My Year of Reading (and struggling to read) in 2020

This is how I’m reading books these days— curled up on the couch, under a blanket, holding a baby. Since having Elodie, I resolved to spend the moments I’m nursing or holding her while she sleeps to do more than just scroll on my phone. Let’s be real— there will still be a lot of scrolling. I just don’t want it to be the *only* way I spend this time. I try to keep a book nearby when I know that I’ll have time to be still and read while she’s in my arms. This is sometimes the only time I have to read in this season of life.

At the beginning of 2020, I didn’t want to set a goal for a certain number of books to read, but who am I kidding…I like setting goals for myself. I set a goal of reading 12 books for the year. That was far below what I read in 2019, but I wanted to spend more time in my daily Bible study, devoting more time to diving into Scripture, and not necessarily more time to a larger number of books. Colin and I were also hoping to add to our family, but we didn’t know that for sure when I set the goal in January. I knew if a baby came along that might affect the amount of reading I would do.

In February we found out we were pregnant. In March the worldwide pandemic hit where we live. Those two things affected my reading. My first trimester had me tired and sick. I didn’t have the energy to read. Harlow’s preschool was shut down in March due to covid, so I had her at home, taking away any alone time I previously had to read. Between consuming the news, explaining to our daughter why school, dance class and church were dismissed, processing what was going on around the world, and being pregnant in quarantine, my mind just could not focus on reading. I would pick up a book, read a few pages, and have no idea what I just read. I think it was mainly pregnancy brain, because I experienced the same thing with my first pregnancy. Focus was difficult! I maintained my daily devotions but could not motivate myself to read outside of that. I lost all desire to read.

A few months went by, summer arrived, and all of a sudden I started reading again. The desire returned. It also helps that I was in my second trimester and able to think straight again and had regained some energy.

By the end of 2020, I had read 21 books. I don’t know how I did it, but I really pushed through at the end of the year. I wasn’t trying to pass my goal or even hit my initial goal. I had given up on that. Somehow I passed it, though, and it felt nice.

I haven’t decided what my goal for 2021 will be. With having an infant who will be crawling and then walking all within this year, I know my quiet time will become harder to find. I’d like to just see what happens, but I also know I’m someone who really enjoys setting a number to reach, even if it’s a small one.

Are you setting a book goal this year? What books did you really enjoy in 2020, and what’s on your list for 2021?

Below are the books that I read in 2020. I put asterisk by my top five favorite books (not including the Bible). If you’re on Goodreads, come find me over there to see reviews of most of the books I read to know whether or not I liked them.

・Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon: https://amzn.to/3b0YmKB

・The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies about God that Sound Like the Truth: https://amzn.to/353AAdc

*・Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making: https://amzn.to/3503QkT

・All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment: https://amzn.to/3oaGkt1

・Daisy Jones & The Six: https://amzn.to/3pV8pFx

*・Suffering Is Never for Nothing: https://amzn.to/2L91Tvz

・The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism: https://amzn.to/2JDSuvH

・The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms: https://amzn.to/38SrhxL

・Great Moments in Chocolate History: With 20 Classic Recipes From Around the World: https://amzn.to/3n5tURX

*・When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man: https://amzn.to/2Xhj29n

・Not What You Think: Why the Bible Might Be Nothing We Expected Yet Everything We Need: https://amzn.to/3868NKV

・Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living: https://amzn.to/3ocLYuP

・Galatians: Paul's Charter of Christian Freedom: https://amzn.to/2LaaZZ0

・Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers: https://amzn.to/3olbRsg

・A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World: https://amzn.to/3rPNzZA

・30 Days to Understanding the Bible: Unlock the Scriptures in 15 Minutes a Day: https://amzn.to/3ocMl8H

・One-to-One Bible Reading: A Simple Guide for Every Christian: https://amzn.to/3ncvKjT

*・For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word: https://amzn.to/2JDTQ9L

・CSB Notetaking Bible, Navy/Cross Cloth-Over-Board: https://amzn.to/3b8iXgl

*・This Was Hollywood: Forgotten Stars and Stories: https://amzn.to/3hD8lam

・Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus Into the Everyday Stuff of Life: https://amzn.to/387DdNa

I’m using these two books below for my daily Bible reading for 2021 if you’re searching for a way to read through the Bible this year. There’s still time to grab them and catch up on your reading!

・The Daily Bible: https://amzn.to/385EHHt

・The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible: https://amzn.to/3hIDDwv

Here’s to reading in 2021 and finding some enjoyable and challenging books!