Tag: 2020 Wrap-Up

My Favorite Crime/Mystery/Detective/Thriller Fiction of 2020

By

On January 11, 2021

In Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc.

Finally, we’re at the end of my 2020 wrap-up, it feels like I’ve been at this for a month, not just 11 days. Like I’ve said previously, my intention was to be done three or four days ago, but oh, well.

In a real sense, this was a challenging list to come up with, but the first 7 jumped to mind instantly, even back in December when I started to think about what might show up. It was those last three that I had to labor over—there were so many good candidates (see the list at the end of this post for the six-way tie for 11th place).

Once again, I’ll note that I limit my lists to things I read for the first time (so the nine Robert B. Parker books I re-read last year didn’t make up most of this list). I’d be willing to guarantee anyone reading this page will enjoy at least 6 of these (which six will vary from reader to reader). I’m tempted to say that all the listed books are guaranteed for everyone, but people’s tastes are too varied, so I’ll hedge my bet. Try these, and you’ll be glad you did.

(in alphabetical order by author)

The RevelatorsThe Revelators

by Ace Atkins
My original post
Here, in book 10, Ace Atkins wraps up storylines he’s been building up for ages, characters move on (some are even still alive when that happens), and what comes next for Quinn Colson and his community is anybody’s guess (although, I’m pretty sure there’ll be a white, corrupt politician behind it, because…well, it’s Tibbehah County). A dynamite novel.

5 Stars

Deep Dark NightDeep Dark Night

by Steph Broadribb

My original post
Lori and JT are finally pressured to do the shady work for the FBI Agent that’s been looming over her head forever, and it goes horribly, horribly wrong. Which is a treat for the reader. You’ve got the JT, Lori, and a whole bunch of unsavory people trapped on the top floor of a Chicago highrise, and the thrills start from there. Strong character development in the middle of some of the tensest action you can imagine. Great ride.

4 1/2 Stars

The Law of InnocenceThe Law of Innocence

by Michael Connelly

My original post
I was slightly afraid of that when I read the blurb for this—did we really need two books from Connelly in 2020 where the protagonist is suspected of a murder that there’s no chance at all that he committed? By the beginning of Chapter Two, any trepidation had vanished. By the end, this may be my favorite Lincoln Lawyer book yet. The courtroom action was fantastic. I absolutely loved it.

4 1/2 Stars

The CuratorThe Curator

by M. W. Craven

My original post
What a great hook. What a fantastic series of twists. What a wonderful concept for a killer and modus operandi. Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are a couple of my favorite characters and they got to shine here. I just want to rave and rave and rave about this book, but I have things to do, so I’d better move on.

5 Stars

King of the CrowsKing of the Crows

by Russell Day

My original post
There’s no way I can sum up my appreciation for this book in this post. Set in a world recovering from a pandemic, there’s a straightforward crime story at the heart of this novel—it’s just surrounded by so many layers, that you can miss it—there’s the disease, there’s the horrible social and political context (both mid- and post-Outbreak), there’s what the characters are going through otherwise—and the whole thing is drenched in social commentary about 2020 society, e.g., sexism, economics, medical care. Yeah, it was bad timing that this book came out in 2020 when the last thing that many people want to read is a novel about a disease that’s out of control. But this had been in the works for months before anyone had heard of COVID-19. I’ve wondered what I’d think of this book if I’d read it last Fall. I’d still like it, I’d still be impressed by it—but I don’t know if it would resonate with me the same way. There’s almost nothing about Gondii that’s comparable to COVID-19. But the way that people and governments respond—well, that’s pretty different, too. but if you can’t see what’s going on around us reflected in this novel? You’re not paying attention. That Day appears so prescient says something about his skill and observation (and a lot about Western culture, too).

5 Stars

Lost HillsLost Hills

by Lee Goldberg

My original post
A young detective takes advantage of Social Media stardom to get herself a promotion she’s not quite ready for. But she’s determined to get there. She has to overcome her own lack of experience and a department that resents her. Eve Ronin’s first homicide case starts with a grizzly scene and the apparent murder of a woman, her two children, and a dog. Soon, she’s finding herself racing with an out-of-control wildfire that’s about to wipe out any evidence related to the case and the killer’s last victim. A great start to what promises to be a fun series.

4 1/2 Stars

Luck and JudgementLuck and Judgement

Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)

My original post
DC Smith and his trainee are brought along with some other government investigators to look into a missing person/death on an oil rig. Smith’s the only one who doesn’t think it’s an accident. He begins to investigate the death as a murder and uncovers a lot more than he bargained for. Humor, heart, and humanity are the bedrock of this series and all of them shine forth in this procedural.

4 Stars

A Bad Day for SunshineA Bad Day for Sunshine

by Darynda Jones

My original post
This is pure, escapist fun. Think Gilmore Girls mixed with Veronica Mars. A single mom is a new sheriff of a quirky little New Mexico town, with a spunky daughter. There’s a kidnapping, an escaped convict, a missing deputy, and cursed cupcakes. Great dialogue, witty repartee, a mother-daughter relationship that will earn Jones many fans. This is as much fun as you can pack into a police procedural without making it a comedy, but still full of grim, grisly, depravity and darkness. It’s a nice serving of literary comfort food. There’s a freshness to this voice that I just loved, but my appreciation for this book (and the series it launches) goes deeper.

