Cahn's conclusions and/or his theology. He does connect a lot of dates and historical events that are seemingly insignificant, until it's very uncanny. However, the guy who wrote "88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Come Back in 1988" also had extremely logical data for his prophecy. 88 of them to be exact. Yet, obviously, we're still here and He's still There.
Dune: The Duke of Caladan by Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson
I'm currently reading this one. Of the last 3 or 4 books in the Dune series, at least this one is holding my attention. I was SO disappointed in Sisterhood of Dune (about the Bene Gesserit). This is the first of a new trilogy which will focus on the Atreides family of Caladan.
Interesting book that explores what makes high achievers different from the rest of us.
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
I know people despise him, but I find Snowden fascinating. Read this and discover what was really going on in the name of national security and Snowden's journey in exposing it. My opinion is, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
She is one of my favorite historical people. She never wrote about her life, never gave interviews. In 1964, she sat down with a trusted Kennedy friend while he taped his questions and her answers. Those tapes were locked away for an agreed upon number of years, then edited for this book by her daughter. Read her memories of life with JFK, the politicians and socialites they interacted with, life in the White House, and after.
Life by Keith Richards
This one surprised me. Other than his drugs and extreme rock&roll lifestyle, he seems like a neat guy! This was an entertaining book with lots of stories about Keith, the Stones, and assorted other rockers whose music most of us grew up listening to and whose lives were fodder for celebrity gossip rags.
The Power of Favor by Joel Osteen
From Keith Richards to Joel Osteen. Nobody can ever say I have narrow interests. I find Joel to be immensely encouraging. In these harsh times, I don't know about you, but I need all the positivity I can get.
Lady in Red: An Intimate Portrait of Nancy Reagan by Sheila Tate
This was another skimmer. I enjoy inside looks at the world of politics and entertainment, but this book was a bit of a snoozer. Sheila was Nancy's press secretary and it's evident she greatly admired her. She treads ever so gently around her memories of working with Nancy Reagan. Not juicy.
Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Progressive Elite by Peter Schweizer
So, like, what else is new? Yawn.
Unless you're a student of history, civics, or government, you'll want to pass on this book. It was like reading a high school textbook. Besides, it's too late. The reason he wrote it was to sound the alarm about the dangers of the extreme left before the 2020 election. Apparently, not enough people read it.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I love back stories. This one tells how Coriolanus Snow developed into the cold, ruthless President of Panem and the origin of the Hunger Games.
Waco: A Survivor's Story by David Thibodeau
After seeing the movie on Netflix, I had to read this to see if the movie was accurate. What a horrific event. I don't understand how the government and EffBeeEye got away with murder. Oh wait, I answered my own question...
Diana: Case Solved, the Definitive Account that Proves what Really Happened by Dylan Howard
Oh my word. Do not ever bother with this author's self-back-patting account of how he "thinks" he uncovered all the answers to this tragic moment in history. I can't give this book enough thumbs down.
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman
Another Netflix series that made me want to read the book. It was disappointing to learn that the series took a lot of artistic liberties with Deborah's story. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating look into a world that I had no idea still existed today.
The Fall of Gondolin by JRR Tolkien
I almost didn't include this one. I checked it out and tried to read it, but couldn't get past the first few pages. I used to love Tolkien's prose, but now I don't have the attention span to follow it. Only for die-hard Tolkien fans.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Yet another streaming series that made me want to read the book. The series deviated a little bit from the book. What's really fascinating is that Huxley wrote this in the 1930s about things that are commonplace today. It's like he had a window into the future. Fortunately, we are not quite in the world where most of his story takes place. Yet. A good book, but the series was better.
Sarah Sanders: Speaking for Myself by Sarah Huckabee Sanders
I really enjoyed this book. I thought Sarah did a great job as Trump's press secretary. She provides some interesting behind-the-scenes stories and several heart-warming ones. She had a warm relationship with the president and presents a side of him that the media never will.
What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action by Jane Fonda
She inspires two things in people - love and hate. I've read all her books and really enjoy her acting. So I guess you could say I'm not one of the people who hates "Hanoi Jane." I also find her so inspiring. She's 80 years old and still doing meaningful things! While I don't agree with a lot of the information in this book, I did find it educational and it helped me understand the concerns for climate change.
The family history of famous people is always interesting because it can give insight into the person (we think) we know today. But when that history is written by a woman angry at how her father was treated by her grandfather, angry about how it affected her own life, it loses some credibility. I dunno; her bitterness stained a lot of the pages in this book.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
A friend was reading this book and raving about it. I confess - it came with several others I had on hold and I didn't get around to reading it before it had to be returned. But it is one that I plan to check out again, based on the enthusiasm of my friend's recommendation.
The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones by Kim Renfro
You know I love all things GoT and this book didn't disappoint. It brought back memories of key scenes and great stories in the series and I really enjoyed reading about how it was made.
Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon: Game of Thrones and the Official Untold Story of the Epic Series by James Hibberd. Very similar to the Unofficial Guide mentioned above but entertaining nonetheless.
Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us by Donald Trump Jr.
Nothing surprising or new here, but it reads as if Don Jr is sitting there at your kitchen table, kvetching about the left.
The author breathlessly takes us from the moment the lovebirds met up to their departure from "The Firm." She's a shameless fangirl, fawning all over the royal love story. It got interesting when she wrote about the events that swirled around the Sussex's decision to break away, the negotiations, and the move to the west.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Matt talks about his life growing up, his family, his career. He's as adventurous (outrageous?) as some of the characters he's played. You can hear that slow Texas drawl in every paragraph. An entertaining book, maybe a 6 on a 1-10 scale.
I saved this one until the last days of Trump's presidency. I've read most of Bob's books and always thought they were objective and informative. I didn't think he could pull that off when it comes to the controversial president. But, for the most part, I think he did. I wasn't surprised by anything; however, the most illuminating information had to do with the current pandemic. I recommend this book for that alone.
Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given by Duane Chapman
Duane Chapman is also known as Dog, the Bounty Hunter. In our winter boredom, we watched some of his old shows. I had to know a little more about this crazy guy, where he came from, how he got into bounty hunting, his family (who were all part of the team). It's an older book, but had some interesting info.
Going into 2021....
I hated the first book. But in light of the election outcome, all the controversy surrounding it and the "prophets" wailing and travailing, I decided to have a look at Harbinger II. To be honest, it just made me mad. The style he's chosen to use to make his prophetic point is annoying at best, terrible at worst. I completely disagree with Cahn's conclusions and/or his theology. He does connect a lot of dates and historical events that are seemingly insignificant, until it's very uncanny. However, the guy who wrote "88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Come Back in 1988" also had extremely logical data for his prophecy. 88 of them to be exact. Yet, obviously, we're still here and He's still There.
Dune: The Duke of Caladan by Brian Herbert & Kevin Anderson
I'm currently reading this one. Of the last 3 or 4 books in the Dune series, at least this one is holding my attention. I was SO disappointed in Sisterhood of Dune (about the Bene Gesserit). This is the first of a new trilogy which will focus on the Atreides family of Caladan.
So that wraps up another list. It gave me something to do tonight and, if you have insomnia, maybe it helped you fall asleep!
