Reading in 2021
/So last year I outlined 30 books I wanted to read in 2020….I was working my way through when, like many of you, COVID turned our lives upside down. While I ended up reading 91 books in 2020, only 14 of them were from that original TBR list! Some of it was library queue madness, either all holds came in at the same time and I had to return them before I got to them. Other times I got distracted by new releases or other books floating around the bookstagram ether. In looking back on my 2020 TBR, I nailed the Middle Grade/YA section and On the Lighter Side, did okay on the Fiction front and found myself woefully lagging in Nonfiction. I know this was due to the fact that for months on end I was consuming nonfiction in the form of news, articles, blog posts and my brain had zero free space to take in more facts. However, I’m not letting myself use that as an excuse for 2021. Less op-eds, more books! So you’ll see some of the below as repeats from my 2020 tbr, while others are new to the list. If you follow me on IG you’ll note that I’ve already begun or finished some of these but here’s to the next 11 months of reading! Let me know what’s on your 2021 list!
NONFICTION
An Indigenous People's History of the United States: I’ve wanted to read this one since it came out in 2015 and I started it in 2020 but had to give it back before I finished. 2021 will be the year!
Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents: This one seems destined to be required reading and I’m sad that is has to be so, but looking forward to digger deeper into institutional racism by this Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life: My friend Allison Holzer is one of the co-authors and she’s been on the forefront of the positive psychology movement and for years has focused on inspiration as it relates to the personal and corporate world. I got halfway through it and then COVID hit and it’s time to tap back into our inspirational sources!
Saints and Scoundrels: The title alone has me intrigued, and thankful for abounding grace!
Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking and Health: I don’t love the sub-title but I am a big believer that we think about does affect us emotionally as well as physically. Looking forward to delving further into this topic.
The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth and Power: I only recently heard about this one but it seems to combine political science, history, geography and anthropology which has to be my favorite mix.
Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer's Path: It’s been a while since I’ve read a book on creativity, specifically as it relates to writing, so I’m particularly excited for this one.
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times: Well that title just says it all, wink.
FICTION
America for Beginners: A Novel: The US through the eyes of an Indian widow and her tour guide. I’ve heard it’s poignant and humorous at the same time which often makes for a stellar combination.
I’d GIve Anything: This is book 4 in the “Love Walked In” series and I love Marisa de Los Santos so am eager for this one.
Little Bee This is from my unread shelf which actually is rather sparse since most of my books come from the library! But a friend gave me this one in 2015 and it’s time to dust it off the shelf and just read it!
Middlemarch: Bookwork Baggins is hosting a buddy read for this classic…I’ve never read it, super intimidated but oddly excited. Join us?
The Bear and the Nightingale: Fantasy honestly isn’t my genre, but I’ve been hearing rave reviews about it and it seems like the perfect hygge winter read so here we go!
The Four Winds: Kristin Hannah has become an author that I’ll just automatically read her next one. Highly anticipating this one set during the Great Depression.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue: Another one that doesn’t seem to be part of my typical genre but many trusted fellow bookworms have positively reviewed it so I’m willing to venture out of my comfort zone and give it a shot.
The Lost Letter: Inspired by actual resistance workers during WWII in Austria. I read it is a must-read if you loved Lilac Girls, which I did, so adding it the list.
The Lovely War: Just went you think you’ve read every angle of WWII, here comes the version with the Greek mythology twist. I’m intrigued.
The Water Dancer: About a 19th century slave with a mysterious power; I’ve heard it described as bold and ambitious with a touch of magical realism and now I’m eager to see for myself.
There There: Apparently this one follows 12 stories from various Native communities. Last year I made a conscious effort to read more indigenous ‘own voices’ and I’m really looking forward to this one.
This is Chance! The Shaking of an All-American City and the Voice that Held It Together: About a town in Alaska in the 1960s that is met by tragedy and the radio reporter that keeps it together.
Memoir
Between the World and Me: This is apparently based on letters that Ta-Nehisi Coates writes to his teenage son, it’s apparently very powerful and already a must-read.
Braving It! A Father, A Daughter and an Unforgettable Journey into the Alaskan Wild: It’s interesting to have two books about Alaska in my list but it shows the timeless pull that we have to the last great frontier.
Eat a Peach: I love food writing. I love David Chang. Cannot wait for this one.
Notes from a Young Black Chef: It takes some hubris to write a memoir at age 29 but it seems like Chef Onwuachi has already lived about 9 lives so I’m eager to learn more.
Places and Names: On War, Revolution and Returning: Author Elliot Ackerman was a fellow student at Tufts and a student in a class I taught (yes, one has the option to teach a course at Tufts Ex College as a junior or senior) on political oppression. He’s now a decorated war veteran and an amazing writer. If you haven’t read him yet, start with Waiting For Eden.
Middle Grade/YA
Just Like That: I’m at the point where I will read anything by Gary Schmidt. NOT looking forward to what I’m hearing about, the death of a beloved character from a previous novel. Seems like I may have to find out for myself. Sigh.
Save Me a Seat: Multicultural middle grade friendship. Eagerly previewing this one for my boys.
The Three Keys: The follow up to Yang’s ‘Front Desk’ which I loved. Plucky daughter of motel owners, Mia Tang, steals your heart! And now I hear a third is in the works. WOOT.
The Unadoptables: Describes as Hans Christian Andersen and Neil Gaiman. Yes please.
On the Lighter Side
Beach Read: A romance writer and a literary author battle it out on the pages, and in real life. This seems like a fun one that I’m tucking away for my next road trip.