My favourite reads of 2021
How do you decide what to read? My tastes are often influenced by what catches my eye when I visit the library, but I’ve made a real effort this year to read more widely – more non-fiction, more research-backed insights, more personal essays. I’ve particularly allowed myself to be led by the season I’m in at the time – if I was feeling pensive and reflective, personal essays felt like kindred spirits. If I wanted to feel less stuck, reading about other creatives or essays about different cities scratched that itch. If I felt curious and wanted to butt my brain against new ideas, I picked up a productivity or mental health book. It’s been helpful and, most importantly, soothing during another tumultuous year.
2021 is possibly the first year that I’ve reached my reading goal of 50 books. In December, I did a mad dash to the finish line, adding nine books to my ‘read’ pile. I found it interesting that it didn’t feel like a chore in the end – when reading is a priority, you make time for it and it becomes relatively easy to get through books. Out of the 50 books I read in 2021, there were some that fundamentally shifted something inside me, while others were frivolous, light reads that I ruined my eyesight over binging them on my phone late at night (the Apple Books app is dangerous). I only gave 7 books a five star rating, but there are some other stand outs that I will list at the end. Without further ado, here are my favourite reads of 2021.
Becoming - Michelle Obama
Why I did I give it 5 stars? Michelle Obama is straight up a legend and an icon. I’m wary of over-romanticising the Obamas and their legacy, but I was struck in the best ways by Michelle’s humility, work ethic and compassion in this book. Also, who doesn’t want to hear about what goes on behind the scenes in the White House?
Becoming follows Michelle Obama’s life from her earliest years and the influence of her parents, through college and meeting Barack and finally, his US Presidency and their life as one of the most well-known families in the world.
This is a personal/political memoir for the everyday person – you don’t have to be interested in the Obamas or US politics to dive in. Becoming really resonated with me as a person in their 30s who’s left their 20s and the expectations of that younger person behind. What will I become? What led me to who I am now? What parts of me do I want to hold on to, especially in the face of adversity, challenges and change? These are all questions that Michelle Obama spoke to me about.
A similar recommendation – Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss & The Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride
Her Say - Jackie Clark and The Aunties
Why did I give it 5 stars? I was lucky enough to sit down with Jackie Clark and one of the women from The Aunties in episode two of my podcast, Breakfast Chats. During that chat, Jackie told me that it was rare, no unheard of, for a book to be published in NZ featuring the voices and stories of people who have experienced domestic violence. In Her Say, they had control of the narrative and they shared what they wanted. At the very least, this was the first time I had read first-hand accounts of people who had lived or were living through this particular experience, and it was pretty powerful. I recommend this book because I think it’s so important to move past stereotypes, our assumptions and what other people have told us about domestic violence, and instead to hear about it from those who have lived it. Domestic violence is common in NZ unfortunately, and we need a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of what it is, who it affects, and how challenging it can be to break out of that cycle.
Her Say is a collection of personal stories from members The Aunties whānau. The Aunties is led by Jackie Clark, who works with a group of women in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) healing from domestic violence and abuse. You can learn more about The Aunties here.
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel - Alexander Chee
Why did I give it 5 stars? This book was just what I needed at the end of a ridiculous, rollercoaster year. At the tail-end of Auckland’s months long lockdown, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel allowed me to walk with Chee through 1980s San Francisco and the fight for recognition of the AIDs crisis, to travel to Korea and the disconnect of growing up overseas and half-caste, to languish and revel in the process of writing and why we write. What I love about personal essays is how they can speak quietly to our hearts and our experiences while reflecting the life of someone possibly completely different to you. That’s what Alexander Chee’s collection of essays felt like. Whether you identify as a creative or not, Chee is just a great writer and this book is worth a read. However, if you are a writer, Chee’s words are an act of meditation, of reflection, and of encouragement to write because we can, because we must.
‘To write is to sell a ticket to escape, not from the truth, but into it. My job is to make something happen in the space barely larger than the span of your hand, behind your eyes, distilled out of all that I have carried, from friends, teachers, people met on planes, people I have only seen in my mind, all my mother and father ever did, every favourite book, until it meets and distills from you, the reader, something out of the everything it finds in you.’
A similar recommendation – Black Swans by Eve Babitz. Just a surprisingly wonderful read, perfect for people who feel like they’re getting older and what it’s like to watch things change.
NonNonBa - Shigeru Mizuki
Why did I give it 5 stars? I consumed this manga by Japanese manga artist and historian, Shigeru Mizuki in one sitting. I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. My husband found this copy on the Withdrawn book cart at our local library and snapped it up, telling me, ‘You have to read this, I think you’ll like it.’ What I’ve learnt after reading this manga is that I need to trust my husband’s opinion more often.