4 1/2 Stars

How the Wired WeepHow the Wired Weep

by Ian Patrick

My original post
There are two protagonists here—one is a small-time criminal, the other is a London Detective Sergeant who recruits and handles informants—excuse me, Covert Human Intelligence Sources. The criminal is fresh out of prison and is being used to get information on an up-and-coming local gang leader. There’s plenty of moral ambiguity to go around here, which is probably pretty realistic for this line of work (on both sides of the law). Patrick gives a more intimate, more powerful novel than he has with his Sam Batford series with this fascinating look into a side of policing most novels don’t.

4 1/2 Stars

Of Mutts and MenOf Mutts and Men

by Spencer Quinn

My original post
I’ve been a fan of this series since chapter 3 or so of the first book. Here in the tenth novel, Quinn is better than ever. There are some really strong emotional moments in the novel, some character growth (not in Chet, our animal narrator, never fear), and a mystery even more complex readers are used to from Chet and Bernie. Still, this is a series about a down-on-his-luck PI and his canine partner—a mix of goofy fun and solid PI fiction, fun, fun, stuff.

4 1/2 Stars

Books that almost made the list—and did in various drafts (links to my original posts): The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton; The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge; Rattlesnake Rodeo by Nick Kowalski; Far from the Tree by Rob Parker, Warren Brown (Narrator); and Light it Up by Nick Petrie

My Favorite Non-Crime Fiction of 2020

By

On January 9, 2021

In News/Misc.

Back when I started this site, I knew the content would be largely “genre”-oriented. I’d have wagered the content would be roughly 1/3 Mystery/Detective fiction, 1/3 Urban Fantasy, and slightly less than 1/3 SFF, with “non-genre” fiction, humor, and non-fiction being enough to make my one-thirds just an approximation (honestly, if you asked me what I read regularly, that’s pretty much how I’d describe it today). Actual numbers show that’s wrong—yes, it’s about 1/3 Crime/Thriller Fiction, but Urban Fantasy has only topped 20% once in the last decade (usually hovering around 15%), SFF combine for about 20%.

Which is just a long-winded way to get to these two points: because Crime Fiction takes such a big chunk of my reading, it gets its own Best-Of list, but none of the others really garner enough numbers for their own. Also? The fact that this list is 50% Urban Fantasy makes me happy. I may not read as much of it as I think that I do, but it clearly resonates with me as much as I think it does.

So much for me 2-3 sentence intro, eh? This might be why it took me 5 days after settling the list to get it posted.

As always, re-reads don’t count (if for no other reason I could just cheat—don’t want to stress out about this list? Easy, each year read 2 Nick Hornby books, a couple of Troppers, Harper Lee, Changes by Butcher…and a couple of other standby’s and recycle the same list every year).

(in alphabetical order by author)

False ValueFalse Value

by Ben Aaronovitch

My original post
After wrapping up the overarching plotline from books 1-7, what do you do for book 8? Something completely different. If you were to draw a Venn diagram with circles for Charles Babbage/Ada Lovelace, Artificial General Intelligence, and Wizardry—the overlap is where you’d False Value. Who wants more? The mix of contemporary cutting-edge technologies and Newtonian magic is just fantastic.

Throw in more Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy references than is healthy and you’ve got yourself a winner.

5 Stars

Amari and the Night BrothersAmari and the Night Brothers

by B. B. Alston

My original post
I’m a tiny bit worried that recency bias got this one on the list. But, I’m not going to lose sleep over it.

This is a delightful story about a young girl from the “wrong” part of Atlanta being recruited by her missing/presumed dead brother into a Hogwarts/MIB mashup, overcoming odds, making friends, saving the day by doing all the sorts of things that young teen protagonists have to do (with a little support from the grown-ups who are supposed to be stopping her), but mostly through grit. The book is written with a sense of joy and hope, while never losing sight of what Amari has to overcome in terms of her own circumstances as well as the specific villainy.

Also, and I can’t stress this enough, there’s a weredragon. What more do you need?

4 Stars

Peace Talks and Battle GroundPeace Talks/Battle Ground

by Jim Butcher

My original Peace Talks post
It wouldn’t be fair to either book to just pick one of the two Dresden Files novels published in 2020, and these were originally written as one book, so this isn’t cheating. I laughed, I giggled, I got scared on behalf of fictional beings (and remain that way), I was awed, I was saddened, and I cried more than once. And I’m not going to think about that last bit anymore, because I have things to today.

They aren’t perfect, I know I’ve said I can’t read these books uncritically, but even I can see a problem or two with these books. But I just don’t care. Those problems don’t even amount to one bean in Rick Blaine’s proverbial hill compared to what I loved about the books.

5 Stars

A Beginning At The EndA Beginning At The End

by Mike Chen

My original post
Chen makes his second appearance on this list in two years (and there’s a pretty good reason to think he’ll return). I’m sure he’d rather have not kicked off 2020 by publishing a novel about a global pandemic in hindsight, but it’s too late for that.

