Good, Better, Best: New Books of 2021

It is very nearly the end of 2021. That is insane, but then, the end of the year is always insane. 'Tis the way of life. 

You may remember that last year, I did a Good, Better, Best post with the new books that I had read in 2020, and I enjoyed that so much (and y'all did, too, or at least, you made a good enough pretense that I thought you did), I thought I'd do it again next year!

Since I read (according to Goodreads) approximately three hundred books this year (including rereads), I am not even going to try to include every book that I read! From this list, I am (obviously) excluding the rereads (of which there were many, yet fewer than I wanted, to be honest) as well as most nonfiction (I make exceptions for certain Lewis and Chesterton books, because Lewis and Chesterton), books that are further along in series, and (again, obviously) books that I did not like all that much! With that said, I think there were a few other omissions, just because I felt like it (like, for some reason I left off Agatha Christie. Don't ask why--I just did. I also left off all but one Georgette Heyer, since they're getting a separate post, next year), so if there's a book that you think should be on here but isn't...that doesn't necessarily mean I hate it. Just that I was feeling capricious. :) This is, after all, meant to be a slice of my reading year, not the whole thing! And if I included all the books I liked, even with excluding nonfiction and rereads, it would be far too long for me to finish in time. As it is, I cut it a bit close. 

Also, one, maybe two of the books in "Best" this year are anything other than classic fiction, and maybe this should tell me something about my taste? XD

Good

Masque by W. R. Gingell
I am a fan of conniving women who use their knowledge of How High Society Works to manipulate people in a very fae-like manner, while also solving mysteries. Thus, I was a fan of this book. I did get a little bored in the middle--it felt like the author was writing to amuse herself, and not always making it make sense to the reader. But I must admit, it was highly diverting, and so I do not regret it. 

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
I am here for the amount that Quasimodo loves Notre-Dame, and I am not here for the chapters-long descriptions of Paris. I am here for plot twists, but I am not here for Frollo's creepiness. However, I honestly enjoyed this book for the most part, even though it's very different from the movie (which I saw first, oops), and ultimately like it better than the movie--the movie took the characters, changed them, and then added a whole new plot. I protest on principle. But just in case you ever decide to read this one, be prepared--it does not end like you think it will.

Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes
I must admit, there are parts of this book that are very blurry in my mind. But the main bit--a man simply doing his job in a very awkward and difficult situation, while also trying not to get killed--has definitely stuck with me. As did that scene at shoot-what-is-the-name-of-that-island-fortress. For some reason, that was very memorable. So, if you like WWII fiction with lovable and realistic MCs, definitely read this one! 

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
This was an unexpected gem! I didn't especially love The Hate U Give, and yes, this one did have some scenes that I had to skip, but then there is MAVERICK, and he makes up for all of that. He is such a Soft Dad Boy and he needs time to just be a teenager, but he can't, because now he has a son, and he's trying to do the right thing, but it's not working... I. Love. This. Kid. Also, I loved the way Thomas uses AAE (African American English), because I heard a TON of that in summer of 2019 when I was working with people who spoke it, and it was all familiar and nostalgic and stuff. 
My full review is HERE.

A Riddle in Ruby by Kent Davis
This was a very enjoyable steampunk romp through an alternate Revolutionary War-era American Colonies, with memorable characters (especially Athen. I LOVE Athen), interesting worldbuilding, and a rollicking plot! It wasn't the best MG book I've ever read (Greenglass House holds that distinction, if you're wondering), but it was enjoyable, and I would recommend it to young acquaintances. 

The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope
I have developed a bit of a soft spot for books with ghosts (a soft spot that I never in a BILLION years would have predicted I would develop. Ha, look at me, learning and growing) as well as a soft spot for the Revolutionary war AND sassy, funny, ridiculous, ego-centric-but-sweet male characters (see: Eugenides. See: Howl), so this book hit all of the right notes! It just didn't stick with me as much as The Perilous Gard, by the same author, hence "Good" rather than "Better". 

