MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2021.
You know by now that I love wrapping up the year in the form of favourites lists and being able to look back on the books I read and loved each year is always really special– no matter what else happened over the last twelve months– reading is always the thing that brings the most comfort and joy.
Having a list like this just reenforces that and as always I love sharing these lists in the hope that you enjoy seeing other peoples favourites as much as I do and in the hope that you might find something new to read– so here are the books that I read in 2021 that I loved the most.
The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin
2021 is also know as ‘the year of James Baldwin’– I started the year by reading The Fire Next Time– a collection of two of Baldwin’s essays in the form of letters, published just months before the March on Washington in 1963 is an affecting discussion of race. I fell completely in love with Baldwin’s writing, his emotion pours through the page and it encouraged me to pick up two more of his works I had waiting on my shelf, later in the year.
The Glass Hotel, Emily St John Mandel
Because Station Eleven is a forever favourite of mine– I understandably had very high hopes for The Glass Hotel– a novel focusing on two seemingly unconnected events of loss– I think it’s quite an interesting one to go into as blindly as possible if you can. It can be difficult at times not to compare an authors new work against a favourite but I loved The Glass Hotel for the same reasons I loved Station Eleven– mainly the way that Mandel crafts a story and weaves together threads that reveal themselves satisfyingly slowly so that by the end I just want to start it from the beginning again.
Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi
Another new release from a favourite author of mine– Transcendent Kingdom is a beautifully told, multilayered story that dives deep into of complicated subjects of grief, addiction, immigrant life and faith. Again, going into this, I had thoughts of whether I would enjoy it as much as I did with Homegoing– especially as Transcendent Kingdom is wholly contemporary unlike the sweeping historical novel that Homegoing is– but reading this only confirmed that Yaa Gyasi can write anything and I’ll want to read it, and probably adore it. Reading this felt like being seen and if I had to choose just one favourite this year, I think it would have to be this one.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
This year I wanted to continue to make my way through the stack of unread classics on my shelf and one that really sticks with me is The Picture of Dorian Gray– the dark, gothic story completely drew me in with it’s mystery and the incredibly beautiful prose. The slow unravelling of Dorian’s character was fascinating as was the way that Wilde explored the themes of beauty, obsession, art set in Victorian society. I often feel intimidated by a lot of classic literature but I’m extremely glad I finally picked this one up this year.
A book that completely took hold of me and didn’t let go for the duration was Severance– a very captivating, hauntingly timely novel set before and during a global pandemic. Published in 2018 it captures the times we’re currently living through, heartbreakingly accurately but it also captures and comments on so much more than surviving through a pandemic– the power of memory and of home, insights on race and the immigrant experience, routines and rituals. It’s sharp and powerful and I can’t wait to revisit it in the future.
It’s hard to sum up this book and the experience of reading it in just a couple of sentences because out of all of the books I read this year–this is the one that possibly was the most affecting and that moved me the most. Know My Name is Miller’s memoir reclaiming her identity and sharing her experience of sexual assault which makes it one of the most powerful memoirs I’ve read– not only that but it’s also stunningly written, I would read anything else Miller writes in a heartbeat. If you get the chance, I’d highly recommend listening to the audiobook– listening to Miller literally telling her story made the experience all the more beautiful and remarkable.
I’m not going to say too much about this book and not for any other reason than I think the best way to experience this is to go into without knowing anything about it. Piranesi is unlike anything I’ve ever read, in the best possible way. It takes some commitment– it took me a little while to get fully immersed in the story, but it’s so worth it– the story unfolds in the most beautifully mysterious way and when things are completely revealed, it’s incredibly satisfying.
Migrations, Charlotte McConaghy
Sometimes you really need a dose of escapism and that’s exactly what Migrations offered when I read it back during the summer. It’s a beautifully captivating and affecting novel that explores climate change in a slow and quiet but ultimately powerful way– the turmoil that the planet is facing is mirrored in the protagonist as she battles with her own personal history and emotions. McConaghy’s atmospheric prose created a chilling and desperate mood at times but there is definite warmth through the love that McConaghy poured into the pages– love for the planet and for the characters inhabiting her story– it really moved me.
Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner
Another one of the memoirs I read and loved this year— Crying in H Mart is a beautifully written exploration of identity and finding places to belong, grief, Korean culture, family and food— Michelle Zauner writes honestly and openly about her experience growing up Korean American and losing her mother. I really appreciated how Zauner doesn’t hold anything back and explores all of the complicated sides of grief, emotions that don’t always get talked about— I know it will stay with me for a very long time.
Beautiful Country, Qian Julie Wang
Equally as unforgettable is another memoir that completely captured me– I really couldn’t, and didn’t want to, put it down. Beautiful Country is an unflinchingly honest recounting of Qian Julie Wang’s undocumented childhood in New York City, the struggles surrounding identity and the determination to survive. Wang’s prose is so lyrical and despite the heartbreaking events taking place– through her words– there is lightness and hopefulness pouring from the pages. I’m forever grateful that books like this one exists.
Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin
Bookending this list with another James Baldwin– Giovanni’s Room, like many other of his works, is a complex but hauntingly beautiful exploration of identity in it’s many forms. There is just something about Baldwin’s writing, I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why, but it really moves me– I feel it– and in Giovanni’s Room it felt especially vivid and arresting. Something I know for sure is that I will be continuing my way through Baldwin’s bibliography in 2022 and I’m very much looking forward to it.
I’d love to hear all about the books that you read and loved this year, so let me know your favourites in the comments. If you’re interested in keeping up to date with what I’m reading you can always follow along with me on the Storygraph or on Goodreads. I hope you all have a lovely, cosy start to 2022!
