What I Read in 2021

Starting my own business has severely dented my ability to keep up with my personal writing, in addition to my habit of regularly writing book reviews of what I've read! I've written very few book reviews this year, but I have read some amazing books, especially by writers of color. 

Yet again this year, I've read more nonfiction than fiction! This is a turn-up for the books! (See what I did there..LOL!)

You can see my other book lists, dating back to 2001, on this page. Here's a summary of 2021:

Fiction

The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn

I loved the intertwining stories of two women, a British woman who was a spy in France during World War I, and an American woman who is looking for her beloved cousin. I love a great woman spy story! I chose this book for our trip back east for parents' weekend, and it was the perfect choice for a trip!

Transcendent Kingdom, by Yaa Gyasi

I haven't yet read Gyasi's more famous Homegoing; I guess I started backwards. This novel explores the immigrant story while also touching on science, animal research, mental illness, grief and loss, and opioid addition. A beautiful book.

The Bombay Prince, by Sujata Massey

I read everything Sujata writes, especially after getting the joy of interviewing her on my podcast this years as a resilient writer. When I interviewed her earlier in the year, this book hadn't been published yet. Of course, it did not disappoint. With Book #3, we are getting to know Perveen Mistry, India's only female lawyer back in the '20s, much better. This time she finds herself in the midst of the famed riots in Mumbai, then known as Bombay. It's hard to imagine what it would feel like to not be able to talk to a man who was not your husband without casting shame on yourself. Sujata does an excellent job helping the reader learn what things were like in India in 1921, especially for women. 

Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson

I chose this book for our trip to Boston and Connecticut to drop our son off at college. It was a perfect choice, since we were surrounded by Revolutionary War sights. Chains deepened my understanding of that time by sharing the perspective of an enslaved teen who is caught up in the revolutionary fever. "Give me liberty or give me death" did not apply to everyone...only to white people, particularly men. I found Isabel to be a captivating character, and I definitely want to read the next book in the series!

The Distant Dead, by Heather Young

This book will make you look at poverty, drug addiction, and childhood trauma in a new way. It's the story of a high school teacher with a sketchy past, who gets acquainted with an outcast, in a small Nevada town. When the teacher shows up dead, a fellow teacher begins following the breadcrumbs.

The Pearl Thief, by Elizabeth Wein

A prequel to one of my favorite books, Code Name Verity, it's the story of Julia Beaufort-Stewart, a spunky 15-year-old Scotswoman. And it's the story of river pearls, Scottish travelers, and deep friendship. I love Wein's characters.

The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This was a beautifully written, lyrical book, as we should expect no less from Ta-Nehisi Coates. It's the story of Hiram, who is enslaved, and who has visions and special powers. It kept reminding me of Kindred by Octavia Butler, a sort of sci-fi look at slavery. 

Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

When my friend Catherine heard I'd never read Anne of Green Gables, this book soon appeared on my doorstep...with this gorgeous cover. And now I'm a convert. My husband and I watched all three seasons of "Anne with an E" on Netflix this year. I love Anne Shirley Cuthbert...she is a redhead after my own heart!

Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam

This was an interesting piece of speculative fiction, a little bit too close to home with COVID. It certainly made me think a lot. Some of the plot seemed implausible, and somehow I expected more (especially with the Black couple arriving at the home they own, which was being rented by a clueless white family). 

Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

An eye-opening novel about a haven for slave owners and their enslaved concubines in Ohio before the Civil War. It was the author's first novel and it was lacking in some areas, but it was a memorable story and setting.

Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware

Lo Blacklock is a bit of a mess. A travel journalist who has been burgled and has PTSD, she's been given an opportunity to go on a luxury cruise in Norway...but nothing seems as it is. This was meant to be a thriller, but I found it not as effective as some other thrillers I've read. It started out well, but seemed like it had a ton of plot holes.

China Room, by Sunjeev Sahota

My husband really liked this book, but I was less enamored. I have read a lot of Indian fiction, so I am comparing this novel to many others. This story was not believable to me and it felt like it was a male fantasy. I found it difficult to fathom that a young girl would not know which of the three brothers was her husband...and then when he raped her without her consent, she fell in love with him. The story of Mehar's descendant was interesting at times before I lost interest. Overall, I found this book lacking.

Nonfiction

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, by Anna Malaika Tubbs

This book was recommended to me by one of my podcast guests, and I loved it. It's a classic example of a herstory untold. Each one of these women had a fascinating story and I'm glad to finally learn about them.

Broken Horses, by Brandi Carlile

When I first published this list, I somehow forgot one of my favorite books this year!! I absolutely loved this memoir by my all-time favorite singer-songwriter. Raw, honest, vulnerable, and beautifully written. I read the book as soon as it came out, and now I'm reliving it by listening to the audio. The audio book has songs on it!! (The paper book does too, but they are just lyrics.) There's also a gorgeous playlist that goes with the book on Spotify.

