Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Reads of 2020

While I haven't posted here on the blog since January, I have enjoyed some great reads this year, and I would love to share about them with you! This week's Top Ten Tuesday* topic is "Favorite Books of 2020," so I'm joining in now to share my picks. I would love to hear about your favorites of the year in the comments section!

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. The image above is from Jana's blog.

10 Favorite New-to-Me Reads

The Printed Letter Bookshop

by Katherine Reay

This was a lovely, moving read! I really appreciated the emphasis on truth and forgiveness and living in the present. The way the narration alternates between characters is so creative, and the ending is very satisfying. I teared up a few times.

Heidi 

by Johanna Spyri

This is a very sweet classic! It was great to feature this one for a read-along earlier this year, between the lovely setting and the great characters and the faith elements. 

Once Upon a Short Story (Volume One)

by A.G. Marshall

I snatched this up when it was available as a free Kindle ebook, and I'm so glad I did! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these little fairy-tale retellings. They're familiar but unique, clever and quite sweet. My favorite short stories in the volume might be "The Bruised Princess" and "The Curse of Gold," but it's hard to pick because the others were creative and entertaining too! There was either a sweet romance or the hint/possibility of one in each story, which I appreciated.

Whose Waves These Are 

by Amanda Dykes

I loved the fictional Maine setting and the beautiful heart of this book, full of hope and light. The poetic wording and imagery and themes are lovely, as well as the way the story is puzzled together over the decades and generations. 

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

While I wish there were more emphasis on grace in this overall lovely saga, perhaps more of a biblical balance in the portrayal of faith, I really loved the lessons for daughters, wives, and mothers in this classic. Lots of great lines and reminders, and an enjoyable story! 

Wings of a Dream 

by Anne Mateer

This book set during the Spanish flu pandemic totally and surprisingly captured me. The heroine is imperfect but still loving and relatable. I loved experiencing her viewpoint and seeing all the twists and turns of her story as she learned to release her dreams and plans to God. Such a great read, and I'm so glad I finally read it (as it's been on my shelf for a long time!).

Jane of Austin

by Hillary Manton Lodge

I really enjoyed this modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility! This author does a great job with food references; I loved all the talk of tea and baked goods. It's also a neat twist to have the "Marianne" character (Jane) be the main character, providing an interesting take on the plot. This story is sweet, creative, and full of great descriptions, and I appreciated how it pulled me in despite my familiarity with the general plot line.

The Faithful Spy

by John Hendrix

This book provides a very compelling presentation of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's story and the historical context of Germany and World War II. The content and illustrations are understandably intense but make for a readable and immersive experience. There's a sequence at the end that is especially beautiful in how it's portrayed. A powerful book!

Book of a Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

Such an intense and intriguing fairy-tale retelling! I really like the diary format of this book and the ingenuity of the main character, Dashti. It's awesome how she holds on to hope and life through severe trials. Also, the romance in this story is just too sweet! 

In Pursuit of a Gentleman

by Arlem Hawks

Such a fun and clever little fairy-tale retelling! Who would think you could have such a cute Regency romance based on "The Gingerbread Man"? I love the way this story is told, including all the delicious gingerbread and bakery descriptions. A sweet wintertime read to savor!

Bonus: Favorite Children's Book

Hello Lighthouse

by Sophie Blackall

I fell in love with this children's book when reading it to my daughter. I borrowed it from the library a couple times, and I just recently ordered a copy to have in our home. It shares such a sweet portrayal of family and the time of lighthouse keepers...and the ending is full of nostalgia. 

Bonus: Favorite Audiobook 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I've read this story before, but I loved hearing it performed as an audiobook with a group of narrators! They do such a great job, and the letters come to life through their accents and emotions. I was glad to revisit the story and characters in this way! 

Literary Christmas: More Festive Reads

Hope you all had a wonderful and merry Christmas yesterday! Today I wanted to catch up on posting for the Literary Christmas challenge (hosted by In the Bookcase). This month I re-read a couple books, which were both on my list for the challenge, and I also read a book that—while not specifically Christmas-y—takes place mostly in December and the holiday season. :)

A Cliché Christmas by Nicole Deese

Learn more about the book on Amazon.

I believe the first time I read this was in Kindle ebook format, so it was neat to be able to read and enjoy the print copy from my shelf this time around! This is a great romance with plenty of bantering, misunderstanding, engaging scenes, and a sweet amount of depth. It's a case of the heroine falling in love once again with an old flame and her old hometown, but with new hopes and an expanded heart. I'm glad to have this on my shelf and think I'd like to revisit it again some future holiday season. 

