Does listening to audiobooks count as reading? Here it does. Let’s discuss your favorite reads — or listens.
Expectation: A remarkable debut novel giving a queer perspective to the experiences of those held in slavery in pre-Civil War America.
Reality: Gorgeous writing, memorable characters and a tense last third help overcome a somewhat confusing structure. This is a book people will talk about all year.
Expectation: An adventure story with political and social commentary.
Reality: A genre-defying horror fantasy featuring an amazing cast of BIPOC women and one of the most terrifying literary villains in recent memory.
Expectation: A mushy, hopeful tale of a teen manifesting a monster to help him grapple with the death of a parent and the ways it will change his life.
Reality: A simply told, yet incredibly impactful exploration of the ways in which we lie to ourselves.
Expectation: A balanced examination of second chances delivered with Backman’s signature style of homespun philosophy.
Reality: A somewhat slap-sticky and, at times, annoying character study that tries to do a bit too much but finds its footing in the end.
Noah shares the darker moments of his South African upbringing with a casual and humorous delivery that will make you feel guilty for laughing out loud at memories so painful.
After Claire’s husband is murdered during an attempted robbery, the duplicity she slowly uncovers might be connected to her sister’s disappearance 20 years earlier.
An exhaustive - and sometimes exhausting - recap of about seven years of Barack Obama’s political career.
Curious about what to read first in 2021? These five-star reads and honorable mentions are a great place to start.
Almost 82 percent of my reading this year was done through headphones, but you don’t need to be an audiobook all-star to recognize a good narration from a bad one.
This infographic breaks down my reading by page count, hours listened, author diversity and genre.
Whether you stopped by once or were a return visitor, thanks for being a part of my book reading and reviewing hobby this year.
All told, I read 10 classics this year, which accounted for about 13 percent of my total books read – my English teachers would be so proud!
Expectation: A science-fiction version of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Reality: A deeply emotional, highly philosophical and ultimately feel good “what if” story.
“The Houseplant” proves that you can pack as much story, character development and emotion into a 5,000-word standalone story as some full-length novels.
Expectation: Another trip down memory lane with hefty doses of geek culture.
Reality: Enjoyable and more accessible – from a pop culture perspective – but missing the energy that propelled the first novel.
Expectation: A bleak, yet heartfelt story about overcoming obstacles and discovering who you are.
Reality: This would be the most depressing book I’ve ever read if “Betty” didn’t take the crown last week.
Expectation: The female “A Little Life.”
Reality: The most depressing book I’ve ever read, yet there was something still beautiful about its pain and misery.
Recommended For: People that like character driven stories, especially those about Americana.
Expectation: A coming-of-age story about friendship.
Reality: A decades-spanning novel that explores faith, fate, friendship and love that is always enjoyable but also a bit far-fetched.
Recommended For: I saw one reviewer on Goodreads compare it to “Forrest Gump,” and while I never read the book, I can certainly see comparisons to the film. So, if you like a character that ends up in implausible situations with tidy endings, you’ll enjoy this.
