Top 10 Tuesday: Books I Meant to Read in 2020 But Didn’t Get To

1. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

Genre: Historical Fiction

I remember getting this book for Christmas when I was in high school at some point. So, I’ve had it for maybe… 8-10 years by now? I’d really like to finally be able to say that I’ve read it! And I love historical fiction so I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get to it!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

2. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Genre: Literary Classic

I believe I got my copy of this book around the same time I got The Help (maybe a little bit after). Honestly, I found it at an independent bookstore and thought the cover was really pretty. At the time, I liked the idea of reading it but never quite motivated myself to actually… read it. After reading lots of classic novels for school, I think I got a little bit burned out. However, I’ve recently started reading books like this again, so I’m hoping to finally get to it in 2021!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

3. “The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything” by Ken Robinson

Genre: Nonfiction

I actually borrowed this book from my mom a while ago and haven’t returned it yet (sorry Mom!). I was hoping to get to it last year so I could finally return it, but I’m confident I’ll get to it soon (especially with my reading resolution of reading more nonfiction this year). I actually started reading this book on a plane (remember those?) at one point, and then just never picked it up again for some reason. However, I remember thinking it was really interesting when I started reading it, and I’m hopeful I’ll be able to finish it in 2021.

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

4. “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

This one I didn’t borrow (steal?) from anyone, but it was recommended to me by my best friend at one point! I remembered the title ever since she told me about it, and then I actually found it while I was thrift shopping for books a couple years ago! I bought it because I was so excited to read it and talk to her about it, but my TBR list grows so rapidly that I still haven’t managed to get to it. Who knows, maybe this will be the year I finally do!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

5. “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman

Genre: Fantasy

I don’t remember when I bought this (a few years ago maybe?), but I bought it because The Princess Bride is one of my all-time favorite movies! And (typically) the book is always better than the movie. Since joining various “book-ish” communities, I’ve actually heard mixed reviews of this book. I don’t read a lot of fantasy and this book is pretty long, so I think that’s part of why I haven’t read it yet. This is actually the only non-YA fantasy novel I even own. But I’m still so excited to read it!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

6. “As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride” by Cary Elwes

Genre: Memoir

I bought this one at the same time that I bought The Princess Bride. This one has more to do with the movie, which, as I said before, I absolutely love. I bought them at the same time thinking I would read The Princess Bride and then follow it up with As You Wish. However, I haven’t managed to read either yet, and the stubborn part of me feels like I can’t read As You Wish until I’ve read The Princess Bride. Fingers crossed that I’ll get to it this year!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

7. “Children of the New World” by Alexander Weinstein

Genre: Short Story Collection (Science Fiction)

Well, my goal last year was to read more science fiction and to read all of the stand-alone sci-fi novels that I owned. Unfortunately, I had this one in the section of my bookshelf dedicated to short story collections and poetry books, so I totally forgot about it! I got this several years ago at Powell’s. I thought the premise was intriguing and I really liked the cover (and yes, I’ve heard the old adage, but is it okay when you’re judging something positively by its cover?). This would definitely be out of my comfort zone, and I hope I can read it soon.

You can find the Goodreads synopsis HERE.

8. Something else by Luis Alberto Urrea

Genre: N/a

In 2018, I read The Devil’s Highway (I even got it signed by the author later that year!), and I credit this book for re-inspiring my love for reading. I had gotten out of the habit of it during college, but I really wanted to get back into it. This was the first book I read to reignite that passion. It was an incredible book, and I would really love to read some of his other work. I’ve also listened to the audiobook version of The House of Broken Angels (beautifully narrated by the author), and it was wonderful as well. The other two books of his that I own are: The Hummingbird’s Daughter and Into the Beautiful North. I can’t wait to read more of his work.

Here you can find the Goodreads synopsis of The Devil’s Highway, The House of Broken Angels, The Hummingbird’s Daughter, and Into the Beautiful North.

9. Something else by Paulo Coelho

Genre: N/a

One of my all-time favorite books is The Alchemist (another one I’ve discovered is controversial since joining more online bookish communities). However, I loved it so much that I ended up purchasing (on a whim) a boxed set of novels by Paulo Coelho. Unfortunately, not only have I not read any of them yet, but the boxed set even still has the plastic wrap on it! I’ve left it on so that it protects them from getting damaged when I’ve moved (that’s how I justify it in my head anyway). If anyone has read any of his other books, I’d love a recommendation for which one to read next!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis of The Alchemist HERE.

10. Anything by Isabel Allende

Genre: N/a

Okay, so here’s the deal… The summer before my junior year of high school, I had a summer reading list for my IB English class. I diligently read all of the books on the list (starting with the shortest ones), except for… The House of the Spirits. By the time I got to it I was just too burned out, and the length was daunting to me. I did start it, but I don’t think I got very far. Luckily, that ended up being one of the only books we didn’t end up using in the course! However, ever since then I’ve wanted to try reading it again.

The thing is, though, even though I haven’t read any of her books yet, I find Isabel Allende to be a really inspiring person and author. Whenever I go thrift-shopping and see her name or just see a book of hers with a pretty cover, I can’t help but buy it. That being said, I own five of her books, but haven’t actually read any of them. Oops! I would really like to read at least one of them this year, and if you have any suggestions on which to start with I’d love to hear it!

You can find the Goodreads synopsis for The House of the Spirits HERE.