20 for 2020 Wrap up

The 20 for 2020 Wrap-Up

So another year, come and gone. 

Looking back, there is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Some of us found more that we had much more free time, and some found we had much less. Without getting into all the different challenges we all faced this past year, it is suffice to say - we all suffered somewhat.  I can not think of anyone I know that came out of 2020 unscathed on some level or another.  I am thankful for the health of the people closest to me, and hope for continued luck in that.  Everything else will improve in time. 

I found myself struggling a little with reading, and a lot with finding time to review early in the year. I stopped requesting and accepting advance copies as I could not say with any degree of certainty that I would be able to offer any kind of meaningful review in a timely matter.  At the time of this writing, I have finished most of my advance copy books, but I'm so far behind on reviews, that writing them is even more time consuming because I have to constantly stop and refresh my memory. Because of this I am not even attempting to review books that were not provided in exchange of a review. Not that I don't think they deserve it - I just needed to prioritize my time more carefully for the time being. Add to that changes made to the blogging platform (not a fan) and some of the time saving tools I used to use (like hootsuite) that made them less functional to my needs, and everything just seems to take more time and effort.  I am starting to consider dropping some of my platforms and accounts to make things a little more manageable. Every time I start to think of this though, I have to wonder where to make "the cuts"?  Twitter is more time consuming than Instagram, but when I am active on both, Twitter seems to be a little more engaging.  Goodreads is all books all the time, and My Book Pledge is lots of fun, but doesn't offer a lot of interaction.  Facebook is where I am most comfortable, but to be honest, that is where I have made the least progress with building a following. Sigh....I know I want to make changes to make thinks more manageable and fun again - I just haven't figured out exactly what. I just know that I am happier when I can talk about books with other book lovers.  So I hope wherever this year takes me, I will see some familiar friends and make some new ones. 

One year ago, I posted my 20 for 2020 Reading Challenge, not realizing that it might be more challenging than I thought. Thankfully, I am a huge audiobook fan, so even when my print and e-book reading slowed down, and my reviews slowed to a mere trickle, I was able to enjoy a lot of really great books.  I didn't end up reviewing many, but I did have entries on my challenge.  I would love to hear from others who took on the challenge for 2020.  How did you do?  Have you read any of these books? what did you think?

Here is my Challenge results. 

1.      The Backlist - Read a book that is at least 2 years old.- Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

2.      The Frontlist - Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old) Dear Edward, by Ann Napolitano

3.      The Truth - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True Crime, Documentary, etc.)  Blood in the Water, by Silver Donald Cameron

4.      People Person Books - Read a Biography or memoir From the Ashes, by Jesse thistle.

5.      The Quick and Easy - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories. – Smile, by Roddy Doyle   

6.      The Long Haul - Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the audiobook equivalent) Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown

7.      Indie Inclined - Read an Indie or small press published title – West Of Sin, by Wesley S. Lewis

8.      Listen Up! - Listen to an audiobook – The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore

9.      Long Ago - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago – A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles

10.   Different Worlds – Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book – Magic Lessons, by Alice Hoffman

11.   Reading on the Edge of Your Seat - Read a Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book – Turn of the Key, by Ruth Ware

12.   Traveler Through Books - Read a book that has been translated from another language – The Warning, by Paul Pen and translated by Simon Bruni

13.   Young at Heart - Read a YA novel Children of Virtue and Vengeance, by Tomi Adeyemi

14.   Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story The Invited, by Jennifer McMahon

15.   New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy  Master of Sorrows, book 1 of The Silent Gods, by Justin Call

16.   Meet a New Author - Read a debut novel – Sharks In The Time of Saviors, by Kawai Strong Washburn

17.   Relationship Goals ...Or Not - Read a book that centers around the beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc) - My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell

18.   Read a Movie - Read a book that is also a movie – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (re-reading as I read the series to my son at bedtime. (starting before her now infamous comments – Please don’t @ me)

19.   The Winner is... - Read a book Short-listed for a major literary award – To The River: Losing My Brother, by Don Gillmor – Winner of the Governor General’s award for non-fiction in 2019.

20.   One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you. The Henna Artist, by Alka Joshi

So, once posted, I will be un-pinning the 20 for 2020 posts on the blog and on twitter.  I really do want to take the time to wish everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, and bookish New Year.  May this year be kinder to us all than the last.  

Wishing you all the best for 2021.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

 

Quick Review: From The Ashes: My Story of Being Metis, Homeless, and Finding My Way, by Jesse Thistle

From The Ashes: My Story of Being Metis, Homeless, and Finding My Way, by Jesse Thistle

Simon & Schuster - 2019
Memoir

Audiobook

9 Hours, 55 Minutes

Read by the Author

#1 National Bestseller

Finalist, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
Finalist, CBC Canada Reads
A Globe and Mail Book of the Year
An Indigo Book of the Year
A CBC Best Canadian Nonfiction Book of the Year

 

*Quick Reviews are slightly less formal reviews using the publishers summary

From The Ashes, by Jesse Thistle is my choice to fulfill item number 4 -  People Person Books - Read a Biography or memoir, for my 20 For 2020 Book Challenge.

