When 2020 rolled around, several authors I follow published “Top X Books I read last year” blog posts. As I was mulling my recent reading, I thought, “Hey! I’ve read great books too. Why don’t I do something like that?”. So, with no further ado, and with no ranking because these are all great books, here a handful of favorites from last year: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. My mom assigned me this book when I was twelve. This year I returned to it voluntarily, not once, but twice, and found it riveting each time. The characters are complex and compelling, and the plot, despite its slow start, picks up steam and thunders to a thrilling climax. Till We Have Faces by C.S Lewis In my opinion, the greatest book the 20th century. Gripping from beginning to end, with a complex, relatable protagonist and one of the most powerful portrayals of God’s grace I’ve ever seen. I read it for the third time this year and plan return to it again and again. Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansari Not exactly a history of Islam, but a history of the world from an Islamic perspective. Some of the events Ansari chronicles, such as the Crusades, I was familiar with from Western history, but here they’re told in a new light. Each historical occurrence is not merely recorded in isolation, but woven into an overarching narrative that gives insight into how someone from an Islamic culture might view the world. I finally get the reasons for the Sunni/Shi’ite split, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the rise of modern nations such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In addition to being extremely educational, Destiny Disrupted is a delight to read. Highly recommended for anyone looking for either a greater understanding specifically of Islam, or to expand their knowledge of other cultures in general. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman This book proved immensely helpful in writing battle scenes and their fallouts in my current epic fantasy novel. Grossman argues that humans have a strong instinct to not kill fellow human beings, backing up his claims with statistical evidence— for example, only 15-20% of infantrymen in WWII actually fired their rifles at approaching enemy soldiers. He then explains how this killing inhibition can be overcome, and the consequences inflicted on the mind of the killer. I gained valuable understanding that applies to my writing, although as the book deals with people at their darkest moments, some of the examples were a little bit traumatizing. Content warning: It includes a chapter on killing at sexual range, which I skipped. The Burning White by Brent Weeks I’ve written a longer review of the Lightbringer series as a whole. Suffice to say that although the series has some major flaws, this conclusion makes it all worth it. Kip, Karris and Dazen Guile have three of the most intense character arcs ever written. Their transformation over the course of the series is both drastic and believable.
1 Comment
Jenny Chasteen
1/4/2021 04:45:33 pm
Crime and Punishment is fantastic! I've only read it once and I really need to reread it. I'm planning on finally making it to Till We Have Faces this year.
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