Show Me A Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
An MG novel with a Deaf protagonist, who's living in Martha's Vineyard back when Martha's Vineyard was a community of people who used Sign. The author is Deaf, and I thought that brought a lot to the narrative style, especially in terms of her ability to describe things visually. However, it did suffer from some Middle-Grade-Fiction-itis (a little too preachy on the racial & (dis)abled conflicts, a bit of a weird plot structure). My full review is HERE.

Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
This wasn't perhaps the best Dickens I've ever read (I'm in the middle of A Tale of Two Cities while I'm writing this post, which I anticipate going in 'Best', so that's maybe not entirely fair) but it's the one that I enjoyed most of the ones I'd read up till that point. It's full of so ridiculously many plot threads, but I was able to mostly keep them straight, AND I actually cared about the characters, which doesn't happen to me very often with Dickens. I am coming more and more to appreciate Dicken's ironic writing style, in which he makes full use of his vocabulary. Thanks to Sarah Seele for the recommendation!

Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
This was a beautiful, albeit dark, fairytale, with a somewhat subtle but somewhat overt Christian allegory (depending on which part of the story one was in). Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I find myself somewhat in Tolkien's camp concerning allegory. It was beautiful, but I found myself irritated by the allegorical parts, especially when they seemed to be all over the place, which was fairly often. I did like it, it just wasn't amazing. I did really love Aethelbald's love for Una, though, of course. :)

Paint Everything Blue by Lena Donellan
This was shorter than I expected, and also encompassed far more than I expected. It did an excellent job of showing how it is absolutely true that "even the smallest person can change the course of the future"--or the course of someone's life. I LOVED Carlo, but I also loved the other characters, perhaps because Donellan does a laudable job of showing how to love those who seem prickly or "unlovable"... It's rare that I find a truly Catholic book, especially one that I can enjoy, so this was a highlight. It did have a bit of the self-published feel, but it was also the author's first book, so I cut her some slack for that.

Badge of Infamy by Lester Del Rey
This one was recommended by Sarah Seele, and she somehow knew that I am nostalgic for old VERY science-y sci-fi that is light on character development and heavy on idea development, and I am very confused about HOW she knew that, because that is not something that is obvious. Needless to say, this book fulfilled all of those things, so, while it is not a book for everyone, it was the book for me. 

Red Rope of Fate by K. M. Shea
This was a good break from some more serious reading, with elves who can't usually talk to humans, and a pair of an elf and human who can most certainly talk to each other. One of the MCs is a huge protective teddy bear, and I LOVED that. I loved that very much. Also, the drinking scene was perhaps the funniest thing I read that month. It was not the best plotted book I've ever read, but still fun, and some of the vibes were a bit MWT-y, which I of course appreciated.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
I happen to love Murderbot very much. Murderbot, with its denial of its emotions, its secret love and protectiveness for those who it technically has to protect, and use of media to distract itself from its emotions that it definitely does not have, reminded me a little too much of me [except, I "self-medicate" with books, not TV shows XD]. AND it was sci-fi. I always forget how much I love sci-fi until I read it. And then I forget again.  

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
About racial relations in Little Rock during the Civil Rights Movement, and friendship between a white girl (Marlee) and a girl who is passing as white (Liz), and how that threatens to break things very badly. I really loved the MCs, especially how different they were, and yet how their friendship still worked, and how the parents were not shown as being all-knowing. Thanks to Chloe for the recommendation!

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
I love reading books about Jewish protagonists (it's a part of my heritage that I'm fascinated by), and if said books involve WWII, that makes me even happier. So, this seemed like it would be a good fit! And mostly, it was. The what-if that was the premise for the sci-fi part of the book seemed realistic, and the limitations that came with it were well-drawn. I'm not always as much of a fan of alternate history, but that didn't really bother me here. I was worried that the motorcycle race was going to be boring, but that definitely didn't happen! Overall, it was good, just not great.  

Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers
Why is Lord Peter SO GOOD? Please answer me that. So ridiculously nonsensical but lovable all the same, and I DO love him, but in such a way that I shake my head over his ridiculousnesses. Like deciding that proposing to a woman who is on trial for murder is a good idea. Lord Peter, spoiler alert, that is never a good idea. The mystery was excellent, too, and if I remember correctly, this is the one where someone pretends to be a medium in order to elicit information, and THAT was really fun (and was later referenced in one of my classes this past semester, and having read it made me feel smart, and that's always a plus. XD). 

Rat Rule 79 by Rivka Galchen
This was such a weird one, BUT legitimately so fun. It's like an Alice in Wonderland that is actually logical! This is my kryptonite! It's halfway between The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making and Alice in Wonderland, and it references Zeno's Paradise and "Goodnight Irene" and "The Big Rock Candy Mountain", and all of these things should be enough recommendation for you to read it, just saying.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Like Percy Jackson meets Lockwood & Co., and I am over here just enjoying this wild ride! One of the things I loved most about this book was the trope of true names having power. I don't know why that idea fascinates me so much, but it really does, and it was used to great effect in the plot of this one. :)

Ignite by Jenna Terese
The hype for this one was extreme, but I thought it mostly lived up to it! The settings were all well-drawn and easy to "see", and I thought the plot worked well, and the worldbuilding (especially the powers) was awesome! Scarlet got a TON of character development, which was great, but I didn't feel like any of the other characters got nearly as much development as I was expecting, especially from all the hype about Ares. But I will still read the next one when it comes out, I do believe.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi
I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to think of this Pride & Prejudice retelling--I've had both wonderful and horrible experiences with those--but this was one of the better executed ones I've read. The author really made the story and plot her own, while crafting believable and lovable characters who made sense both with the original and in the 'hood! I especially loved the sister relationships, something that can make or break a P&P retelling, particularly because the relationships in the original are so complicated.

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
I'm still thinking about this one occasionally, as is my wont with OSC books. Pretty much anything he's written, I will read and love. (Note: pretty much. I avoid the Gatefather series.) He just has a way with human minds, emotions, and actions that is unparalleled. I'm not sure how he manages it, but I want to be that good someday. Maybe. I'm not entirely sure I can get there. XD Anyway, this one is about a modern young man who stumbles into a fairy-tale (sort of) and ends up having many hilarious miscommunications with the princess of the fairy-tale as they pass back and forth between the fairy-tale world (that involves Russian & Eastern European fairy-tale tradition) and the present, trying to figure out how to save both "kingdoms" from ruin. The princess is SASSY as all get-out, and the MC is simply trying to figure out how to survive and get back, and it makes the best combination. There were a few suggestive bits, but all things considered, I would highly recommend it anyway. 

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
What a strange and beautiful book. Piranesi has an element of mystery and beauty to it that is ephemeral and lovely. The imagery is fascinating and scintillating, and I wanted more and more. I could read Clarke describing strange and mysterious houses per omnia saecula saeculorum. And I LOVED Piranesi's point of view and his love of the house. <3 And there are so many Lewisian/Chestertonian/Tolkienian connections in it that I enjoyed spotting! But at the same time, it was a little too Barfieldian, too. I don't like Barfield's philosophy. And the end felt a little bit anticlimactic. But I still really liked it, it just had...certain flaws to it. 

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
I was talking to my pastor about how irritating The Swiss Family Robinson is, because the family literally has everything that they need for life...and Father pointed me towards this book, in which they do not start out with everything they need for life. Of course, since it's a survival novel from that period, the character development was not the best, but it was still very enjoyable--for me, at least. Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under The Sea was one of my favorite books when I was small, and going back to Jules Verne, a new Jules Verne, was delightful. Also, I loved the tie-in at the end. That was perfection. 

