Book Reviews and More: 2020

There were so many great fiction books that I read this year. A few new authors, and some long standing favorites. My reading has been up over each of the last few years. I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. But being 2020 everything is topsy-turvy. I read less books this year. But I managed to write reviews for all books read for the first time.

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. But if you want more options check out my favorite books year by year list.

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Fiction Books 2020

...

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
317 - 2020
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017
272 - 2016
177 - 2015
130 - 2014
88 - 2013
176 - 2012
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996

Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

317 Books Read

222 received 5/5 Stars.

272 books read for the first.

172 Non-Fiction

145 Fiction

Here are my top ten non-fiction books of 2020.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

1. Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits - Dan Burke

2. Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness - Fr. Dwight Longenecker

3. Consecration to St. Joseph - Donald H. Calloway

4. Thomas Becket Defender of the Church - Father John S. Hogan

5. Spiritual Masters: Fathers and Writers of the First Millennium - Pope Benedict XVI

6. A Catholic Survival Guide for Times of Emergency - Nick Donnelly

7. From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church - Pope Benedict XVI and Robert Cardinal Sarah

8. The Church and the Modern Era (1846–2005) - David M. Wagner - Reclaiming Catholic History Book 7

9. Saint Maria Goretti Teenage Martyr for Chastity - Glynn MacNiven-Johnston - CTS 20th Century Martyrs

10. Alessandro Serenelli A Story of Forgiveness - Charles D. Engel

Bonus:

Spiritual Warfare Bible - Saint Benedict Press

New Testament and Psalms for Men - Saint Benedict Press

The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press

The New Testament the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition - Blue Sparrow Publishing

Books by and about Saint John Henry Newman

Books by J.B. Midgley

My reading has been up over each of the last few years. Which I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. But being 2020 everything is topsy-turvy. I read less books this year. But I managed to write reviews for all books read for the first time.

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section. But if you want more options check out my favorite books year by year list.

Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2020

Top Ten Fiction Books 2020

...

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2020

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Fourth Quarter 2020

It has been a different year for us all. This year I read about 15% fewer books than my average over the last three years. And even a bigger drop if you look at this quarter. But since reading and reviewing books is my hobby, I am grateful to have been able to read 317 books this year. And 65 of them this quarter. Of those 65 read 53 received 5/5 stars. And 53 were first time reads. And out of those 46 there were 34 fiction and 12 non-fiction. Part of the imbalance is due to reading most days with my youngest two and they have reached the point where they are reading much faster.

Without further ado or preamble here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2020.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

1. The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press

2. Thomas Becket Defender of the Church - Father John S. Hogan

3. Mystery of the Magi - Dwight Longenecker

4. A Catholic Survival Guide for Times of Emergency - Nick Donnelly

5. Divine Mercy for Children: A Guided Tour of the Museum of Mercy - Vinny Flynn and Brian Kennelly

6. The Extraordinary Form of the Mass in Latin & English - Catholic Truth Society

7. The Special Gift of Women - Dr Maria Fedoryka

8. Books by William Lawson

Be Yourself - CTS Explanations

Why Worry! The Christian's Vocation to Trust in God

9. 16 Black Saints and Advocates for Racial Justice - Edited by Mary Leonora Wilson, FSP

10. All Manner Of Thing Poems 2013-2019 - Niall Gooch

Bonus:

The New Testament the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition - Blue Sparrow Publishing

Keeping Up Backgrounders to All the Big Technology Trends You Can't Afford to Ignore - David Clinton

The Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition - Blue Sparrow Publishing

Top Ten Fiction Books:

1. Mr. Universe - Arthur Slade

2. November Rain - Maureen Jennings - Paradise Cafe Book 2

3. Jim Sano - Father Tom Fitzpatrick Series

The Father's Son

Gus Busbi

4. Overmorrow Stories of Our Bright Future - Edited by Jon Garett and Richard Walsh

5. Corinna Turner’s Books:

The Boy Who Knew Carlo Acutis - Friends in High Places Book 1

A Very Jurassic Christmas - an unSPARKed Story

A Dino Whisperer at the Zoo – an unSPARKed Story

The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Air Balloon - Mandy Lamb Book 2

6. Kataklusmos - T.M. Doran - Toward The Gleam Book 3

7. Karina Fabian’s books:

Space Traipse Hold My Beer Season 2

Zombie Death Extreme Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator

8. Short fiction by Cedar Sanderson

Lab Gremlins

The Groundskeeper Raking Up the Dead

The Violet Mouse

9. The Sentinel - Lee Child and Andrew Child - Jack Reacher 25

10. Full Metal Jack - Diane Capri - Hunt For Reacher Book 10

Bonus:

Arthur Slade Dragon Assassins

Old Enemies

Downfall

Third Planet Fall Down - ML Clark - Menagerie Mysteries Book 1

A Perfect Christmas - Carolyn Astfalk A Contemporary Christian Short Story

Dragon Masters Books 10-17 - Tracey West

My reading has been up over each of the last few years. I attribute part of it to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. But being 2020 everything is topsy-turvy. I read less books this year. But I managed to write reviews for all books read for the first time.

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are in the bonus section. It was no easy task making this quarter. But if you want more options check out my favorite books year by year list.

Relates Posts:

...

