2021 In Books
I love this time of year when all of my friends start posting about their favorite books of the year. I love to know what people read and what they like. No surprise, I also like telling people what I read and what I like. So far, I’ve read 51 books this year. I’m in-progress on a few more that I hope to finish over the holidays. Last year I asked my friends what they’d like to know about the books I read and the questions were so good, I did it again this year. I was also inspired by Emma Straub’s newsletter, and I categorized what I read this year into some handy-dandy lists. Enjoy!
Here are your questions - and my answers!
What book did you find impossible to put down?
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. I listened to this on Libro.fm and let me tell you, I’ve never listened to an audiobook so fast. I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been thinking about it so much since I finished it that I’m tempted to re-read it.
Most relatable character?
I read Nichole Perkins’ essay collection, Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be, and I related to her so much. We’re the same age, we both grew up in Nashville, we both moved to NYC. This is the genre of book that I read the most and this is one of my favorite collections of essays. Get your hands on it immediately.
One book where you’d rewrite the ending?
The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade. Amazing book. I read it for Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club. This book received a lot of hype and it is well-deserved, but… How can I put this without spoilers? Let’s just say that I would have liked one of the problematic characters to have been left on the hook at the end.
A top three and bottom three would be helpful! Gotta prioritize!
Listen, I hear you. And I’ve got you in the lists below, but I’ll give you my top three now.
How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraquib
What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
Here are my bottom three:
Prince: The Beautiful Ones by Dan Piepenbring
Thanks for Waiting by Doree Shafrir
Dream Girl by Laura Lippman
What book had the best animal?
This is such a good question! I don’t think I read any books with animals. What an oversight! But I will take this opportunity to shout-out my favorite amateur photographer, Brandon Taylor and his book, Filthy Animals, that came out this year. I’m a huge fan of Brandon’s and this book is A+.
What book made you hungry?
Cookbook author, Julia Turshen, released Simply Julia this year and it’s my new favorite cookbook. Come for the recipes, stay for the personal essays on healing from disordered eating.
What character most reminded you of yourself?
Sad answer alert, but Danielle Henderson’s memoir, The Ugly Cry. Hands-down one of the best, if not the best, memoir I’ve read. Friends and writers interested in the intersection of trauma and humor, this is for you.
Did you read more downers or uppers?
I don’t know why I read so many downers, but I really do. FWIW, I don’t think any of these books actually make me sad, I just read a lot of nonfiction. But I will say, I really hit my stride with romance this year. I started listening to romance books on Libro.fm and it’s my new favorite activity. P.S. If you ever pass me in Percy Warner and I’m walking with my headphones in, I’m listening to straight up sex.
What was the oldest book you read this year?
Ooh, yes! I read Beloved this year! I believe it initially came out in 1987, but I bought a newer paperback version and finally sat down and read it. Ms. Morrison is just the best. There’s no writer like her.
Lists!
Buy the Hardcover:
How The Word Is Passed, Clint Smith
A Little Devil In America, Hanif Abdurraqib
Somebody’s Daughter, Ashley C. Ford
Fave Fiction:
Filthy Animals, Brandon Taylor
Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, Alexis Hall
Fave Non-Fiction Hardcover:
The Ugly Cry, Danielle Henderson
Hola Papi, John Paul Brammer
Fave Non-Fiction Paperback:
Sometimes I Trip On Happy We Could Be, Nichole Perkins
Kink: Stories, R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell
What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat, Aubrey Gordon
Backlist that Still Slaps:
Real Life, Brandon Taylor
Red, White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston
Come As You Are, Emily Nagoski
Audio Required:
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, Dave Grohl
Fave Cookbooks:
Simply Julia, Julia Turshen
Life Is What You Bake It, Vallery Lomas
Nashville Must Reads:
Hot, Hot Chicken: A Nashville Story, Rachel Louise Martin
Greetings from New Nashville: How a Sleepy Southern Town Became It City, Steve Haruch
Reckoning: Tennessee Writers on 2020, Susannah Felts
2022 Books I’ve Already Pre-Ordered:
Nobody’s Magic, Destiny O. Birdsong (Feb. 2022)
Bomb Shelter, Mary Laura Philpott (April 2022)
Currently Reading (and frantically trying to finish):
Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead
A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020, David Sedaris
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Stephen Fry
Here’s where I’m going to ask you a favor. If you buy a book based on this post, please buy it from bookshop.org or your local independent bookstore. I’m a former bookseller and the two independent bookstores in Nashville have worked hard to stay open during the pandemic. Nashville has hosted authors like Roxane Gay, Donna Tartt, Jonathan Franzen (lol), Jacqueline Woodson, Colson Whitehead, Elizabeth Strout, Elizabeth Gilbert, Glennon Doyle, Candace Bushnell, not to mention all of your friends and neighbors who write books in this town. These events go away if these stores close.
If you listen to audiobooks, please consider switching from audible to Libro.fm. Libro.fm purchases your audiobooks directly from the independent bookstore of your choice. If you’re new to Libro.fm, use code “LADYLAND” at checkout to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 ($14.99).
ICYMI, here is my reading wrap-up from last year.