Between Jobs by W. R. Gingell
An unreliable narrator, three weird fae, and one gristly murder = an engaging story that's not the most well-developed thing I ever read but was still great fun, because fae. Fae who call humans "pet". And also tea. And the relationships that said fae develop with their pet human. 

Calculated by Nova McBee
I had never thought that anyone would think to retell the story of Joseph from the Bible besides in musical form (which really didn't retell it as much as tell it), so this one took me by surprise--it's a gender-bent modern retelling of Joseph, which I didn't realize until I was almost finished with it. It's not afraid to delve deep into dark places (but not in an inappropriate manner), while still preserving hope. 

Moonscript by H. S. J. Williams
I enjoyed this one, but I wasn't as much a fanatic fan of it as many other people who I've heard raving on its behalf, possibly because it felt quite a bit like a Protestant rip-off of The Lord of the Rings. But the characters were still engaging, and the battle between good and evil was believable. I especially liked the use of a different MC than a hobbit-y person, but who was still someone small and uncapable, but who still Did Good and Changed the Course of the Future. 

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
For anyone who loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and wished that there were more wholesome (but not in a bad way) stories about frontier life, behold, Linda Sue Park has come through, with a half-Chinese MC who moves with her father to Dakota territory, I believe? It has many of the surroundings and trappings from the Laura books (one-room schoolhouses, boom towns (I think that's what they're called...), button boxes, &c) but also dives into the obviously involved racial tensions in an age-appropriate way for an MG reader. I did think that some of the racial stuff was a little heavy-handed, but my gauge of "a little heavy handed" is probably more sensitive than most peoples'. Thanks to Chloe for the recommendation!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
I wasn't expecting great things of this book, but in terms of character and plot, it entirely exceeded my expectations! It was Epic without plagiarizing any other fantasy epic I've ever read, and had interesting worldbuilding, to boot. I especially loved Brom. I have a predilection to loving crusty mentors who know more than they're letting on. I will say, the writing was kind of clunky, especially at the beginning, but the author was nineteen when it was published, so that's not exactly surprising...

A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
A uniquely narrated and strangely beautiful look at immigration, meant for middle-grade readers. I don't think I'd ever read a book written entirely in the second person, but it somehow worked seamlessly here. It was certainly the right choice for a book that's meant to put the reader in the shoes of the MC as she tries to adjust to a new homeland that's strange and different, while also learning to get along with the magical new house. Full review HERE.

Better

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Miss Megan suggested I read this one, and it was one of those books that you don't know if you're going to love before you read it, don't know if you love it while you're reading it, and then REALLY love when you're done. I badly need to reread it. It just has the most beautiful strands of grace twining through the incredible brokenness of the characters' lives. And the most wonderfully broken and strangely compelling characters, too. Especially Cordelia. I love Cordelia. 

Blackfoot by W. R. Gingell
This book gave me Howl's Moving Castle/Castle in the Air mixed with Tuesday at the Castle vibes, and since I love all of those books, one might infer that I really enjoyed this one, too. Which I did. One might also infer that there is a castle, which there is, but there's so much more than that--a cat, a stubborn girl, a strange character in the castle, and a magical-ish pencil. Or something. *wiggles eyebrows* Full review HERE. 

The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
I happen to have written my final senior paper on this book (along with Dante's Divine Comedy), which maybe makes me a little biased, but that's okay, because I think that even unbiased people would agree that this is an excellent book, flawed concept of purgatory notwithstanding. Lewis has a knack for understanding human nature and human sin, which he displays ostentatiously in Screwtape Letters, and more subtly (and, for me, more accessibly (I get freaked out by Screwtape)) in this one. And it's kind of convicting. There's a lot packed into a very short book. 

