Books We Loved in 2021

Elisabeth Scott

Social Media and Reference Librarian

 

It's the "best of" reading list you've all been waiting for! Every year, MLC staff put together their favorite books--novels, picture books, comics, nonfiction, what have you-- and post it here on our lovely blog for you, our dear readers. Hyperlinked titles are available in MLC's collection and many of these books are also available at your Mississippi public library. We've been sharing these lists for several years, so if you're looking for book recs you should check out some of our faves from years past: 2016 part 1, 2016 part 2, 2017 adults, 2017 kids, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Without further ado, these are the books MLC staff loved reading this year. 

Fiction

Black Buck (2021)

Mateo Askaripour

A look at the modern salesperson of today and the insanity of it all. Plus the author breaks the fourth wall in such a clever way. 

Bunny (2019)

Mona Awad

Samantha Mackey, an MFA student at a prestigious university, REALLY doesn't like the girls in her fiction writing cohort: four rich girls who all call each other Bunny. But as Samantha gets closer to the Bunnies, she discovers a dark world of secrets, desire, and a sinisterness behind the Bunnies she never would have expected. A mixture of Heathers and The Secret History with a BIG dose of bonkers, Awad writes a darkly compelling page-turner of a book.

 

The Witch's Daughter (2008)

Paula Brackston

I picked this up at the Starkville Public Library Friends book sale on a site visit. I enjoyed the historical witchy time travel and romance aspects. I actually bought the second book because I enjoyed the first one so much. Book one was an easy/quick read.

 

Parable of the Sower (1993)

Octavia E. Butler

I love dystopian fiction, so I've been going back to read some of the classics. Parable of the Sower is hands down the type of masterpiece I was hoping to find.

The Girl with the Louding Voice (2020)
Abi Dare

Lakewood (2020)

Megan Giddings

How far would you go to help the ones you love? This dystopian work ponders that question while considering class and race in medical experimentation. This page-turner kept me guessing who Lena, the main character, could trust and when she would be pushed too far.

Less (2017)

Andrew Sean Greer

I finally read this after so many people have recommended it. Arthur Less's escape becomes his journey. This book showed me that you can love a book even when you don't agree with the ending. Beautiful writing. I wish I could meet Arthur Less IRL.

Homegoing (2016)

Yaa Gyasi

 

Austenland (2007)

Shannon Hale

Jane Hayes, a graphic designer in her 30s, has a problem: no real man will ever match up to her love for Mr. Darcy. In order to cure herself of this obsession, she goes to an immersive Jane Austen theme park... though she doesn't expect to find love in the process. This is a cute, short, quick read (under 200 pages!) perfect for anyone who's spent a decent amount of time dreaming of Colin Firth in a wet shirt.

The Four Winds (2021)

Kristin Hannah

Both empowering and heartbreaking, this well-researched work shows the struggle of so many families during a not-so-often talked about point in history, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Even though the characters kept enduring hardships, their perseverance kept me coming back.

The Heart Principle (2021)

Helen Hoang

Miss Benson's Beetle (2020)

Rachel Joyce

Offbeat, historical, British fiction about one woman's search for the golden beetle of New Caledonia. It brought me to tears. I would read it again. A beautiful, moving, witty book.

Things in Jars (2019)

Jess Kidd

Devil in Disguise (2021)

Lisa Kleypas

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020)

T.J. Klune

Damnos (2013)

Nick Kyme

I'm a huge fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and this book features a massive war between two of my favorite factions: the Emperor's Ultramarines and the ancient alien Necrons. The book is almost entirely action, but it does slow down enough to get the human characters' perspectives. The strategic planning and tactics used by the soldiers are also excellent.