Publisher's Summary:

In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle, once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar, chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is.

If I can just make it to the next minute...then I might have a chance to live; I might have a chance to be something more than just a struggling crackhead.

From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.

Abandoned by his parents as a toddler, Jesse Thistle briefly found himself in the foster-care system with his two brothers, cut off from all they had known. Eventually the children landed in the home of their paternal grandparents, whose tough-love attitudes quickly resulted in conflicts. Throughout it all, the ghost of Jesse’s drug-addicted father haunted the halls of the house and the memories of every family member. Struggling with all that had happened, Jesse succumbed to a self-destructive cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and petty crime, spending more than a decade on and off the streets, often homeless. Finally, he realized he would die unless he turned his life around.

In this heartwarming and heart-wrenching memoir, Jesse Thistle writes honestly and fearlessly about his painful past, the abuse he endured, and how he uncovered the truth about his parents. Through sheer perseverance and education—and newfound love—he found his way back into the circle of his Indigenous culture and family.

An eloquent exploration of the impact of prejudice and racism, From the Ashes is, in the end, about how love and support can help us find happiness despite the odds.

My thoughts:

I bought a copy of this book because it was a finalist for CBC's Canada Reads 2020. I try to read at least a few from the list every year. (Unfortunately this year's competition was cancelled due to COVID 19 concerns). As my reading time fell off rather suddenly, I ended up listening to the audiobook 

From the Ashes, by Jesse Thistle is an important and deeply moving memoir.  Thistle is able to chronicle his story from trauma, to tribulation and ultimately love and redemption, It is a testament to both the fragility and strength of the human spirit.  

With heart wrenching honesty Thistle describes his life from unstable childhood into addiction and life on the streets, and eventually the difficult recovery and mastery over his demons.  As a reader with a certain amount of privilege, it is a good reminder that many addicts and street people more often than not, come from a place of pain.  His openness and honesty in his writing resulted in a recounting that is tough and gritty, yet not without love and hope. 

By reading the story himself for the audiobook, the listener is graced with with experience of listening to his story in his words and hearing it as though it is a first hand telling. 

This memoir is an important book for Canadians as we work towards a future where there is more empathy and understanding and less judgement and racism. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

20 for 2020 Reading Challenge

As an Avid reader, I never need an excuse to read.  I like to think that I read a reasonably diverse range of books, but like most readers, I do have my comfort zone, - my "go-to" genres. 

I thought it would be fun to host a reading challenge designed to gently expand one's horizons and encourage the exploration of books we might not otherwise read, 

So behold! My 20 for 2020 reading challenge!

For any single reader, many of the individual challenges will not seem like much of a challenge at all.  I have included challenges based on genre and format, as well as other reading choices, so most readers will be able to do much of the list without even trying. But I think (hope) that readers will find a few on the list to gently nudge them out of their normal comfort zone to try something a little different for them. 

If you decide to take the challenge, please share your choices and progress on social media using the tag #20for2020Reading. 

So if you want to play along, here is how:

• The goal is to complete a list of 20 challenges in the year 2020 
• All books should be started and completed in 2020 - but late starters for the challenge can add their reads any time as long as the book was read 2020
• Books should only be used for one of the challenges on the list - No doubling up!
• Unless the challenge contains specific wording saying otherwise, Print, E-books, or audiobooks are all acceptable for any of the general challenges.
• Use Hashtag #20for2020Reading to post your progress and pairings (if you wish) to social media and please consider including a link to your review if you have posted one somewhere online (your blog, GoodReads, etc.). I would love to hear about your books and thoughts so please tag me on Twitter - @Page_Turned and/or Instagram - @thelastpageturned
• Have fun! That's what this is supposed to be about anyways 😊

1. The Backlist - Read a book that is at least 2 years old.
2. The Frontlist - Read a book that is a new release (less than 6 months old)
3. The Truth - Read a Non-Fiction title that is not a biography/memoir (True Crime, Documentary, etc.)
4. People Person Books - Read a Biography or memoir
5. The Quick and Easy - Read a novella or short book - 250 pages or less (or the audiobook equivalent) OR read a collection of short stories.
6. The Long Haul - Read a long book - 450 pages or more (or the audiobook equivalent)
7. Indie Inclined - Read an Indie or small press published title
8. Listen Up! - Listen to an audiobook
9. Long Ago - Read a book that takes place more than 25 years ago
10. Different Worlds - Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy Book
11. Reading on the Edge of Your Seat - Read a Thriller/Suspense/Mystery book
12. Traveler Through Books - Read a book that has been translated from another language
13. Young at Heart - Read a YA novel
14. Books That Go Bump In The Night - Read a Horror or Ghost story
15. New Beginnings - Start a new (to you) series or trilogy
16. Meet a New Author - Read a debut novel
17. Relationship Goals ...Or Not - Read a book that centers around the beginning or the end of a relationship/marriage. (Romance, Domestic Noir, etc)
18. Read a Movie - Read a book that is also a movie
19. The Winner is... - Read a book Short-listed for a major literary award
20. One World - Read a book written by, and that has a main character that is someone of a different color, culture, sexual orientation, or religion than you.

Happy Reading, 

Christine