NonNonBa is a memoir of Mizuki’s childhood in Japan in the early 20th Century and his experiences of Yokai and the spirit world, heavily influenced by his grandmother and her stories. I don’t think any description I can offer of this book does it justice, but basically I loved learning more about Yokai and seeing how this played out in Mizuki’s childhood, as well as viewing Japan during a time of transition through the eyes of this curious child. If you’ve never really read manga, graphic novels or comics before, this could be a good one to start with.
My Life in France - Julia Child & Alex Prud’homme
Why did I give it 5 stars? 2021 was the year where I became a little bit obsessed with Julia Child. If you don’t know who she is, Julia was a chef, cookbook author and TV show host in the mid 20th Century who basically brought french cooking to the American masses. For a fun, entertaining introduction to this powerhouse, watch the film, Julie and Julia and fall in love with her, french cooking, and Stanley Tucci’s arms. Reading this book was a delight. I love Julia’s approach to food and life, the way she found joy and whimsy in many things. I love her determination and gumption – she was in her late 30s when she moved to Paris with her husband, Paul Child. She discovered French cooking, studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and spent the next decade testing and writing a tome of a cookbook that the average American home cook could employ. My Life in France actually covers decades of Julia’s life and it was almost a relief to read about this woman who was so determined to stick to her vision, who was unconventional and resourceful, who took everything in her long stride (Julia was tall!) and made a life for herself and Paul that reflected what they wanted and needed.
My Life in France is a memoir written by Julia Child and her nephew, Alex Prud’homme in her twilight years. Together they recount Julia and Paul Childs’ time in Paris, Julia’s discovery of her love of French food and cooking, the writing of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her eventual TV career. If you love food, you need to read this book.
Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner
Why did I give it 5 stars? This is the book that has been on every Booktubers and Booktokers list of favourite reads this past year, and for good reason. Crying in H Mart is a memoir by Michelle Zauner (aka American musician, Japanese Breakfast) about the challenges of dealing with her mother’s declining health and passing from terminal cancer. This book felt so deeply personal yet universal, especially for kids like me who grew up half-Asian. There is a complexity and nuance to Zauner’s relationship with her immigrant Korean mother that I feel like I’d need to write my own memoir to try and describe. The filial piety, the rebellion, the desire to be independent and yet completely grafted and intertwined with your parents, particularly your mother who feeds, nourishes and chastises you… Crying in H Mart will make you want to cry, call your mother and make kimchi in the same breath.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time & How to Use It - Oliver Burkeman
Why did I give it 5 stars? After several years on the organisation and productivity bandwagon, quickly followed by a global pandemic and a mental health crisis, I was starting to feel pretty disillusioned with the idea of using time more effectively. Enter Oliver Burkeman’s chat with Emma Gannon on her podcast Ctrl Alt Delete. Four Thousand Weeks was just want I needed to reassess how I’ve been (incorrectly) viewing time and how I try to manage it. The premise might seem a little grim – the average lifespan is roughly four thousand weeks and it’s going to pass regardless – but the message is ultimately freeing. I feel like some of the tension has gone from my body after reading this book, like the joints are loosening up as I face the reality of our short lives and let go of trying to control it. If you’re feeling like you need some tools to help you construct a more meaningful life by embracing our limitations, then pick up this book in 2022.
A similar recommendation – Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi, which looks at the importance of being bored when it comes to problem solving and creativity.
Special mentions
The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up – Marie Kondo & Yuko Uramoto
By now, you’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo and her method of tidying, called the Konmari method. Maybe you’ve even seen her TV show on Netflix. Now, not to throw shade on the show, but I think the book is 10x better at explaining the Konmari method in detail and why it works. However, if you’re not keen to read the full book, may I suggest the shorter and funnier manga version of it. Follow the main character’s struggle to keep her small apartment tidy and the help she receives from a diminutive and optimistic tidying expert.
Maybe you Should Talk to Someone – Lori Gottlieb
If you’ve ever been interested in how therapists and therapy works, this is a very interesting book to get stuck into. Lori Gottlieb is an American writer, speaker and psychotherapist who has to seek out therapy for herself after a massive life change. It’s fascinating to read her experience of navigating therapy for others while also being in the patient’s chair. If you’re not into navel gazing, this might not be the best book for you, but it’s a light and entertaining read with some real heart to it, great for pre-sleep reading.
Morning: How to make time – Allan Jenkins
This book isn’t the best thing you’ll ever read or particularly life changing, but it is contemplative, which is why it gets a special mention here. Morning is a diary and collection of interviews about the joys of waking up early, like really early. Before the birds, early. I’ve never been a morning person, but I’ve occasionally experienced the transcendental joyful awakeness of rising with the sun. So, I was intrigued – why rise so early most days? This book largely convinced me that it was worth giving it a go and it might do the same for you too.
I hope some of these inspire your TBR list for 2022. If you end up reading any, let me know what you think by tagging me on Instagram or leaving a comment here. And remember to buy your books from your local independent bookstore whenever you can!
