Reading Roundup: Fiction Challenge of 2020

At the beginning of 2020, I partnered with a friend for a year-long fiction reading challenge. She and I love to read, but we tend to favor non-fiction. In an effort to broaden our reading repertoire, we committed to reading at least six novels in 2020, and we held each other accountable. (Mostly, she kept me on track because I’m a slower reader!) Here’s a recap of the books we read:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone is the story of Ernt Allbright, a troubled Vietnam veteran who moves to Alaska with his wife and daughter for a fresh start and a change of scenery. But the harsh climate and long winter nights prove to be more challenging than they anticipated. While Ernt battles his demons, Cora and Leni are forced to fight for their survival.

My friend and I both enjoyed this book immensely, mainly for two reasons. First, Hannah’s vivid description of the Alaskan landscape brings the setting to life for the reader. After finishing this book, I gave Alaska high priority on my travel bucket list! Second, Hannah keeps the reader emotionally involved throughout the story. As I read, I found myself speaking to the characters as if I could change their ill-fated course. The end of the book is thoroughly satisfying without being too storybook perfect.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where The Crawdads Sing is the heart-wrenching tale of a child abandoned in her home among the marshes of the North Carolina coast. Kya, known locally as the “Marsh Girl,” uses instincts to survive and clever schemes to avoid school authorities. Later, two teenage boys come into her life, and a mystery unfolds when one of them is found dead.

This is another book full of detailed descriptions of the habitat surrounding the characters. Kya spends most of her days in isolation, with nature as her only provider and confidant. I found the lack of dialogue to be tiresome, but perhaps that’s the point. Owens conveys the loneliness and monotony of Kya’s life, yet simultaneously entices the reader with the ongoing murder investigation. Unanswered questions remain until the very last pages – and the answers are shocking!

Redemption Road by John Hart

Don’t let the uplifting title fool you. Redemption Road is a dark, complex thriller novel with an all-star cast: a wrongfully imprisoned cop, his protege and her secrets, a teenage girl in danger, a corrupt prison warden, and a serial killer on the loose. Add racial and religious tensions to the mix, along with a buried treasure, and the result is a wild ride along hairpin turns for the reader.

I was a bit confused at the outset, sensing that race was a factor in the story, but not yet knowing which characters were black and which were white. Apparently, this was by design, as it hid the identity of the killer. Once I formed a clear picture of each character in my head, I was better equipped to follow the story. Sadly, I was also able to predict who Hart would reveal as the killer. Fortunately, the hidden money added another element of suspense, and the ultimate outcome was not as I expected. I appreciated Hart’s masterful writing style, and I’d like to read more of his work.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is a socially awkward young woman who is plagued by an unhealthy relationship with her mother and a consistent habit of drinking alone. When a chance encounter with a stranger bonds Eleanor and her coworker, Raymond, new friendships begin to change Eleanor’s reclusive ways. Raymond soon learns that her bizarre behavior isn’t just quirky. Eleanor is keeping a dark secret.

My reading partner didn’t particularly care for this book, but I thought it was hilarious! Eleanor’s dry wit and total lack of ability to relate to others makes her a strangely lovable character. I also admire Gail Honeyman for balancing a topic as serious as mental illness with the humor of such an eccentric character.

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

The Perfect Mother is the story of the “May Mothers,” a group of new moms connected by their babies’ birth month, who meet in the park to socialize every week. When they decide to meet for drinks one July evening, things go terribly wrong. One of the babies, at home with a babysitter, mysteriously disappears from his crib. The desperate hunt for baby Midas and his abductor tests the May Mothers’ friendships before coming to a stunning conclusion.

This novel has received mixed reviews. After reading it myself, I think the enjoyment of it depends on when you figure out who took baby Midas. Too early, and you’ll be bored. Too late, and you’ll be confused. This story might be even better as a movie, which is apparently in the works. I was entertained by the book, but some may want to wait for the movie instead.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

This psychological thriller begins as a love story. Jack and Grace are the ideal newlywed couple. He’s a successful lawyer and she’s a talented homemaker. They host elaborate dinner parties in their impressive home. But something isn’t right. Behind closed doors, this “perfect” couple is living a terrifying reality.

Don’t read this book unless you are home alone on a rainy weekend with nothing else to do. Otherwise, it may cause you to hate anyone who crosses your path while you’re reading it. (I can’t explain why, but it’s true. My reading partner agrees.) Once you become entangled in this story, you’ll want to escape. But you can’t quit this book. It’s far too suspenseful. Plan to finish it in one day.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Avery Stafford is a successful federal prosecutor who leaves Washington D.C. to support her politically powerful family in South Carolina following her father’s cancer diagnosis. As she prepares to wed her childhood sweetheart, she begins to wonder if the life she’s planning is the one she’s meant to live. When disturbing questions about her family history lead her down a mysterious road, she must decide whether to rock the boat or toe the line.

This historical fiction alternates between the present-day story of Avery Stafford and the background story of children kidnapped and sold by the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, a real-life nightmare for many families in the 1930s and ’40s. Reading this book is like flipping back and forth between the gloominess of the evening news and the optimism of a Hallmark movie. You’ll overflow with compassion for Wingate’s endearing characters, and you won’t be disappointed by the ending!

I hope this list is helpful to anyone who’s wondering what to read next. In 2020, I read more novels than usual but still read as much non-fiction as I normally do. I always try to read more books in the current year than I did the year before! My reading buddy and I decided to continue the challenge in 2021. Our first selection is The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal. Happy reading, friends!