What a year of reading! I leaned a lot harder on audio-books this year than I have in years past. We spend 3 hours in the car a day getting my oldest to and from school, and that doesn't count all the extracurricular school activities we participate in. Because I read over 130 books in 2021, I wanted to make this year end breakdown a little bit different than I have in the past. I want to give you my top 10 reads of 2021 followed by my favorite books in each category I read. so you get a quick and easy top 10, but also the exhaustive list by category!
I chose my overall top 10 books by selecting the stories that have had staying power even after I turned the last page. These books have taken up space in my thoughts throughout the year in powerful ways. A piece of me never really left these stories and for me, that is the make of a true favorite read.
Top 10 reads of 2021 (in no particular order because that would be impossible!)
We Begin at The End by Chris Whittaker
Duchess and her brother Robin are mostly on their own. Their mother Star is struggling to keep her own head above water so the care of her younger brother falls fully on Duchesses highly capable-- if not incredibly aggressive-- shoulders. Their life is rattled further when a man who spent 30 years in prison, is released back into their community. These characters and this story have haunted my thoughts ever since I finished it. I loved just about everything about this book.
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
A family fractured by their father's persistent infidelity and presence of illegitimate children don't exactly have a great relationship with one another but when their son March returns to his hometown in Olympus, Texas old and new pain resurface. A story that somehow spans decades of the family's life, but whose main plot takes place over a couple days. completely unique and compulsively readable. I gasped out loud more than once while reading this.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Washburn
Nainoa falls into the pacific ocean on a family cruise and finds himself encircled by sharks. This seems like a kind of ending, but when the sharks deliver the boy safely to his family in their jaws, his parent's can't help but wonder if this is some kind of sign from the Hawaiian gods that there is favor and purpose over Nainoa. Nainoa discovers inside him a special gifting and he uses that gift to bring wealth and pride to his family, but this disguised blessing becomes a burdensome weight on Nainoa. This was breathtaking on audio-book. The narrators took turns telling this family's story from different perspectives.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Nora finds herself in between life and death in a curious midnight library. She can explore any life alternative to the one she lived. What if she wouldn't have quit swimming lessons and would have become an Olympic swimmer? What if she would had gone on the arctic exhibition of her dreams? What if her cat wouldn't have died? If she finds the right alternative life, she is allowed to stay there permanently. As a fellow mental health sufferer, this book just meant so so much to me. There is a severe lack of hopeful books that tackle the topic of mental health. This one somehow manages to undertake some awesome subject matter while also leaving readers feeling hopeful. Matt Haig never ceases to amaze me with his empathetic voice and strength in plot!
Shiner by Amy Jo Burns
A small remote town in a religious community doesn't believe in television or phones, but they do believe in their Preacher, Briar Bird. A man who has captivated his congregation of believers with his claim that he is proof of a divine power. His church meets in an abandoned gas station and Briar handles venemous snakes as a nod to his own miraculous existence. One summer Briar performs a true miracle on one of the members of his flock. The miraculous healing comes with devastating consequences for his community and his family that he cannot outrun. This book ticked to many boxes for me. A cultish community, a beautiful female friendship, strong female characters, and a plot that just kept coming!
Knock Out Queen by Rufi Thorpe
Bunny is an abnormally tall teenage girl who lives next to Michael. Michael is an out Queer kid whose narration of this story guides readers through the exploration of those who wield violence and those who fall victim to it. A stirring coming of age novel that is as darkly funny as it is authentically vulnerable. I read this in a sitting. The narration voice was so heartrendingly self aware and the uniqueness of these characters really knocked this story out of the park for me (no pun intended!)
Hamnet by Maggie O' Farrell
This story takes place in the 1580s and follows the unlikely love story of John and Agnes and the family they make together. When their family is ravished by the plague, their family is forever impacted by the loss of a family member. The ending of this book took my breath away. The whole book was stunning, but the ending is one of my favorites to date! The storytelling in this book was also so rich. I didn't want any of it to end!
