My Year of Reading Way Too Many Books (Ratings & Reviews)
46 min readDec 1, 2021
At the beginning of 2021, I made a goal: read 50 books.
My original plan spun out of control and, my reading total, as of December 1st, is at 182 books.
Although 2021 is not over, I thought it would be a bit of fun to get this list out in time for the holidays so you can buy some books for yourself & your loved ones. I use affiliate links throughout this article, so please use them! :) You can find the “shop” I set up with all the books HERE. Obviously, you should be able to find these at your local bookstore and library as well. As long as you are reading & enjoying what you pick up, I will be pleased.
Since Medium tells me it would take over 40 minutes to read this front to back, I don’t expect you to sit and read every review; instead, I recommend ctrl-F searching for genres, authors, or titles that interest you.
A quick note on the ratings I ascribed to each book — they are based on my enjoyment, not on the book’s quality. I tend to not read much about a book before picking it up because I like to be surprised, so, therefore, there are some objectively very well-written books on this list that I did not enjoy & vice versa. So, if you are an author reading this, please don’t. But if you do, know that my rating of your book isn’t a reflection of you; it is 100% a reflection of me.
Before we get into it, here are a few quick favorites for your 2021 holiday gift list and/or 2022 reading list:
- Most Likely To Get You Back Into Reading: This requires a blog of its own, but my two quick picks are The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (engrossing and glamorous story with romance~*) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (easy-to-read & fast-paced light horror)
- Most Likely to Thrill You: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- Most Likely to Unsettle You: It’s a tie! Mrs. March by Virginia Feito or The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
- Most Likely to Make You Happy: One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London
- Most Likely to Make You Laugh: We Are Never Meeting In Real Life.: Essays by Samantha Irby
- Most Likely to Make You Cry: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
- Most Likely to Make You Laugh Then Cry: Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb
- Most Likely To Leave You With More Questions Than Answers (In A Good Way): All’s Well by Mona Awad
- Molly’s Most Read Author: It is, of course, none other than Agatha Christie (check out the August & October reviews for the majority of my reads from Mrs. Christie)
- Most Likely Molly’s Favorite Book of The Year: Dune by Frank Herbert
And without further adieu, the reviews!
Books Read in 2021
January
4 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 8.2
- The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big and Small by Kath Stathers
Non-Fiction; Travel
This book helped me not go insane during peak COVID times. I am a sucker for travel-related coffee table books.
Rating: 9/10 - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fiction; Gothic
Debutante meets scary Europeans and realizes there’s something wrong. I don’t want to give anything away because there are many twists and turns. Highly enjoyable.
Rating: 10/10 - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Fiction; Dystopian
A Native Canadian community gets cut off from the world, but for how long? One of my favorite books of the year!
Rating: 10/10 - Outlawed by Anna North
Fiction; Western // Literary Fiction
A woman who can’t get pregnant becomes a cowboy. Unfortunately, I felt this book was disappointing, but this is partly my fault. A few book club groups had recommended this and gave it great praise, so, coming off of Mexican Gothic & Moon of the Crusted Snow, I expected a tale that would draw me in, but I didn’t get that.
Rating: 4/10
February
4 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.6
- Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty
Non-Fiction // Humor
A mortician answers questions about death that children have asked her. Funny, informative, and a very random read.
Rating: 8/10 - Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Fiction; YA // Science Fiction
A plague infects a small island with a boarding school on it. What could go wrong? I found this book pretty creepy for a YA novel, but maybe the youth these days are desensitized to climate change, pandemics (lol), and whatnot.
Rating: 8.5/10 - One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Fiction; Romance
“Fat girl” goes on The Bachelor and falls in love. This book is SO GOOD and very easy to read. I hope that Kate Stayman-London writes more because I will be first in line to get her next book.
Rating: 10/10 - My Year of Rest & Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Fiction; Literary Fiction
A sad girl does sad things in New York. I found this book very depressing (which I hope is the point) and do not recommend it.
Rating: 4/10
March
11 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.5
- We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman
Fiction; Literary Fiction
A sad girl does sad things in New York, Los Angeles, and New Hampshire. Similar to My Year of Rest & Relaxation, reading this felt like I was putting myself through someone else’s unfortunate therapy session.
Rating: 5/10 - Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad
Non-Fiction; Autobiography
Norman retells his frightening childhood with his thrill-seeking dad, his dad’s death in a plane crash, and what came after. I went into this expecting something different than what I got.
Rating: 4/10 - Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Fiction; Dystopian Fiction
Family takes a vacation, but it ends up being the end of the world (literally). This was a fascinating book to read while being engrossed in learning about climate change; Rumaan pulled me in with this book, and I ended up reading it in one sitting. Not a happy story but a good one.
Rating: 8/10 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Fiction; Science Fiction
A woman tries to kill herself and ends up trying on many different lives while in limbo. It turns out that her ‘real’ life was the best timeline all along. This book goes back and forth between “oh dear god, nooooo!” to “wow, I’m so happy for her!” sometimes even on the same page. However, I think it could have been a bit shorter — nonetheless, a good read.
Rating: 8.5/10 - How to Order the Universe by María José Ferrada
Non-Fiction; Autobiography
Spoilers ahead: Deadbeat dad takes his daughter on door-to-door sales calls and ends up getting kidnapped. The daughter’s life continues. I did not enjoy this and don’t recommend it.
Rating: 3/10 - The Iliad by Homer
Fiction; Epic Poetry
Achilles and Patroclus against the world </3
Rating: 8/10 - The Odyssey by Homer
Fiction; Epic Poetry
Odysseus tries, tries, and tries to get home. Once he does, it’s killing time.
Rating: 8/10 - The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Fiction; Psychological Fiction
Nutbar parents turn their children into murders of men. I don’t have much nice to say about this, so I’ll just say —this book is not for me.
Rating: 4/10 - The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Fiction; Dystopian Fiction
Ms. Yu recruits poor immigrants to have children for rich people. What could go wrong? I enjoyed this book very much, even though the subject matter is unsettling. Joanne Ramos skirts the line between reality and science fiction and creates a fleshed-out alternate reality and intense characters.
Rating: 8/10 - Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster
Fiction; Thriller
Her husband disappears mysteriously…will she figure out who did it, or will she be next?
Rating: 7/10 - Dear Girls by Ali Wong
Non-Fiction; Memoir // Humor
Ali Wong writes letters to her daughters about her life. Hilarity ensues. I got through this in a day as it is an easy read.
Rating: 8/10
April
14 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.9
- Beowulf by Anonymous
Fiction; Epic Poetry
An ancient tale of an ancient creature. I get this is classic literature, but after reading the majesty of Homer, I don’t think any other epic poetry can compare…sorry, unknown Briton!
Rating: 4/10 - Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Fiction; Thriller
Are they Satanic? Or are they just evil & rich? I won’t say more about the plot of this book, but Riley Sager does a great job of making you feel like you are right there with the main character(s) and, it’s frightening. I very much enjoyed this book.
