2021: a year of completed books
My 11-year-old says I’m a “book jabber”, and he’s right. I always have multiple books on the go, dipping in and out of different ones as and when.
I consume books in various formats (although my favourite is paperback for fiction, audio for non-fiction, and Kindle on holiday. Hardbacks to be avoided at all costs).
There’s only one list longer than my to-read list, and that is my partially-read list. Because I often don’t finish books, I decided in but this year I set myself the target to finish 25 books.
At the time of writing this blog post, I have finished reading 24 books (and I have about five I’m jabbing at at the moment).
Here follows a list of the books I’ve finished this year and a one-line review of each.
Fiction
Disobedience by Naomi Alderman
This book swept me away to a world unfamiliar to me, but the characters resonated with me and stayed with me for a long time after.
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
My first encounter with Sally Rooney’s writing, and my conclusion is that she is a master storyteller and genius creator of characters.
My review of The Baltimore Boys may have been positively skewed by the fact that I read it while drinking coffee on the beach!
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Believe the hype - this is amazing too (although I preferred Conversations with Friends).
The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
An easy read but also easy to forget.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Very palatable, but I didn’t really care about the main character and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t meant to happen!
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
This book will stay with me forever, and has changed how I look at the ocean.
The Baltimore Boys by Joël Dicker
An easy read with lots of twists and turns, which will make for a good movie actually!
Earthly Bodies by Susan Earlam
I wouldn’t usually go for “dystopian eco horror” fiction, but I know Susan and wanted to read this (which is why she gets more than a one-liner too!). It pulled me in almost immediately, kept me horrified/fascinated, and left me with a growing suspicion of mushrooms…
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
It took me ages to get into this book because there’s no real plot, but by the end I must admit that it is a brilliant piece of fiction.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, by Cho, Nam-Joo
A feminist book, which sadly left me feeling a bit hopeless and depressed rather than inspired and ready to continue the fight!
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A re-read of this classic, but sadly this time round it didn’t enchant me as I did when I first read it around 20 years ago.
Business related
Chillpreneur: How to Run a Wildly Successful Business Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Money!) by Denise Duffield-Thomas
I love the chillpreneur philosophy, and as this was my first encounter with the author, it felt like a very refreshing take on the world of business.
Do Open: How a Simple Email Newsletter Can Transform your Business by David Hieatt
A must-read for anyone who is thinking of starting to use email marketing.
Lucky Bitch: A Guide for Exceptional Women to Create Outrageous Success by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Still undecided about this one, mainly because I felt the book lacked nuance.
This is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin
Classic Seth Godin, so if you’re a fan, you’ll like this.
Reading Do Purpose. I don’t usually look this smiley or put-together while reading! Image: Karen Staniland-Platt
Other non-fiction
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini
A fascinating insight into the psychology of compliance, but a long-ass and at times very academic read.
When I Dare to Be Powerful by Audre Lorde
Despite its appearance as a small little book, this is everything but - it’s deep, thought provoking and at times deeply uncomfortable.
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre
Thrilling and fascinating read for anyone interested in crime, spies and general dodginess.
Letters from the Cape by Lady Lucie Duff Gordon
Bizarre and fascinating to experience the Western Cape through the eyes of the author, who travelled around the area over a century before my birth.
Personal development
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
I’ll be reading this book again and again forever until the end of time.
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
More enjoyable and insightful than I expected, but it dragged on a bit.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
So many people in my circles rave about this book, but I found it sadly underwhelming.
No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness by Michelle Segar
An interesting take on how to build more movement into your life, but it didn’t really do me any favours this year as I used it as an excuse for not doing as much exercise as I actually needed!
Do Less Be More: Ban Busy and Make Space for What Matters, by Susan Pearse and Martina Sheehan
They make good points in this book, but it feels a bit repetitive considering the main premise is summed up in the title of the book.
The books I’m hoping to finish before the end of the year
My out of office is going on Friday, and I’ll be cranking up the reading while no doubt eating all the cheese and drinking all the mulled wine while covered head to toe in sparkles.
Here are the ones I’m currently jabbing at; I expect one of them will be number 25 and complete my 2021 reading challenge!
The Book of Trespass by Nick Hayes
The Oak Papers by James Canton
Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored, by Jeffrey Boakye (who, incidentally, was my line manager not long after I arrived in the UK)
Period Power by Nadya Okamoto
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
Salt On Your Tongue - Women and the Sea, by Charlotte Runcie
And a few I am excited to start so they may leapfrog the jab list…
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
The Promise by Damon Galgut
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Where I buy my books
I have a Kindle, but wherever possible I try to avoid buying from Amazon. Better alternatives are Hive or World of Books, or your local bookshop.
I’m also a big fan of the local library, and Borrowbox, which lets you borrow audiobooks if you’re a member of the library.
Recently I signed up to Blinkist, which provides a summary of non-fiction books in either audiobook or ebook format. I’ve decided not to set myself a specific challenge for next year’s reading, but I hope to make the most of my subscription!
I’d love to hear your recommendations for good things to read (or jab at) in the new year.
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