 

The Millenium series

Stieg Larsson 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005)

The Girl who Played with Fire (2006)

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2007)

Code Name Hélène (2020)

Ariel Lawhon

 

For the Emperor (2003)

Sandy Mitchell

While also set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, this book is vastly different in tone from Damnos, following a political officer who has managed to stumble his way into becoming an Imperium-wide hero. Ciaphas Cain is an unconventional hero who is highly aware of his own cowardly ways, and desires nothing more than to remain out of danger. His actions, while self-serving in motive, also serve the best interests of the soldiers under his command, and he gains their trust and admiration by being cautious and careful with their lives.

 

My Girl (2007-2010)

Sahara Mizu

This Japanese comic series follows an office worker who learns that his old lover has died in an accident, leaving him to raise a daughter he never knew he had. It's simultaneously sad and wholesome, as he's thrust into being a single father while losing the love of his life, as he does his best to provide the love and support that his daughter needs.  

If the Shoe Fits (2021)

Julie Murphy

 

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (2020)

Deesha Philyaw

Flawless. Each of the stories in this slim volume is pure perfection.

 

Survive the Night (2021)

Riley Sager

The Forever Girl (2021)

Jill Shalvis

 

Love for Beginners (2021)

Jill Shalvis 

One by One (2020)

Ruth Ware

Nothing to See Here (2019)

Kevin Williams

Lillian is called on by a former best friend she rarely exchanges letters with for a major favor; she wants Lillian to come take care of her husband's twin children from a previous marriage while he is making moves up the political ladder. The catch is no one can know about it/them, and they spontaneously combust when they have heightened emotions. The narrator does a wonderful job incorporating Southern accents naturally in a story that had me cracking up.

Waiting for Tom Hanks (2019)

Kerry Winfrey

 

Nonfiction 

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (2018)

James Clear

 

A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion (1971)

Anthony Bourke, John Rendall, George Adamson (foreward)

I tend to read a lot of science fiction, but this is the book that touched me the most this year. Someone recommended it to me, I put it on my TBR, and it stayed there for over two months. It's a thought-provoking look at the plight of many exotic animals all over the world. Some live out their lives in very restrictive situations. There is a YouTube series that goes with this story, but it was compiled years after the books was published. It consists of all of the videos that were made when the authors had Christian in their care.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth (2021)

Julian Sancton

In 1897, the Belgian ship Belgica is sailing to Antarctica, to explore the continent. Unfortunately, it gets frozen in and has to spend the winter in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth as disease and madness start to spread through the crew. Sancton does an amazing job describing this lesser-known voyage that's part horror story, part adventure story, all delivered with a beautifully novel-like touch.

 

Biography/Memoir

Solutions and Other Problems (2020)

Allie Brosch 

The Secret to Superhuman Strength (2021)

Alison Bechdel

 

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2003)

Marjane Satrapi

This memoir of the Iranian Revolution, told from the perspective of a young girl, is shown in stark black and white panels. As she grows older and the situation in Iran worsens, a young Satrapi grapples with the trials of adolescent rebellion alongside the tolls of war. I can't wait to read book two. 

 

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir (2020)

Natasha Trethewey

Trethewey's words are so lush, so poignant, and so overwhelmingly beautiful that I was completely transfixed the whole journey through this short memoir. Could you expect anything less from this former Mississippi Poet Laureate and two-time United States Poet Laureate?

 

 

Picture Books

Can Bears Ski? (2020)

Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar (illustrations)

Author Antrobus, who is Deaf, and illustrator Dunbar, who is partially Deaf, team up for this insightful and sweet look at childhood deafness.

White Socks Only (1996)

Evelyn Coleman and Tyrone Geter (illustrations)

I love picture books: the art, the spare text, and the way they combine together to convey stories to children. White Socks Only was a unexpected breath of fresh air. I'll be recommending this one a lot.

