Everywhere that I look people seem to be writing Best of the Decade lists. I’ve seen lists about books, writers, films, music, television and more. Part of my thinks that, as a respectful blogger, I should have written my own such lists. However, I know that my terrible memory means that I have no idea what I’ve consumed in the last 10 years. And, even if I could, it would only be a tiny fraction of everything. Certainly with books. I won’t have read much for the first part of the decade. It was only when I started to review books more that I started keeping track of my books. It’s been really useful but I should have started doing it earlier. So, instead of looking back for this Friday Favourites I’m looking forward. To the books, I want to read this year. I’ve made a promise to myself (that I’m already wanting to break) that I won’t buy any new books. I’ve got too many unread ones on my shelf that I have to stop buying. So, 2020 is about the books that have been around for weeks, months, years without being opened. Its time. Because my TBR pile is pretty huge. Although, as we all know, not every TBR book is created equal. As much as I don’t like to play favourites, I know there are certain books that I’m more excited about reading. These are just a few that are currently at the top.

Rusty Brown by Chris Ware

My new copy of this arrived yesterday and it had already made it’s way to the top of my TBR pile. I’m really looking forward to it. Released last year, Rusty Brown is a series of comics that depict the lives of 6 connected people. It follows the life of the titular Rusty Brown and we see him grow from childhood to manhood. The collection was published as a full graphic novel last year and I got a copy in my January sale haul. I’m already excited by the illustrations and the details on the cover, so I can’t wait to read through the whole thing.

We Are the Beaker Girs by Jacqueline Wilson

I eagerly read My Mum Tracy Beaker when it came out in 2018. I’d been a fan of Jacqueline Wilson when I was younger and had loved Tracy Beaker. I was intrigued to see how her life had gone. In the end, I wasn’t completely blown away by the book but was still entertained. Entertained enough to buy the follow-up novel. This has definitely got a place high up my TBR.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

If you keep up with my weekly rundown, you’ll know that I’ve had a copy of this book for ages. I bought it with the gift vouchers I got when leaving my old job. I was really interested in the concept but never felt in the right mood to tackle the book. Not this year. I want to focus on more non-fiction this year because it’s something I’ve never done well with. This will be a good starting point and will hopefully get me in a non-fiction state of mind.

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

This was a recent purchase that I couldn’t resist. We all have a strange fascination with serial killers so we all know the story of Jack the Ripper. The unnamed man who killed prostitutes in 1888. Or did he? Historian Hallie Rubenhold has discovered the secret lives of these women and sets out to set the record straight. I’m not quite sure that I should be feeling quite so large a wave of feminist pride thinking about reading this book but I’m interested to see what Rubenhold has found out.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

As well as reading more non-fiction this year, my plan is to reread more books. The plan is to buy fewer new books so I can get through the ones I already own. After her death last year, I wanted to read something by Toni Morrison but I never managed to fit it into my schedule. In order to justify buying the gorgeous Vintage edition of Beloved, I’m going to read it in 2020.

The Night Circus and The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I’ve been meaning to read The Night Circus for years but, because I bought a copy for my Kindle, I’ve read it. So, when I saw the special edition copy in Waterstones I decided I needed it. That and the special edition copy of Erin Morgenstern’s latest novel. They’re both going to be 2020 reads just so I get to look at those covers more often.