Rating: 9/10 - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Fiction; Historical Fiction
A collection of essays based on real Asian women & their experiences with their mothers. This book isn’t short but felt short when listening to it. I enjoyed this book.
Rating: 8/10 - We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby
Non-Fiction; Humor // Essays
A collection of essays about being a fat, black lesbian. I laughed multiple times while listening to this book and enjoyed Samantha Irby’s storytelling. I know she has a few other books, and I’ve added them to my TBR.
Rating: 8/10 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Siblings’ dad dies; evil stepmother takes everything; real mom comes back, and things are okay? Unfortunately, this book wasn’t good.
Rating: 4/10 - The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
Fiction; Thriller
Everyone in this family has a secret, especially about who killed the mother (in-law). Similar to Beneath the Shadows, this was a low-stakes mystery. Enjoyable if that’s your preferred genre; otherwise, you can skip it.
Rating: 7/10 - The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Fiction; Thriller
A book about summer camp…with murder; unlike the other book I read by Riley Sager this year, I feel like this one fell short, but I can’t put my finger on why. If you’re going to read a Sager book, forgo this one and read Lock Every Door.
Rating: 3/10 - Beach Read by Emily Henry
Fiction; Romance
Girl goes to father’s secret house after he dies & re-meets her college rival. They fall in love :) A fun, easy read that made me smile many times. I recommend this.
Rating: 8/10 - Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder & Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
Non-Fiction: True Crime
A non-fiction book about the history and current state of the IRA in Northern Ireland: and, man, what a history it is. If you’re at all interested in this subject, this book is a must-read.
Rating: 7/10 - The Perfect Wife by J.P. Delaney
Fiction; Science Fiction
Tech start-up man’s wife dies, so he builds a new one. But what happens if she turns out not to be dead… I LOVED this book. One of my favorites of the year!
Rating: 9.5/10 - A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Fiction; Mythology
A telling of the Trojan War & adjacent stories through the eyes of the women who experienced it. After reading Homer’s “The Iliad” earlier in the year, I very much enjoyed listening to this book as it brought many female characters from that story and gave them voices. So, if you like reading about the Trojan War, check this out.
Rating: 9/10 - Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Cleopatra Selene II’s parents commit suicide & the new Caesar brings them to Rome, where she meets a cast of historical characters. This book was “fun” (as fun as a book can be about a — basically — kidnapped child), and I enjoyed listening to it and learning more about ancient Greece. So if you’re into that, check this out!
Rating: 7/10 - The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Fiction; Romance
Dating app founder meets former pro football player. I was disappointed that this book didn’t focus more on the character’s individual stories after they met. But then again, I’m not a huge fan of straight-up romance books, so perhaps this just isn’t for me.
Rating: 4/10 - Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto
Fiction; Romance // Thriller
Girl accidentally kills her date…goes to a wedding…and falls in love (all with a dead body hanging around). Very funny and I enjoyed listening. I will read whatever else Jesse Q Sutanto puts out!
Rating: 9/10
May
17 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.8
- Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Two sisters flee Shanghai during WWII to come to the USA; things go wrong at basically every turn, but at least the sisters have each other. This is a fascinating book and has SUCH great characters.
Rating: 8.5/10 - Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
Fiction; Psychological Fiction
Low-income family becomes rich. I don’t even want to say anything else because you should just read this book!!
Rating: 9.5/10 - Metamorphica by Zachary Mason
Fiction; Mythology
Greek myths, reimagined. I found this interesting since I love Greek myths, but other books (even on this list) do it better.
Rating: 6.5/10 - Eat a Peach by David Chang
Non-Fiction; Memoir
David Chang’s autobiography through kitchens and therapy. It was alright.
Rating: 5/10 - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Fiction; Historical Fiction
A day in the life in the gulag (based on the author’s experiences). Read this immediately.
Rating: 10/10 - The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Fiction; Mythology
A retelling of Angrboda’s life in Norse mythology. I can’t believe this is Genevieve Gornichec’s first book! Very well written.
Rating: 9/10 - Flowers of Darkness by Tatiana de Rosnay
Fiction; Science Fiction // Thriller
A writer moves into an apartment explicitly built for artists, yet it is run by an AI-loving scientist who doesn’t seem suspicious at all. The writing in this book was fantastic, and I felt like I was right there in the room. LOVE this book.
Rating: 9.5/10 - Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Fiction; YA
Based on the R. Kelly stories, a young girl is kidnapped by an older male singer who brainwashes young girls into becoming part of his harem. Again, YA books have gotten a lot darker since I was a YA…
Rating: 7/10 - The End of Temperance Dare by Wendy Webb
Fiction; Thriller // Is this also Gothic?
A creepy old house that used to be a TB ward, a family mystery, and GHOSTS. The ending is disappointing.
Rating: 6/10 - His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
Fiction; Literary Fiction
A look at polygamous marriages, life, and culture in modern-day Ghana through a fictional story. Interesting book — I will read more from this author!
Rating: 6.5/10 - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Poirot is back, but this time, solving a jewel theft rather than a murder. If you don’t know Poirot yet, I wouldn’t start with this one. Also, I got this through my library and couldn’t find a print copy to buy — apologies!
Rating: 6.5/10 - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Fiction; Science Fiction
I can’t even explain this book, but you should read it as soon as possible. But, of course, don’t read anything about it before you do — just trust me on this one. Never Let Me Go is in contention for one of my favorite books of the year.
Rating: 10/10 - The Houseguest by Amparo Dávila
Fiction; Literary Fiction // Short Stories // Could even be Horror
Short stories with a Kafka flair. I did enjoy this, but every time I picked it up, I had to get in the right mental headspace, which made this slow going.
Rating: 6/10 - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
A train, a list of suspects, and a murder. Whodunit, Mr. Poirot?? A classic Agatha Christie but, honestly, not my favorite! However, still very much worth the read.
Rating: 8/10 - Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook by Liv Albert
Fiction; Mythology
A look at many of the gods & goddesses from ancient Greece. Great illustrations! I enjoy Liv’s podcast, “Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby,” and this book is basically a book version of her podcast. Enjoyable.
Rating: 7/10 - The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John
Fiction; Thriller // Mystery
I don’t have much to say about this except that it seemed like a slog to get through. This is a case of me not knowing what I was getting into and expecting something else.
Rating: 4/10 - Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang (My 50th book of the year!)
Fiction; Gothic
In the late 1800s, a young woman is killed, and the only people who seem interested in solving the mystery are her opium-addled younger sister and a homeless newsboy. Again, great storytelling, and I felt like I was in 1890s New York.
Rating: 9/10
June
16 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.5
- The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Fiction; Thriller
Twists, turns, unreliable narrators — this book has it all. Don’t read anything about this before picking up the book, and enjoy.