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The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks by Cindy Vincent

Learn more about the book on the author's website.

It was great fun to revisit this story simply as a reader (whereas the first time around I was viewing it as an editor)! The characters are so cute, and the book is full of Christmas heart and cheer. One of the cats learns all about Christmas for the first time, and it's so sweet to see the season afresh through his eyes. I finished re-reading this the night of Christmas Eve, which was a great way to end the day, as the book's conclusion is full of love and generosity. :)

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Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

Learn more about the book on the author's website.

This book has been on my shelf for a bit, and this month I picked it up to give it a try. It's definitely fitting to read in December, as most of the book takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas (although it continues on into spring). It's not a fast or terribly exciting read, but I'm heading into a similar season of life as the one the heroine experiences (with her first child), and I found the characters' dilemmas and life lessons and interactions compelling. The Christmas elements add a sweet touch, from community events to the family's preparations and celebration. I don't necessarily feel a huge urge to read the rest of the series, but overall I enjoyed this one, and perhaps I'll want to read it again sometime.

(You can see the series order HERE. Tending Roses is book 1.)

Literary Christmas: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall (Plus a Kindle eBook Freebie!)

Happy Friday, friends! I finished reading my first book for the Literary Christmas Reading Challenge (hosted by In the Bookcase) last night, so I thought I'd share some quick thoughts. :)

Learn more about the book on the author's website.

I wasn't 100% sure whether or not I had read The Sound of Sleigh Bells before...but it definitely felt like a new experience either way! I really liked the length of it (almost 200 pages in hardcover format)—not too long to be a quick seasonal read, but also not super short. As the story got started, I was concerned about the role of deception, how it might be treated like it's no big deal if the ends justify the means. But given Cindy Woodsmall's deeper writing, I shouldn't have assumed that would be the case! I'm grateful for the way the story ultimately confronts different kinds of lies and celebrates the freedom of truth.

This isn't a lighthearted Christmas read; it begins in the spring and ends in the winter, and it tackles a painful emotional journey along the way. The heroine's personality and coping mechanisms sometimes rubbed me wrong, but she's still a likable character beneath that, and it's hard not to love the hero. All in all, I found this to be an engaging book with sweet characters and a hard-won romance.

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In other Christmas novella news, yesterday I discovered that one of Melissa Tagg's holiday reads is FREE for Kindle right now! I really enjoyed the first novella in the series, One Enchanted Christmas, which I included on my Favorite Books of 2015 list. So I was excited to snatch up the second novella. :) Here's a graphic the author shared on Facebook, indicating the deals last through November 24, 2019:

One Enchanted Christmas (book 1): $.99 for Kindle

One Enchanted Eve (book 2): FREE for Kindle

One Enchanted Noel (book 3): $2.99 for Kindle

Happy Christmas reading, everyone!

Literary Christmas Reading Challenge 2019 (Signing Up and Sharing My List!)

I found out about the Literary Christmas Reading Challenge through Hamlette (author Rachel Kovaciny) at her blog The Edge of the Precipice. (Thank you for posting about it, Rachel!) I've had plans to read/reread a few Christmas books this year, and I thought it would be fun to join this lovely challenge and highlight the books I'm revisiting.

Also, isn't the banner so pretty and festive??

The challenge is hosted by Tarissa at In the Bookcase. Here are the details:

• Pick a Christmas book (or more than one!) to read or reread this holiday season.
• Sign up by posting about the challenge on your blog or a social media account.
• Link your post to Tarissa's main challenge post HERE.
• Post about the book(s) you read and link up those posts, too, to share the book love!

The challenge takes place November 8 through December 31, 2019. You can learn more and find all of Tarissa's challenge posts at In the Bookcase.

Tarissa is also hosting a really neat giveaway for US residents! You don't have to participate in the challenge to enter, but you can get extra entries in the drawing if you do. :) Click the image below to check it out...

Here's what I'm planning to read for the challenge:

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

I actually started reading this the other day, so I'm already through a couple chapters. :) My uncle gave me a copy last year, I believe, and this is one of those books that I'm not quite sure if I've read before or not... I have read a few other books by this author, which I've enjoyed, and whether this is a new-to-me read or an old-but-not-terribly-familiar friend, I'm looking forward to continuing this story!

A Cliché Christmas by Nicole Deese

This book basically made my favorites list for 2015, although I technically read it in 2014. Here's what I said back then: "This poor book fell through the cracks, as I read it after I announced my favorites of 2014, but before 2015 officially began. I have to mention it now, though, because I marked it as a favorite back then and found it to be a delightful Christmas romance. I'm thinking a re-read might be in order at some point."

