2020… what a terrible year. Across every level. Just ugh. Glad it’s over. Here’s hoping for better times in 2021. Enough said about that…

Anywho… life goes on, and as usual, I try to take the chance to remember what I read, watched and played during the year that’s worth noting. So here goes:

What I read

As I had mentioned in some previous posts, my reading has largely turned to listening since I moved to Colombia, with audiobooks keeping me sane during my long traffic hours in the commute. According to Goodreads, I “read” 32 books this year, though the vast majority of these was before the pandemic. Since, working from home, homeschooling and just trying to keep two little devils entertained under full lockdown for the better part of the year, my reading dwindled significantly. Don’t have much hope for 2021 to increase my reading, as it looks like working from home will become more commonplace (and trust me, no complaining from my end). In any case, will try to be more selective in what I read going forward, as no commute means little time for that.

Looking back, the best book read this year was:

Hmmm… that’s it really. Despite reading a lot of books, none of them really gripped me or felt noteworthy. Contrary to last year when I read some great novels, such as Middlegame, this year was a bit flat. Was really looking forward to Ready Player Two, as I loved the first novel and was very keen to see how things would be taken forward… was enjoyable, but not great. Looking back, nothing else really stands out.

There were a couple of books released this year that I have on my reading list but didn’t manage to go through, like Piranesi (new book from the author of the great Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell) or The Devil and the Dark Water (from the writer of the excellent The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) which I hope to get into early this year. Likewise, understand a sequel to Neil Gaiman’s fantastic Neverwhere is due, so looking out for that one.

Let’s hope 2021 brings a bit more joy in the reading / listening department…

What I watched

Not that many new movies, to be honest… as the pandemic really did a number on the movies available to watch. Was so looking forward to the new Bond, the new Top Gun and especially the new Ghostbusters (that trailer still gives me goosebumps), but alas, it all has been pushed back. Most of the year has been spent revisiting classics and introducing my kids to films like The Goonies, Jurassic Park, ET, and the likes. Thanks to Disney+, some fantastic films like Rookie of the Year and Home Alone have been a welcome distraction.

But from what I did manage to watch new this year, these stood out:

Other films I watched that are noteworthy include Wonder Woman 84 (I enjoyed it, but in the end was just a tad to sappy) and Tenet (great concept and great scenes, but for whatever reason didn’t get so vested as in other Nolan films). I did see Parasite, and did enjoy it, but didn’t think it was as great as others rate it.

With limited new films available, it was in TV (and streaming) where the good thrills and frills where found this year. My favourite shows this year where:

I still need to watch His Dark Materials and catch up with Killing Eve. Also, my wife keeps nagging me for not watching the last season of Dark (which I will get to soon). So still a lot of TV to catch up…

What I played

As I type this, I keep looking for stock updates on the PS5 (it’s impossible to buy, sadly). May be a signal to not buy it just yet. I was so looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077, but people keep saying I shouldn’t play it until on a PS4, so I may hold on for a bit. Did manage to play quite a lot this year, and a few standouts for me included Miles Morales (great follow up to Spider-Man, but just too short) and God of War (finally got around playing it)… but without question, the game of the year for me was:

How the managed to adapt what I consider one of the best games of all time and make it so much better in every way is astounding… loved it to bits, and can’t wait to play the next instalment

So that’s it… a year where every day felt pretty much like the previous, but where we’ve all been healthy, safe and counting our blessings. I’ve got to spend so much more time with my family this year, and despite it all, will look at 2020 fondly in that regard. Now bring on 2021… let’s see how this new normal will really look like.