2021 Books: Really Short Reviews
I set out to read 24 books in 2021 and ended with 37. Probably the most in a year ever. In what has possibly been COVID's greatest gift, reading for pleasure has once more become vital. It is grounding. It is also a source of growth. Like I’m actually fucking learning something. In times of dullness or slowness, the sensation of movement — mentally — is all I seem to need.
Here are my Really Short Book Reviews. Take 'em or leave ‘em. If anything: this is a list.
1. Wintering - Katherine May — 4.5/5
My dad got this for me last Christmas. It’s about the natural hibernation periods of life. The importance of rest and restoration and yes, doing nothing. Something I could in theory return to every Winter, or every time I feel that not enough is happening. It’s a good reminder that something is always happening. Whether you sense it or not.
2. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury — 4/5
I set out to read more “classics” this year. This was on my shelf. Very readable. Finished in two days. Enjoyed. Sad. Liked the ending. Worth it.
3. Outline - Rachel Cusk / 15. Transit - Rachel Cusk / 18. Kudos - Rachel Cusk — 5/5
Heard about Cusk on some list somewhere. Read the Outline trilogy throughout the year aaaand personally fucking loved it. Reviews claim and complain about not having an attachment or clear image of the narrator when that is… precisely the point? So? I think the idea of illustrating a protagonist through observations of and through others is brilliant. It is also real. We ourselves colored by our realities. Can’t wait to read more of her. Second Place is next.
4. Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles — 5/5
Oh man. Ohmanohmanohman. At first I was like “this is kinda long idk” and kept reading. Then was like “this is nice and colorful I guess” … kept reading. I finished in tears. What a story. This is the literal tale of a lifetime. It wholly sucked me in without my even knowing. I think it might have been my favorite of the year. Indicated by the fact that I always think about it and constantly recommend it. And, lord knows I love a period piece. Lord knows. Who is Lord? Probably Rostov.
28. Rules of Civility - Amor Towles — 3.5/5
Didn’t bite into my flesh the same way Moscow did but still, I find Towles’ characters oh so captivating. I also see his storytelling compared to Fitzgerald. So that must be why I dig the vibe. Will almost definitely read the new one.
5. Writers & Lovers - Lily King — 4/5
Here is where my literary affinity ultimately lie this year of 2021. Realistic-ass fiction. Things that aren’t happening to me but very well could happen or have happened in a similar, not-as-dramatic way. If you are a creative person of any kind struggling with a work/life balance, you will enjoy this book. It’s familiarly anxious. An odd comfort.
6. Between the World and Me - TaNehisi Coates — 5/5
Required reading. Made me feel angry and sad and stupid in a good way. Shows I have so much more to learn and let in.
7. South and West - Joan Didion — 4/5
RIP. Haven’t read Didion since college. Don’t remember thinking much about it except !!!! NEW YORK !!!! I asked Instagram for good travel writing and got this. It was nice. Um, I wanted more but don’t know what that means. Not much has stuck with me. Still good.
8. The Argonauts - Maggie Nelson — 3.5/5
This was not what I expected! I don’t know what I expected. It felt a bit beyond me. Not in a bad way. Just a lot. Very intellectual. I have very much in fact enjoyed reading things I don’t fully understand or relate to. Growth. Empathy. Mental exercise is good. Should I read On Freedom?
9. Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata — 4/5
Strange and lovely little book. Don’t have much more to say. Pick it up if you see it and read a few sentences and see how you feel.
10. A Promised Land - Barack Obama — 5/5
I felt like I should read it. Didn’t particularly want to. My palate for politics in any form is… limited, to say the least. But lest we forget! Obama was a writer! Before he was a politician! This shit was hella understandable. He’d go through a bunch of names or technical jargon and I’d be like, what, and then he’d follow up by saying “so basically what happened is I knew I was fucked.” Genuinely enjoyable. I was through it in half the time I anticipated and am fully awaiting part two. It was gratifying being able to spend so much time in the world of politics and not want to rip my hair out. Thanks, Barack.
11. The Mercies - Kiran Millwood Hargrave — 3/5
I weirdly didn’t remember how it ends so I just read about it. I think if you like queer witches you’ll vibe. I liked it. Didn’t love it. Kinda slow and not as eventful as I had hoped. A period piece… of a different nature. It’s hard to romanticize 1600s Norway. No autonomy… and rape. Eh.
12. Just Kids - Patti Smith — 4/5
Finally got around to this ol’ gal. Glad I did. Was it a bible to me like I feel it is for others? Eh. I enjoy reading about artists. It makes me feel connected to something when I otherwise feel a lack of community and I need more of that.
13. I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai — 4/5
(Sidenote: I played Malala in a Boal Workshop at CMU Precollege in 2014. How fucked is that...) Anyhow, I’ve admired her/had the book for a long while. An important memoir. Our lives in America are literally unreal.
14. Letters To A Young Poet - Rilke — 5/5
Read this on a beach in Puerto Escondido as my final mental respite (escape) before returning to work. Invigorating and reaffirming. Good for any artist of any which persuasion. Probably required reading.
16. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon — 4/5
Flew through it. The simplicity of Christopher’s voice had me in a rhythm I couldn’t resist. I liked it more than I remember liking the play.
17. The Lager Queen of Minnesota - J. Ryan Stradal — 4.5/5
I LOVE RANDOM LIBRARY FINDS!!! This is a family story spanning generations. A woman and her granddaughter wind up working in the world of beer at different times. Family ties are inadvertently strengthened. A whole bunch of wonderful female characters and a truly unique story. Loved.