Chen’s trademark appears to be writing non-SF stories in SF settings. As society tries to rebuild itself after most of the world’s population was wiped out, we focus on four people trying to establish some sort of life for themselves. It’s about being trapped and defined by our past, and about making choices to change our present, with hope for the future. Told with heart, wit, and skill—Chen’s characters will grab you and won’t let you go.

I’m not sure these two paragraphs were helpful. Go click the link above and read a few more words about it.

4 1/2 Stars

One ManOne Man

by Harry Connolly

My original post
A PI story in a Fantasy world is becoming enough of a common thing to stop readers in their tracks by itself. Now, you have to make it a good PI story in a Fantasy world. This one works as a Fantasy and a noir PI novel.

A man haunted by his horrible past, just trying to get by, is pushed into a gang war by being in the wrong place at the wrong time and befriending the right little girl in need of an adult looking after her. Intricate magic, elaborate world building, horrible villains, tarnished (at best) heroes. This is a novel to chew on and relish.

4 Stars

Not DressedNot Dressed

by Matthew Hanover

My original post
This is a dollop of sweetness on the other hand. The protagonist (Jake) we have here is in a stagnant (at best) long-term relationship that’s got a couple of pretty big things to work through; and is in a job situation that needs addressing. Then he makes a new friend who quickly becomes the only positive thing in his life. Jake’s life is basically begging to be shaken up, is Kaylee going to help instigate that?

This book is effortless to read. It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s infectious, it’s engaging as anything I can remember. I cared about these characters and got invested in their lives faster than I typically do. And thinking about them now, over a year after I read the book, still brings a grin to my face.

4 Stars

Ink & SigilInk & Sigil

by Kevin Hearne

My original post
Yes, this is an Iron Druid spinoff and clearly exists in that world. But it’s nothing like an Iron Druid novel. You’ve got a cantakerous, aged, protagonist; fantastically designed and a-typical sidekicks/associates, with a magic system that I don’t has a predecessor in UF. If Aloysius MacBharrais isn’t one of your favorite characters in fiction right now, that’s only because you haven’t met him yet.

And it’s funny. Not to the detriment of action and drama, but filled with laughs. I’m not sure what else to say without going on for another 700+ words, so I’ll just leave it at that (and with the link above).

4 1/2 Stars

QualityLandQualityLand

by Marc-Uwe Kling, Jamie Lee Searle (Translator)

My original post
The most realistic dystopian novel that I can think of. Also the most satiric, which helps you read it without despairing.

The Algorithm runs your life—it gives you what you want and need (even if, especially if, you don’t realize you need/want it), it determines your friends and relationships, it does everything for you but breathe and eat. Please rate it five stars. Or be prepared to suffer the consequences.

And it’s an election year. With an AI-generated candidate facing off against the incumbent. Which proves to be a lot more unpredictable than anyone could guess.

4 Stars

A Killing FrostA Killing Frost

by Seanan McGuire

My original post
The number of on-going arcs that are resolved/permanently altered/kicked off in this one novel is mind-boggling. Particularly since at least one of them I didn’t expect to be really explored until McGuire kicked off her end-game for this series (so, clearly, I know nothing). She drops one of the (probably the) biggest bombs in the series—and keeps on going so much so that it’s not the climax of the novel!

It was a fun, thrilling, emotional ride even ignoring everything I just said. McGuire’s a writing monster, it’s just fun to watch her at work.

4 Stars

The Ghosts of Sherwood and Heirs of LocksleyThe Ghosts of Sherwood/The Heirs of Locksley

by Carrie Vaughn

My original posts are here and here
Like the Butcher books, I couldn’t see mentioning one of this duology (which needs expanding!) without the other, making my Top 10 a Top 14. I have a degree in Liberal Arts you can’t bind me with your mathematics!

These stories about Robin and Marian’s three teen-aged kids just filled me with joy. Vaughn gave us a present in these stories—what happens after Robin and the rest win and then settle down to have a normal life? What becomes of a legend after his work is done?

More interestingly, what’s life like for the kids of a legend? What do you believe about your father (who downplays everything)? What do you do with your life to try to live up to the standard?

4 Stars

Books that almost made the list (links to my original posts): Highfire by Eoin Colfer, Last Stand in Lychford by Paul Cornell, and
Annihilation Aria by Michael R. Underwood (I need to finish my post about this one).

My Favorite Audiobooks of 2020

By

On January 6, 2021

In Audiobook, News/Misc.

Given the large number of audiobooks I listened to in 2020, I sort of felt like I had to focus on them for one of these posts. But how to keep this from being just a rehash of the other best of lists? Well, I focused on the audiobook experience over the content. What was it like to listen to it? How engaging was it, how did the narrator do? Was it a good match in terms of tone, content, and performance?

Truth be told, this was a harder choice than I expected. Also, a couple of books that were in my mental rough draft didn’t make it to the final version when all was said and done (I’m still not sure I made the right call on a couple of these).

(in alphabetical order by author)

Dark JennyDark Jenny

by Alex Bledsoe, Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

My original post
Stefan Rudnicki brilliantly captures the humor, the confusion, the determination of Eddle LaCrosse and the situation he finds himself in—and then the horror, revulsion, and anger he has when he discovers what’s really going on. Starting with one of Bledsoe’s best books, Rudnicki goes on to bring it to life.

