These are the books I read in April 2020 with a rating reflecting my opinion on them. I am leaving books not in English out for your convenience. At the bottom I will be sharing some recommendations that fall under the category fiction, non-fiction or non-fiction political. These recommendations are books I have not read myself, so proceed with caution as I cannot speak to their actual quality.
Read
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Expansive, unique and heartfelt is the story of avid fanfiction writer Cath who deals with going to college for the first time as well as her family and her own fears. In a transitional phase of anyone’s life, Cath learns to grow while not forgetting who she was. Many pertinent struggles people face are reflected in the lives of the characters, sometimes more or less pointed out, from bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse, abandonment, panic attacks, social anxiety to dyslexia.
Doctor Who 50: The Essential Guide by Justin Richards
A fun little guide through 50 years of Doctor Who. Stylistically beautiful and jam-packed with tidbits of information, it is a great memento to have. The only things that bothered me about it were that at times it had some spelling and spacing errors as well as the fact that some paragraphs were written more for a newbie than an established fan.
The History of the Death Penalty in the United States by Jacqueline Herrmann
A short seminar paper on the history of the Death Penalty viewed through a judicial lense. Although interesting and a neat introduction on the subject, the writing style is less than pleasant, with awkwardly worded sentences abound. It did not read like an academic text should.
Animals by Simon Beckett
This story manages to unnerve you to your deepest core. The narrator is a deeply disturbed man who holds people captive in his basement. While the narration is fascinating and story interesting, some parts are a little too vague and every single character is deeply unlikable. Overall, the book felt like more could have been achieved with its core idea.
Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell
A short and sweet Doctor Who story about an ancient artificial intelligence that tries to take over the world through technology. The mystery itself is alright, if a bit rushed. What really makes this book shine are the characters and their relationships between each other. Overall, a joy to read for what it was
1984 by George Orwell
I have read this book perhaps 4 times, this time for VC Book Club. Every single time this book gripped me anew, horrifyingly fascinating and beautifully presented. Truly a masterpiece of literature in general as well as one of the best dystopian novels of all time.
Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Read for VC Book Club, this work marks my first true venture into American presidential history. Well structured, easily read and engagingly presented, this book is a study of four presidents , the circumstances and challenges that forged great leaders out of them. Truly a great work to start off and gain basic knowledge as well as valuable insight into different kinds of leadership as well as adversities faced in which to prove oneself.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
11/22/63 is a novel about a man who travels to the past to prevent the Kennedy assassination, yet it is about so much more. It’s a love story and a murder mystery and a horror story. It’s so vivid that the characters practically jump off the page. One cannot tell which side characters stay and which are mere one-offs, they are all so alive. The entire world feels that way, crisp and expansive. It was a joy to read this story, as simple as that.
Recommendations
Fiction
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
“When Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip in the Australian bush, they find things hideously wrong — their families are gone. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the reality of the situation hits them, they must make a decision — run and hide, give themselves up and be with their families, or fight back.”
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
“Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life…until now.Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world.”
Political
Nothing to Fear: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America by Adam Cohen
“A revealing account of the critical first days of FDR’s presidency, during the worst moments of the Great Depression, when he and his inner circle launched the New Deal and presided over the birth of modern America.”
When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland’s Freedom by Christopher Klein
“Just over a year after Robert E. Lee relinquished his sword, a band of Union and Confederate veterans dusted off their guns. But these former foes had no intention of reigniting the Civil War. Instead, they were bound by a common goal: to seize the British province of Canada and to hold it hostage until the independence of Ireland was secured.”
Nonfiction
Flash Crash: A Trading Savant, a Global Manhunt, and the Most Mysterious Market Crash in History by Liam Vaughan
“The riveting story of a trading prodigy who amassed $70 million from his childhood bedroom–until the government accused him of helping trigger an unprecedented market collapse.
On May 6, 2010, financial markets around the world tumbled simultaneously and without warning. In the span of five minutes, a trillion dollars of valuation was lost. The Flash Crash, as it became known, represented the fastest drop in market history. When share values rebounded less than half an hour later, experts around the globe were left perplexed. What had they just witnessed?“
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
“At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts—Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak—that we owe many of the great contributions to society.
In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.”
The Congressional Report 