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
An engrossing and stomach churning look at the dynasty of family members responsible for the creation of Oxycontin and the outbreak of pain medication addiction that followed. Whoooooo boy. I love an expose on the rich and greedy. The details in this book will absolutely blow your mind.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
The Mother's body has gone through so many changes during, and after the pregnancy, and birth of her son, but those aren't the only changes The Mother is experiencing. The Mother fears she may be turning into a dog! Something odd is occurring inside the Mother. There is something wild and hungry inside her, and she is too goddamn tired to keep it all inside anymore.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
In 1932 two Orphaned brothers find themselves at a residential school for Indigenous American children despite their lack of Native American descent. The treacherous way they are treated by the staff of the school is nothing compared to the way the school treats the actual Indigenous Americans. After a shocking turn of events, the brothers have no choice but to run away from the school, but the friends they bring on the run with them ensure that the headmaster and her husband will leave no rock uncovered until they hunt the boys down! This story kept me on my toes as much as it knocked the wind out of me. I love an epic adventure and this one felt so original but so beautiful and comforting.
2021 Nonfiction favorites:
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
I was diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD this year, and I keep going back to this book and the principals of The Lazy Genius way to help guide me and get me back on track when I am in a stuck place. I also love The Lazy Genius Instagram page and podcast! so much helpful information
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Since finishing this book, I can't stop picking up on the Cultish language built into our society and communities. This was such an interesting read. If you are even kind of curious about cults, you have to read this. It discusses so many different infamous cults and how the language of those leaders influenced their followers. If you have ever sat through a crossfit class or soul cycle and thought "this seems kind of cultish", you will feel quite validated as Montell covers topics of how cultish language has invaded more places than we even thought to examine and how sometimes that isn't a bad thing!
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Never have I ever laughed as hard as I did reading this. It was a fantastic read that taught me so much about Apartheid in South Africa, but also used humor to showcase the absurdity of growing up in a culture and community where your existence is quite literally a crime. Everyone should read this.
Stiff: The Curious Life of Cadavers by Mary Roach
Hello, my name is Sarah and my interests include cults and what happens to human cadavers who donate their body to science... This was so endlessly fascinating.Going into this read my question was "What even happens to cadavers who donate their bodies to science" Upon finishing this read, I discovered a better question is "What aren't human cadavers used for?" I also learned a lot about the myriad of options available to you and your family members when you die. I learned all about an ecological burial and so many other options I didn't even know existed! The humor in this book was a real dark and pleasant surprise. More than once I caught myself laughing out loud and then feeling kind of bad about it considering the subject matter!
She Come by it Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah Smarsh
If I could give an award to the read that took me by the most surprise in how much I enjoyed it,
it would be this one. What I expected coming into this was learning more about Dolly Parton's life and rise to fame. I did learn those things, but the way Smarsh connected Dolly Parton's story to those of her female family members who resonated so much with her music and used it as a sort of rebellion against sexism, left me in awe. This was such a short read but so enjoyable and impactful! I loved every minute of it and have a greater understanding and appreciation of who Dolly Parton is and the groundwork that she laid for the feminist movement before it had a name and creed.
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zawner
Zawner's memoir is a beautiful tribute to the foods she and her mother enjoyed together while her mother was living, and re-discovering who she is and how much her mother loved her through the preparing and eating of the foods she enjoyed so often with her mother. I love a food memoir. There is something so comforting about hearing the way food moves people and brings them together. I thought this was beautifully done. I think about it so often!
Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi
Another food memoir for you! I enjoyed this so much! Onwuachi's story was so interesting and compelling. The way Onwuachi tells his story through the dishes he consumed during various times and seasons of his life was such a beautiful and intricate way to offer up this story to readers. The audiobook was read by Onwuachi and was fantastic!
Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection and Guidance by Kelly McDaniel
My therapist read this and told me it blew her mind, so of course I had to check it out. Half the book discusses different kinds of attachment styles, the other half discusses how the mother daughter relationship is so pivotal in every area of development and adult functionality. I learned so much and read it in one sitting.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Confession, Matthew McConaughey was my very very first hollywood crush. I was kind of obsessed honestly. I think I had pictures of him in my locker in junior high. ANYWAY, I didn't come into this book with high hopes or any kind of expectation and it surprised me so much. I actually came away with personal insight on my own dreams and aspirations. I listened to this while lying flat on my back sick with Covid and I couldn't even rest until I finished it. I binged it in a sitting and then went back and re-listened to a couple different parts. I was expecting another compulsively readable trashy celebrity memoir and instead I got something that was equal parts funny, addicting and surprisingly deep! even if you don't give a rat's ass about Matthew McConaughey, I think you would like this. I am not saying you HAVE to listen to this on audio-book, but the audio-book was so so so good that I do feel you sincerely will miss out on the full magic of this book if you read it on hardcopy rather than listen on audio-book.
2021 Romance favorites:
A Court of of Silver Flames by Sara J. Maas
I am just as shocked as you might be that two books from the A Court of Thorns and Roses have made it onto my 2021 wrap up. I read them as a joke so I could bitch to my sisters about how bad they were.... and jokes on me! Besides the trash can fire that was the first book, I really, really enjoyed the other books in the series! It seems like an odd choice to include this in favorite romance reads of 2021... however, If you read it I bet you would agree with me. This seemed like romance with a dash of fantasy instead of the other way around. This is the fourth installment in the ACOTAR series!
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
This was such an unexpected read. I went in expecting a lot of the regular romance tropes and received a surprise murder mystery with excellent pacing and really decent characterization! This would be a fun one to binge on your summer vacation in 2022
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Welcome to the other book I binged during my covid sickness! Gus is a Literary fiction writer whose specialty is dark atmospheric reads (basically all I read jkjk). January writes romantic books with cliche meet-cutes and excessively happy endings. The two authors find themselves living next door to each other after having lost touch in college. There was a lot to love here even if romance is not your go-to genre. The depth of the characters beautifully illuminated the whip-smart dialogue. I laughed out loud more than once and felt really connected to the backstories of both characters. I really enjoyed this read.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
August moves to New York to give herself some space from her mother. She scores an apartment full of a very mixed bag of lovely people and gets a job at a 24 hour pancake house. She has fallen into a semi-normal if not willingly numb existence in New York when a beautiful woman on the subway who somehow seems to always be on the subway the same time as August. Just when August begins to dream of a potential date with Jane, August discovers something very unusual about Jane. This is one of those books where the less you know going in the better. This was an absolute "bookstagram made me read it" book selection, and for once I feel like bookstagram didn't do me wrong by over hyping a book that deserved no hype to begin with! I am looking forward to the subsequent books in this series.
People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Emily Henry earned herself a reluctant fan this year! Her books made it on my romance faves TWO times this year. Poppy and Alex have been traveling together as best friends on the cheap every summer since college. They're vacations could be more accurately described as misadventures, but that doesn't stop them from venturing out year after year. When Poppy lands a writing gig with a travel magazine, their vacations take on a different feel.
2021 Mystery/Thriller favorites:
The Searcher by Tana French
Tana French is one of my absolute favorite writers and her long anticipated novel came out in 2020. I got to it the beginning of this year and despite the slower pace of this novel, I drank this up like a nourishing broth. Tana's rich storytelling and character depth was present once again in a different way this time. I miss Dublin Murder Squad books, but this book made me hopeful that even if she isn't putting more Murder Squad books out, we still get the quality she is known for! don't read the plot, just sink into this book. The pacing is slower than her other novels but I still loved it.