4 Stars

Dash & Lily's Book of DaresDash & Lily’s Book of Dares

by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan, Ryan Gesell (Narrator), Tara Sands (Narrator)

My original post
For me, this book came along at the right time—its particular brand of silly and escapist sweetness was exactly what it turned out that I needed. Add in a couple of stellar performances from Ryan Gesell Tara Sands and it’s just a delight. They can make you believe (even temporarily) in the magic of Christmas and young love.

3.5 Stars

Luck and JudgementLuck and Judgement

by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator)

My original post
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep on saying it: there’s a certain magic, an ineffable alchemy about Jackson narrating Grainger’s work. It’s just fantastic, I think I’d have liked these audiobooks with another narrator (or in print), but I don’t think I’d have liked them as much.

I could’ve listed each book in this series here, but I limited myself to this one because it’s an atypical crime for a novel, the solution (and how Smith and his team come to it) is offbeat, there’s some great humor and great emotional beats, too. It’s Grainger at his best and Jackson delivers it perfectly. There is a strong sense of humanity in these books, not just in the protagonists, but in the victim, the killer, the witnesses, the people who aren’t the killer but who aren’t up to anything legal/moral/ethical…everyone. There’s no one cartoon-y or over the top (in any direction).

4 Stars

The In BetweenThe In Between

by Michael Landweber, Brittany Pressley (Narrator), Mark Boyett (Narrator)

My original post
This is the story of what happens to a family when a young child goes missing during a teleportation trip that his parents make successfully (to put it too succinctly) It’s a gripping listen and wonderfully performed. As you may have guessed Brittany Pressley narrates the chapters from the mother’s point of view, and Mark Boyett takes the father’s. I don’t think I’d heard anything by either of them before—but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for their names when I browse for audiobooks in the future. They truly did wonderful jobs. They got the emotion of the moment, the tension—and occasional moments of fun, joy, or relief—as well as giving a real sense of the characters. It didn’t happen often, but even when a character usually only seen in a Lillian chapter showed up in a Jackson, you could recognize them (and vice versa)—which was nice. Landweber wrote a great story but Boyett and Pressley brought it to life.

5 Stars

GreenlightsGreenlights

by Matthew McConaughey

My original post
When Chris Hardwick interviewed McConaughey recently he described the audiobook as McConaughey playing McConaughey, which is a great way to put it, and I wish he’d posted this before I wrote about the book so I could’ve borrowed it then. But that’s it exactly, Yes, it’s his stories, but yeah, he’s performing. It feels like you’re sitting around the campfire or a table in a bar, listening to a great storyteller at work.

3.5 Stars

Crossing in TimeCrossing in Time

by D. L. Orton, Noah Michael Levine (Narrator), Erin deWard (Narrator)

My original post
Typically, when I post about an Audiobook, I close with a discussion about the narrator(s). But I started with it when I posted about this novel because Levine and deWard did such a great job, they’re the highlight of the experience for me. Typically, when there is a male narrator and a female narrator—the female will read all the narration and dialogue in the female character POV chapters, and the male will read all the narration and dialogue in the male character POV chapters. But here, deWard reads all the female dialogue, no matter the narrator (and vice versa). That’s a nice touch, and once I got used to it, I really appreciated it. Particularly, it helped the conversations between characters feel like conversations—there was a little bit of talking over each other, and so on. And when the two laughed together? That was either fantastic work by the narrators or by the editor (or both).

I’m not that sure how much I’d have enjoyed this book in print, but the way these two embodied the book made it one of the highlights of the year.

4 Stars

Far from the TreeFar from the Tree

by Rob Parker, Warren Brown (Narrator)

My original post
This was an Audible Original, so the Audiobook experience is a big part of it. Brown was a great choice of narrator—he’s the perfect voice for this material. He captured and shaped the tone as he needed to, and gave the right performances for each character.

I can’t help feeling like I need to say more, but I just don’t know what else to say. If I had problems with the performance, I’d probably be able to go on longer, but when a narrator gets it right, like Brown does here, what else is there to say? It was a brutal, brutal experience, with more twists than I can count, and a plot so complex I’m not able to talk about it in this small space.

4 Stars

Back to RealityBack to Reality

by Mark Stay & Mark Oliver, Kim Bretton (Narrator)

My original post
This is sort of a Fringe-inspired take on a Back to the Future/Freaky Friday mashup, and it’s as odd, and fun as that description makes it sound.

I’ll frequently (maybe too frequently?) talk about an audiobook narrator bringing the text to life. And Kim Bretton does that. But she does more than that—she fills it with life. Dynamic, energetic, vibrant…are just some of the adjectives that spring to mind. I was very happy when I just looked over her other audiobook credits and saw a couple of titles I was already thinking about—if she’s doing them, I’m giving them a try. (although, if I never hear her do another American male accent, I’d be more than okay).

Funny, sweet, amusing, heartfelt, laugh-inducing, touching, comic, imaginative—and did I mention humorous? This is 606 minutes of pure entertainment. I really encourage you to put this in your ear-holes. It’d probably work almost as well in print—Bretton’s great, but she has to have something to work with—but in audio? It’s close to a must-listen.