Rating: 9.5/10 - The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack
Fiction; Fantasy // Historical Fiction
A woman finds a book in ancient Greek explicitly written to her & leaves her to untangle the mystery of her family and herself. I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, so I was pleasantly surprised. This book has excellent storytelling, and the places and people the author created were amazing.
Rating: 9/10 - Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation, or, How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost
Non-Fiction; Travel // Humor
Maarten goes to China to write a book but finds that China is primarily smoggy, stinky, and not all that pleasant, yet he finds things to enjoy despite the smog. Amusing book but probably a bit outdated now in 2021. If you read this, take everything with a grain of salt.
Rating: 8/10 - The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost
Non-Fiction; Travel // Humor
Maarten’s wife gets a job in Tarawa, where they live for two years. Maarten talks about how the island works along with its history. Funny and upbeat even when discussing the darker sides.
Rating: 7.5/10 - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Fiction; Gothic
A strange tale about a strange family. After finishing this, I had to sit in silence for a while, and, looking back on it, I often think about this book.
Rating: 8/10 - Galatea by Madeline Miller
Fiction; Mythology
A short story of an alternate retelling of Galatea. I will read anything Madeline Miller writes, and I will LOVE IT. Sadly, I picked this up through the library and can’t find an in-print version on Bookshop.
Rating: 9/10 - Women Talking by Miriam Toews
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This book is literally about women talking, in a very stoic yet constant loop, about if they should leave their Mennonite society or not. After reading the book, I read some reviews, and former Mennonites say it’s very authentic…just not my cup of tea.
Rating: 2/10 - Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen
Fiction; Literary Fiction // Short Stories
A short story collection about various fictional people from/in China. I liked this.
Rating: 8/10 - The Painted Veil by William Somerset Maugham
Fiction; Literary Fiction
A self-absorbed woman “finds herself” by making bad decisions & living within the cholera epidemic in Hong Kong. I hated this book.
Rating: 2/10 - Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This book makes you ask yourself — how far would you go for the American dream? And the answer for the main character, Neil, is “really far.” I think this book could have done with a more heavy-handed editor, but, at the same time, if any of the text were cut, it wouldn’t be a true bildungsroman.
Rating: 7/10 - Cheat Day by Liv Stratman
Fiction; Romance???
A sad woman cheats on her sad husband with a sad man. This is technically a ‘romance’ book but is quite melancholy for the genre. I “enjoyed” this.
Rating: 7/10 - Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Fiction; Mystery
Finlay Donovan is a newly single mom who accidentally becomes a contract killer. Laugh out loud funny is cheesy, but it applies to this book. I can’t wait for the sequel.
Rating: 9/10 - Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Charles Yu wrote a script about the Chinese American experience through the eyes of a wannabe “kung-fu guy” and published it as a book. Quick & exciting read.
Rating: 7/10 - The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Man, this book is way sadder than I thought it would be. Basically: a family, full of broken people, is less broken at the end of a cruise of Europe. If you want to be sad, check this out.
Rating: 4/10 - Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
Fiction; Thriller
Mirrorland follows our main character, Cat, going back to Scotland after her twin sister mysteriously disappears and is led on a treasure hunt from beyond the grave by said sister. What Cat finds is genuinely horrifying. SO many twists and turns. Good read but one you need to be totally focused on while reading.
Rating: 7.5/10 - In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan
Fiction; Science Fiction // Dystopian Fiction
Respectfully, no.
Rating: 1/10
July
11 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7
- Troy by Stephen Fry
Fiction; Mythology
Stephen Fry is BACK with the third book in his trilogy about the ancient Greeks. In Troy, Fry takes us through the leading characters’ history to the war’s end. Very well researched & fun, just like the other two books in the series. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn’t just read Homer.
Rating: 8/10 - Between the World and Me by Ta-Nhisi Coates
Non-Fiction; Memoir
This book is written to the author’s teenage son about the feelings, symbolism, and realities of being Black in the United States.
Rating: 7/10 - The Outsider by Stephen King
Fiction; Horror
A detective thinks he’s solved a horrible murder, but he is wrong. Very wrong. Luckily, Holly is there to help solve this supernatural crime. I liked the first half of this book & the introduction of Holly (originally from the Mr. Mercedes series), but I feel like the last third went a bit haywire. I know, I know, who am I to dislike whatever Uncle Stephen gives me. *Stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers* I did enjoy the book, but I think it may have been more enjoyable if it had turned out to be a real guy rather than whatever it was. Also, I think Ralph birthed the creature by cutting open that cantaloupe as a kid…just sayin’…
Rating: 6.5/10 - When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Fiction; Dystopian
Gentrification, but make it sci-fi. Or make it dystopian. I’m not 100% clear on the difference. I have a hard time deciding if this is a sci-fi/dystopian book or just a straight thriller. This is one that I’ve been thinking about since I’ve read it. But where is the mother’s body?? Did I miss that? Help.
Rating: 6.5/10 - Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Fiction; Mystery
HAPPY SLAPPER! Holly is such a great character, and I enjoyed listening to this book. Lots of creepy storytelling and getting into the bad guy’s ‘mind’ made the book much more intense and made it feel like there were higher stakes. However, I messed up and should have read this before reading The Outsider.
Rating: 8/10 - The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Fiction; Horror
I love the premise of this book (Southern women’s book club goes on a hunt for local vampires), but I feel like it was a bit of a slog to get through at points. However, the end wraps up nicely and leaves somewhat of a cliffhanger. If there is a sequel, I will read it!
Rating: 6/10 - If They Come For Us by Fatimah Asghar
Poetry
I feel like this is one of those books I SHOULD have enjoyed, but I didn’t enjoy listening to it. It was an interesting look into a life different from mine, but I should have known that a book of poetry wouldn’t be my favorite book of the year. I would have enjoyed this a great deal more if it had been a novella since I’m finding I’m much more into prose rather than verse. However, I recommend reading or listening to this book since Asghar writes pretty gut-wrenching and thought-provoking poetry.
Rating: 4/10 - How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang
Fiction; Historical Fiction
A sister and brother flee their parent’s mistakes during the gold rush. This book made me feel a roller coaster of emotions — annoyed, happy, troubled, etc. Excellent writing and a very engaging story and characters. The book’s last sentence made me sit back and think deeply about what I had just read. Highly recommend!
Rating: 9/10 - One by One by Ruth Ware
Fiction; Thriller
This book is basically a retelling of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but, man, does that story structure bring me enjoyment. Ruth Ware is a great storyteller and made me feel on the edge of my seat throughout. Once you figure out who the killer is, things pick up.
Fiction: 8.5/10 - Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Fiction; Literary Fiction
The Earth is collapsing due to climate change, overfishing, and more, in the not-too-distant future (and…now). One woman embarks on an expedition with a fishing crew to help find herself and other things (no spoilers)! I am interested to see what else the author writes.
