In 2020 I was lucky to be able to devote a lot more time to reading. I originally set my goal on Goodreads at 25 books which I thought was going to be a stretch! After working from home for most of 2020 I soon found one of the greatest morning pleasures was to make a coffee and sit down with a good read before work.
On the last day of 2020 I finished my 31st book. You can find more detailed reviews on my Goodreads account.
Here are my TOP 5 ‘Good Reads’:
Peter Grose
Thoroughly researched analysis with a thriller writing style – I was constantly on the edge of my seat! As a Sydney sider for 28 years I was in awe of the stories in here. I showed this book to my grandparents and my grandmother told me the story of how, as a little girl, she visited the botanic gardens where they were selling souvenirs of the midget. She still has a piece of copper with the tag!
Katy Tur
Katy Tur, NBC correspondent, well and truly draws the “Trump” card. What everyone thought was supposed to be a brief campaign actually turns into 510 days of absolute madness for Katy as she tries to keep up with Trumps campaign and faces endless intimidation from Trump and his supporters. It is an easy read and I knew it was going to be funny when I read this:
“He’s orange. There’s no other way to describe him. He is the color of orange marmalade, perhaps a shade darker, like marmalade on toast.”
Sarah Laverick
Ever since I was a child Antarctica has held a certain fascination for me. Imagine being halfway to Antarctica only to discover the entire engine room is filled with fire. Throwing out a multi million dollar research device only to have it snap off into the ocean. Planning your research program for years only to never set foot on the ice due to inclement weather. These are the stories of the engineers, scientists and crew aboard the Aurora Australis. Maybe one day I can visit Antarctica on Australia’s newest ice breaker, Nuyina!
Bear Grylls
If you love stories of adventure, survival, espionage and exploration then this is for you – a compilation of short stories about incredible humans who embody the quality of ‘true grit’ and share a common mindset: REFUSAL to give up. It is split into themed sections such as survival stories, world war and Antarctic exploration. This book is a fantastic gateway into reading more about survivors depending on which stories interest you most!
Brian Cruver
Brian Cruver had landed a dream gig at the “best company ever” 12 months prior to the explosive accounting fraud scandal that saw the collapse of the Enron. Although not in a senior position, Cruver’s insights and account are fascinating. The scariest part is that this story still feels relevant and serves as a cautionary reminder of what can happen when you combine excess greed with a lack of accountability.