Take Five: My Favorite Books of 2020

2020 has been a weird year in many ways. One of the most obvious ways for me is how the whole year has hampered my reading. According to my Goodreads profile I will have only read 24 books this year which is less than half of what I normally put away. In spite of the lower numbers there were still a few that stood out for me. Here are my five favorite books that I read during 2020. Note that not all of these books were necessarily published this year.

The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe

In the introduction to the book, Mike Rowe relates a story about nearly missing a flight because he was sitting in his car waiting for Paul Harvey to finish telling the latest tale in his The Rest of the Story. It's a feeling I can certainly relate to as there were many times I would either keep driving around the block or sitting in the driveway or a parking lot waiting for the end of the tale. For those not familiar with The Rest of the Story check out the unofficial audio archive.  

It's no secret that his podcast was inspired by Paul Harvey. I have to say that Rowe is every bit a great storyteller as Paul Harvey was in his day. The book is a combination of some of his best stories from the podcast along with biographical snippets that are extremely interesting. This is a book that can easily be read in small doses and is sure to give the reader many hours of pleasure. 

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Folks that know me well know of my love for detective fiction. My bookshelves are full of books by Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Rex Stout, and others .But this year I had started the year trying to branch out to other authors I had not read. This was the first Josephine Tey novel I had tackled and it won't be the last. In the book, Inspector Alan Grant is confined to a hospital bed with a leg fracture. A friend suggests he pass the time by looking into a historical mystery: Was King Richard III guilty of murder? I love the premise of having to work through the crime from the hospital bed. Plus it is a dive into a period of England's history with which I was not familiar. 

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

  

Following the success of Magpie Murders, Anthony Horowitz returns with another installment in the adventures of literary agent Susan Ryland as she must once again solve a murder by relying on a murder mystery by Alan Conway. Horowitz has said in interviews he hadn't planned on writing a sequel to Magpie Murders until development started on a television series based on the novel and he realized it would be beneficial to have more material to draw from for the series. Once again he constructs a novel within a novel and manages to weave two distinctive cases together into one cohesive story. It's a thoroughly modern take on the Golden Age mystery novel. 

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors. He has an ability to transport the reader to a particular place and time like no other I have ever read. The Splendid and The Vile is probably his best book to date and one of my personal favorites. 

Winston Churchil's first months as Britain's Prime Minister would be marked both by Dunkirk and the Blitz. Through 1940 Britain would be driven to the brink by the Nazis. If it wasn't for the leadership of Churchill it is doubtful that Britaim would have been able to survive the war. Larson gives the readers a clear idea of what it was like to live through the early days of the war. Well researched and written this reads like a thriller. 

Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

If 2020 has taught us anything it is that the perfect literary antidote to the troubles of this world is P. G. Wodehouse. His novels feature a variety of unforgettable comic characters and Right Ho, Jeeves is no exception. Gussie Fink-Nottle presenting the prizes at the Market Snodsbury Grammar School is one of the funniest sequences in all of literature. There are plenty of moments in this novel that make it a joy to read again and aagin. 

Take Five: Christmas Movies and TV Shows

 Previously I shared my favorite Christmas songs. This time I am going to do the same for Christmas movies and TV shows. Just like Christmas songs there is no shortage of candidates for favorite movies or Christmas specials. All you have to do is turn to the Hallmark channels right after Halloween and you will begin to see an abundance of holiday themed movies. Hallmark alone produces several dozen new movies every Christmas. There are plenty of others made too. But the fact remains that few stand the test of time and become perennial favorites. Here are my five favorite Christmas movies and TV shows. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Ask just about anyone and they are likely to list A Charlie Brown Christmas as one of their favorite shows at Christmas. It is today regarded as a holiday classic. It's hard to believe that as it was about to air in 1965 network executives were afraid it was going to be a flop. Much of their fears revolved around different elements of the show: no laugh track, only child actors doing the voices, a jazz soundtrack, and a Bible reading. These were not considered to be the elements of a hit show. However, audiences apparently couldn't get enough of it. Approximately half of American households tuned into the premiere which was at the time an unheard of audience response. It has remained a favorite largely due to those very elements that were thought to be weaknesses. The success of A Charlie Brown Christmas would lead to numerous Peanuts animated specials in the future as well as other classic Christmas specials. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Following the immense success of A Charlie Brown Christmas, CBS hired Dr. Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) and Chuck Jones (famed director of Looney Tunes)  to create a new animated special based on Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Seuss, like Charles Schulz before him, was hesitant about getting into the animation business. It no doubt helped that Seuss and Jones had collaborated previously. During World War II the two men were part of an Army production team that produced animated training films. 