Rating: 6/10 - Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs by Rachel Jeffs
Non-Fiction; Memoir
Wow…I can’t say much about this book without giving anything away, but the basics are that Rachel is Warren Jeff’s daughter and has had one of the most disturbing life stories I’ve heard. In addition, this book gives you a look into the FLDS church (note: I will read anything/everything about the FLDS “church”) and has a lot of shocking details.
Rating: 8/10
August
21 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.5
- The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
Fiction; Historical Fiction
What a book! Female spies during WWII? A possible romance? Mystery and intrigue? Count me in. I recommend this book if you like All The Light We Cannot See.
Rating: 9/10 - After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Agatha Christie can do no wrong! It’s almost impossible to talk about her novels without giving anything away, so I’ll just say that my man Hercule Poirot is back at it again, dealing with the aftermath of a “suspicious” funeral.
Rating: 9/10 - The Hound of Death by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Science Fiction
This short story (about 30 pages) is very different from the other things that Agatha Christie has written. Dare I say this is science/religious fiction? Since it is so short, I can’t give much of a review beyond: this is a very enjoyable short story and made me feel a little spooked after listening.
Rating: 10/10 - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
I love every Hercule Poirot book because it begins with him retiring, taking a vacation, or wanting to enjoy his life…yet they keep pullin’ him back in! Poor Poirot can’t catch a break. In this book (the third of the Poirot series), Poirot has retired near his dear friend Roger Ackroyd and is excited to relax…until Roger is murdered (literally a couple of days later). This book has won the “Best Crime Novel Ever” award, so I’ll leave it at that. Read this!
Rating: 9/10 - The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fiction; Historical Fiction // Literary Fiction // Romance
Well, well, well. Taylor Jenkins Reid got me good with this one. This is a story about an aging actress named Evelyn Hugo who has had seven marriages throughout her career — but the one person she never officially married was her true love. Evelyn invites a young reporter to her home to write a tell-all memoir and laughter & tears ensue. I am not ashamed to say that I had to pause this audiobook to cry—really moving and fantastic writing. Highly recommend reading this!
Rating: 10/10 - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Fiction; Science Fiction
I am a huge fan of Kazuo Ishiguro (see earlier on this list for Never Let Me Go, which is now one of my favorite books), and Klara and the Sun is another excellent book. In short, this book is about robots, growing up, and climate change. If you haven’t read any Kazuo Ishiguro before, I’d recommend not starting with this one.
Rating: 7/10 - Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
I have said “Agatha Christie does it again!” multiple times on this list, but…Agatha Christie does it again! I very much enjoyed Murder in Mesopotamia. Poirot is brought back in to solve a mystery involving a beautiful woman (of course), her husband, who has a weird profession (this time, archeologist), and a cast of colorful characters. After he solves the crime (spoiler alert), he tells another one of the characters that he’s about to embark on a calming ride on the Orient Express. Oh, Poirot…
Rating: 9/10 - Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Sleeping Murder is a Miss Marple story and was released posthumously, and, surprisingly, Miss Marple is not the main character. Instead, a young couple who just moved into a house in the British countryside takes the lead in this story, slowly figuring out a murder (or is it?) mystery under the watchful eye of Marple. Not my favorite Agatha Christie story, but still a great tale.
Rating: 7/10 - The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
I could not figure out who did it until the last couple of pages when Agatha Christie wrote the answer. I think that speaks for itself. This is a shorter story and is well worth the read!
Rating: 9/10 - Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
This book begins with Poirot just starting a lovely vacation in Jerusalem, only for him to hear, “You do see, don’t you, that she’s got to be killed?”. So, after a few other events occur, Poirot arrives on the scene to help figure out what’s what. If you haven’t met Hercule Poirot yet, don’t start with this one, but this is well worth reading if you’ve read others in the series.
Rating: 7/10 - The First Sister by Linden Lewis
Fiction; Science Fiction // Fantasy
I don’t know what happened here — this book has everything I should like, but I didn’t like it for some reason! I’m bummed.
Rating: 2/10 - Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish
Non-Fiction; Travel
Clanlands is written by two of the actors on the show “Outlander” which I have never seen and know nothing about, so, unfortunately, their asides about the show were lost on me. However, most of the book is about their travels through Scotland with bits of history and interviews with locals. Easy read.
Rating: 6/10 - Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cooke
Non-Fiction
In Julie Cooke’s look at the flight attendants of the Pan Am era, I learned a lot about the flight attendants of yesteryear and the different hardships they had with both getting the job and maintaining their status in their career. Also, I learned from this book that Pan Am had a government contract to transport American troops to and from Vietnam, and there are some very heart-wrenching stories about that in this book.
Rating: 6/10 - Bath Haus by P. J. Vernon
Fiction; Thriller
This was primarily reviewed as a thriller, but I found it found of a snooze. The best part of the book by far is the last 20 or so pages when you get thrown around in many twists and turns to figure out who the big bad guy really is.
Rating: 4/10 - Later by Stephen King
Fiction; Mystery // Horror
Good ol’ Stephen King. Later is one of his more recent books and is pretty short, even by other authors’ standards. Although published for Hard Case Crime, this book is a ghost/horror-lite story, and I enjoyed reading it.
Rating: 9/10 - The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
At this point, I think 10% of all the books I read this year are by Agatha Christie, and it is simply because she is the undisputed best at mystery. This is another Hercule Poirot book with many twists and turns. Like Appointment with Death, if you haven’t read Christie before, there are many others to pick up first, but this is another great one if you’re a fan.
Rating: 8/10 - Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told To Me) Story by Bess Kalb
Non-Fiction; Biography // Humor
I read a review for this book a while ago, added it to my Goodreads TBR list, and then forgot about it. Then, while I was getting ready for my trip to Kauai, I went through the list and added everything available from Libby (my library’s audio & e-reader app) to my iPad, and this was one of the choices and MAN, this is a great book. Told through the author’s grandmother’s voice, the reader learns about her life, her relatives’ lives, and also the many voicemails she left the author during her life. Highly recommend, just be ready to shed a tear near the end.
Rating: 8/10 - Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah McDonald
Non-Fiction; Travel
I struggled to read this because Sarah McDonald seemed to hate almost every second in India and described it humorlessly. It took me a couple of months to finish, but I ended up finishing in August. I kept reading because, every so often, she would talk about some interesting facts that I hadn’t heard about, but on the whole, this book was a bit of a slog.
Rating: 2/10 - Getting Stoned With Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Vanuatu and Fiji by J. Maarten Troost
Non-Fiction; Travel // Humor
Troost is back on my list with his second book about living in Vanuatu and Fiji. This book is much less of a downer than his other books. This one is much lighter, and he seemed to have a much better time on these islands than Kiribati & in China. So if you only choose one book of Troost’s to read, I’d choose this one.
