THE 2020 ORDINARIES

This is usually my favourite part of owning this website, looking back on all the amazing books I read the year.  But last year was not ordinary for all the worst reasons.  Ironically Bill Bryson warned me via his book "The Body" that it wasn't IF there would be a worldwide pandemic just WHEN and I read it just as Covid starting to really impact the UK!  I know some people have been able to escape in lots of books over the various lockdowns but wasn't one of them so this will be a more muted awards for many reasons.

funniest book of the year

WINNER - JAMES CORDON - MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?
RUNNER UP -  THE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019 - (Audiobook)

sports book of the year

WINNER - BEN RYAN - SEVENS HEAVEN
RUNNER UP -  JEFF BENEDICT & ARMEN KETEYIAN - TIGER WOODS

story of the year

WINNER -  HEATHER MORRIS - THE TATTOOIST OF AUSWITCH
RUNNER UP - KEN FOLLETT - THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH

best contribution to knowledge

WINNER - JOHN CARREYROU - BAD BLOOD
RUNNER UP -  CJ SANSOM - TOMBLAND

best part of ordinary special award

WINNER -TARA WESTOVER - EDUCATED
RUNNER UP - BEN RYAN - SEVENS HEAVEN

ordinary book of the year

WINNER - KEN FOLLETT - THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH
RUNNER UP - BRING UP THE BODIES - HILARY MANTEL

A difficult year was always going to make this a difficult decision.  Bring Up The Bodies won The Booker prize and is regarded by critics as the best of the best.  "Bad Blood" won the Business Book of the Year, "Sevens Heaven" Sports Book of the Year and Bill Gates thought that "Educated" was the best book he'd read in 2019. 
It's not easy to go against such well read people but in the end I have to go with my heart this year.  Ken Follett wrote a modern day classic that stands the test of time and the fourty (40!!) hours flew by.   I don't usually like books that are obsessed with details and I now know far more about cathedrals than I ever wanted to but Ken made them feel important, vital even to his plot which was rich and well layered.  It was at times a brutal story of life in the middle ages and it took me away from real life and yet made me appreciate it at the same time.  It was like watching a live gig by a music legend where they are in complete control and have all the skill to ensure you have a great time and in some years that feels like the most important thing.