December 31, 2021 · 2:29 pm
A variety of my studying in 2021 has concerned catching up on books revealed in 2020 or earlier, notably amongst non-fiction. Hungry by Grace Dent and Bookworm by Lucy Mangan had been amongst my favorite memoirs this 12 months, and take a nostalgic have a look at the authors’ childhoods outlined by meals and books respectively. A Promised Land by Barack Obama was a hefty however impressively readable political memoir by the forty fourth President of the US overlaying most of his first time period, and hopefully it gained’t be too lengthy earlier than the second quantity is revealed.
Elsewhere in non-fiction, Sq. Haunting by Francesca Wade is an absorbing group biography of 5 modernist girls who all lived in Mecklenburgh Sq. in Bloomsbury at varied occasions between 1916 and 1940. Blood on the Web page by Thomas Harding is among the most original and compelling true crime books I’ve come throughout in a very long time, and follows the primary homicide trial to be held in secret in fashionable British historical past.
By way of fiction, I loved Nice Circle by Maggie Shipstead which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize this 12 months and is a few feminine aviator who went lacking in 1950 whereas making an attempt to circumnavigate the Earth from north to south and an actress portraying her in a biopic. Whereas the trophy ended up going to ‘The Promise’ by Damon Galgut, that is the second 12 months in a row I’ve included the eventual winner in my longlist predictions weblog submit. I additionally lastly acquired spherical to studying Woman, Girl, Different by Bernardine Evaristo this 12 months and I believe it was a worthy winner of the Prize again in 2019.
2021 has been a robust 12 months for indie publishers with Panenka by Ronan Hession being a specific spotlight from Bluemoose Books. I additionally loved Exit Administration by Naomi Sales space which is a wonderful novel revealed by Useless Ink Books in 2020 and is among the most unsettling portrayals of residing in London I can consider.
Lastly, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason examines the principle character’s dysfunctional upbringing and psychological well being points with a dry sense of humour, whereas Magpie by Elizabeth Day is a thriller with a twist that I believe will stick with me for a very long time.
What are your favorite books of the 12 months?
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