 

Mother Bruce series

Ryan T. Higgins

The Bruce Swap (2021)

Bruce's Big Fun Day (2019)

Bruce's Big Move (2017)

Bruce's Big Storm (2019)

Hotel Bruce (2016)

Mother Bruce (2015)

Santa Bruce (2018)

Spring Stinks (2021)

 

When Aidan Became a Brother (2019)

Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita (illustrations) 

A little boy worries that his new sibling will have to confront uncomfortable things in their life, perhaps even things as tough as when he transitioned fully into being a boy. He sets out to make sure this won't happen and his parents provide soothing support to guide him. Super sweet and affirming.

 

Chicken of the Sea (2019)

Viet Thanh Nguyen, Ellison Nguyen, Thi Bui (illustrations), and Hien Bui-Stafford (illustrations)

An inter-generational story about pirate chickens--a must read! 

 

Middle Grade

The Birchbark House (1999)

Louise Erdrich

Set just in the same neck of the woods and a mere thirty years before the events of Little House on the Prairie, this middle grade book introduces us to a little Ojibwe girl named Omakayas and her family. Erdrich delves deep into small aspects of daily life in this little community and earth-shattering events from the wider world that affect them. I can't wait to read the entire series.

 

The Lucky Ones (2022)

Linda Williams Jackson

Robert Kennedy's Southern Poverty Tour lends itself as a backdrop to this tale of determination, hope, and family love. Look for it in 2022!

 

Lalani of the Distant Sea (2019)

Erin Entrada Kelly

Inspired by Filipino folklore, this mythic tale of pluck and fortitude had me cheering for Lalani, who must save the people of her tiny village. I gobbled it up in a day.

 

Show Me a Sign (2020)

Ann Clare LeZotte

Have you heard about the Deaf community who lived on Martha's Vineyard in the early 1800s? LeZotte sets her suspenseful book of courage on the peaceful island.

Young Adult

Deathless Divide (2020)

Justina Ireland

 

The Magic Fish (2020)

Trung Le Nguyen

I love this graphic novel with all my heart. The interwoven fairy tales, the relationship between Tiến and his mother, the lovely, expressive art... this is the perfect coming out story.

 

Kageki Shojo!! (2021-2022)

Kumiki Saiki

Sarasa Watanabe is a loud, brash girl who's set her sights on playing her favorite role on the stage. Ai Narata is a closed-off girl who just doesn't want to deal with men. In order to achieve their dreams, the two enroll in a prestigious all-girls theater school. This manga series isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects, and the bright and infectious personalities of our two leads make for a compelling read.

 

Cemetery Boys (2020)

Aiden Thomas

 Brujos and ghosts and romance, oh my!

Concrete Rose (2021)

Angie Thomas

If you loved The Hate U Give, you have to read its prequel Concrete Rose. Angie Thomas is spectacular yet again.

Have you read any of these books? What were your favorite reads this year? Let us know in the comments!

Racing to Meet that Reading Goal!

Shellie Zeigler

Library Consultant

 

 

Around this time of year, a lot of my friends and co-workers start talking about meeting their Goodreads or other reading goals for the year. I hear things like, “Oh, that’s a small book, that will get me toward my goal.” or “I met my goal. I can relax now.” I get it, I do. I do the same thing. But I’m starting to have concerns about reading goals. Hear me out.

I make a reading goal every year. I started doing this seven years ago. My reading productivity, what an awful word, has increased every year since I started creating a goal (it took a small dip this year, but that’s an anomaly). So, it makes me wonder, does making a goal truly increase the amount of reading I do, or has it increased the amount of reading I feel I need to do? Let me look back just a bit.

In 2020, I read 161 books. My goal that year was 150 books. Yes, I was very elated and proud of myself, but I was also embarrassed. I didn’t want to tell people I read that many books, for several reasons. I didn’t think people would believe me. Many of those books were also audiobooks, and I know that a lot of people don’t feel that audiobooks count as reading. (I have strong opinions about this and have written about this before, but the audiobook stigma is still around). And lastly, I felt like it made me look like I don’t have a life outside of reading. I know that may sound ridiculous, but I’m laying it all out here!