Rating: 9/10 - The Girls by Emma Cline
Fiction; Historical Fiction // Thriller
It is weird to put a book based in the 1970s into “historical fiction,” but here we are. This book is somewhat loosely based on the Manson family & subsequent murders but has characters with different names, pasts, etc. The narrator is a sad and lonely kid who hangs out with the family but seemingly always has a toe back in the real world. This story is told very well.
Rating: 7/10 - We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This is another of the books that I’ve had on my want-to-read list but hadn’t — and I’m glad I finally got around to it! The way this book is written kept a grip on me, and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. And man, that end is so satisfying. Enjoy!
Rating: 9/10
September
10 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.9
- Revival Season by Monica West
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Monica West is a great storyteller, but, unfortunately, I wasn’t too interested in the story. I did finish it, and it has a great last line. However, this one didn’t do it for me. Maybe it will be different for you!
Rating: 6/10 - Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Fiction; Fantasy
I know this book isn’t technically a play, but it certainly reads like one. And, when I googled it, it turned out that the author has written and directed plays in Japan. So there you go. Anyway, this is a quick read in 4 parts about a cafe which can take people back in time. Each act focuses on a different regular to the coffee shop, and by the end, you’ll feel like you know them all personally. I enjoyed reading this & thinking about it afterward.
Rating: 7.5/10 - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Fiction; Mystery // Thriller
I read this almost 600-page book in one day. You should read it immediately. In fact, stop reading this list, and read this book.
Rating: 10/10 - The Kingdom by Jo Nesbø
Fiction; Thriller
This book by Jo Nesbø is quite a journey. This book is simultaneously action-packed, and a slow burn and is about two brothers in Norway and the younger brother’s wife. You really get to know the characters, and it is very well written. However, it is slow going. It took me about a month to finish this one, but I did enjoy the experience. PS — Stephen King likes this book, which makes a lot of sense.
Rating: 8/10 - Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs by Joe Godden
Non-Fiction; History
If you like the Beatles and you want to learn more about their lives through drugs, then this is the book for you. This is one that my brother Matthew gave me to read, but unfortunately, he had told me the majority of the good stories before I read it. However, if you don’t have Matthew telling you about the book a couple of days before reading it, you will enjoy it. (Matthew — if you are control-F’ing to see where you are mentioned, hello and welcome)
Rating: 6/10 - The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Fiction; Historical Fiction
Paula McLain really took me on a journey with Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Richardson. The book is from Hadley’s perspective and takes us through her meeting and very quickly marrying Ernest, moving to Paris, having a baby, galavanting across Spain, affairs, heartbreak, and more, if you can believe it. While everyone knows who Hemingway is, I had never heard of Hadley, and I am delighted that I read this book and rectified that. McLain makes her a very sympathetic (although sometimes unlikeable) character, and I was very engaged from cover to cover. So engaged, I found a book by another author about Ernest Hemingway’s second wife, lol. Stay tuned to see if I read that this year!
Rating: 8/10 - First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami
Fiction; Literary Fiction // Short Stories
Oh, Haruki Murakami. No one can write like Murakami, but I think I will be sticking with his more long-form novels. This short story collection was interesting (like all of his work) but far from my favorite. If you’re already a Murakami fan, check these out and let me know what you think; if this would be your first dive into his writing, may I please direct you towards Kafka on the Shore?
Rating: 4/10 - Matrix by Lauren Groff
Fiction; Historical Fiction
My low rating for this book is entirely on me. I don’t like to spoil anything before I start reading a book, so I took a very, very quick glance at a review of this book before reading. Well, I took too brief a look because I only picked up on the words “something mysterious happens,” and I went into thinking that this was a mystery book. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. What it is is a very well-written literary fiction book about a somewhat royal woman in the medieval period who gets shipped away to be a nun. And, importantly, there isn’t a mystery to solve once she gets to the convent. So, even though I was confused for the first couple of hours listening, I did enjoy listening to this book, especially since it is not something I would have picked up if I had read the review further. Also, the book is based on a real person if you want to do some background research.
Rating: 6/10 - People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Fiction; Romance
I read another of Emily Henry’s books earlier in the year (Beach Read), so when she published a new one this year, I instantly added it to my TBR list. This is another easy listen/read that my boyfriend, Brett, and I listened to en route to Texas since we are both romantic comedy fans. Although you can see all the “twists” and “turns” coming, I didn’t care, and it was a fun read. So enjoy! (Brett — if you are control-F’ing to see where you are mentioned, hello!)
Rating: 7/10 - The Argonautica: Jason and the Golden Fleece by Apollonius of Rhodes
Fiction; Epic Poetry
Welp. I think Homer has ruined all epic poetry for me. The story is a classic but listening to it as an adult (opposed to watching the movie as a kid) was a bit painful because the writing is not as easy to glide through like the Homer translations that I read earlier in the year. It is possibly because of the translator, but in some other reviews I read, people also agreed that Apollonius is potentially not the best epic poet. So if you want to round out your knowledge of the classics, you have to read this; otherwise, stick with the much-more-fun film.
Rating: 5/10
October
28 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.1
*Note: October was my first month living in Texas, so my social calendar was very free, hence the large reading number for October & November.
- Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
Fiction; Historical Fiction
A spy, another spy, and a secret spy?? This book has a lot of spies (clearly), a lot of 1950s jargon, and two (you can argue, three) strong female leads — what more could you want?
Rating: 8/10 - Survive the Night by Riley Sager
Fiction; Thriller
A girl who sees movies in her mind (isn’t this just called “daydreaming”?), a potential killer, and a spooky diner…what more could you want in a thriller? Well, a bit more. I found this pretty formulaic, but it was still intriguing.
Rating: 6/10 - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
Fiction; Fantasy
For those of you who don’t know, this book is all over BookTube & BookTok & Goodreads (aka the three holy sources of book info), and, at first, I had no interest. However, after seeing many people rate this book highly, I decided to check it out. It has many magical creatures and a charming main character that you’re rooting for the entire time. One thing to note, which I didn’t realize until watching Jack Edwards’ video about the book (which convinced me to read it), is that the historical event this is based on is pretty heavy stuff which is…an interesting choice. If you do read this book, I’d highly recommend reading more about Sixties Scoop, as well.
Rating: 6/10 - Masie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Fiction; Historical Fiction // Mystery
Let’s just say that Masie Dobbs is basically a 1900s superhero. This is a fun read if you put that and the trope-y characters aside. It has a mystery that you sort of forget about until it comes back in the last section of the book, but I enjoyed learning about Masie’s backstory. I will be checking out the others in the series!
Rating: 7/10 - The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Fiction; Horror
Yes, yes, yes. I’ve decided that The Only Good Indians is my ideal type of book — ordinary people in an ordinary setting that then encounter something so insane and supernatural that you can’t help but keep reading to figure out what happens next. This book is top tier if you enjoy feeling uncomfortable and not knowing what will happen next.
