My Top Books of 2021

It's been another year filled with lots of uncertainty and time at home so I've been especially thankful for the consolation of books and all the discussions I've had with readers online. I have also been fortunate enough to have chats with some of the authors of my favourite books this year including Claire Fuller, Joyce Carol Oates and Richard Powers. I've always loved going to author events in person, but since these have been limited by the pandemic I've used the opportunity of having a BookTube channel to interview them myself. Here I get to ask them all the questions I want instead of waiting to raise my hand at the end! After this year's online Booker Prize ceremony I also had the chance to ask Damon Galgut some questions about his winning novel “The Promise”. Recently I also had the pleasure of meeting last year's Booker winner Douglas Stuart at an in-person literary salon. 

I've selected ten books as my favourites of 2021 as they have all broadened my point of view, expanded my knowledge, reinvigorated my love of the imaginative possibilities of fiction and meant something special to me personally. They're also all such compelling stories I completely lost myself in each. You can watch me discuss all these books here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5m4OVH5R8Y

Gayl Jones' triumphant return to fiction takes the reader to 17th century Brazil and follows the episodic journey of a girl born into slavery. The novella “Small Things Like These” is destined to be a new Christmas classic as it poignantly shows a man's dilemma when he realises the dark truth of his own Irish community. The stories in “The (Other) You” describe how our fantasies about other paths in life can quickly turn into nightmares. The brilliant American family saga “The Love Songs of WEB Du Bois” movingly shows how even the unknown aspects of our heritage play an active role upon our immediate present. “Bewilderment” is at once a deeply intimate story as well as one which seriously considers the biggest challenges our society is facing while taking readers to other planets. 

The mind-bending imaginative story of “This One Sky Day” gives insightful social commentary while making the world feel colourfully alive. The riveting story of “Detransition, Baby” is filled with so many tantalizing scenes that are tragic, comic and heartbreaking. “Unsettled Ground” movingly shows a sheltered character's progression towards independence. The epic “Cathedral” follows the stories of a wide cast of fascinating characters in medieval Europe as society's attitudes towards religion and capitalism were rapidly changing. I gained a new view on community life in “A Shock” which explores several different memorable characters' glancing connections with each other. 

I'd love to hear if you've also read any of these or feel inspired to read them now. And I'd be so curious to know the best things you read in 2021! 

This One Sky Day by Leone Ross

This novel introduces readers to the archipelago of Popisho, a fictional series of islands which form a nation of people possessed with magical qualities and real world concerns. The day begins with Xavier being tasked with preparing a wedding feast for an influential man's daughter. His special ability is being able to season food just with the palms of his hands. This is a super power I never knew I needed but think about how convenient it would be! No more rooting through cluttered spice racks. But Xavier also possesses the title of macaenus, a coveted and specially appointed position in which he prepares a once in a lifetime meal for every person exactly when they most need it. He's also haunted by his wife who died in the ocean and literally stalks the islands while her body gradually disintegrates. Wild enough for you? This is only the beginning of a fantastical journey infused with the awe-inspiring pleasure of dreams and the intensity of nightmares. At one point in the novel there's a magical burst which affects all the women on the island and their affliction is so shocking I couldn't believe what I was reading! I love that Ross has the courage to not only depict such a mischievous event but carry its logic through so we see how it results in chaotic transformation. This wondrous tale confidently leads the reader though the stories and lives of its vibrant characters to inspire, enchant and provoke thoughtful reflection. 

There's a lot happening in this novel with its large cast of characters, multiple plot lines and complex politics which the reader must try to keep straight while also becoming accustomed to the magical qualities which abound through these islands. But, even though I found myself racing to keep up at some points, there's a propulsive energy to this narrative which is so excitingly fresh and delightful that I was utterly mesmerized. The humour and charisma of its characters shines through in the vernacular of their dialogue. It's a book I'll eagerly enjoy returning to in order to better understand its intricacies and indulge again in the all-consuming sensory experience of it. If assigning novels to a genre is your thing “This One Sky Day” would comfortably sit under the heading of magical realism or speculative fiction. But, while such categories are useful to indicate the type of reading experience you will get, no one box will adequately describe the bewitching flavours and electric sensations this novel contains. The magical elements it possesses aren't indulgent flourishes but allow us to consider subjects such as love, addiction, corruption, grief, the legacy of colonialism, classism, sexism, homophobia and infidelity from an entirely new angle. As much as I appreciate a good realistic novel that stays true to the laws of gravity and the bone-dry ticking of the clock, I do love a story that fully embraces a boundless imagination to reshape the world into a thing of wondrous beauty. This novel made me see life in explosive colour again and I loved reading it.