Mother May I by Joshlyn Jackson
This. FREAKING. Book!! Jackson's last book Never Have I Ever made my top 10 list last year so when I was given an advanced audio-book copy by the publisher I completely cleared my schedule to devour this as quickly as humanly possible (I listend at 2.5 speed because I couldn't get to the end fast enough). Bri has it all a rich husband, a teo daughters, and a cooing little infant. When her infant, Robert is kidnapped right under her nose, she will stop at nothing to get him back. The amount of character backstories, secrets, and plot twists was astounding. I never saw half of the things in this story coming. The execution of pacing, juicy plot and intricately woven character backstories had me salivating from the first chapter. Jackson narrates her audio books beautifully! SO once again, I'm not saying you should read this on audio-book, but I am saying the full experience of having the author read it to you adds a whole other level!
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Finlay Donovan isn't killing it at all. She is newly divorced and is barely keeping her head above water while juggling the writing of her new book and mothering her children. She is severely behind on her book deadline and her agent won't let her forget this. To please her agent she meets her over lunch to try to get herself an extension. As she describes the in and outs of her thrilling romance concept, the woman at the table misunderstands what Finlay does for a living. Hilarity ensues but so does an opportunity for her to earn a lot of money... and maybe even stumble upon a new book idea.This book was the most fun and entertaining read of the year for me. Another one I read in one sitting and then sorely regretted because I hated leaving this story and these characters behind. This was such an unconventional take on a "thriller". It was thrilling, but so much fun and so funny! The DAY the sequel to this book was available for pre-order I showed up at my local bookstore to pre-order it. I cannot even wait for the next book to come out.
Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews
Maud Dixon's debut thriller-crime novel took the world by storm but no one knows who Maud Dixon. Everyone thinks they know who Maud Dixon is and some phonies even claim to be Maud Dixon. Florence is an assistant for a publishing company who has big dreams of writing her very own acclaimed novel. When she recieves a mysterious phone call and the opportunity to be Maud Dixon's assistant as they write their next novel, she jumps at the opportunity to learn from a writer like Maud Dixon. This plot did not quit. I kept checking how many pages I had left thinking "this must be it!" and then out of nowhere came some of the most bizarre and wickedly brilliant plot twists I never saw coming. good luck putting this down!
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Bury Your Dead is the 6th installment in the Inspector Armand Gamache series. If you are looking for a comforting murder mystery series to get comfy with this winter, look no further! The very first book in the series is titled: Still Life. I love watching Louise Penny unravel a murderer from the inside out. It is so satisfying.
Razorblade Tears by SA Crosby
If you love a good revenge story, Crosby's got you covered. When their Queer sons are brutally murdered , two ex-cons who struggled to accept their son's relationship team up to get answers on who killed their sons and why. With nothing in common but their ex-convict label they struggle to see eye to eye. Ike is a Black man who has kept his nose clean and made an honest living as a business owner. Buddy is a white man who hasn't valued the need for an honest living the way Ike has. The love and devastating grief of their sons brings them together to avenge the murder of their sons. I read a review of Razorblade Tears that said "S.A. Crosby is the future of Crime Fiction" and after reading this brutally, gritty novel, I could not agree more! The body count is high and the gore is not left to the imagination so keep that in mind before picking this up.
Sci-fi/fantasy
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J Maas
The second book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series. I adored this book it was near perfect in execution and after finishing it I knew no matter how many book Maas adds to this series I am FULLY AND COMPLETELY IN!
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Katrina, a Transgender violin player, finds herself homeless and without money. Her only possession is a small backpack of items and her very cheaply made violin. When she plays violin for the ducks at the park, a world renowned violin teacher recognizes her talent and potential and takes her on as a student. What Katrina doesn't know is her new teacher and mentor has made a deal with the devil to escape damnation and Katrina is her ticket out! One of the strangest yet most magical reads of the year. There are so many elements in this book that shouldn't even work on the page in theory but somehow, Aoki put them all together in a flawless way. This debut novel left me speechless. I still cannot believe this ambitious little sucker punch of a novel is Aoki's first!!! What an accomplishment.