Rating: 9.5/10 - The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This book is a truly epic tale about an unsuspecting time traveler and romance. Honestly, not my type of book, so I’m not sure why I picked it up! However, it was interesting to learn about medieval Siena/Italy. So, if you’re a history buff who also enjoys a bit of romance, check it out.
Rating: 6/10 - My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Fiction; Thriller
Uhhhhhh, this book is certainly interesting. I’m not sure if I’d recommend it, but it is undoubtedly well written and a bite-sized read. Read if you like: seemingly-helpless main characters and unsuspecting anti-heroes (??). Honestly, not sure how to feel after reading this…but I did like it. Did I? I will be thinking about this for a while.
Rating: 7/10 - Mrs. March by Virginia Feito
Fiction; Thriller // Horror // Psychological Fiction
If you like Hitchcock vibes, I have got a story for you. This book had me SPOOKED and staying up late to read more. I heard this is being made into a TV show which, honestly, I’m not sure I’d be able to handle watching. This is one of those books where you shouldn’t go into reading with a great deal of knowledge about the book, so only check it out if you like to be on edge and reading books in one sitting (but really, this is a fantastic read).
Rating: 9.5/10 - Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Fiction; Fantasy
A spooky carnival arrives in a small Midwestern town. Who will win the battle between boy and carnie? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out…
Rating: 6/10 - The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II by Svetlana Alexievich
Non-Fiction; History
This book is horrific and jarring — full stop. If you don’t want to read about the realities of war, do not read this. However, if you’re curious, this is a book of interviews compiled by a Belarusian investigative journalist who interviewed female soviet fighters (and other soviet women who lived through the war) about their experiences. I didn’t enjoy reading this (if you do: go to therapy), but reading this should be required if you are interested in WWII. Expect to take breaks while reading.
Rating: 9/10 - Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Transcendent Kingdom is a book primarily told in flashbacks, which I sometimes find annoying, but Yaa Gyasi knocked it out of the park. Our main character, Gifty, is a neuroscientist who is studying addiction treatment, and our story begins when her mother arrives at her house during a depressive episode. We are taken back through Gifty & her mother’s lives to learn about their family, about their experiences with Ghana & the United States, and their troubles. Great book.
Rating: 8/10 - The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
I should keep count of how many times I say, “Agatha Christie, you’ve done it again!” but, I’ll say it, she’s done it again! This was a cool story, filled with witchcraft, nefarious characters, and a charming lead. I enjoyed this one and, for me, it ranks high within what I’ve read of Christie!
Rating: 9/10 - The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Miss Marple returns — why do people still think she is some quiet old lady? She’s solving crimes that the national guard can’t solve left and right! As with all Christie novels, I was wrong about who I thought the murderer was many times. Highly enjoyable.
Rating: 8/10 - The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
I love it when books get right to it, and I think the third line in this book is — “Come quick! There’s a body in the library!” Again, not necessarily related to the story, but for the British people reading this — is every town besides London a “small town where everyone knows each other,” or is that just where Miss Marple decides to solve crimes? Anyway, this was another great story with so many twists and turns. I did figure out who the murderer was in this one before the reveal, and weirdly that made me like the story a little less.
Rating: 7/10 - Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Fiction; Fantasy
After reading Mexican Gothic earlier this year, I wanted to go back to Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing, and I found this fantasy novel! Our heroine begins the story as practically Mexican Cinderella but finds a Mayan god locked in a chest and, of course, goes on a quest with him to win back his crown. Throughout the story, we meet various Mayan gods and goddesses, and all in all, this was very fun to read.
Rating: 7/10 - Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
Fiction; Thriller…?
I enjoyed the first 75% of this book, but the ending was disappointing. The gist of this book is that college-aged students go to this very exclusive and secretive academy where — surprise — the science students are performing some disturbing experiments.
Rating: 5/10 - Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Fiction; Science Fiction
Okay, this is a book about factory farming humans. You learn about how and why this is happening in excruciating detail in this brief, 200-page book. We follow Marcos through his life as a factory farm salesman (of sorts) as he goes to all the different parts of the city where meat is born, raised, slaughtered, and sold. Expect to feel queasy the entire time reading this (if you don’t… I’m worried). Last thing I’ll say because this is already one of the longest recaps I’ve written this year: when I read the final page of this book, my jaw literally dropped. I had to take a lap around the apartment. And now I am here, writing this recap. Holy CRAP, this is such a good book.
Rating: 10/10 - The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous
Fiction; Epic Poetry
It is wild to read something written around 4,000 years ago, so for that reason alone, you should read this epic poem. Gilgamesh and Enkidu forever!!!
Rating: 7/10 - A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Fiction; Mystery
Things I realized while reading this story: Sherlock Holmes is certifiably insane. The Sherlock Holmes mysteries are impossible for the reader to figure out. I may not like Sherlock Holmes stories? I will keep reading since I already have the second book, so stay tuned…
Rating: 5/10 - The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
Fiction; Literary Fiction
How to describe this story without telling you about Tolstoy himself… I’m not sure I can, so I won’t! I know my brother Matthew would lose his MIND if I didn’t say that this was a recommendation from him and that he also said something similar to the previous sentence before I read it. Also, Akira Kurosawa used this story as the basis of his film, Ikiru (a cinematic achievement). I realize this blurb is very much more about Ikiru more than The Death of Ivan Ilyich at this point, so, in that vein, here is the best scene in the movie. You’re welcome (and be prepared to cry)!
Rating: 8/10 - Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
Fiction; Thriller
This book is about a neighborhood that turns to fear rather than banding together after a terrible event that took place (no spoilers here, folks). I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it in one sitting (I read it in two halves, a month or so apart, due to moving), so the middle-of-the-road enjoyment rating is absolutely on me and not the author.
Rating: 5/10 - A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Agatha! What have you done! I finally found an Agatha Christie book that I was bored by — something I didn’t think could be possible. I’m discovering that Miss Marple just doesn’t do it like Poirot, and I miss him. However, I still recommend reading this because, well, it’s Agatha Christie.
Rating: 3/10 - They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie
Fiction; Mystery
Okay, okay, maybe I don’t dislike Miss Marple. I just disliked A Murder is Announced. This one brought me back to the light. However, I think I’ve read too many Marples in too short a time, so I would be surprised if you see any more of this series this year!
Rating: 6/10 - Under the Dome by Stephen King
Fiction; Science Fiction
A rural town in Maine (surprise, surprise) is suddenly placed under a dome. Why? No one knows. How? No one knows. What does this mean for the town? Well…quite a bit. I loved this story and felt like it was much more about the characters’ journey than figuring out why the dome exists at all. If the 1,000+ pages aren’t daunting to you, definitely check this one out.
