These are the books I read that got me through the tumultuous year that was 2020.
It was reading that provided a quiet escape from the ever-changing landscape of the world. I appreciated the slow medium that gave me a break from the screen (and the news).
These books kept me going in 2020. They improved my mindset, provided an escape, and showed examples of perseverance.
Related Post: 6 Podcast Episodes That Will Improve Your Mindset
This contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Pachinko is a story that follows four generations of a Korean family as they try to survive and build a life in 20th Century Korea and Japan.
You get to see the effects of wartime, Japanese colonization, and migration to a new “home.”
I loved seeing how the characters’ sense of identity and belonging evolved over the different generations!
And this book educated me about a part of history that I hadn’t heard much elaborated on previously.
This book is heartbreaking at times, but you get to witness a family’s strength and perseverance over many generations, which makes this book so captivating!
Circe by Madeline Miller
Any Greek mythology lovers out there? Circe is a story about an underdog who is ever-evolving.
Born an outcast in her family, Circe discovers a power that eventually gets her sentenced to seclusion on an island all by herself.
Circe is uncompromising and leans into what makes her different. You will find yourself always rooting for her to succeed as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and finding her real power.
The Art of Living by Bob Proctor and Sarah Gallagher
Bob Proctor is a legendary business and motivational speaker. This book is a transcript of one of his most popular classes where he teaches you how to live life on your terms and pursue your dreams.
He talks about how we need to unlearn the false beliefs we picked up about ourselves and take action in our lives.
I decided to read this book after I heard Bob speak on one of my favorite podcasts. His interview “woke me up,” and I highly recommend listening to the episode before reading the book. You can check out that podcast here.
Related post: 6 Podcast Episodes That Will Improve Your Mindset
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
In A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle expands upon the importance of being present and recognizing (and separating) yourself from ego. The book goes deep into how to identify your ego and be more conscious.
This book impacted me greatly. I don’t know if this blog would be here if I hadn’t read this book over the summer.
A New Earth helped me get out of my head and taught me how to separate myself from my thoughts.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Lilac Girls is a historical fiction novel inspired by a real World War II heroine’s efforts and follows the lives of three very different women during this time.
One of the women is a Polish teenager, one an ambitious German doctor, and one a New York socialite working at the French consulate.
Like Pachinko, this book transported me and taught me a lot about another period in history.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
This book is Austin Channing Brown’s memoir about her experience growing up Black, Christian, and female.
She gives an honest account of how she worked to find her self-worth as a black woman in a predominantly white society.
The exposure of the short-comings of “white America’s love affair with ‘diversity'” felt extremely relatable given all the recent changes being made at many companies this year.
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
This book is an absolute must-read for Asian Americans and non-AA’s. No other book has ever fully expressed or clearly articulated the full experience as an Asian American. There’s no tip-toeing around here.
Minority Feelings explores what it means to be “Asian American,” the effects of being considered a “model minority,” and talks about the pressure and self-inflicted hatred Asian Americans have about their own race.
Reading this book gave me the courage to be unapologetically Asian American. It permitted me to explore my own underlying feelings of shame/guilt/pride for being a minority.
I recommend this to my non-Asian friends because this is a rare account of what it’s like to be Asian in America.
You don’t see enough AA stories in mainstream media. But for now, you have this book!
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
IYKYK. There’s a reason Hello Sunshine and Hulu turned this book into a hit TV show featuring megastars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.
Celeste Ng goes deep and tells a story that hits on the complexity of motherhood, identity, race, privilege – and finally, class and belonging.
This book is a page-turner! And if you haven’t seen the show yet, I recommend you go check it out on Hulu (after you finish reading the book, of course!).
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
I loved this book! It has a mix of supernatural phenomena, instant internet fame, and how people feel like they need to have an opinion or extreme POV to stay relevant.
The story follows a girl who becomes an overnight celebrity after posting a video that went viral.
The book explores what happens when suddenly you’re thrust into the limelight while also keeping you guessing about the mystery of the Carls and why they suddenly showed up on earth.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Last on my list of books I read that got me through 2020 is a light-hearted, easy-to-read romance novel about a boy and a girl who meet in an airport.
This book is the equivalent of a Hallmark Christmas movie – predictable but makes you feel good and allows you to escape the real world for a little.
This book is all about timing, family connections, second chances, and first loves.
Support local book stores
Bookstores have been hit hard during the pandemic since many depend highly on in-store foot traffic to survive.
Because of this, they’ve had to find ways to bring their businesses online (while also finding ways to stay competitive to online retail giants – like Amazon). This is where Bookshop comes in.
Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.
They do this by creating an easy way to buy your book online and still support local businesses. To read more about their mission, check out this Wired article here.
Read with me!
I’ve become a Bookshop affiliate and created my own book shop which showcases all my favorite books or books that are high on my “to read” list.
For those interested in more book recommendations, you can check out my shop here: https://bookshop.org/shop/lifestylebyremi.
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What were some of your favorite books you read in 2020? Leave a comment down below to share your recommendations with us!
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This contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
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