A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Rosemary isn't looking for much when she takes a job on the wayfarer as a sort of clerk. She is escaping a messy past and is longing for adventure however she can come by it. What she didn't expect was a ship packed with some of the oddest an most unique crew she has ever encountered. I hate most books that take place in space. Its just not something I enjoy spending my time reading about. However, the amount of praise this book received from readers on The What Should I Read Next Podcast talked me into giving it a try. This was such a beautifully empathetic and endlessly creative space-drama. It is quite a slow burn so it required some patience on my part but I really enjoyed the ride while reading this novel. I am looking forward to reading more in this series come 2022!
The Echo Wife by Sara Gailey
Evelyn has accomplished what was once thought to be impossible. She has discovered a way to clone anyone and then "condition" the clone's bodies so that the clone is unrecognizable from the original. Her efforts are recognized by the scientific community but her husband takes a special interest in the technology Evelyn uses to clone. He is so interested that he uses Evelyn's technology to clone his wife. He then leaves Evelyn for her clone (men, am I right?). This all happens in the first couple chapters of the book what ensues is an outrageous science fiction thriller that I could not stop thinking about when I finished it. I forced my book club to read it just so I could dissect it further!
2021 Horror Favorites:
The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
A very dry book club goes rogue and decides they are only going to read serial killer novels and true crime non-fiction instead! When a very private man moves into the family centered suburban, one member of the book club thinks he is up to no good, but is it all the books she has been reading that have brought this suspicion about? Or does this new neighbor pose an actual threat to their community? This was equal parts fun, horrifying and gross. I loved this spin on a vampire story and the collection of women coming together to protect their community when the men in their lives fail to see the threat for what it is. SO good!
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
A phony Documentary series specializes in a lot of hyped up expeditions to discover the potential for mythical beings and beasts. Its mostly just a lot of hype with not a lot to show for the expensive filming budget. When a ship looking to prove the existence of mermaids never returns, the footage recovered shows that the crew was killed by the very mermaids they were looking for. Some think the footage is an elaborate hoax but the family members who lost someone to this watery mystery want answers. A second crew is sent out with the top experts in scientific fields ready to figure out if this is a hoax or the scientific discovery of a lifetime. This was an absolute delight. The way Grant made a legend come alive in such a terrifyingly realistic way gave me a satisfying case of the "deep creeps". If you aren't into horror but feel intrigued by the premise, let me reassure you Into the Drowning Deep was no more scary than Jurassic park. There is some violence and gore but it didn't feel as excessive or even as horror-esque as you would think.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
This book takes place in the 1950s near and around Mexico City. Noemi is an independent woman with no intention of settling down. Her strong stubbornness and predilection for parties and dancing aren't exactly what her family had in mind for her. When a mysterious letter arrives from her cousin, her father's worried concern has him convincing Noemi to travel away from Mexico City to ensure her cousin is being treated well by the family of English men she married into. When Noemi arrives things are off. She isn't sure what is real and what she has imagined in states of sleep and sleeplessness. This was a real trip to read with a massive fever. The atmospheric horror elements at play were what really captivated me. Mexican Gothic felt like a welcome twist on the old school haunted house trope. I enjoyed the bizarre nature of this story and the creepiness the environment and setting provided. This was a unique read and so many I know did not like it as much as I did. There were moments that were deeply disturbing and downright disgusting, but I enjoyed it none the less!
2021 Historical Fiction favorites:
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Ariadne's family was punished by Zues with a minotaur for a brother. Every year her brother craves blood and a selection of people from Athens are given as sacrifice. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, is among those to be sacrificed, Ariadne betrays her family by helping theseus kill her minotaur brother. Ariadne hopes that in aiding Theseus against the minotaur, she will win his heart and hand in marriage . Things do not go as planned for Ariadne or her co-conspiring sister Phaedra. The gears set into motion after they assist Theseus set Phaedra and Ariadne's life on a course they never could have imagined. Was this book good or am I just a complete sucker for any kind of Greek Mythology retelling? Honestly I don't know, but I really enjoyed this read.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising begins by teasing readers with an enticing party gone awry at a famous model's home in Malibu. This story pans in and out of focus, jumping around to tell the behind the scenes of everything leading up to the party. A multi-generational family saga with a fused pack of siblings at its center is both emotional and engrossing. No one tells an engrossing story with fictional celebrities the way Taylor Jenkins Reid does. Her stories have a voyeuristic quality to them. I always feel like I am peeling back the corners of a famed person's roof and eavesdropping on their messy, complicated, privileged lives. Her novels are always juicy with three dimensional characters. Its always a fun game to figure out if the plot is driving her characters or if her characters are driving the plot. Thanks Taylor Jenkins Reid, its always a pleasure!