Rating: 8/10 - The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Fiction; Thriller
I so enjoyed the setup, the setting, and the storytelling, up to a point. Then, seemingly, 2/3rds of the way through, the author lost the plot. Feeling conflicted, I visited the Goodreads comments, and this one sums it up nicely: “Erin was not much of a detective! No wonder she was on leave. And what was that ending?” However…I might pick up the next one since I am a sucker for a thriller. We shall see what 2022 brings.
Rating: 5/10 - The Companions by Katie M. Flynn
Fiction; Science Fiction
I found this book to suffer from too many perspectives but, overall, this was an enjoyable reading experience. Also, this book about a seemingly never-ending quarantine was released in early March 2020…what did Katie Flynn know…
Rating: 6/10 - Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Fiction; Thriller
A couple of years ago, I read Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies (a fantastic book), so I had high expectations for her latest book, Apples Never Fall. This book is another domestic thriller and is a very slow burn (some may say too slow). I liked listening to this book, but I think the last few chapters (after all the drama sorts out) that talk about the pandemic were random and not needed.
Rating: 7/10 - The Little Sisters of Eluria by Stephen King
Fiction; Fantasy
Rating: 10/10
The Dark Tower series is my favorite fantasy series of all time (eat your heart out, Tolkien), and this prequel short story made me love the series even more. I mean, c’mon, read this:
“Ye’ll be fine if God wills, sai,” the voice which went with the hands said. “But time belongs to God, not to you.” No, he would have said, if he had been able. Time belongs to the Tower.
November
25 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 6.8
- In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Fiction; Romance
The book is shelved as a romance, but it is much more about friendship (don’t read more about it lest you get the plot spoiled). I don’t think any book I’ve read this year has made me feel as much as I did while reading this book. I had to stop multiple times because I was crying so hard. So, did I enjoy reading this? Not really. Do I like the book? Absolutely.
Rating: 10/10 - Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Non-Fiction; Climate Activism
A short and straightforward book about climate change and youth activism: if you’re not well versed in what is happening with the climate crisis, check this out for a good primer.
Rating: 8/10 - 5 Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards
Fiction; YA
This book was the Global Library Bookclub choice for November. The writing and plot are simplistic, and it turns out for a good reason — it’s a YA thriller. Not my thing.
Rating: 3/10 - The Dinner by Herman Koch
Fiction; Thriller
This is an excellent book about vile people. It takes place during (you guessed it) a dinner, and I found myself simultaneously cheering on and booing this evil little narrator. I really liked this one!
Rating: 9/10 - All’s Well by Mona Awad
Fiction; Horror
What…did I just read…? Like the Shakespeare play this book is based (?) on, this is neither a comedy nor a tragedy, but it surely is something. I enjoyed this, but it is a very wild ride where nothing makes sense. I am picking up everything else this author has ever written immediately.
Rating: 8.5/10 - The Cape Doctor by E. J. Levy
Fiction; Historical Fiction
The Cape Doctor is based on Dr. James Miranda Barry, born Margaret Anne Bulkley. The real-life Dr. James lived during the early 1800s, performed the first successful cesarian operation, and was discovered to be a woman only after he died. This is a well-written story and has the perfect amount of history, romance, and excitement.
Rating: 7/10 - The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Fiction; Thriller
I feel like I was waiting for the story to pick up for 300 pages. All of the action in this book happens right at the end and ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I would be interested to know if there will be a sequel or a standalone book. However, you can skip this one if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller.
Rating: 6/10 - My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
Fiction; Horror
Stephen Graham Jones is such a fantastic writer — this book is written so well and has an overall great premise. Although, much of this book was lost on me since I can barely watch the original Friday the 13th without covering my eyes through most of it. In this book, our main character is a half-Native American girl obsessed with slasher movies, so much so that she believes she is about to be living through one. This book takes a lot of patience but has a great payoff. This is the first book in a series, and I will be picking up the next one once it is out.
Rating: 6/10 - The Therapist by B. A. Paris
Fiction; Thriller
This book has a great premise, but, man, this main character is so stupid that I hated reading it.
Rating: 3/10 - The Exotic by Hampton Sides
Non-Fiction; History
This is a fun & short book about a Tahitian named Ma’i who became the first person from the South Seas Islands to visit England. This book covers his time in England, where he found somewhat of a friendship with the Earl of Sandwich and was introduced (shown off, some may say) to everyone in high society. After living it up with the big wigs in England, Ma’i joined Captian Cook on his third journey, returning to the Pacific islands. Really cool story!
Rating: 8/10 - Franz Kafka: The Life and Legacy of One of the 20th Century’s Most Influential Writers by Charles River Editors
Non-Fiction; Biography
After The Exotic, I wanted another short non-fiction book, so I picked up this biography of Kafka (one of my favorite writers). The book ends with this Kafka quote, so I’ll end my recap with it as well: “Don’t bend. Don’t water it down. Don’t try to make it logical. Don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your obsessions mercilessly.”
Rating: 9/10 - The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Fiction; Thriller
One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year! The majority of this book also takes place in Austin (!) and has lots of twists and turns. Although it isn’t “thrilling” for most of the book, the mystery of what happened and the characters’ reactions were interesting enough to keep me reading. Enjoy!
Rating: 8/10 - Woyzeck by Georg Büchner
Fiction; Play
This play is unfinished because the author died during his revisions. I laughed out loud many times reading this because some of the dialogue is so unexpected. This is super short (38 pages), so I’d recommend reading it even if you may leave more confused than when you arrived.
Rating: 6/10 - Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente (My 150th book the year!)
Fiction; Horror
What a strange little book! I loved this! The less you know about this before reading, the better, so the only tidbit I’ll give you is that I don’t think this was a horror (but Goodreads does, and who am I to disagree with them). Enjoy :)
Rating: 8.5/10 - The Death of Jane Laurence by Caitlin Starling
Fiction; Horror? // Fantasy // Gothic
A lot of people like this book, and I am happy for them. I, however, did not have an enjoyable reading experience.
Rating: 3/10 - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Fiction; Play
I’m beginning to think I might not like anything written by a British man in the 1800s. I know rating this play a four is insane but know that I considered giving it a TWO.
Rating: 4/10 - Billy Summers by Stephen King
Fiction; Thriller
A hitman’s last job goes wrong…now what? This was a thrilling read.
Rating: 8/10 - Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
Fiction; Thriller
An average girl is gifted a box of chocolates and buttons, and, turns out, when she presses a button, terrible things happen.
Rating: 6/10 - The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Fiction; Fantasy
Why did I read this? I have no idea! Should you read this? I also have no idea!
Rating: 4/10 - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Fiction; Fantasy
This is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Piranesi is our main character who lives in The House with The Other, and from there, things just get weirder. Really a fantastic novel. Read this!
Rating: 9/10 - The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Fiction; Fantasy // Literary Fiction
The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books, and this book is more or less a retelling with an additional character, Jordan, our main character. There are fantasy elements in this book, but, for me, not enough to be its own separate story from the classic.
