Top 3 Reads of 2021

At the end of the year I like to take a look at my 5 star reads for the year and then select my 3 favorite books of the year from that list. It was a no brainer for me this year - I knew by September what my top 3 would be. 

3. The Secret History by, Donna Tartt - “There are such things as ghosts. People everywhere have always known that. And we believe in them every bit as much as Homer did. Only now, we call them by different names. Memory. The unconscious.” The Secret History is a book I still can’t get out of my head. It reminded me of how much I love ancient literature and rekindled that passion. It inspired me to reread The Odyssey, as well as add more Ancient Greek and Roman texts to my reading list. It’s also such a clever, dark, academic novel and I already looking forward to rereading it. 

2. The Brothers Karamazov by, Fyodor Dostoyevsky - “Actually, people sometimes talk about man’s ‘bestial’ cruelty, but that is being terribly unjust and offensive to the beasts: a beast can never be as cruel as a human being, so artistically, so picturesquely cruel.” I actually anticipated this novel being in the number one spot for the year, yet here it is resting in 2nd place. This is a close second though, because this novel is a thing to behold. It’s dense with philosophical debates and conversation on every element of society and human nature, written in such a way that only the Russians can achieve. It’s such a poignant look at familial relationships, religion, socialism, atheism, psychology, class, Russia as a whole, etc. I identified so much with Alyosha as a character and this novel has shot it’s way to the list as one of my favorite novels of all time. It’s massive but it’s a novel that deserves to be rereads over and over. 

1. A Little Life by, Hanya Yanagihara - “My life, he will think, my life. But he won’t be able to think beyond this, and he will keep repeating the words to himself - part chant, part curse, part reassurance…” When I decided to read A Little Life this year, I did not expect it to be the top read of the year for me. I went into this novel thinking it would lead to some interesting conversations, and that hopefully I’d like it, but I didn’t expect to love it and I didn’t expect it to leave this much of an impact on me. A Little Life has also made it to the list of one of my favorite novels of all time. I enjoy gritty, dark, uncomfortable and intelligent novels and this checks all the boxes. Yanagihara hit the nail on the head with this one - she perfectly managed to capture the essence of family, friendships, the highlights of life and the most unbearable elements of living in this novel. Another one that I look forward to rereading over and over again. 

What was your favorite book of 2021?

Like my bookish content? Follow me on Instagram for more!