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Anna is young in age but wise in spirit. She is afraid of the greatness inside her for she is a woman in a time when women are not encouraged to embrace their audacity. She loves writing and learning but knows soon she will not be able to continue her studies. When her father informs her that she has been betrothed to an old widower the thought dismays Anna, despite her having seen this coming. When Anna crosses paths with Jesus; a poor carpenter that sees the largeness inside her, Anna's whole life changes. This book received a premature bad rep before its release date by outraged Evangelicals... which is why I had to read it! I'm not sure what the outrage was about. The amount of research that went into The Book of Longings is very apparent on every page. This story was beautifully written and the crucifixion of Jesus written in this book captivated me in a way it hasn't in years.
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
Anna is young in age but wise in spirit. She is afraid of the greatness inside her for she is a woman in a time when women are not encouraged to embrace their audacity. She loves writing and learning but knows soon she will not be able to continue her studies. When her father informs her that she has been betrothed to an old widower the thought dismays Anna, despite her having seen this coming. When Anna crosses paths with Jesus; a poor carpenter that sees the largeness inside her, Anna's whole life changes. Here I am again to tell you this was soooo good on audio-book and you should consider only experiencing this on audio-book! This was just as good if not better than Taylor Jenkin Reids Daisy Jones and The Six. Need I say anymore?
The Arsonists' City by Hala Alyan
Beirut is where their Syrian Father and Lebanese mother met and eventually married, but now the Nasr family live in America and their adult children are spread out all over the globe. When the discussion of selling the family house in Beirut comes up after the passing of a family member, all of the members of the Nasr family find themselves back in Beirut together again after all these years. I kept putting and taking this book off of my top 10 faves of 2021. It belongs up there it really does. I love a multi-generational family saga and this one made the other ones look "cute" in comparison thanks to its scope and audacious storytelling. This was an incredible story that crosses my mind so often.
The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels
Set in 1986 at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, Brian makes the difficult decision to leave New York and head back to the small town in Ohio he was raised in, to live out the remainder of his life. When his parents get word of their son's imminent arrival, fear grips their family. They know that Brian is Gay and they know he has AIDS, and that isn't something they want to look in the face. However, their fear seems more fueled by their knowledge that if anyone else in their small town finds out Brian is dying of AIDS, their family will be outcast socially. I cried so hard in this book which is saying something I'm not much of a book crier. This was such an eye-opening look at the misinformation peddled during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and the sad and lonely end so many AIDS sufferers walked out without loved ones by their side at the end of their lives.
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
Paul and Julian couldn't be more different. Paul is a sensitive artist who comes from a poor family. Julian is a charismatic boy more sure of himself than he should be, with the weight of his families immense wealth to back reassure him. Despite all odds Julian and Paul are drawn to each other first as friend and then in an all consuming intimacy that nearly destroys both of them. In a desperate move to keep each other close, the destruction they have perpetrated against each other moves outside their relationship when they devise a dark plan. I am obsessed with anything that feels like it could have Donna Tartt's Secret History vibes because I love that book and because the way murder transforms and eats away at a person is a point of endless fascination for me. SO if The Secret History is your thing, check this out. It was billed as The Secret Histroy meets Call Me by Your Name... That isn's really an accurate comparison, but this novel still did it for me.