4 Stars

The Answer IsThe Answer Is . . .: Reflections on My Life

by Alex Trebek, Narrated by: Ken Jennings, Alex Trebek

My original post
Jennings was a great choice of narrator, since his time on Jeopardy!, the two are linked in the collective consciousness, and they clearly have a good relationship. He sounds like a natural when it comes to narration. But his work is overshadowed by the few chapters he didn’t read.

Trebek read a few chapters himself—the one about why he swears so often (it surprised me, too), the one talking about notable Jeopardy! contestants (like Jennings), the one about his wife (Trebek didn’t like the idea of someone else talking about his wife that way), and the last chapter, where he discussed his cancer and coming to terms with his impending death. I understand why he couldn’t do the entire book himself, but I’d have preferred it (nothing against Jennings—I’d have been content with Jennings doing the whole thing). But I’m so glad he did those chapters, you could hear the sincerity in his praise for Jennings, Eddie Timanus, Cindy Stowell, and others; his love for his wife; and the resolution and contemplation he’d put into his final days

4 1/2 Stars

Dawn PatrolDawn Patrol

by Don Winslow, Ray Porter (Narrator)

Wow. Despite this being my first and favorite Winslow novel, I wasn’t inclined to grab the audiobook. But then it was on sale and a fellow Winslow-fan recommended Porter’s take on the book. I didn’t know that Porter did audiobooks before this, but he’s on my list to watch for now.

I don’t know how to describe this—I was blown away. I’ve read the book two or three times, but Porter made it feel like it was all new. I was gripped. I was entertained. I was heartbroken. It’s as good as you can ask for an audiobook to be.

5 Stars

My Favorite Non-Fiction Books of 2020

By

On January 4, 2021

In (Auto)Biography, Humor, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Politics/Current Affairs

My 2020 Wrap up continues and now we’re on to the Non-Fiction list. I had little trouble getting this down to 9 books (couldn’t be satisfied with any of the candidates for 10, although Duhigg almost scored it with the other book by him I listened to this year). But when started filling in the details, I was surprised that I’d given so many of these 3 or 3 1/2 stars. But these are the ones that stuck with me through the year; the ones I cited in conversation; that I thought about when reading something else or watching something on TV. Really, that’s what’s important, right?

As always, I only put books that I’ve read for the first time on this list. I don’t return to NF books (outside of looking up things for one or three points), but occasionally I do—for example, The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs would get a permanent spot on this list, were it not for this rule.

(in alphabetical order by author)

GritGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

by Angela Duckworth

My original post
A fascinating mix of psychological research, case studies, and personal anecdotes. Duckworth structured this in such a way that not only it was informative and educational, it was enjoyable and motivational. The subject was interesting, the approach challenging, and didn’t always give the answers you expected. Duckworth made it clear that with the right mindset and time, it was possible to increase your own grit and find a measure of success. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, nor is it a promise of instant success. Just a reassurance that smart work can pay off.

4 1/2 Stars

Smarter Faster BetterSmarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

by Charles Duhigg, Mike Chamberlain (Narrator)
My original post
It’s not a how-to book, it’s not self-improvement, it’s largely about the science/study/understanding of productivity. I found it just as fascinating as previous book and can see where it’d be a useful guidebook for people in some sort of position of authority in an organization. Yet, it’s an improvement over Duhigg’s previous book because there are indications of how one could apply this to themselves/their organizations.

Also, Duhigg shows us his process while illustrating his own application of the book’s lessons—which I really enjoyed. I find his approach to putting together a book very interesting, what and how he includes something is almost as interesting as what he does with it.

3.5 Stars

No Time Like the FutureNo Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality

by Michael J. Fox

My original post
I’ve been a fan of Fox’s for as long as I can remember, and have watched most of the projects he discussed here (and many others). Like many, I’ve been impressed with the way he and his family have dealt with his Parkinson’s Disease and how they’ve worked to help everyone with it.

So this book, where he’s frank about the troubles he’s had recently and the way they’ve challenged his natural optimism really struck a chord with me. The book is a balance of struggle and victory, setback and progress—all told with a sharp wit that’s sure to charm.

4 Stars

The Checklist ManifestoThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

by Atul Gawande, John Bedford Lloyd (Narrator)

My original post
It’s a simple premise—a well-developed checklist can make even the most complex task doable and save even experts from horrible oversights/mistakes when implemented correctly (although there are things that just can’t be made into a checklist). As hard as it might be to fathom, seeing how checklists have been used by pilots, surgeons, investment bankers and the like is utterly fascinating. There’s just no way that I can make it sound like it.

3.5 Stars

Breaking Bread with the DeadBreaking Bread with the Dead: A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind

by Alan Jacobs

My original post
Jacobs hits another one out of the park. He asks how can we read and appreciate books from the past plagued by things that would not be tolerated today? Racism; slavery; different expectations for family, male and female roles; and so on. (many of these can apply to books and people who aren’t from previous centuries, but are in the cubicle next to us or around the Thanksgiving table—but Jacobs doesn’t spend time on that, but if you can’t make the application, I don’t think you’re paying attention).

Thoughtful, thought-provoking, erudite, with quiet humor, Jacobs will make you think, aspire to be a better reader, and more widely-read, too. I’m going to have to read this one a couple of more times to mine it for detail, and I’m looking forward to it.