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, by Brittney Cooper

Black feminism, scholarship, and fierce rage: what could be more powerful? Brittney Cooper is an associate professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University, but this is not an academic tome. It is a manifesto. I listened to this as an audio book, and it's one of the few books I've listened to this year that I want to actually read again on paper.

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism, by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

I happened across this in the Wesleyan bookstore on parents' weekend, and I downloaded the audio book to listen to as we were driving back into Boston for a few days before flying home. I finished the book when I arrived home. You probably know Amber Ruffin from Seth Meyers, and Lacey is her sister who still lives back home in Nebraska. And you'll never believe the stories they tell. Every white person needs to read/listen to this one to realize how racist this country is.

Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph, by Chad Sanders

Chad Sanders worked in the tech world and learned how much more included he felt if he code switched (acted white, essentially). When he realized how that was eating him up inside, he decided it would be better to just act his true self...use his Black magic of resilience. This book includes Chad's story and interviews with his friends and colleagues. He asked these people, how have their experiences of trauma helped them be more successful in their careers? This theme of course is appealing to me, since I have a podcast about finding fertile ground through adversity.

Nice White Ladies: The Truth About White Supremacy, Our Role in It, and How We Can Help Dismantle It, by Jessie Daniels

Another excellent non-academic book about race and racism by an academic. Daniels is a professor of sociology at Hunter College. She will shake up what you think about white women. If you're a white woman, this is a must-read. 

The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, by Sonya Renee Taylor

A friend recommended this book to me when I was having some body image doubts after someone rudely told me I had a crooked face. (Yes, thanks to a cleft lip, ma'am!) This book shakes up our culture's mores and beliefs about beauty and needs to be read again and again. Much of the book is about Black women's bodies, but it is affirming for all!

Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, by Justin Baldoni

I loved Justin Baldoni in "Jane the Virgin," and when I saw he had a podcast about masculinity, I decided to read his book. As the mom of three boys, I felt this was an important book to read. It's the only book I'm aware of that really examines the kinds of pressures men are under and how these pressures can affect their relationships with the women in their lives. Highly recommended.

Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family, by Robert Kolker

This was an outstanding narrative nonfiction book about the Catholic Galvin family with 12 children in middle America (10 boys and 2 girls). Six of the boys had schizophrenia. Kolker alternates the Galvin story with the history of schizophrenia and attempts to treat it. This book is gripping and educational. 

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, by Julie Lythcott-Haims

I got the honor of interviewing Julie on my Finding Fertile Ground podcast during my "Resilient Writers" series. At the time, I hadn't read this book but had watched her TED talk about it. She is a former Stanford dean and has become famous for helping parents not be helicopter parents...and for helping kids become independent. This was her first book on the subject, and I highly recommend it for any parent! 

Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings: Poems, by Joy Harjo

I began listening to Harjo's book of poems as I took a walk on Thanksgiving this year. Ever more aware of the racist history of Thanksgiving, I wanted to soak up some indigenous wisdom. Harjo did not disappoint.

Women of the Blue & Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers and Spies, by Marianne Monson

I read this book in preparation for my interview with Marianne Monson on my "Resilient Writers" series on the Finding Fertile Ground podcast. I loved reading about these badasses of history.

My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both, by Selenis Leyva & Marizol Levya

I received this in my book group holiday swap, and I really enjoyed it. Selenis Leyva was on "Orange Is the New Black." She and her adopted sister write about their childhoods, how Marizol slowly transitioned,  and how their family reacted. It's a sister love story.

Surviving the White Gaze: A Memoir, by Rebecca Carroll

Rebecca Carroll grew up feeling isolated as an adopted girl of a white family in New Hampshire. She hoped meeting her birth mother would help her heal from that trauma, but it only multiplied her stress and sense of self-worth. This is an excellent memoir of the complexity of raising a child of another color in a mostly white environment. 

Consent: A Memoir, by Vanessa Springora

I have always passionately disliked Lolita. As an English major, I had to read it more than once! This book is about a real life Lolita story, about celebrated French writer Gabriel Matzneff, who sexually exploited the 14-year-old Springora. Being France, and with him being famous, people went along with this bizarre "relationship." The #metoo movement made Springora realize how f*cked up this situation was and she decided to tell her story. Lolita takes charge of her life again.

Work Your Way: Reinvent Yourself, Create the Life You Want, and Thrive as a Consultant, by Lisa Hufford

My business coach bought this book for each of us and brought Hufford onto Zoom for a master class. Lisa Hufford was climbing the ladder at Microsoft until she realized she couldn't have high-quality time with her kids and continue working at the pace she had been. She quit and became a consultant, and years later, she now has a thriving consulting business. She lays out how she did that in this book.