It is my third annual roundup of my most interesting, provocative, entertaining, and thought-provoking reads of the year! Keep in mind, these are books I read in 2021, not books that came out in 2021. Some were published in 2021, many not. My only rule is that I read and reviewed it in this waning year. So, in its final hours, before it departs, let’s consider what were my outstanding reads for 2021.

Beginning with nonfiction, I narrowed down to three books, all of which I consider must-reads. Ranked in order of importance, they are 1. Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-first Century, by Jessica Bruder; 2. A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, by Ralph Martin; and 3. Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted, by Suleika Jaouad. Given the excessively harsh and largely useless and damaging shutdowns experienced in the past two years, I am more sensitive than ever to tyrannical overreach on the part of government in our lives. Nomadland demonstrates the failures of our economic system and the government, illustrating how easy it is for any of us to fall through the cracks and have to fight for daily survival. It doesn’t matter how scrupulously you have planned your retirement; given the current situation in the United States, we are all at risk. A Church in Crisis is all the more timely considering how our churches all too willingly closed down when we needed them most, rendering to Caesar what is God’s alone, His people’s spiritual lives. Read this, then watch Francis very carefully— he is shutting down the Traditional Latin Mass, behaving as the chaplain of the New World Order. Pray for him, as I fear where he is leading our beloved Church. Between Two Kingdoms is best read after reading Jaouad’s columns for The New York Times, Life Interrupted <https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/author/suleika-jaouad> . She spent the better part of her twenties in a hospital in NYC, battling a life-threatening cancer, and losing young friends along the way. The book describes how she continues to integrate these experiences into her life, trying to find a way forward. No one wants to base their identity on being a cancer survivor alone— we are much more than that, looking backward is an unhealthy way to live, and even survivors must find meaning in their life. Jaouad does a pretty good job of exploring these issues—read my review in this blog to see where we disagree <https://www.margueritereads.com/home/between-two-kingdoms-a-memoir-of-a-life-interrupted-by-suleika-jaouad>.

It is so hard to pick a favorite fiction novel this year, since works of great quality appeared in number. Three reached the top tier, as far as their impactfulness and poignancy: The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett; Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague, by Maggie O’Farrell; and the tandem works best read in order, My Name Is Lucy Barton, and Oh William!, by Elizabeth Strout. The common factor among these books is the author’s handling of character development. These are all real people, people we know, can relate to, can find in ourselves. Each author has shone a light into our psyches, has explored our best and worst qualities, and has reported back with great humor, pathos, and unflinching yet respectful humanity. Their writing is of the highest quality.

The second tier choices are hot on their heels, yet don’t rise to the level of overall accomplishment of the first tier. Included here are a diverse group: The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett; Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro; Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir; and The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix. I felt The Vanishing Half was an important novel; while part of a growing number of novels that explore racial issues such as The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris, I felt Bennett was the most effective at posing important questions for all to ask themselves about equality, identity, and the true and evolving meaning of race in society. Klara and the Sun and Project Hail Mary address issues of man’s relationship with technology and intelligent life from outside of Earth. These authors pose scenarios that question what it means to be human when robots share more of our characteristics; and whether we will need a new word for humanity that is less Earth-centric, if ever we meet intelligent beings from elsewhere. Weir has the added bonus of writing in a wildly entertaining way. That brings us to The Final Girl Support Group— Hendrix has met and slightly exceeded the expectations I had based on his prior novel, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. His mashup of horror and humor are excellent— I cannot resist his brand of snark. If you are looking for witty impertinence, look no further. An honorable mention can be awarded to The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. She managed to pull off a clever idea with a good element of surprise. It should not be overlooked as a highbrow, fun weekend read.

So there you have it. I recommend that you must read my choices for nonfiction, and the top tier picks for fiction. None of them will disappoint, and all are richly rewarding, worthy of your time and attention. Bring on 2022!