4 1/2 Stars

Funny, You Don't Look AutisticFunny, You Don’t Look Autistic

by Michael McCreary

My original post
McCreary shows a side of ASD that many people probably don’t realize exists. And even if they do, hearing about it from someone with it, helps you understand it better. McCreary gives us his perspective on things in a way that’s easy to digest. His humor (mostly pointed at himself and autism) provides some lightness to something that’s usually not treated that way.

3.5 Stars

Working StiffWorking Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner

by Judy Melinek, MD, & TJ Mitchell, Tanya Eby (Narrator)

My original post
This is Melinek’s account of her training to be a forensic pathologist in NYC—a great place to train, because what won’t you see there? She talks about the deaths that are the result of crimes, the kind of thing we see on every crime show in the world. But that’s not primarily the job and that’s not the focus of the book—mostly it’s the result of an accident, long-term disease, and so on. Which is actually frequently more interesting than the criminal stuff.

What makes this already compelling book all the better (as a book, not as an actual life) is that September 11, 2001, was a few weeks after her residency began. Her description of dealing with the aftermath (both in terms of the dead and the events that followed) is just sobering, and a reminder of the unspeakable reality of that day.

3.5 Stars

Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is WhyNothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why

by Alexandra Petri

My original post
If this was a straight-forward collection of essays about politics and cultural issues, I’d probably not recommend it. I don’t know if I’d have finished it (although, with Jacob’s help (see above), maybe I could’ve). But the fact that it’s a collection of humorous essays/columns? Oh yeah, sign me up.

Even when I think she’s wrong about a topic, she made me grin and/or laugh. Usually made me think. I was always impressed with her creativity.

3 Stars

The Answer IsThe Answer Is . . .: Reflections on My Life

by Alex Trebek, Narrated by: Ken Jennings, Alex Trebek

My original post
Even if we hadn’t lost Trebek this year, this would’ve landed on this list. But given how much we’ve all been talking about him lately, it has to show up.

He tells his story in short chapters, full of self-depreciation and more swearing than you’d expect (he explains why). If you can hear/read him talk about his wife, his children, his cancer—and the effect that the cancer’s having on his wife and children as he prepares for death without being moved? There’s something wrong with ya. At that point, any thought I had about pretending to be objective and analytical went out the window.

My sole complaint is that the audiobook is only four-and-a-half hours long. It’s just not long enough. I get that he wasn’t trying to be exhaustive—and I don’t necessarily want that—but when you start to hear these quick stories about his growing up, his getting established in the business (either in Canada or the States), his friendships…and of course, Jeopardy!—you just want it to keep going for hours and hours.

4 1/2 Stars

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2020

By

On January 3, 2021

In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living

I knew I’d done a lousy job of keeping up on my Theology/Christian Living posts this year. But assembling this post let me see just how bad I’d done—five posts this year, and only one from this list made was covered in them.

Maybe that’s part of why I was rejected by NetGalley for every book along these lines I requested this year? In retaliation, I bought every book I was rejected for. That’ll teach ’em…

Anyway, these books are important enough to me—and this category makes up enough of what I read that I figured I’d keep up the tradition of making this list. And I’ll try to do better on this front in 2021.

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists. It’s a self-imposed rule, but in a year when I re-read Calvin’s Institutes, some Machen and Prayer by O. Hallesby, it’s just not fair to almost everything else I read.

(in alphabetical order by author)

Who Is God?Who Is God?: Key Moments of Biblical Revelation

by Richard Bauckham

This is one of those deceptively easy reads that shouldn’t be read easily. Based on lectures that Bauckman has delivered, the book takes a Redemptive Historical approach to God’s revelation of Himself. “Jacob’s dream at Bethel (the revelation of the divine presence), Moses at the burning bush (the revelation of the divine Name), and Moses on Mount Sinai (the revelation of the divine character)…He then shows how the New Testament builds on the Old by exploring three revelatory events in Mark’s Gospel, events that reveal the Trinity: Jesus’s baptism, transfiguration, and crucifixion.” After looking at the particular text, Bauckman then traces that revelation through Scripture showing how the same thought it echoed and expanded throughout.

As these chapters were originally lectures, they’re not full of footnotes—but they’re clearly the product of a lot of scholarship. There’s deep thought here and great spiritual nourishment.
4 1/2 Stars

The Hope of IsraelThe Hope of Israel: The Resurrection of Christ in the Acts of the Apostles

by Brandon D. Crowe

It makes no sense to me at all that there hasn’t been a book-length look at the theme of Resurrection in Acts until now. It’s so clearly important to the message of Acts that you’d think there’d be dozens. But nope.

Crowe does a masterful job of filling that lacuna. It is all over Acts—more than I’d have guessed, too. First, he focuses on the topic in general, then focuses on the speeches/sermons of Peter, then those of Paul, and then those of everyone else. The exegetical material is just Part One, and it’s worth the purchase price right there.

But then he goes on to examine the topic from four theological perspectives, fleshing out the exegetical material and it gets so much richer.

This isn’t as easy to read as Bauckman, but it’s not too difficult if you’re willing to put in the work. Fascinating topic and helpful reflections.

