Top 10 Books of 2020

top 10 books of 2020

Who wants another Top 10 list of 2020? No one? Cool, I made one for all the best books I read this year anyway!

If my 100 One-Line Book Reviews post was too long for you (honestly, it was too long for me too, so I don’t blame you) maybe this one will be more enjoyable. I’ll keep it short and sweet, but if you’re looking for some book recommendations for 2021, these are, in my opinion, a good place to start—especially of you like horror, speculative fiction, and LGBTQ characters.

Continue reading

2020 Reading Challenge: 100 One-Line Book Reviews

100 One-Line Book Reviews

Now that 2020 is nearly over (!!!!!!!!) it’s time for my annual reading wrap-up! I’ve always challenged myself to write one-line reviews* of books I’ve read throughout the year, and am continuing the tradition this year as well.

I had originally set myself a goal to read 52 books this year, but thanks to lockdown, I hit that pretty early. Then, I upped my reading goal to 100 books, and have since surpassed that as well. However, for the sake of my sanity (or at least what’s left of it), instead of writing a one-line review for every book I’ve read this year, I’m sticking to the first 100.

If you’re interested in seeing every single book I’ve read in 2020, feel free to check out my Goodreads. Otherwise, feast your eyes on the following 100 one-line book reviews.

And remember, I am writing most of these reviews months after finishing the books, so they aren’t necessarily good, but they are fun! (Get ready for the run-on sentences!)

*These reviews are more like the first thought that pops into my head when I think back to each book.

Continue reading

2019 Reading Challenge

2019 Reading Challenge

It’s the first day of 2019, and the first thing I did when I got out of bed this morning was grab a new book to start reading. This isn’t all that different from how I start most days, but once I read a couple chapters, I realized that I hadn’t set any reading goals for 2019 yet. So, here we go!

Continue reading

Summer Reading List

Summer Reading 2018

July is finally here, which means it’s time to kick off my summer reading! I know it’s felt like summer for a few weeks already, but to me, summer will always be July and August; it’s one of those things from being a student that I just can’t shake. And making summer reading lists has always been something I’ve loved doing.

Continue reading

2017 Reading Challenge

I did it, friends! I successfully completed my 2017 Reading Challenge on Goodreads! This year I challenged myself to read 35 new books, and finished in record time. I didn’t think I could do it, but here we are again. Now, for the third year in a row, I’m going to challenge myself to write one-sentence reviews all of 35 new books I read (so far) this year! I can’t promise that these will be well-written sentences, but if you’re looking for something new to read this Fall, check out my list below. And if something catches your eye but my one-liner doesn’t convince you to check it out, let me know and I can give you a full review.

Continue reading

2016 Reading Challenge

2016reading

This year I challenged myself to read more new books than ever before. I was worried I wouldn’t have time to achieve this goal, but I surprised myself. I was able to read 30 new books before Halloween! Now my Goodreads account is congratulating me.

I’m going to once again challenge myself to write one sentence reviews of each book, so if you’re looking for some new literary adventures to finish your year off check out what I’ve read in the past ten months.

Continue reading

2015 Reading Challenge

This year I challenged myself to read 25 new books, and kept track of my progress through my Goodreads account. I am proud to say that as of last week, I successfully completed this challenge! Now I can spend my December re-reading some of my all-time favourites (I’m coming for you again, Gatsby!).

Today, I decided to re-visit all the books I read this past year, and challenged myself to write one-sentence reviews. If you’re looking for some new reads to wrap up your year, check these out! 

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, by Vincent Lam

Written by a Toronto-based doctor about being a medical student in Toronto: this book gives you more insight into the world of medical care than Grey’s Anatomy ever could.

Not That Kind of Girl, by Lena Dunham

While some excerpts were great, others weren’t, so I defiantly wouldn’t say that it defines a generation.

2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke

I don’t even know how to begin explaining my love for Clarke’s work, or 2001: he spins a masterful tale about life on Earth and beyond.

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

This book is full of female, twenty-something angst, and I love it; funny and sad, Plath will welcome you into her world and make you feel at home.

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway makes me feel in a way that no other author can, and this book is no exception; I don’t even know how to describe it except by saying “it’s real.”

A Dance With Dragons, by George R. R. Martin

I still hate all the Starks.

2010: Odyssey Two, by Arthur C. Clarke

Dave Bowman comes back!

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

I really don’t understand the hype around this book — it was only alright.

A Long Way Down, by Nick Hornby

Another book full of angst, but also ripe with strange friendships that develop over a pact to not commit suicide.

2061: Odyssey Three, by Arthur C. Clarke

You never know what you’re going to find in space!

Into The Wild, by Jon Krakauer

One of the greatest pieces of non-fiction I’ve ever read, and a compelling story about one young man’s journey to find himself.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard

If you want to know what the character’s in Shakespeare’s Hamlet do while off-stage, read this play, because it’s hilarious.

The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells

Martians that can’t cope with Earth’s atmosphere or various diseases, so despite their invasion, humans still come out as victors.

Annihilation, by Jeff Vandermeer

Area X is full of secrets that will drive you mad, potentially to the point of death.

Armada, by Ernest Cline

This book is full of totally awesome nerdy references, but the ending falls short.

Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut

Only Kurt Vonnegut writes like Kurt Vonnegut, and you don’t realize how true his satire is until it’s over.

Choke, by Chuck Palahniuk

This book made me pretty uncomfortable, but that’s what Chuck Palahniuk does, so I’d still call it a success.

Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton

DINOSAURS!

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., by Adelle Waldman

Hipster romances in Brooklyn.

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

This book tells the story of a wonderful world of magic, but tries too hard to make a sub-par romance spark.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving

I’m still concerned about what actually happened to Ichabod Crane.

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

This story will melt your heart in a spooky way.

Bird Box, by Josh Malerman

The story is gripping, and will leave you turning pages and trying to figure out what is happening, but in the end, you’ll be let down.

A Study in Scarlett, by Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock and Watson meet for the first time and it’s hilarious.

Fans of the Impossible Life, by Kate Scelsa

Very similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and would have probably been better if I was still 16.