My Favourite Books of 2020
Here’s a round-up of my favourites from the books I’ve read or listened to in audio format this year.
Afternoons with the Blinds Drawn (2019) by Brett Anderson. Brett’s follow up to Coal Black Mornings this covers the early days of Suede. An enjoyable read considering Suede were a big band for me at the time, but all in all probably not as good as the first book.
Daisy Jones and the Six (2019) by Taylor Jenkins-Reid. The fictional story of an iconic 70s band told in the style of an oral history. An entertaining tale, which does a good job of capturing the mood of the time and the mystique of the band.
We Know What We Are (2018) by Russ Litten. A collection of short stories set in and around Hull. Some stories are dark, some funny, but all feel like stories about real people.
The Young Team (2020) by Graeme Armstrong. A smashing tale of growing up in gangs and looking for a way out. It really does a good job of placing the reader in that world and understanding the people who inhabit it.
Full-Time: The Secret Life of Tony Cascarino (2000) by Paul Kimmage. Famously an open an honest autobiography that sets itself apart from the usual player’s memoirs. It’s an entertaining story particularly joyful through Cascarino’s early days with Gillingham and Millwall. He’s very open about his lack of self-confidence that hampered him throughout his reasonably successful career.
Beneath the Streets (2020) by Adam MacQueen. It’s 1976 and Tommy Wiseblood always looking for a gift to keep himself off the ‘Dilly’ begins to investigate the apparent murder of a rent boy. It blends fact with fiction well and creates a terrific mystery at a good pace.
The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s (2020) by Andy Greene. An oral history of the American version of The Office. For a fan of the show, it’s a great read with lots of behind the scenes stuff, recollections, stories, insight and anecdotes.
Best and Edwards (2006) by Gordon Burn. the tale of two differing tragic football geniuses at Manchester United. Brilliantly written and researched.
Die Trying (1998), Tripwire (1999), Without Fail (2002) by Lee Child. I’ve found the Jack Reacher books to be really absorbing. It’s great watching him getting boxed in wondering how he’s going to get out of it, and knowing he definitely will.
A Man With One of Those Faces (2016), The Day That Never Comes (2017), Angels in the Moonlight (2017), Last Orders (2018) by Caimh McDonnell. Caimh is easily my favourite writing find of 2020. His books are intricately plotted, but also manage to be very funny. He obviously loves his characters but is quite happy to have bad things happen to them. They’re all really gripping with some really outstanding characters. In their audio format, Morgan C. Jones is an outstanding narrator who doesn’t just attempt a slightly different voice but really inhabits each character in the book.
A Bit of a Stretch (2020) by Chris Atkins. The prison diaries of a documentary maker who went to prison for fraud this was a terrific read. He begins frightened and naive as he faces prison, but along the way, he begins to understand the system as broken and illogical as it is. I found it a real page turner of a read.
Ma’am Darling (2017), One, Two, Three, Four (2020) by Craig Brown. Two really unique biographies on Princess Margaret and The Beatles. Both very inventive and make for a really entertaining read.
Spoiled Brats (2014) by Simon Rich. A really funny and inventive collection of short stories.
Cry Baby (2020) by Mark Billingham. Set around the 1996 European Championships a child goes missing and Detective Sergeant Tom Thorne leads the search. A prequel to the popular Thorne books I listened to the audio version of this in preparation for speaking to Mark for a podcast, still to be released. The audio is read by a full cast headed by David Morrissey and makes for a great listen.
Vinegar Girl (2016), Redhead by the Side of the Road (2020) by Anne Tyler. Another of my favourite writer finds of the year. Anne Tyler’s books were a smooth read with warm and engaging characters.
There’s Only One Danny Garvey (2020) by David F. Ross. Local boy made good returns home to take charge of his old Ayrshire Junior football team. His past is never far behind him. David writes cracking dialogue and blends comedy and pathos well. Look out for the paperback in early 2021.
Peacock’s Tale (2011), Peacock’s Alibi (2018) by Stuart David. Two books featuring Peacock Johnson a Glaswegian ducker and diver. It’s an enjoyable world populated with hapless bams, villains and a lead character an ideas man constantly looking for the big break.
Hidden in Plain Sight (2020) by Jeffrey Archer. It surprised me that I started a Jeffrey Archer book, but I found it a gripping read. The second in the William Warwick series it’s a smashing cops and robbers story with plenty of twists and turns.
OK, Let’s Do Your Stupid Idea by Patrick Freyne. A brilliantly written collection of essays on subjects such as childhood, caring and friendship. It’s funny and touching.
The Dry (2016) by Jane Harper. Another local boy returning home, this time for tragic reasons, where the past hangs heavy. This crime story is absolutely gripping and a masterclass on how to end a chapter.
