My Top Five Books of 2020

One of my goals this year was to read 20 books. Right now I'm reading my 21st! I've enjoyed getting back into my habit of reading, and I wanted to share my top five books of 2020. I don't have consistent metrics behind my rating system, so these books aren't my top rated (though most have four or five stars). Rather, I chose them for their general impact compared to all the books I've read this year.

You can also read about the other books I've read in my quarter one, two, and three reviews. My quarter four review will be up on Thursday, so stay tuned for that.

Let's through the books in the order I read them!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

The year is 2575. Kady broke up with her boyfriend Erza on the day her planet is invaded. Two rival mega-corporations are fighting over this distance planet, forcing Kady and Ezra to evacuate. Once onboard the spaceships, their problems multiply: a deadly plague, a rogue AI, and shady leaders. As Kady tries to uncover what's really going on, she realizes that the only person who could help is her ex-boyfriend.

I read Illuminae in three days. It's a 608-page book. Three days. It is thrilling! The formatting of the book, the high, high stakes, and the fun cast of characters honestly left me quite breathless. I immediately wanted to pick up its sequel, Gemina (though I didn't actually buy it until this month). I rated it 5/5 stars.

All the Places to Go by John Ortberg

God rarely gives the command to "Stay." Instead, He calls to walk through open doors. The doors we choose (or don't!) shape our lives and who we are to become. However... how do you know which door is the one God is calling you to?

I read All the Places to Go with my cousin and we discussed each chapter together, which I really enjoyed. I found it insightful. Ortberg explains that "an open door is an opportunity provided by God, to act with God and for God." Open doors don't alway look like accepting a call to the foreign mission field. Every day is filled with open doors, and God wants us to learn how to recognize them.

This book is great for anyone desiring to learn how to recognize divine opportunity, but I think it's especially helpful for those in transitions. Ortberg's writing style is approachable yet full of profound thoughts. I definitely will re-read this one. 4/5 stars!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Twenty-seven-year-old Anne Elliot's family is on the brink of financial ruin. They find themselves renting their estate to the wealthy Admiral Crof and his wife. Mrs. Croft's brother, Captain Frederick Wentworth, returns from his time at sea, much to Anne's surprise and torment. Eight years earlier, Anne had broken off their engagement, due to the persuasion of a close family friend. Anne can't help but wonder if Captain Wentworth's feelings for her remain as her feelings for him have.

I love, love, love Persuasion. Austen weaves an incredible novel filled with introspection, awkwardness, angst, and clever social commentary. Much of Anne's feelings were relevant even still today. Also, Captain Wentworth! I rated this book 4/5.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter navigates between two worlds: her poor neighborhood where she lives and the rich suburbs where she attends school. The balance between these worlds collaspes when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon, Khalil's death becomes national news. Some are calling him a thug or even a drug dealer. Everyone wants to know what happened that night. Starr is the only one who knows, but speaking up may endanger her life.

The Hate U Give has been on my TBR (to be read) list since it came out in 2017. As I read it, I could hear the voice of my English professor in my mind: "Reading is an exercise in empathy."

I will never fully comprehend or even experience police brutality and racism as a white woman. While reading, I experienced the world through Starr's eyes and felt her frustration, joy, fear, anguish, and hope. Though the places, people, and events are fictional, they easily could be real. It is real. I don't want to spoil anything, but it really hit me on the last page of the book. I gave The Hate U Give 5/5 stars.

The Hate U Give is also a movie starring Amandla Stenberg.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Ove is your typical grumpy old man. He points at people he doesn't like, argues about everything, and keeps to strict routine. When a chatty young couple with two equally talkative daughters announce their arrival by flattening Ove's mailbox, a story of unlikely friendship begins. Little does anyone know that this friendship will chip away at Ove's curmudgeon exterior to reveal his hidden sadness and big heart.

I decided to included A Man Called Ove on this list before I had even finished it, and it is a must-add for everyone's TBR shelf. Backman's narration moves from hilarious to heartbreaking and back again with ease. I've literally laughed out loud and I've been brought to tears. I loved it so much. 5/5 stars, no questions asked! I also discovered that this book was turned into a movie, which I need to watch ASAP!

I read a lot of great books this year. I can't wait to read more! What were your top books of 2020?

Celebrating A Baby Born to Die

A teenage mother.

A reluctant stepfather.

A baby born to die.

These are the characters that would fulfill a millennium-old prophecy. A prophecy its believers clung to during exile, humiliation, and despair with gritty hope. A prophecy of a coming King who would save them all.

Sometimes it would be proclaimed boldly in the streets; other times, it was hardly a whisper. Some probably gave up on its fulfillment, scoffing at the prophets and their adherents.

Where was this King? When would He arrive? What was the point of all this waiting?

A baby born to die.

It sounds like a curse. Like a cruel fate, a twisted punishment. What did this baby do to have such a destiny?

This is sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. The cursed child in that story would no doubt do everything in their power to fight their fate. Instead, this Child became a Man who fulfilled every prophecy every uttered about Him. He lived among His brethren, but anyone who spoke with Him knew that there was something different.

Some instantly recognized Him as the prophesied Messiah. Others scoffed at Him, ridiculing Him as a demoniac. Even those who followed Him didn't fully understand how the prophecy would come to pass. They were looking for a king who would overthrow the Roman government and free their people.

Instead, they got a Man who was obedient unto death.

(please ignore the fact that my nativity is missing Joseph)

What did Mary and Joseph make of all this? Surely even they must have had doubts.

The angel told Mary that her Child would be given the throne of David. She must have wondered how her Son would come to rule their nation, as she wasn't of high status. She was nothing more than a teenage mother.

Joseph wanted to quietly break the engagement off, escaping any drama that was to follow Mary and her scandalous pregnancy. An divine visitation changed his mind. The angel told Joseph that his Son would save His people from their sins. Did Joseph even comprehend what that meant? Nevertheless, he accepted the call to be Jesus' stepfather, enduring potential scorn and ridicule.

It's safe to say that the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy wasn't as expected. The birth of the Messiah was heralded by angels but only for lowly shepherds to hear. He wasn't born in a palace and the only gifts given were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He didn't learn diplomacy or war strategy but carpentry.

Only a few recognized Jesus for who He really was when He was a boy. The rest of the world wouldn't know until much later.

For some, the moment came when He hung on a cross, bloodied and bruised beyond human recognition. For others, revelation came three days later.

The most significant detail in the Christmas story is that this sweet baby boy, wrapped in swaddling cloths in a manger, was born to die. The birth of Jesus Christ only matters because of His death, burial, and resurrection. That is the true reason for the season.

A baby born to die.

He died so that we may live. He died so that we could be restored to Him. He died so that we wouldn't have to.

Why? Love. A love so great, so unfathomable, deep and all-consuming. A love that drove the King of Kings, the I AM, the Almighty off of His throne in heaven into a manger.

That is more than enough reason to celebrate.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.