Hi everyone,
I can’t believe 2021 is coming to an end!
Thank you all so much for reading this newsletter and for sharing it with your friends. I truly appreciate it 🙏.
Today’s edition features some of my favourite reads in 2021. If you haven’t done your festive shopping, maybe some of these recommendations will come in handy.
Lots of love and happy holidays!
mariana
My favourite reads of 2021
<<In alphabetical order>>
L’isola di Arturo · Arturo’s Island by Elsa Morante
Elsa Morante became one of my favourite writers this year. I can’t wait to read more of her work. For more information, you can read my original post.
Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli
This book impressed me so much, the author’s ‘experimental writing’ style is exquisite. A clever recount of the immigration crisis at the Mexican / US border, through the eyes of four wonderful and unforgettable characters. You can read my full post to find out more about it.
Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo
Bernardine Evaristo is my heroine. This year, she published something more than just a memoir. In Manifesto, she shares the elements and forces that have shaped her into the artist she is. This is a great gift option if you want to give some inspiration!
🎧 Audiobook: I didn’t listen to the audiobook, but it’s narrated by the author herself, so I’m sure it’s epic.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
This story deeply touched me. I’m not surprised to see that so many others have also rated this book very highly. For more information, you can read my original post.
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Dear God, what a book! The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983. Celie (the main character) writes letters to god, and through those letters, we get to witness her life.
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
This story, wow! An extraordinary and original narration of how the first Oxford Dictionary was compiled through the eyes of Esme. Check out my original post.
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
A fantastic read recounting the life of Anna, a world-famous violinist struggling to move forward with her career. As the plot advances, we slowly discover Anna’s infinite sources of stress. When Quan appears in her life, there’s a new possibility for Anna to start again. A wonderful story that touches on important issues such as mental health, family expectations, and boundaries in a light-hearted way. I couldn’t put it down.
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
A page-turner featuring two twin sisters who make opposite life choices. You can read my original post for a more detailed summary.
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
An entertaining book about dreams, grief, and messy life decisions. Casey has a broken heart after her mother’s unexpected death. Her life is all over the place and she’s trying to sort it out whilst trying to finish her novel. Suddenly, she unexpectedly finds herself having to choose between two men. How will it all end?
🎧 Audiobook: ✅
Beautiful Writing
<<In alphabetical order>>
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
According to The Guardian, “Kawakami has made her name articulating womanhood in Japan better than any living author.” Breasts and Eggs is a thought-provoking story featuring three women trying to navigate life’s hardships in Japan as well as their womanhood: one of the characters is considering getting breast implants, another one is debating whether to go to a sperm bank. How should they decide what the right thing is for them?
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Back in 1596, in an English town known as Stratford-upon-Avon, a boy named Hamnet died at the age of eleven. A couple of years later, a play known as Hamlet materialises in the London theatre scene. If you want to find out more, you can read my original post.
Still Life by Sarah Winman
A beautiful friendship and love story that will transport you to Florence right after WWII. The narrative revolves around the connections between the different characters, some of whom become kindred spirits over time. The prose is beautiful and poetic. If you want more detailed information, you can read this New York Times book review.
Graphic Wisdom
Couch Fiction: A Graphic Tale of Psychotherapy by Philippa Perry
If you’re curious about what happens during a psychotherapy session—for example, what’s required from the patient or what might be going through a therapist’s mind—this might be an enjoyable read. For those considering whether therapy is for them, this might be an illuminating book.
Philippa Perry is the author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and Flo Perry (her daughter) is the illustrator of this book.
Memoirs
<<In alphabetical order>>
Childhood, Youth, Dependency: The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Diltlevsen
The life of poet and writer Tove Diltlevsen is nothing short of interesting. You can read my original post here.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
A memoir and academic-like analysis revolving around abuse in same-sex relationships. Carmen María Machado’s writing style is original and eye-opening. A difficult yet enlightening read. You can access a more detailed book review by The New Yorker here.
🎧 Audiobook: ❔I would have preferred reading the book.
Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir by Rebecca Solnit
In this book written by the author of Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit walks us through her journey as a writer and an artist, and the process of finding her voice. She also recounts her experience of living in San Francisco in the 1980s, zooming in on aspects like the lack of safety and the harassment she faced. For a more detailed review, you can read this article by The Guardian.
Non-fiction
<<In alphabetical order>>
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay writes for social change. An extract from her Masterclass workbook: IN HER BESTSELLING 2014 essay collection, Bad Feminist, Roxane took the “feminist” label and ripped it apart. Then she played with it, rearranged it, and ultimately created a definition that worked for her—one that’s filled with paradoxes. “I was able to reconcile my relationship with feminism,” Roxane says, “while acknowledging the way I might be inconsistent with feminist ideology. I might be a bad feminist, but at least I’m a feminist.” For more detailed information, you can read this review by The Guardian.
Over the past few years, I’ve grown to admire Roxane Gay more and more. Bad Feminist is a collection of essays in which the author discusses many different topics such as feminism, hunger, abuse, race, politics, among others.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
“But when it was first coined as a technical term by Herbert Freudenberger in 1975, “burnout” was defined by three components: 1. emotional exhaustion—the fatigue that comes from caring too much, for too long; 2. depersonalization—the depletion of empathy, caring, and compassion; and 3. decreased sense of accomplishment—an unconquerable sense of futility: feeling that nothing you do makes any difference.”
For many people, the pandemic has led to burnout. If you want to read more about how to prevent and deal with it, this book might be good for you.
The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time by Jim McKelvey
A useful and interesting book by the co-founder of Square, Inc. In his book, the author shares the secrets to innovation as well as how to survive when Amazon is trying to put you out of business. I genuinely enjoyed this book and found it useful. Thanks, Pablo for the recommendation!
🎧 Audiobook: ✅, but I think I would have probably preferred reading the book
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
This book is a sort of manual aimed at helping people make time for the things they want to get done during their day and during their life, championing a “focus-on-one-thing-per-day” philosophy. A super easy read, and not another book about productivity. I found some of the advice useful and actionable.
For younger audiences
My classmate Chloë Perrin published her first book earlier this year, I’m so excited for her! His Royal Hopeless is the story of Robbie, the heir to the most evil dynasty in the world. However hard Robbie tries, he just can’t manage to be evil. What will become of his kingdom? If you’re looking for a new story for your children, this is the perfect middle-grade fiction story!
Links to buy the books
Always try to support your local bookshop. If you’d like me to add any bookshops to the list, let me know.
UK
Spain
Mexico
Italy
US
Important notes
For UK and US readers, Bookshop.org is a great option to support your local bookshop. You can read more about it here.
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Open Gmail on your computer or laptop (it doesn’t work on mobile phones), and then drag the email from the Promotions tab into the Primary tab.
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