For my 2020 Goodreads goal, I had set 60 books. A the beginning of the year, it didn't seem like much, since I read over 80 last year and over 70 the year before. But this year was a different year, when I went through bursts of reading and bursts of just bingeing Netflix, so I had accepted that I wouldn't meet that goal. However, on Dec 26, I realized that I had read 55 books for the year...and my friends on social media egged me on for a 5 books in 5 days challenge, which I am happy to say I completed. I read more books in December than any other month this year, I think, and I did finish 60 books in 2020, finishing up with two book club reads for January, two new books I got for Hanukkah, and a collection of children's books.
I bought the Rebecca collection a few years ago. I loved American Girl books growing up, and I read all of them. The Rebecca books, the first (and only, I think) Jewish American Girl, came out after I was an adult, but I wanted to read them just because I know how important that would have been for my younger self. The stories really did not disappoint. They are quite didactic, of course, but the point of these books is to teach girls about history, and it's just as didactic about life in 1915 as it is about Judaism. I guess there's no perfect way to do this. These books are aimed at young, white Christian American girls and that's maybe not the worst thing, since at least these girls are learning about other cultures and the discussion of unions and picket lines really drives home the importance of learning about American history. Like the other American girl stories, it doesn't shy away from the tough stuff, and I really appreciate that. Also, the story about Rebecca's conundrum with having to make a Christmas decoration in public school rings true. That's still happening today!
I have more thoughts on all of the books I read in December, but we'll see if I'm able to write up something or not. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking was hilarious fun, especially as someone who bakes. Good choice, Mom and Dad. The book club reads were sad, especially The Island of Sea Women, although I learned a lot about Jeju Island, which is currently part of South Korea, though it has its own culture, language, religion, and history. Visible City, which predictably takes place in Manhattan, was less violent, but permeated with its own melancholy, though an interesting discussion of stained glass windows.
Books Read This Month
- The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker
- Detox Your Thoughts by Andrea Bonior
- Brave New Girls #4: Adventures of Gals and Gizmos Ed. Paige Daniels and Mary Fan
- Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch
- Visible City by Tova Mirvis (book club)
- The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (other book club)
- A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
- The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme
- Rebecca (An American Girl) Story Collection by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
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