In 2015, I made a goal of reading 35 books. It was my first year to make a reading goal, and I achieved it. I read 38 books that year. I feel like I felt more accomplishment that year over those 38 books than I have any year since. I think it’s because I didn’t put pressure on myself. I didn’t look at what other people’s goal were. I didn’t compare my reading goals to theirs. It really is true that “comparison is the thief of joy.”

I’ve surpassed my goal this year with an admirable 92 books. (My goal was 80). I keep thinking, "What will I do for my goal for 2022?" Will I make one? I’m sure I will because I enjoy keeping track of which books I read in which year. It’s a nice way to summarize the year--I love organization! But. I am going to work on taking the pressure off my reading self. My real 2022 reading goal will be to simply enjoy the books I choose and get off the treadmill of caring so much about the number. My wish is that you do the same.

Happy reading in 2022!

What's on my Nightstand?

Lacy Ellinwood
Lead Library Consultant

 

The leaves have fallen, the temperatures are dropping, and the days are getting darker; that means it’s time to hunker down with a good book. In my case, there is no shortage of books that have accumulated on my nightstand over the past year. I thought I would confess to YOU and only YOU what I lovingly curated from my chosen book peddlers over 2021 but haven’t opened…YET. These are not book reviews. I will share why I chose these titles and what has kept me from diving into these books I was once so excited to acquire.

Edward Weston: His Life from Ben Maddow, published by Aperture in 2005. 

Before becoming an employee at the Mississippi Library Commission, I was working on a second master’s degree in humanities with a focus on film theory and art history, specifically in the medium of photography. I had studied the work of Weston and his partner Margrethe Mather and was looking to gain further insights into his work that might illuminate the concept of “the female gaze” in the art of Mather and other photographers. Aperture is a known publisher for high-quality materials on photography, so I naturally picked up the title when it was suggested by Thrift books. DARN YOU RECOMMENDED READS RIBBON! Due to the academic nature of the purchase, it has sat unread underneath my collagen face cream for nearly a year. My book shame has been bubbling, but I know that it will eventually be a good investment when I find that elusive thing called “time” to get back into my research interests.

The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine: How I Spent a Year in the American Wild to Re-create a Feast from the Classic Recipes of French Master Chef Auguste Escoffier, by Steven Rinella. 

We all picked up watching, reading, and listening habits during the pandemic. One of my habits was consuming all content created by Meateater and listening to interviews from conservationist and writer Steven Rinella. You can find his show on Netflix and his podcast on Spotify. The man is fascinating, and while I do not encounter Alaskan brown bears regularly, or hunt and forage wild game, I am like most librarians and have a fascination for knowledge. I have learned a lot of about feral hog populations and that the fat pockets behind the eyes of a caribou taste like raw pizza dough. Thanks, Steven Rinella! This title is one of my most recent book purchases and my goal is to take it on an upcoming trip to my hometown of Buffalo, NY. I have a feeling I might get hungry on the plane while reading.

An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon.

This is the seventh book in the Outlander series of novels. I have been slogging my way through this series for the past four or five years. What started with a discard at a library book sale has developed into a long-term relationship with Claire and Jaime. I fall in love with one book and then 1200 pages later need to take a breather. It’s an on again off again sort of thing. I was in the breather phase with the series, but the pandemic was in full force and I thought I needed more reading material. A librarian never has enough reading choices, am I right? As I write this blog post I have started reading this book and it has acquired the dubious coffee mug stains of weekend leisure reading. While I appreciate the Starz television series of the books, there is much richer content to be had in these lush novels. Currently there are nine books in this series…looks like I might have some more titles to add to my nightstand for 2022.

My hope is that this confession relieves some of the anxiety you may have about your pile of best book friends waiting on your nightstand. Whenever you are ready, they are there to occupy the time of the brooding winter months or to break up a streaming binge session. I implore you to read what you love, when you love it, and know that there is a book for every reader.