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
There is a lot here packed into a very long book. Surprisingly, I enjoyed almost every minute of this one. The section on Waterloo, not so much, but I even enjoyed the parts that talked about the bishop (I LOVE the bishop), the cloister, and the sewer system. In fact, the parts about the sewer system were INCREDIBLY interesting, because guys, Hugo has a point. Paris was (quite literally) flushing nutrients down the toilet. So are we, in modern cities. But hey, we're not here to talk about humanure, so probably I should get on to the actual characters and plot. I already knew most of the story from watching Les Mis, and actually, going through, I was increasingly impressed by how well Les Mis did in adapting the original. There were some things that surprised me, though--like how little I liked Eponine (and how poorly he wrote all the female characters, honestly), but also how impressively well Hugo can convey the conflicted agonies of a soul trying to make the right decision. And how widely epic the entire story is, encompassing the lives and journeys of so many.

Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Georgette Heyer is hilarious. Also, Felix is JUST LIKE GANDALF, and it's a little bit strange. (Anyone who knows me in real life will know WHY it's a little bit strange, or even MORE than a little bit strange.) But anyways, I LOVE Alberstoke, and I LOVE the Merryvilles, and I DOUBLE LOVE the relationship between them, and the hijinks that ensue. I finished this book in the spring, and I still think about it on a fairly regular basis. 

The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
I don't really know how to sum this one up, except that it was incredible and Just In My Taste, with its fae strangenesses and mysterious castle and MCs who are stubborn and clueless (kind of like me...) and magic and the bone-chilling ending. It was simply amazing. Full review HERE.

Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt
GARY D. SCHMIDT, WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO BREAK MY HEART LIKE THAT?
That is all.

Lovely War by Julie Berry
WWI fiction with Greek gods worked in as narrators and characters dealing with complex issues at the same time as just trying to stay alive, and maybe falling in love in a very sweet and clean way? YES. I hadn't thought about this book in a while before writing this post, and now that I'm reminded of it, I remember how much I LOVED it. Especially some of the stuff that happens near/at the end. ;) Full review HERE.

A Branch of Silver, A Branch of Gold by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings are my favorite retellings (as we've established, I believe, at one point or another), and this one certainly did not disappoint, what with a mysterious dance, a unique magical system, and a distinct lack of allegory (thank you, AES!). The main character was so VERY relatable, and the story took several extraordinarily unexpected turns, and I enjoyed every second. (In fact, I may need a reread...) Full review HERE.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I was not expecting this to be quite so...I don't know, unique, thought-provoking, real? The feel reminded me of several authors I enjoy--E. Nesbit, Hilary McKay, Elizabeth Marie Pope, and honestly Elizabeth Goudge and Madeleine L'Engle, to a point--with complicated relationships and a young girl MC who thinks deeply about life, but who also isn't afraid to laugh. Oh, and it's set in an abandoned castle, which was one of the more vivid settings I can remember reading this year.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
GAK. I am not entirely sure how this book works, but it does, and we love it for it. If there are character-driven books and plot-driven books, this is a setting-driven book, which doesn't sound like it would be interesting, but it is. It's interesting and magical and real, and I WANT TO GO TO THE NIGHT CIRCUS. But just because it's setting-driven doesn't mean that there weren't good characters. Because there were. And the complexity of the characters certainly added quite a bit, but even they were wound up in the setting-driven-ness of the story, which sounds strange, but really isn't, I promise. I will say, there were some scenes that I wish there weren't, but the whole thing was so amazing that it's hard to hold those against the book.

House Arrest by K. A. Holt
Free verse novels are one of my weaknesses, and this one was one of the better ones I've ever read. Timothy has Done Something, and so he has to keep a court-mandated journal in order to not be placed in Juvenile Detention at age twelve. But there's more to the story than just Timothy Doing Something--there's also his little brother Levi, who can't breathe quite right, and the neighbors, and his probation officer and counselor, and Marisol. Oh, and ASL. The ASL is pretty awesome. 

