Stephen King said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." In my endeavor to improve my writing, I wanted to read a lot in 2021 (plus, reading is just fun!). I'm happy to say, I surpassed my goal of reading 70 books this year. Because I read so many books, quite a few stood out for me. I can't sing the praises of every book I read, but I can point out a few.
2. Educated by Tara Westover - This is the story of a woman who grew up in a survivalist family in Idaho and who didn't experience formal education until college. Her childhood was anything but ordinary, and the way she pursued education in every sense of the word makes for a read you can't put down.
3. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones - The horror in this novel builds slowly and quietly until it leaps out at you like the ultimate jump scare in your favorite scary movie. And you'll never look at elk the same again.
4. Beach Read by Emily Henry - This romance novel features the "enemies to lovers" trope. A romance writer and a literary writer meet up years after they were rivals in college and, in an attempt to overcome their writers' block, decide to write in one another's genre. This novel is perfect for readers of romance, and as a writer, I found it absolutely delightful and full of truth about the craft and the way people regard genres other than their own.
5. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - Time is our most precious commodity. We only have so much of it (only four thousand weeks, if we live an average lifetime). How are we going to spend our time? This is a book on productivity, but not in the way you think. It's not about cramming something into every second of every day, but rather, it leads you to think about the best ways to spend your time. What matters most to you? How are you going to use your precious four thousand weeks? There's no pressure to do more, but to use your time well.
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - This is not a new book, but I hadn't read it until this year. Up front you know terrible things are going to happen to the characters. I mean, Death is one of the narrators! But that doesn't matter because Liesel is so compelling, and the people in her life are so compelling, that you must absolutely know more about them. Keep your box of tissues handy.
7. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - This is another on my list that isn't new, but again, I hadn't read it before. This is a classic science fiction book about an African-American woman who travels back in time to when her white, slave-owning ancestor needs saving. Talk about a complicated relationship and family dynamics. This is an excellent time travel story that portrays the life of slaves in America in the 1800s, and the way we all carry the legacy of slavery and cruelty with us.
8. Hail Mary by Andy Weir - I hesitated about picking up this book because I was expecting another The Martian. But while the main character, Ryland, has witty interior thoughts and dialogue and it seems that he'll be alone throughout most of the book--much like the set up for The Martian--things take a turn early on. I don't want to spoil it, but this book gripped me and ended up making me cry.
9. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson - Here's the final not-new book on my list. I really enjoyed the show Longmire and had considered picking up the first book about Walt Longmire for a while. It's sort of a murder mystery, sort of a police procedural, sort of a western. Walt is an educated, thoughtful sheriff in Wyoming. He's a complicated guy. And Johnson does a great job of portraying Wyoming to the point where the landscape becomes a character and a complication for the story.
10. Her Honor: My Life on the Bench... What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell - Judge Cordell was the first African-American woman on the Superior Court in northern California. She served on a variety of cases, from small claims court to mental health cases, divorces to custody cases, juvenile court to murder trials. She saw it all and has great insight into how to make the justice system better. This book was eye opening in how the legal system works and what it's like being a judge.
This list represents a variety of books, from fiction to non-fiction, romance to horror, science fiction to mysteries. I enjoy reading across all genres because there's entertainment in them all, and something to learn from them all. Please share what your favorite books of the year were!