The special contains the entire text of the book. In order to lengthen the special to fit the thirty minute time slot, Jones extended some of the sequences with his visual gags that had become his hallmark. The Grinch was met with a warm reception upon its premiere and has been a holiday staple ever since. 

A Christmas Story (1983)

It's not an understatement by any stretch of the imagination to say that 1983's A Christmas Story is the movie that changed Christmas movies forever. It's also the least likely of all possible films to accomplish that feat. For one thing, it took about 12 years for the film to be developed by director Bob Clark. Plus the story was a tough sell to studio executives. The movie only did a modest amount of business upon it's initial theatrical release. In fact, had it not been for home video and pay television the film would have likely been forgotten. But repeated airings on television have helped the movie build a devoted following. I didn't even discover it until it aired on cable many years after its release. 

The film is about a nine year old boy who wants nothing more for Christmas that a Red Ryder BB gun. His parents object based on the possibility he will get hurt ("You'll shoot your eye out" young Ralphie is told over and over again). But the film really is as much about the family as it is about Christmas. It provides a slice of life that almost anyone can relate to on some level.  

Elf (2003) 

This movie has a couple of connections to A Christmas Story. First, director Jon Favreau has cited A Christmas Story as inspiration for Elf. Secondly, Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story, appears in Elf as, well, an elf. 

This is another movie that took a while to get made. The script was originally written in 1993 with Jim Carrey slated to take the title role. Initially much darker, Favreau worked with a group of writers (including star Will Ferrell) to lighten up the script. The finished product is a charming movie with absolute perfect casting. Much of the charm in the film is Will Ferrell simply being himself particularly in the improvised montage sequences of him in full elf costume running around New York. 

Eloise at Christmastime (2003) 

In 2003, ABC decided to adapt two of the Eloise books by Kay Thompson into full length movies. Eloise based on Eloise at the Plaza aired during the summer followed by Eloise at Christmastime in the fall. Of the two, Eloise at Christmastime is the better film. Much of the charm of the film has to do with the performance of then ten year old Sofia Vassilleva as Eloise and a strong supporting performance of Julie Andrews as Nanny. The two films were filmed back to back and it's clear by the time the second film rolls around that the cast had really become comfortable with one another. Visually speaking the film looks like the scenes were pulled directly out of the books. It's a joy to watch every year on Christmas Eve Eve. 

Weekend Links 12-18-20

This is going to be my last Weekend Links post for 2020. I still have a couple of things scheduled to post over the next couple of weeks but will be taking some time off from the blog for the holidays. Hopefully we will have a lot more fun content for you in 2021. Weekend Links will return on January 8, 2021. In the meantime here are a few links for your weekend reading.

You never know what you will find buried in the garden. Gardeners unearth coins inscribed with the initials of Henry VIII's first three wives. 

Last week Chuck Yeager passed away at the age of 97. Homer Hickam writes about what made Yeager a true American hero. 

Sir David Suchet reading The Night Before Christmas is just the holiday content we need. 

We also recently lost the great espionage novelist John Le Carre. This interview from 1965 with Malcolm Muggeridge is thoroughly fascinating. Thankfully he changed his mind and decided to continue writing sp novels. 

Pez dispensers are particularly popular as stocking stuffers this time of year. However the mints were actually developed as an anti-smoking measure. 

Podcast of the week: I just discovered The Golden Age of Baseball podcast and it is a delight. It is hosted by Eddie Robinson who just turned 100 years old this week and is the oldest living Major League Baseball player. His stories of his playing days are fascinating. 

This just goes to prove that there is a club for just about everything. 

During the tumultuous year of 1968 the Apollo 8 mission brought peace at Christmas to all the Earth. An excerpt from the new book Operation Moonglow: A Political History of Project Apollo. 

Weekend Links 12-11-20

 It's hard to believe we are just two weeks away from Christmas. Soon 2020 will be in the rearview mirror and not a moment too soon. In the meantime, here are a few links of interest for your weekend reading.

Like many families, A Charlie Brown Christmas is annual tradition for us. Turns out we have none other than Willie Mays to thank for serving as a catalyst for the holiday classic. 

ICYMI: I started a new feature on the blog earlier this week. 