So, here we are! It's been about five years, so I think a reread is definitely warranted. :)

The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks by Cindy Vincent

This was my introduction to the delightful Cindy Vincent and her books back in 2013, and I loved it! I enjoyed editing this little gem, which features two lovable cat detectives, and then hosting a blog tour for the book. This year I'd like to revisit this precious installment of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers and experience the Christmas charm once again.

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I don't plan to write full reviews of these books, but I'm hoping to at least share a few thoughts and highlight the stories again during the challenge!

Don't forget, if you'd like to participate in the challenge, check out In the Bookcase. I'd love to know if you sign up and what Christmas books are on your reading list this year!

*Banner and giveaway image are from In the Bookcase.

Re-reading vs. Re-watching: What is my problem??

Why is it that I can watch the same movie over and over again, but I have a difficult time picking up a book I've already read? I know there are people out there who talk about how they love a book so much, they've read it multiple times. And yet, I only re-read three books for the Contentment Reading Challenge 2011, and I haven't really re-read much else without being forced to do so.

So, what is my problem??

If it had to do with a loss of surprise (i.e.: I already know the whole plot, including the ending), then I wouldn't like to re-watch movies for the same reason. There are movies I've seen a gazillion times (give or take a time or two), and I still love them, despite the fact that I can quote them almost word-for-word (and annoy the people I'm watching with).

Perhaps part of it has to do with the time commitment. When I sit down to watch a movie, generally I'm devoting an hour and a half to two hours of my time. But when I sit down to read a book, it takes a lot longer, especially if I have to read between other commitments (we're talking days).

Another big part of it has to do with greediness and the book-reviewer syndrome. You know what I'm talking about, right?? There are so many great, new books coming out all the time!! And my TBR stack just keeps getting bigger and bigger... Why re-read books when you have so many new ones you haven't even read once?

*Sigh* I sound so spoiled! I mean, how blessed am I to have so much reading material??

I think if I took the time to consider what would cause me to re-read a book - and if I reminded myself how many wonderful books I have read - maybe I would be encouraged to re-read more and not be so enamored with the new. (Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying new, unread books! I just want to understand the pleasures of re-reading more.) Worth a try, I hope!

Re-watching and Re-reading

• The Favorite Scenes - You know those scenes that make you sigh with delight, or feel warm and fuzzy inside, or make you cry, or make you gasp? It's fun to re-watch and re-read scenes like those! Unfortunately, that kind of makes up most of my re-reading - going back and just re-living those favorite scenes. So while they're great and can inspire return visits to the story, I think this is one I have to beware of, because in and of themselves those scenes don't always help me re-read the whole book. The favorite scenes have to be combined with other qualities...

• The Music - In a movie, the music really can make a big difference. And it's not just the soundtracks with lyrics (although I enjoy those, too!). Consider the BBC Sherlock series, or Kate & Leopold, or Tuck Everlasting, or How to Train Your Dragon. The music sets the scene and draws you in emotionally. I think the books that I would be more inspired to re-read are the ones that have a certain "music" to them - those books that are well-written and have their own unique, engaging style that makes me feel involved in the story and intrigued by the way the author strings words together. 

• The Setting - It's the place you want to re-visit. Like beautiful Ireland in Leap Year or New Orleans in The Princess and the Frog or Radiator Springs in Cars. 

• The Dialogue - My family and I kind of have our own language, and you'd have to have seen a lot of random movies in order to get it. You see, we quote movies all the time. I'm not sure this comes off quite the same in books (after all, you're reading it, not hearing it). But still - some great dialogue can make you want to re-live the wit or the zingers or what-have-you.

• The Characters - When characters become so dear that they're like family, or so similar to yourself that they're like your best friends, or so intriguing that you just want to try harder to understand them...that's when you want to spend more time with them.

• The Theme - Sometimes you need to reminded of something important. That's one thing I love about Hallmark movies and ones like them (the tear-jerkers) - they often help me put things in perspective. Even though it isn't always fun to watch or read about things like war and losing a loved one, those sorts of stories remind us of how precious life is, and how much we need to cling to hope.

Basically, I think the stories we want to re-discover and enjoy more than once are the ones that contain a journey we need/want to take over and over again. It doesn't matter that you've read or seen it before. Each time you take the journey, you learn something new and yet find comfort in the familiarity of it. Like a good friendship, it helps you grow while offering you something stable. You know the plot and are guaranteed a happy ending (generally!), but each new viewing/reading encourages and inspires you in new ways.

At least, that's why I like watching certain movies over and over again. And I hope that this exercise will show me that some books are worth the time investment of a re-visit!