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
317 - 2020
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017
272 - 2016
177 - 2015
130 - 2014
88 - 2013
176 - 2012
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996

Monday, 28 December 2020

Fortress of the Stone Dragon - Tracey West and Matt Loveridge - Dragon Masters Book 17

Fortress of the Stone Dragon

Dragon Masters Book 17
Tracey West (Author)
Matt Loveridge (Illustrator)

Scholastic

ISBN 9781338540314

eISBN 9781338540338

ASIN B081SWW4F3

Wow, we are all caught up. When we finished this volume, we went to open the next. But alas It does not come out for almost three months to the day. My youngest daughter was really struck by the cliff-hanger ending to this one. But she thinks it is perfect. If it was not a cliff-hanger in three months she might not return to the series. But because it is we have already ordered the eBook and it will deliver the day it releases. This is an excellent book in a great series.

As a family we really, really, really love these books! A few years ago, I read the first eight books of this series to my son. My youngest daughter really enjoyed it and the three of us read them. This year my youngest has been reading them to me. And now we are all caught up. This year we found out that my nephew has been reading them and was only 1 book ahead of us. He is reading the physical books and We are reading the eBook editions. This is another great story in a wonderful series. My youngest daughter is insistent that we will read the whole series. And she has spent her reading challenge money buying all the kindle editions that are available. And when we finished this one we found out there are three more announced already. That will bring the series to 20 stories and one special edition volume, Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters.

This series builds book upon book. But each is written well enough that they can be read on their own. But as a series it is fantastic. We see characters come in and out of the stories. Characters change from bad to good. And we get to watch Drake and the dragon masters at Bracken and around the world work together to protect each other, their kingdoms and the whole world. But the stories really do focus around Drake, his dragon Worm. And their role in these adventures.

In this one the story the work of cleaning up all the dark magicians that were released from Maldred’s trap continues. The team gets a call from help from old friends. And are off to fight one of the most powerful wizards in the world. We meet the Stone Dragon, its master and find out it has a special power. But Astrid has learned not only how to steal Dragon’s powers but how to use them herself.

This is the second volume illustrated by Matt Loveridge. There are several illustrators across the series. The illustrations keep a consistent feel and look. But Each artist leaves their own mark on the books they work on. Some illustrations stand alone and some wrap around the text and span two-page spreads.

This is another excellent read in a great series. These are awesome books for young readers, but also entertaining enough for older readers. I am continually impressed with the staying power of this series. After multiple reads over several years I still really enjoy returning to the Dragon Masters, as do my children. And look forward too many more reads in this series, as my daughter is insistent, she will read them all to me! And she insisted we give it 5/5 stars! And she loved the cliff-hanger ending. It is a great read in a wonderful series!

Dragon Master Books:
1. Rise of the Earth Dragon
2. Saving the Sun Dragon
3. Secret of the Water Dragon
4. Power of the Fire Dragon
5. Song of the Poison Dragon
6. Flight of the Moon Dragon
7. Search for the Lightning Dragon

8. Roar of the Thunder Dragon

9. Chill of the Ice Dragon

10. Waking the Rainbow Dragon

11. Shine of the Silver Dragon

12. Treasure of the Gold Dragon

13. Eye of the Earthquake Dragon

14. The Land of the Spring Dragon

15. Future of the Time Dragon

16. Call of the Sound Dragon

17. Fortress of the Stone Dragon

18. Heat of the Lava Dragon

19. Wave of the Sea Dragon

20. Howl of the Wind Dragon

21. Bloom of the Flower Dragon

22. Guarding the Invisible Dragons

23. Curse of the Shadow Dragon

24. Dawn of the Light Dragon

25. Legend of the Star Dragon

26. Cave of the Crystal Dragon

27. Haunting of the Ghost Dragon

...

Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters

The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters

...

Sunday, 27 December 2020

The Monks Make Amends - Sylvia Dorham and Christopher Tupa

The Monks Make Amends

Sylvia Dorham

Christopher Tupa (Illustrator)

TAN Books

ISBN 9781505117905

I read the first book in this series 4 years ago, The Monk’s Daily Bread, and never got around to reviewing it. I plan to go back and read it again just for that purpose. The day this one arrived I read it twice. Well actually my 10-year-old read it to me and then later my 12 year old read it to me. This is a wonderful little picture book. The book reminds me of both Tales of a Magic Monastery by Theophane the Monk and The Case of the Haunted Chapel by Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Anderson Gioulis Sisters of the Last Straw Book 1 but geared for younger readers.

The book is set in a monastery is guided by Father Abbot. One day he notices that something is off. There are monks who are angry, and monks who are mad. And this is making Father Abbot very sad. He must find a way to figure out what happened and what can be done about it.

The illustrations are wonderful. The story is fun. All three of us give it a solid 5/5 stars. We plan to go back and reread the first book, The Monk’s Daily Bread, and really look forward to the next one, The Monk’s Stormy Night. A great picture book in what is shaping up to be a great series.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Sylvia Dorham:

The Monks Series:

The Monk’s Daily Bread

The Monks Make Amends

The Monk’s Stormy Night

…

Other Books:

Rosana: A Modern Retelling of the Book of Ruth

Jewel

The Book of Names: An Accounting of What Might Have Been

Avoiding The Octopus