4 Stars

From Adam and Israel to the ChurchFrom Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God

by Benjamin L. Gladd

Gladd traces the idea of the people of God through successive Redemptive Historical eras, showing how each built on the one before and points to the final form in the New Heavens and Earth, fulfilling the original Creation design. A helpful way to look at this topic, it’ll challenge, inform and inspire.
4 Stars

Struck Down But Not DestroyedStruck Down but Not Destroyed: Living Faithfully with Anxiety

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

Written twelve years after Hibbs was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, he takes a different approach to anxiety disorders than you typically see. It’s not about denying the problem, it’s not about overcoming it, and striving to lead an anxiety-free life. Instead, it’s about relying not on our own strength, but on Christ who is sufficient when we are not; it’s about learning to see what God’s purpose in the suffering is, understanding that His hand is guiding all things—including our problems—so how do we in faith (without denying the suffering) rest in faith.

If like me, you don’t suffer from an anxiety disorder, you have your own challenges in your life, ways in which you suffer. It’s easy, thanks to the way Hibbs wrote this, to see how you can apply these principles to your own circumstances.

Very practical, but not at the cost of truth and theological reflection.

4 Stars

Bearing God's NameBearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

by Carmen Joy Imes

I had some real problems with this book—I quibbled with more than a few points, and flat-out disagreed with others (although I think her arguments are interesting and I’d like to see someone who knows what they’re doing dissect them). And I’m not so sure her thesis is all that revolutionary—I’ve heard it in almost every (maybe every) sermon I’ve heard on the Third Commandment in Confessional Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in the last two and a half decades.

That said, it’s a thesis that more people need to hear. The commandment isn’t primarily about our language, it’s about taking the Name of the Lord our God in the sense of “bearing.” When God’s people call themselves that, certain things are expected of them to not bring shame to that name (which will involve treating His name—and the means by which He is revealed—with the due respect).

She starts at Sinai and then traces the idea (a theme in this post, no?) through the rest of Scripture, showing how God’s people have done this—and how they’ve failed at it, too.

It’s a popularized version of a good portion of her dissertation, and is so accessible it’s ridiculous. Thought-provoking and helpful (even when I think she’s wrong about something), it’s a book I can’t help but recommend. My disagreements (and the way she expressed problems that don’t exist with the Reformed understanding of the topics) led to my reduced rating, not anything to do with the way the book was written.

3.5 Stars

The Identity and Attributes of GodThe Identity and Attributes of God

by Terry L. Johnson

The reason I haven’t written anything about this is simple: I don’t know how to start—or how to finish (or anything in between). This is a modern, less-exhaustive version of Charnock’s The Existence and Attributes of God. Full of quotations and lessons from Puritans and others in church history, this is an excellent introduction (and then some) to the classical doctrine of God so often ignored or downplayed today. If we don’t know who He is, how will we know how to worship and serve Him?

It’s convicting. It’s informative and educational. It’s devotional. It’s probably the best thing that Johnson’s written—and that’s saying something.

5 Stars

Exodus Old and NewExodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption

by L. Michael Morales

“Morales examines the key elements of three major redemption movements in Scripture: the exodus out of Egypt, the second exodus foretold by the prophets, and the new exodus accomplished by Jesus Christ.” Like so many others I read this year this takes a Redemptive Historical approach seeing the way these ideas play out throughout Scripture, are echoed and expanded in successive eras.

The exodus from Egypt is the template (not the best word, but the only one that comes to mind at the moment) for redemption in general, and we see this figure used time and time again in Scripture. Morales is a helpful guide through this progression.

4 Stars

With All Your HeartWith All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will Toward Christ

by A. Craig Troxel

Troxel begins by fleshing out a Biblical understanding of the heart (short version: the governing center of life). That understood, he then moves on to show how we’re to use that heart to fulfill Christ’s commands—how we keep it pure, how we protect it, how we keep it obedient. Most of all, how we respond when we fail (and fail, and fail).

One of the most humbling—yet helpful—books I’ve read in years. Troxel pierces the heart in the best way, so that we can see our need for repentance.

4 Stars

The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the ChurchThe Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church

by Geerhardus Vos

This work “surveys the teaching of Jesus concerning the kingdom of God. It covers the kingdom in the Old Testament, the meaning of the biblical words for kingdom and kingship, the present and future aspects of the kingdom, the essence of the kingdom, the relationship between the kingdom and the church, and finally the saving benefits of entering the kingdom…Vos exposited an inaugurated kingdom with a future consummation long before G. E. Ladd popularized it.”

This is a slim, dense volume. Vos demands care and close attention to his work—but it’s so worth it (and after a while, you don’t notice how much you’re working to read). Fascinating and still helpful a century later.
5 Stars

Song of SongsThe Song of Songs

by G. I. Williamson

My original post
Yeah, I gave this one only 3 1/2 Stars, but it’s on this list because it stuck with me. It’s been since April and I’ve thought about this book a few times (definitely during the two times this year I’ve read the Song of Songs). Williamson’s wisdom and carefully Christ-centered approach to the book makes these sermons really valuable.

