Some of my favorite books from 2020.
This is the time I usually look back at the entire year and pick my favorite photos created or processed this year. I also like looking back at what I’ve read and watched, as I get great enjoyment and inspiration from this. So below are some of the books, comics, movies and anime I’ve most enjoyed reading and watching this year. Maybe you’ll find something in the list that perks your interest.
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Favorite Photography Books
ShadowLight: A Photographer’s Life by Freeman Patterson
ShadowLight is a great look at the life of Freeman Patterson. He talks about how he became a photographer and his experiences over the years and shares a nice selection of his work.
Tone Poems Book 1 - Opus 1, 2, & 3 by Bruce Barnbaum & Judith Cohen
Tone Poems is a unique book, attempting to merge photography and music. Bruce Barnbaum has selected a range of his black and white photographs, grouping them together into sections and adding arrangements of music by Judith Cohen that they feel represent each section of photography. You can read my full review of Tone Poems Book 1 here.
Favorite Non-fiction Books
Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History (Special Edition) by Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, John Peterson and Sam Witwer
This is a fantastic book for any long time fan of Dungeons & Dragons. It collects together so much fascinating history about the game and its creators, as well as the many product offshoots, such as figures, video games, movies, books, and more. And the special edition includes some interesting extras.
Cook Anime by Diana Ault
I won a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway. Here is a cook book for anime fans, including recipes from many of the shows and movies we know and love. Diana Ault also includes other interesting details from anime, history, food and culture. A great book for fans of anime or even just Japanese cuisine.
Favorite Fiction Books
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I decided to reread The Lord of the Rings this year, but this time using the audiobooks, narrated expertly by Rob Inglis. I still love this series and the audiobook provided another way of enjoying it. It’s one of those works that keeps delivering no matter how many times you read it.
City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett
City of Miracles is the third book in The Divine Cities trilogy, and what a conclusion it was. This series is the first I’ve read by Robert Jackson Bennet but it won’t be my last. He is such an incredible writer crafting such amazing stories. Highly recommended.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
I loved this book. It was just delightful. About a young girl who finds out the world contains so much more than most of us will ever know. It’s a magical book about wanting to believe in something more, and then discovering it may be real.
Circe by Madeline Miller
This was my first exposure to Madeline Miller’s work and I certainly hope it won’t be my last. She tells the tale of the mythical Circe, born to Helios and Perse, and including appearances by many of the figures we might know from mythology, such as Zeus, Hermes, Daedalus, the Minotaur, Odysseus and more. You can read my full review of Circe here.
Dune by Frank Herbert
This was my second time reading Dune, and as with The Lord of the Rings, I decided to try the audiobook version this time. Also like The Lord of the Rings, this book gets better the more you read it, offering new details and insights into the cultures, religions and politics of the inhabitants of Arrakis and the universe in which is resides.
Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics
Kabuki Library Edition Volume 1 by David Mack
This edition begins the Kabuki storyline, containing the volumes Circle of Blood and Dreams. I originally read those volumes many, many years ago, and fell in love with them. This reread was fantastic. I really enjoyed re-immersing myself in this world. I love David Mack’s writing and it’s fascinating to see how his artwork changes over the years and from volume to volume.
Kabuki Library Edition Volume 2 by David Mack
This edition contains the volumes Skin Deep and Metamorphosis, which might be my favorites of the entire Kabuki storyline, perhaps because they were the first ones I read, long, long ago. The artwork in these is incredible and so very different from anything I’d ever seen in a comic. Very much a work of art.
Kabuki Library Edition Volume 3 by David Mack
This edition contains the volume called The Alchemy, and may be an ending of sorts for the Kabuki story. It’s very different from all that’s come before. The story is almost completely non-violent, very much a departure from the earlier chapters. And the artwork continues to change and evolve from volume to volume.
Lazarus: The Third Collection by Greg Rucka
I really enjoy the world Greg Rucka has created, though it’s not one I’d want to live in. It’s a futuristic story where the world has fallen apart and is ruled over by a number of families that each have control over specific geographic areas. There is constant fighting and tensions, often involving the Lazari from the involved families. This collection takes us deeper into the lives of several of the Lazari, and I really enjoyed that. Can’t wait to read the next volume.
Favorite Movies
Parasite
This was such a great movie. A Korean film about a poor family, out of work, trying to make ends meet. One of them manages to get a job with a rich family and ends up getting the rest of the family involved, as well. The title is so appropriate.
The Way
A powerful movie about a father who learns his son has died in Europe, so he travels there to collect the body, but ends up deciding to complete the pilgrimage his son was unable to finish. A heartfelt movie about healing and self-awareness.
Jojo Rabbit
A funny and heart warming tale of Nazi Germany and one young boy who’s caught up in the Nazi furor while his mother secretly helps Jews. But what will he do when he finds a young Jewish girl hiding in his house? Another fantastic movie from director Taika Waititi.
Logan
I was feeling pretty burned out from all the comic book superhero/mutant movies, until my friend, Lashaan, over at bookidote recommended I watch Logan, and I’m glad I did.This was such a fantastic movie, everything each of the Marvel mutant movies should have been. Perhaps one reason I really enjoyed it is how they chose to largely tell a more personal story, not one where the fate of the entire earth or galaxy are at stake. It’s all about Logan, better known as Wolverine, and what happens much later in his life, what he’s become and what’s important enough to him he’d kill to protect. I really enjoyed this film.
The Tower
This Korean film had Die Hard vibes, taking place at Christmas and set in a pair of high rise luxury apartment buildings with staff prepping for their big annual Christmas party. But in this film there are no terrorists, just greedy and stupid people who push ahead with arial helicopter stunts even when the weather forecast shows it’s too dangerous. And, of course, bad things happen. That’s when the city’s firefighters must enter the building, trying to put out the flames and save as many people as they can. I thought this was a beautifully done movie.
Favorite Anime & Animated Movies
Almost the Entire Works of Makoto Shinkai
I watched Weathering With You, the latest animated movie from Makoto Shinkai, one of my all-time favorite anime creators. I loved it so very much I decided to do a rewatch of his entire catalog. My favorites of his stories are: Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters Per Second, The Garden or Words, Your Name, and Weathering With You. I’ve loved watching his animation and storylines improve and change over the years. He usually writes very personal stories, very emotional, heart felt, full of longing, loss, hope, passion. His work is pure and utter magic and I love each and every one of these films and look forward to rewatching them again and again and again. And I very much look forward to trying whatever else he produces in the future.
Those were my favorites of 2020. Did you read or watch any of these? What were some of your favorites from the year?
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