19. The Book of Laughter & Forgetting - Milan Kundera — 2/5
Honestly may be the only book I wouldn’t recommend spending time on? He’s like, famous or whatever, but this was stupid. Or I just didn’t get it. I didn’t like his characters, that’s for sure.
20. Waking Up - Sam Harris — 5/5
A succint stance on Science & Spirituality. If you’re at all interested in meditation from a practical POV, this is a must read. Insightful and intelligible.
21. Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again - Katherine Angel — 5/5
I’m just getting into sex theory and really feeling it. My little mind needs this kind of material. This was based on some pretty legit science and research but I found it accessible and captivating nonetheless. I think all men who sleep with women should read this. Edit: I demand it.
22. Shakespeare In a Divided America - James Shapiro — 4/5
Read this over the summer while in rehearsals for Shakespeare in the Park. Shapiro (The Public’s main Shakespeare guy) uses different, very specific instances of Shakespeare’s relevance and importance throughout American history to examine our culture and the divides we continually find ourselves in. Fascinating for my Shakespeare folk out there.
23. Finding Fuck Yes - Clare Edgeman — 4/5
This was a fun one. It’s a personal account of sex and societal image and how society molds and handles women who are open about sex and their society. Witty anecdotes. Edgeman is brave, but somehow I don’t think she’d like me saying that. Her outspokenness should be normalized, she’d likely argue.
24. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho — 3/5.5
Uh. Sure, yeah it was nice. I’d say if you read this and it changed your life you probably haven’t thought about life much. Sorry. But it’s short so yeah, read it if you’re feeling a little lost.
25. Luster - Raven Leilani — 4.5/5
Dope. Not beautiful. Sexy and topical and real.
26. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab — 4.5/5
As charming as everyone says. It’s long, but it spans literal lifetimes so of course it is. It has to be. My first thought was “where’s the movie” — don’t worry, it’s coming. I’m not loving fantasy right now, but oh what a joy. When I think about it months later, I feel how I imagine Addie did when she discovered champagne.
27. People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry — 4/5
CUTE. Nothing mind-blowing but CUTE and SATISFYING and EASY. Very enjoyable, light-hearted read.
29. The Biggest Bluff - Maria Konnikova — 5/5
FIRE. Easily favorite NF of the year. Konnikova is a psychologist who encounters a bad string of luck in her life and sets out to learn more about the correlation between chance and skill. She reads a paper describing poker as the ultimate interface of the two and decides to seek out a professional and learn how to play. It is NOT a book about poker. It is a book about DECISION MAKING and LIFE.
30. Beautiful World, Where Are You - Sally Rooney — 3.5/5
I was excited as every other person I knew… and as disappointed. Listen, I still love her writing. But sadly I don’t think anything will ever top Conversations with Friends for me. I just wasn’t attached to these characters. I couldn’t see them or really feel I knew them, which was a major part of the thrill I got from her previous work. I did not expect the ending to be so relevant and I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
31. Passing - Nella Larsen — 4.5/5
More required reading. Disturbing and compelling.
32 Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt VonneguT — 4.5/5
My first foray into Vonnegut. This was hilarious. I finally get it. More on the docket.
33 Flights - Olga Tokarczuk — 4/5
Flights is described as a collection of stories about travel and the human body, which is true. I was like, damn straight, I love both those things. In conclusion: BIZARRE. I really liked it but this was bizarre. There is no through line. There is no real narrator. I think at one point she implies the book is written for travelers — which makes sense. You can pick it up and flip to any page at any given moment and find yourself somewhere new. Lost and found. Have never read anything like it.
34. Upstream - Mary Oliver — 3/5
I don’t really know anything about poetry but this was sweet. I can’t say I cared much about the poets of yore as she did, so that bit dragged. But as I mentioned elsewhere, reading about the creative process is soothing. If you’re an Oliver fan, go for it.
35. Walden - Henry David Thoreau — 2/5
I read it to read it. Was Thoreau onto something with the whole disappearing into the woods thing? Absolutely. Were there some nice tidbits about life? Sure. Is there a reason it’s quoted on every folding sign everywhere? Not sure. Am I satisfied that I got through it? Very. Did I enjoy the actual process of reading it? Fuck no. Was it a huge effort? Tremendous. If you’re a literal literary buff, go for it. But there are better classics. Even I know that.
36. Three Women - Lisa Taddeo — 4/5
I feel sorry for the three women in a way I don’t quite feel comfortable with. I’m sure this is some sort of defense mechanism. I found the narrative style strange. It didn't bother me, per say, but was continually on my mind. Such personal accounts written in third person felt, like, almost unreal. Then there were second person bits too, which I felt were intended to make readers feel empathetic, or involved as we are part of society. But I don’t think first person accounts would have been fair either, since this is not Taddeo’s story. How do give voice to others in a way that feels authentic?
37. Sex & Rage — Eve Babitz — 3.5/5
I don’t know how to feel about this — but my friend who lent the book says I remind her of Jacaranda (if you’re reading this we’ll talk). Many reviews label her many not-so-nice things but. I can’t say I hate her. So maybe that sums it up. I can’t say I understand her, either. But Jacaranda is just living her own life. So it’s real to her, no matter what anyone — character or critic — has to say about it. Likewise, I very nearly admire Babitz for how egocentric the whole endeavor is. Like fully, she is just writing what she knows. And I can’t fault that. For better or for worse.