Best Books I Read in 2020

I only read 28 books this past year. I read 38 last year. I was surprised that I read less this past year.  I think the reason is that I've taken up quilting (in the last part of the year). I find it quite satisfying. Probably too much TV/movie watching, as well.  I'm in a book club so I'll always read at least one book a month!

These are my favourite books that I read in 2020, in no particular order.

1. Seven More Men and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas. I've read the other mini biography collections by Metaxas: Seven Men and Seven Women. This book covers Martin Luther, George Whitfield, George Washington Carver, General William Booth, Sergeant Alvin York, Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Billy Graham. I especially enjoyed learning about George Whitfield. Every mini biography in this book is fantastic. I would recommend this book to anyone. 

2. The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede. This tells the true life story of the air passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland on the day of 9/11. The townspeople took them in and did so much for complete strangers. This book makes Canadians look pretty incredible. 

3. Mr. Mulliner (series) by P.G. Wodehouse. Woodhouse is a comfort read for me. Plenty of comedic situations.

4. A Gentleman in Moscow. This was a re-read. I originally read this in 2018 but it was a book club selection. I'm happy that I read it again. I got much more out of it the second time. This book about confinement was particularly relevant during a quarantine year.

5. Silas Marner by George Eliot. I like to read at least one classic book a year. This was, I believe, the only classic I read in 2020. A short book but powerful. I don't like summarizing books so I copied this from a website:

"Silas Marner is a novel by George Eliot in which Silas flees his strict religious community after being framed for a crime he didn't commit.

• Silas loses everything when his former friend frames him for a crime. Silas believes his faith will protect him, but when God doesn't defend his innocence, he abandons his religion.

• After fleeing his home, Silas settles in a small town, where he becomes a successful weaver.

• A young girl arrives on Silas's doorstep. He takes her in, and this allows him to rejoin the community and the church. In the end, Silas recovers his faith in God."

I want to read more classics in 2021 and I think I'll start with Little Dorrit by Dickens.  

6. Nature of the Beast (Inspector Gamache series #11). Every year I seem to have a Louse Penny book in my best list. Note: not all the books in the series are fantastic. 

7. Olive, Again. You either love Olive Kitteridge or you hate her. There isn't an in-between. I love her. She's an unlikely heroine. There is a lot to dislike about Olive. This is a sequel to Olive Kitteridge. Olive is cantankerous and that is an understatement. There are so many funny and sad situations and Olive is honest at all times. 

8. Betty the Story of Betty MacDonald Egg and I by Anne Wellman. I really enjoy the books written by Betty MacDonald and I enjoy reading about her life. She spent many years in the Seattle area, including Laurelhurst and Vachon Island. You have to read something by Betty MacDonald! Her book about her time spend in a tuberculosis sanatorium (the building that is now King's Schools) (The Plague and I) is probably the most fascinating. I also recommend her book Anybody Can Do Anything which is hilarious with stories of her search for work as a divorced mother in Seattle during the Depression.

9. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.

This book in on my list because the story will stay with me a long time. It is the January 2021 selection for my book club. It is a cross between Huckleberry Finn and Homer's Odyssey and Of Mice and Men. It is a sad book, so you've been warned. I had a short time to read it (before it was due back at the library) and that was probably a good thing. I'm glad I didn't procrastinate reading it. 

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Christmas 2020

Things were going pretty well until the night before Christmas Eve. I started to have a sore throat. Oh no! It persisted and I stayed home all of Christmas Eve. J and the boys did the grocery shopping and food prep. We discovered late on Christmas Eve that we didn't have any celery to make stuffing/dressing. I had forgotten to put that on the shopping list. This was a big problem! J remembered that Whole Foods would be open on Christmas Day and he picked up the necessary ingredient and felt very bad for all the people working. I made the dressing/stuffing but all the other dishes were made by J or the boys with J's help.

I print up a menu every year to keep me on track and also to use for planning the following year's menu.

Hawaiian rolls

Caesar Salad

Honey Glazed Carrots

Dressing

Cranberry Sauce

Boursin Buttermilk Potatoes

Roast Turkey

Marionberry Pie and Ice Cream

Martinellis

On the night before Christmas Eve we had an interesting family outing. We went looking for Christmas light displays. I had heard that Evergreen Church, which we go to every year, was still doing their thing. That wasn't true, unfortunately, and we didn't know that until we arrived. OK, next up was Keener's Corner near the boys' school. It can be approached by either the north or the south. We approached by the south, had a quick peek but couldn't enter the driveway due to the HUGE lineup coming from the south. Cars were lined up all along the street that goes by the school. Cars were backed up all the way to the freeway entrance. About a mile! Next, I looked up (on my phone) any lights that were close to our house. I found something that looked promising. We drove to the location but didn't find anything. I think it was from last year, something that often happens when researching Christmas lights. I was happy with how the boys handled the evening. They were in good sprits and I think it will be a fun memory. 

J and the boys went to Cedar Park Church for Christmas Eve service since our church didn't have a service. It was at 8 pm and was very well attended. People dressed up, which J appreciated. Masks were optional. The young man playing bass guitar in the band is a classmate of A's.

I like to set the table in a special way so I managed to do that, even while sniffling.

C gave us his Christmas list very late so most of his presents didn't arrive in time. He was disappointed but it was unavoidable. Especially since I couldn't go out to do last minute shopping on Christmas Eve. Two of J's gifts didn't arrive on time even though they were ordered quite a ways ahead.

A received a professional level tripod for taking video. He will be getting a camera as a graduation gift. He was happy and grateful for the small gifts we gave to him. 

I received an inflatable kayak which is surprisingly heavy, some perfume, a new kitchen knife, and 2 jigsaw puzzles that A picked out for me. I'll also be getting a new fridge. I feel so old when appliances are on my wish list!

J will be getting some art for his office and a 5 Solas of the Reformation sweatshirt.

C will be getting 2 posters, a new jacket (he is into clothes right now), and shoe cleaner.

We watched the Queen's Message via YouTube. The boys phoned my parents. I ordered a special Christmas meal for them (from Chef on the Run) which they were able to eat on Christmas Eve. I'm pleased that they enjoyed it. 

Our dinner:

Here is our family, minus me since I didn't want my photo taken when I'm feeling sick.

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