Rating: 6/10 - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
Fiction; Science Fiction // Thriller
Do you like clones? Murder? Fake science? Then do I have a book for you.
Rating: 6/10 - Dune by Frank Herbert
Fiction; Science Fiction
I read this over the Thanksgiving holiday, and man, oh man, what a book this is. I very much enjoyed this, and it is my favorite book that I have read this year. Everything about it is *chefs kiss*.
Rating: 10/10 - Season of Storms by Andrzej Sapkowski
Fiction; Fantasy
This is pretty much another short story collection of witcher tales, and one of the last lines is “The story never ends” and, considering this is the last book written in the series…I hope that it is the case. I love anything about the Witcher, so this was a very easy read and easy for me to rank highly!
Rating: 8/10 - A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
Fiction; Thriller
What…….a weird………book. I don’t think I would want to recommend this to anyone, but it is so odd that I need someone to talk to about it. If you’ve read this, call me.
Rating: 7/10
December
21 Books Read
Average Enjoyment Rating: 7.0
- A Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Fiction; Fantasy // Mythology
This book has a great premise, but I did not enjoy the writing style; it was written like a YA book but marketed towards adults. However, that does mean that it is a straightforward read and would be an excellent book to pick up if you’re looking to get back into reading & enjoy fantasy.
Rating: 5/10 - Agamemnon by Aeschylus
Fiction; Play
Clytemnestra does not play around.
Rating: 6/10 - The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
Fiction; Thriller
I respect this book for upping the stakes for these characters in every single chapter. Every time you think things have gotten to a climax, Fisher turns up the heat. I enjoyed this but don’t go into it thinking anything will be realistic.
Rating: 8/10 - Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
Fiction; Horror
Well, well. This was a spooky little story. If you like ghost stories, this is worth reading because it is very short and fast.
Rating: 7/10 - Falling by T. J. Newman
Fiction; Thriller
So, get this — the author of this book was a flight attendant who wrote this while on overnight flights, and all the passengers were sleeping. For some reason, that makes this book 10x more terrifying. This was a genuinely thrilling experience to read, and I will read anything else that this other puts out!
Rating: 9.5/10 - How To Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Fiction; Short Stories
This is a collection of fictional short stories that all center around immigrants from Laos. I liked all of the stories and thought this was a well-written collection. I listened to the audiobook, and, fun fact, it is narrated in part by Kulap Vilaysack (the director of a documentary about her family & finding her father called Origin Story)!
Rating: 7/10 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Non-Fiction; Memoir
Before reading, I knew nothing about Trevor Noah; I don’t watch The Daily Show, and I’ve never even heard him speak. However! This book gave me a look into life in apartheid & post-apartheid life in South Africa which I found fascinating. There were some fun memories in the book, don’t expect to be laughing through most of it. It is much more of a look at his life and relationships (notably with his mom) while living in South Africa. I think he would have another best seller if he wrote about how he became famous because that is not discussed in this book. Enjoyable!
Rating: 8/10 - Mona by Pola Oloixarac
Fiction; Literary Fiction
This story is much spicier than I was anticipating but, that said, I enjoyed listening to this. The writing is top-notch.
Rating: 8/10 - A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Fiction; Fantasy
This is a super short retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It’s alright.
Rating: 5/10 - Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Nightbitch is about a first-time mom who turns into a dog and turns it into performance art. While this book is satirical, it is also quite frightening. I enjoyed it.
Rating: 7/10 - Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past to Present by Adrienne Keene
Non-Fiction; Biographies
What a lovely book. This is a compilation of short biographies about (mostly) modern-day Native Americans with brief interstitials about life in Native American communities, history, and language. I learned a lot from this book, and it has beautiful illustrations. If you know a child, I would recommend getting them this book to read (or read with their parent!).
Rating: 9/10 - Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Fiction; Literary Fiction
Hmm.
Rating: 4/10 - The Guide by Peter Heller
Fiction; Thriller
This book is placed in COVID times in Colorado at a high-end resort. Our main characters are a fishing guide & a famous singer. They slowly figure out that something much more sinister is going on at the ranch than either of them expected. I genuinely was surprised once the clues started coming together and enjoyed this reading experience.
Rating: 7/10 - A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson
Fiction; Fantasy // Gothic
This is a retelling of Dracula’s brides, which I thought I would love. But, alas, I did not. Sadly, this book has put me in a reading slump, so we shall see how long that lasts…
Rating: 4/10 - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Fiction; Fantasy // Historical Fiction
After posting this blog on social, this is the number one recommendation that I received from most people, so I picked it up. This is a story about a girl who makes a deal with the devil (…or is it?). The story goes from 1700s France to 1920s Chicago to current day New York and follows our main character, Addie LaRue. This was a great book, but I felt like many sections could have been easily edited out to keep the story moving.
Rating: 7/10 - The Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price
Non-Fiction; History
BRB; I’m quitting my job and becoming an archeologist to work with Neil Price in Sweden. This book is immersive, and I was sad to have finished it because I could have read 600 more pages about the world of the Vikings.
Rating: 10/10 - The Test by Sylvain Neuvel
Fiction; Science Fiction
The gist of the book is that there is something unsavory happening at the British immigration office. What an exciting little story. I devoured this in one day and very much enjoyed it.
Rating: 8/10 - The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Fiction; Historical Fiction
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and, sadly, it did not live up to my expectations. The author took the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie and devised a mystery of her own about how and why Agatha left. Since no one knows why she left, I obviously can’t say that what this author came up with is wrong, but I didn’t enjoy it.
Rating: 5/10 - Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes’s Hollywood by Karina Longworth
Non-Fiction; Biography
I loved this look into Howard Hughes’ life by Karina Longworth. Meticulously researched, this biography looks not just at Mr. Hughes himself but his friends, family, and lovers and how he affected them (and vice versa). By the end, despite all of the truly horrifying things he did, Karina’s portrait of his decline was so sad that I found myself feeling sorry for him. Truly one of the most fascinating non-fiction books I read this year.
Rating: 9.5/10 - Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Fiction; Mythology
I’ve read a couple of books about ancient Greek happenings from the female perspective, so I figured, why not add another to the list. Daughters of Sparta looks at the beginnings, happenings, and aftermath of the Trojan War from Helen & Clytemnestra’s point of view. And once again, I have to say, Clytemnestra does not play around (but I can’t say I blame her).
Rating: 7/10 - If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Fiction; Literary Fiction
I really enjoyed the writing style and that we follow four people in their different lives while reading, but ultimately, this wasn’t written for a reader like me (which is obviously fine). There is some interesting commentary here, but, ultimately, I found the pacing slow.
Rating: 5/10
And, we’re done!
Thank you for reading this collection of book reviews & coming along on the journey with me. Have any recommendations for 2022? Please drop them in the comments below!