2021 Greneral Fiction favorites
What comes After by JoAnne Tompkins
Two boys are dead and the community grieving the two boys is struggling with so many complicated emotions, and as a result, lots of complicated relationships. Still on the cusp of grief, a pregnant girl shows up in the community and shakes things up for one of the father's of the deceased son. The quiet beauty of this book felt so refreshing despite the heaviness of the story. I told my husband this book had me seriously considering converting to the Quaker faith. I loved the way the plot's main conflict was a full out struggle with grief and faith.
When These Mountains Burn by David Joy
A small town is consumed with wild fires. When one fire is dealt with another pops up in its place. Similarly, this same small town is riddled with a meth addicted community who can't seem to get a handle on where the meth is coming from or how to slow the amount of overdose related deaths. When a father loses his son to addiction, all he sees are problems that no one is bothering to fix. In the throes of his grief he decides to take justice into his own hands. Hello, my name is Sarah and my interests include cultish books, what happens to cadavers who donate their body to science, and full on revenge stories. This was excellent on audio-book but it would hold up just as well on hard copy. The writing in this story was flawless. I was kind of mad that I hadn't picked up this author sooner. I'm also kind of mad right now because I forgot to read more of his stuff this year! David Joy I am coming for you in 2022!
2021 Short Story Collection favorites:
Milk Blood Heat by Dontiel W. Moniz
In Milk Blood Heat, Moniz explores so much of womanhood through a collection of short stories. From the beginnings of being a woman to motherhood and everything in between. All the stories are set to the backdrop of Florida and share a piece of what it is to be both a Person of Color and a woman.This was the very first book I finished in 2021 and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. There is a short story in here about an exotic dinner club that hasn't left me alone and probablt never will!
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deeshaw Philyaw
Every story in this collection brought its A-game. I flew through this in a sitting and went back to reread several of the stories a second time. I loved the exploration of faith and church and how the people interacted with these lack of or over abundance of faith and church.
Grand Union Station by Zadie Smith
If I told you what some of the short stories in this collection were about you would probably say "huh?" but the way the all seem to belong in one collection despite their eclectic-feel kind of awed me. There is a story in here called The Lazy River that I have read and reread because there is so much there in the few pages of the story to digest.
2021 Graphic Memoir favorites:
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
Solutions and Other Problems is the long anticipated follow up to Brosh's graphic memoir Hyperbole and a Half. Hyperbole and a Half was an absolute laugh riot! and Solutions and other problems had its moments for sure. However, this graphic memoir brought a beautiful depth in the raw honesty and vulnerable disclosure of some really difficult things she has struggled through since we heard from her last. There was this section illustrated in the book where she talked about her sister's sudden death and the onset of childhood memories that washed over her as she processed the loss that was so heartbreaking but such a beautiful tribute to the life they shared together before adulthood naturally sent them in different directions. Never have I ever found myself shedding some tears while looking at pictures in a graphic novel/comic book, but if anyone was going to achieve this, it was Brosh.
Stitches by David Small
boy oh boy. This was such a heavy Graphic Memoir. In this story David shares with us the heartbreaking story of being raised in emotional neglect. His father was a doctor and was sure something was wrong with him. After hundreds of scans ordered by his father David actually gets cancer from the radiation exposure. This story was gutting but the way it was illustrated and told was so unique. Sometimes the weightiness of the written words was counterbalanced with a picture that took the edge off. Sometime there were no words and just pictures leaving readers with a clear look into Smalls difficult upbringing.
Blankets by Craig Thompson
this is a 500 page graphic memoir. When I picked it up from the Library I was like this is an insane amount of pages for someone to tell their story with pictures and limited words. I was sort of intimidated and felt completely out of my depth, but from the first 10 pages on I was captivated by this coming of age story about Craig's first love and his struggle with growing up in the church and Faith. There were some incredible illustrations in here of Bible stories that I found so interesting and unique. This story and the images that Craig created to tell it have stayed with me. I loved exploring the Graphic memoir genre! I look forward to trying more books in this vein!
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