Neat history: Divers discovered a Nazi Enigma cipher machine that was tossed into the Baltic Sea during World War II. 

Answering the important questions: why do we call coffee a cup of joe? 

When you think of Audrey Hepburn you probably think about films such as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and My Fair Lady. But it turns out she also has quite the list of crime films on her resume. 

Podcast of the week: this week it's two of my favorite podcasts for the price of one. Caroline Crampton of Shedunnit hosts Catherine Brobeck and Kemper Donovan of All About Agatha to discuss all things Agatha Christie including the pros and cons of reading her detective novels in publication order. It's quite a fascinating discussion. 

Hard to imagine really that there were times when certain Christmas songs were banned. 

Speaking of Christmas, take a look at some spectacular Christmas light displays. 

Who knew that a cereal icon could be both inspiration for invention and the cause of tremendous controversy? 

Literary history: Evelyn Waugh loved Perry Mason novels. It always surprises me how many authors are fans of crime fiction. 

Take Five: Christmas Songs

 Today marks the debut of a new occasional feature on the blog called Take Five. It's basically a list of my five favorite things in a particular category. Today we'll get into the Christmas spirit with my favorite Christmas songs. 

I have a confession. I am not a huge fan of Christmas music. Back in college when I was working as a disc jockey I worked a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day playing nothing but Christmas music. I discovered right away that Christmas music is (a) abundant and (b) of varying quality. It took me several years afterward before I would sit and listen to Christmas music for extended periods of time. Even now I can only take it in small doses. But there are five songs here (in no particular order) that will definitely put me into the Christmas spirit.

1. Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles (1978)

When Please Come Home For Christmas debuted in 1978 it became the first Christmas song to debut on the Billboard top 20 since Roy Orbison did it with Pretty Paper in 1963. This is a cover of a Charles Brown song that originally debuted in 1961 however the Eagles had far greater success with the song than Brown did. This is the classic Eagles lineup of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmidt, Joe Walsh, and Don Felder. A wonderfully bluesy Christmas song. 

2. White Christmas - The Drifters (1954)

It's no secret that Irving Berlin's White Christmas is a holiday classic. Bing Crosby's version of the song is the best selling Christmas song of all time. But this doo-wop version from the Drifters is a whole lot of fun. This is the "early" version of the Drifters long before the runaway success they would have with Under the Boardwalk. The song went all the way to #2 on the Billboard R&B chart. It has become a Christmas classic having been featured in films such as Home Alone and The Santa Clause. 

3. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (1946) 

One of the difficult things about trying to select my favorite Christmas songs is trying to first figure our which song to choose and then which version. With most holiday standards there are numerous versions available. But this is one instance where there is no improving on the original. Nat King Cole was the first to record this song and it is still the best version in my opinion. 

4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor (2001) 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is arguably one of the most recorded Christmas songs. There are literally hundreds of versions of the song. The tune originally was written for the 1944 Judy Garland musical Meet Me in St. Louis. This version was actually recorded after Taylor had laid down tracks for his album October Road.  As a result, the recording has a spontaneity that is not necessarily heard in other versions of the song. I like this version of the song more than any other I have heard. 

5. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965) 

There is one Christmas album that will get constant play around my house: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio. This jazz album became an immediate classic upon its release. It's hard to single out one track but this one will do the trick. It's one of the original compositions for the film and features a children's choir on the vocals. It captures beautifully the essence of the animated special. 

Weekend Links 12-4-20

We are back after a week off for the holidays. Hope that you had a great time with your loved ones. 

I've got a new feature appearing here starting next week. I hope you will enjoy it. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to be informed of new posts. 

Now on to this week's links for your weekend reading....

This story sounds like something straight out of Fake or Fortune: a missing Australian masterpiece was discovered hiding in plain sight. 

This is really neat: phone cases that will make your phone look like a book. 

Just what your next party needs: a giant Twinkie. 

Answering the important questions: why do hospital doctors wear white coats? 

If 2020 has taught us anything it is that catching a foul ball is really difficult. Of course you could consult this book for tips. 

The hunt for the original McDonalds french fry recipe. Yes, it's true that McDonald's fries don't taste the way they used to. 

Happy 100th birthday to the theremin which just happened to have been invented by a Soviet spy. 

Podcast of the week: this episode of All About Agatha features an interview with Dr. Mark Aldridge who is the author of a forthcoming book on Hercule Poirot that looks fantastic. It's a really fun conversation.