10 Great Books I Read In 2021
That’s 10 out of 28 books…
If you want to be a great writer, first you must read. And that’s just like with any other skill. Great bakers must learn the true taste of baked goods. Masterful painters must know what makes a great painting. And even table waiters need to know what it’s like to be served well.
But what makes a great book a great book? Well, I believe it’s more than just choice words and plots — or even masterful research if it’s nonfiction. It must have a feeling that uncovers the true passion behind the author. Just like tasty baked goods, great paintings, and clever servers, you can tell when someone truly loves their work.
And so, out of all the great books I’ve read in 2021, here are the best of the best. Some made me cry, others turned my arms to gooseflesh, but they all had me captivated from the word go. Here are 10 great books that I’ve read this year!
What have you read this year? Let me know in the comments!
Dracula by Bram Stoker
It’s well over 120 years old, but its clever storytelling is as modern as ever. Told through various letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles, the terrifying beast known as Dracula comes to life.
The story begins with Jonathan Harker, a solicitor from London, on a business trip to Transylvania. There he falls captive to his host, Count Dracula, who he soon realizes is far from human.
Perhaps what is so captivating about Dracula is how well Bram envisages each character on the page, giving them life as well. It may be an old classic, but it’s just as chilling as any modern-day horror.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
There’s something about the way Fredrik effortlessly compiles the story together with expertly thrown breadcrumbs. How he can make characters, even one’s that we may not like in real life, seem so likeable. It’s a remarkable read!
The story follows a would-be bank robber who quickly becomes a hostage taker. But there’s more to his hostages than meets the eye. Each of them are filled with their own anxieties — including the bank robber himself—which they all yearn to be saved from.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll say ‘what the fuck is going on’ every once in a while.
This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes
If you follow Miriam Margolyes long enough, you’ll know she’s a straight-talking lady with the most endearing “potty mouth”. Which is precisely why her autobiography has made this list.
This Much Is True recounts all the juicy details of Miriam’s life, from childhood to growing old, and all the nitty gritty in between. This includes plenty of sex talk, trombonious farts, and awkward moments. Miriam is a stellar storyteller who has a way with words, which is also why I bought the audiobook. Even in her 80s, she has gifted voice.
She’s also not afraid to tell it like it is, offering necessary slaps at those who crossed her. Even I gasped at a few her digs. It just goes to show that this world is not as blissful as we wish it to be.
How To Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
In late 2020, I started a Masters degree in creative writing. I canceled it after the first semester, but I held onto this book that was part of the critical reading.
It is, in part, an autobiographical novel — and it can teach you a few things about life writing — but ultimately it’s full of a writer’s true passion. A manifesto, if you will. The book contains a collection of essays that draw on Chee’s life, from sexuality to activism, and the truth of what makes life worth living.
Alexander Chee is a profound storyteller, easily proven by this book.
Myst: The Book Of Atrus by Rand and Robyn Miller with David Wingrove
Myst was the first best-selling game of all time in the 1990s, well before The Sims took that title. And, I have to confess, I am an avid fan of the game and the series that follows it.
Of course, if you haven’t played Myst, you may not find it as compelling as I did. But, it’s quite eloquently written that I’m sure some of you could enjoy it. It’s like a beautiful mix between sci fi and fantasy, mixed with a good dose of mystery.
Knowing what the Myst world looks like, as well as the other ages, makes it far more enjoyable. So, if I could offer advice, I’d say to play Myst first before reading this book. That’s because Myst: The Book of Atrus is the prequel to the game.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
When I finished this book, I had to take a moment to feel the last words. And cry a little.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a book that grows on you. Its second-person prose makes you feel like you really are the mother of the main protagonist, Little Dog, to the point that you just want to hug him and guide him like a mother. But you can’t.
The story is a fictionalised memoir by Ocean Vuong, written as a deep seated letter to his mother. It covers many harsh subjects, namely the nuances around sexuality, the feelings of diaspora, of love, death, grief and what it truly means to be briefly gorgeous.
A worthwhile read for anyone who wants to cry and smile at the same time.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
If you love felines as much as people, you’ll likely cry your heart out with this book. So effortlessly written, but there is so much passion within.
The main protagonist is Nana the cat, and he is on a road trip with his beloved owner Natoru. But he doesn’t know why, nor where he is going. Along the way, he meets some of Natoru’s old friends, each with their own eccentricities. And yet, he fails to understand the meaning of it all. Yet, when he finally does, his poor little heart will break.
Be sure to keep some tissues nearby!
Fabulosa: The Story Of Polari by Paul Baker
Have a vada of this bona book on Polari, the secret omee-palome language that blossomed across Britain in the mid 20th century. It is definitely fabulosa, and a worthy read for anyone who loves languages and the naughty histories behind them.
There is so much to appreciate about those who spoke Polari bona when being gay was a criminal offence, but there’s more to this language than meets the eye, with much of the terminology still finding use today.
Most of all, Paul Baker may be an academic, but this book is not heavy reading. It’s light, fluffy and full of frivolity — just like the queens who vadad the dishes at the cottage… wink wink.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
The Starless Sea is by far one of my favourite gay books, all because the main character’s homosexuality is simply a minor plot point.
The story follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a student who finds a mysterious book in his local library. In it is a world of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, nameless acolytes and a memory that he remembers from his childhood. The inexplicable book guides him on a journey of self-discovery, starting with three curious clues: a bee, a key, and a sword. They lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth — in search of the starless sea.
It is a magical book, compelling and remarkable, with a character who just so happens to be gay.
Cynical Theories by Helen Pluckrose & James A. Lindsay
When I bought Cynical Theories, I thought much of it was going to anger me. Instead, it just made sense. This is a challenging read, not so much for the academic richness, but for the debate it so succinctly argues — and not through passion, but merely concern. It’s challenging because it breaks down a generation of radical activism within marginalized communities. It does this because, as it argues, modern-day radical activism is counterproductive.
From the rise of cancel culture to the demise of academic freedom, Helen Pluckrose and James A. Lindsay paint a concerning picture of modern-day activism while offering new tactics to make a more equitable and just society.
A remarkable read that deserves more review.
What great books did you read in 2021? Let me know below!