3.5 Stars

The Irresponsible Reader in 2020: Thoughts, Thanks and Stats

By

On January 1, 2021

In Calendar Items, News/Misc., Nick Kolakowski

Programming Note: Over the next few days, I’ll be looking back over 2020—but I’ll trying to come up with some new material, too. Many/most others have already done their best-of/year-end wrap up posts, but I’m a stickler—I can’t start doing this kind of thing ’til the year is over—a few years ago, pre-blog, the last thing I read (finished on 12/31, as I recall) just blew me away and was easily the best thing I read that year. Ever since then, I just can’t start to think about it until January 1.

As we kick off 2021, as is my custom, I wanted to take a glance back at 2020. 263 books finished (plus comics, picture books, short stories, and the like that I don’t know how to count)—and that’s with pretty much taking one month off! I exceeded my goal (nothing like exceeding an arbitrary number to boost the ol’ ego), too; around 80,000 pages; with an average rating of 3.77 Stars. I only DNF’d one book, which is nice (and man, it was bad).

On the blog front, I put up 480 posts—128 more than last year!! (and again, that’s with some time off). I had some strong gains in traffic—views and visitors—actually, strong gains doesn’t quite cut it. Consider my mind boggled. I’m also seeing good growth in followers here and on various social media fronts, which is encouraging as all get out—not just growth in numbers, but the level of and amount of interaction is up to the point that my socially awkward self doesn’t really understand it.

I didn’t finish two of my projects for the year—my trip through The History of Tom Jones and my survey of the first twelve Spenser novels. I’m getting back to both of those in the coming days (and I might lengthen the Classic Spenser series by three or four, we’ll see).

In addition to the changes in lifestyle brought on by the global pandemic (perhaps you heard of it), I moved my blog to a self-hosting platform. That created more headaches than I want to think of (comments went down at least 3 times, for example). But I think it’ll be worth it in the long-run. And not just because I can save some money. And then, my family had to move, which was a lot more disruptive than I expected. I know I’ve talked too much about it already, just a little more…in the first decade or so that my wife and I were married, we lived in 6 different places, moving was just a thing that happened. In the next 13 years, we lived in one place and planned on at least two more years there. That’s a lot of inertia to overcome—but we’re almost settled, most of my books have a place to be, and I’ll soon shut up about it all.

As is my habit, here’s my breakdown of books by genre (and I’m going to have to change things soon, this chart doesn’t show up well anymore, I just like showing the trends). Genre labeling is more difficult lately as I’m reading a lot of hybrids (most of us are, they’re being produced more), but I tend to go with the overarching genre. Basically, everything’s the same, with just a percent or two of adjustment. It’s been forever since I’ve read a Western or a Horror novel—and “humor” is pretty useless, as a lot of things I read could be considered that. Once again, for someone who doesn’t plan too thoroughly, the percentages stay remarkably consistent from year to year—tastes (and series I follow) apparently stay the same.

Genre 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Children’s 5 (2%) 7 (3%) 11 (4%) 7 (3%) 5 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Fantasy 35 (13%) 28 (10%) 30 (11%) 7 (3%) 31 (13%) 17 (9%) 11 (7%) 15 (8%) 12 (6%)
General Fiction/ Literature 16 (7%) 21 (8%) 22 (8%) 29 (10%) 27 (11%) 17 (9%) 7 (4%) 30 (16%) 30 (14%)
Horror 0 (0%) 1 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (.4%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Humor 2 (1%) 4 (1%) 3 (1%) 1 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (1%) 3 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller 90 (34%) 105 (38%) 107 (38%) 102 (37%) 61 (25%) 64 (34%) 62 (37%) 63 (33%) 73 (35%)
Non-Fiction 28 (10%) 25 (9%) 22 (8%) 10 (4%) 11 (5%) 8 (4%) 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 11 (5%)
Poetry 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
Science Fiction 20 (8%) 30 (11%) 25 (9%) 27 (10%) 37 (15%) 16 (8%) 17 (10%) 14 (7%) 11 (5%)
Steampunk 2 (1%) 1 (0%) 3 (1%) 1 (0%) 2 (1%) 7 (4%) 3 (2%) 3 (2%) 11 (5%)
Theology/ Christian Living 23 (8%) 34 (12%) 25 (9%) 30 (11%) 33 (14%) 42 (22%) 42 (25%) 37 (19%) 10 (5%)
Urban Fantasy 42 (16%) 25 (9%) 29 (10%) 45 (16%) 36 (15%) 19 (10%) 20 (12%) 26 (14%) 48 (23%)
Western 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (0%)

Thanks to the nifty spreadsheet made by the Voracious Reader, I was able to get a few more stats. I find them interesting, maybe you will to.

I keep saying I want to re-read more, I’m doing okay on that front, but want that to get higher.


I knew I was listening to more audiobooks this year (just the nature of my work enables me to do a lot of these, plus gym time—before March, anyway), but that it’s the majority of what I “read” in 2020 is pretty surprising. A lot of the “Borrowed” and re-read slices above are tied to that.

Enough about me. I want to talk about you, who keep me going and show an interest in what I’m doing here and give some thanks to people for their impact on The Irresponsible Reader (the blog and the person) in 2019:

 

Have a great 2021, hope you find plenty of good things to read!

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén