
Reading Envy 209: Best Reads of 2020 with Guest Menagerie
12/28/20 • 69 min
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Books discussed:
Jenny's full list of 5-star reads for 2020
Sovietistan by Erika Fatland
The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tolkarzcuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
One Hundred Twenty One Days by Michèle Audin, translated by Christiana Hills
The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili, translated by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica translated by Sarah Moses
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
Milkman by Anna Burns
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste
Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopera
The Last Best League by Jim Collins
The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackman Lauren
The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwarz-Bart, translated from the French by Barbara Bray
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr
Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the St...
Download or listen via this link: Reading Envy 209: Best Reads of 2020
Subscribe to the podcast via this link: Feedburner
Or subscribe via Apple Podcasts by clicking: Subscribe
Or listen through TuneIn
Or listen on Google Play
Or listen via Stitcher
Or listen through Spotify
New! Listen through Google Podcasts
Books discussed:
Jenny's full list of 5-star reads for 2020
Sovietistan by Erika Fatland
The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tolkarzcuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
One Hundred Twenty One Days by Michèle Audin, translated by Christiana Hills
The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili, translated by Charlotte Collins and Ruth Martin
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica translated by Sarah Moses
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
Milkman by Anna Burns
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste
Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopera
The Last Best League by Jim Collins
The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackman Lauren
The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwarz-Bart, translated from the French by Barbara Bray
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr
Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the St...
Previous Episode

Reading Envy 208: Thriving in Marginalia with Lauren
It's the last regular episode of the year, featuring frequent guest Lauren. We talk reading around the world, different ways of interacting with other readers, poetry, and more. I know there is a slight sound issue and we think it is internet connection related. I took out of it as much as I could but every once in a while it arises mid-sentence. We will try to do better next time!
Download or listen via this link: Reading Envy 208: Thriving in Marginalia.
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Books discussed:
On a Truck Alone, to McMahon by Nabaneeta Dev Sen
Reading the Ceiling by Dayo Forster
Ursula K. LeGuin: The Last Interview edited by David Streitfeld
My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland
An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo
Other mentions:
#readtheworld21
Dune by Frank Herbert
Dune (feature film, forthcoming)
The Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Chef by Jaspreet Singh
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
National Book Award - Lifetime Achievement Award, Ursula K. Le Guin
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin (documentary)
*Columbus, GA (I called it Columbia the first time, sorry)
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers
The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Books on the Go podcast - American Sunrise
Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo
When the Light of the World was Subdued edited by Joy Harjo
Want by Lynn Steger Strong
Related episodes:
Next Episode

Reading Envy 210: 2021 Reading Goals
Jenny reports back on how she did on her 2020 reading goals in the midst of challenging circumstances, then sets goals for 2021. Then a handful of podcast and reading friends share their reading goals for 2021.
Download or listen via this link: Reading Envy 210: 2021 Reading Goals
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Or listen through Google Podcasts
Jenny’s Goals
- Focus on reading Europe
- Catch up on books with music as a central theme
- Authors to try list
- Keep up with subscriptions
- Participate in challenges
Audrey (@dreesreads in Instagram)
- Be more relaxed
- One big non-fiction read
- Booker International long/shortlist
- National Book Award Poetry Longlist
- Continue listening to audiobooks
Laurie
- Pop Sugar 2021 Reading Challenge
- Back to the Classics 2021 Challenge (Books and Chocolate blog)
- Russian classics
- Vassily Grossman buddy reads
Scott
- Emphasis on reading, continue checking off TBR
- Shakespeare plays
- Presidential biographies
Courtney
- Read 40 books
- Read 20 books she already owns
Robin
- Be consistent about journaling about books read
- Slow down and be more reflective after finishing
- More classics, more Willa Cather, maybe Proust
- Authors around the world
- Read more from physical TBR
Karen Naughton (@BarkerForBooks in Instagram)
- Complete reading Thomas Hardy, hopefully 1 book a month
Paula
- This year's theme will be nature books
Books discussed:
The Ensemble by Aja Gabal
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
The Student Conductor by Robert Ford
Music and Silence by Rose Tremain
Songbook by Nick Hornby
Grace Notes by Bernard MacLaverty
The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita
Compass by Mathias Enard
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Devils by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Neverness by David Zindell
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Wilson by A. Scott Berg
A Full Life by Jimmy Carter
Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively
At Hawthorne Time by Melissa Harrison
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