All My Sons by Arthur Miller
This was a really deep-reaching story for a play that only took me a couple of hours to read, exploring a lot of philosophical topics in very little time, from father-son relationships to war, through the travails of one family, who have lost their son and brother. It's a masterpiece of a microcosm showing something with macro ramifications. 

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
I don't usually go in for scary stories, but this one was just about my speed! With a Very British ghost-hunting outfit headed up by a Siegfried Farnon-esque teenager, incredible worldbuilding, and just the right balance of scary/mystery/character development, it definitely made me want to read more...after a respectable amount of time for the shivers to wear off. :)

Thorn by Intisar Khanani 
This was probably the best Goose Girl retelling I've ever read, and I LOVED it. The MC's humility and grace in her place was wonderfully done, and the setting was so vivid! The way the story was worked into the plot while also being unique and fitting the setting was seamless (for the most part), and the love story is SO cute! <3

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
I'd watched the miniseries before I read the book, which was, in retrospect, perhaps not the best choice, but hey, at the time, I didn't know that I was going to want to read the book. (Also, the miniseries was very faithful. So.) The best way to describe this one is probably "Jane Austen, but more depressing", but also perhaps "Jane Austen, but with more philosophy", and those two descriptions more or less balance out, and so I liked it just about as much as Jane Austen. Which is saying something.

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
The part that I remember most vividly about this book is the part where the storyteller-ish personage takes the MC (Echo) to his tent with his wife and baby, and his wife gracefully allows him to go with her. That was really beautiful, and honestly, I think about it not-infrequently. But there's also so much more to the book--brokenness vs. wholeness, destiny, love, and a mysterious white wolf. It was a simultaneous retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon (another favorite) and Beauty and the Beast, and it did both well, which was quite impressive.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
I listened to this one while driving cross-country with my mom to get to college, and so I will never not remember watching the changing landscape out the window as Aerin goes through her various trials in her efforts to figure out what her destiny is. More or less. It's complicated. XD It's a beautiful kind of complicated, though. The only thing I didn't like was the romance, which was just weird, but the rest was wonderful, and a good choice for a road trip.

Dune by Frank Herbert
This felt rather like Orson Scott Card, which is perhaps the greatest compliment I can possibly give to a sci-fi novel. What I mean by that is that the author understands human nature (not quite as well as OSC, but nearly) and brought that to bear in the book, and so the characters work in a way that they don't always in sci-fi, if we're being honest. They weren't developed quite as much as I'd like (which, in an Orson Scott Card-esque book, is a high bar), but one can't have everything. The political intrigue felt realistic, and the desert planet was an intriguing and strange setting that I enjoyed reading about. 

Calvin by Martine Leavitt
I grew up reading Calvin & Hobbes at my cousins' house, so when I heard about a Calvin & Hobbes-inspired book dealing with schizophrenia, I was both intrigued and also a little bit worried. Would it ruin the original comics for me? Would it be too strange? Would it make me paranoid? No, no, and no. In fact, it was amazing. I loved the characters, especially Susie, and their journey and the growth they went through, which was quite simply beautiful. If anything, it was too short...

The Thief Knot by Kate Milford
Greenglass House is quite possibly my favorite MG novel of ever, and when I found out that there was a third book in the series that I didn't know about, I was both excited and also quite worried. But Milford has lost none of the magic that made the first two Greenglass books so wonderful. This one focuses on Marzana, a minor character from Ghosts, and her own adventures within The Liberty, when some unexpected events make her dig deeper, reach out, and perhaps discover that her life isn't as boring as she thought, after all. The Squad Energy was strong with this book, as were the mystery, twists, and family themes! (I'm not doing it justice. I'm a little tired today. XD)

Silence by Shusaku Endo
I read this one after The Samurai, which is the order I would recommend for anyone who wants to read Endo, just so that you can be convinced that yes, he actually was Catholic, and this book isn't a representation of his beliefs, necessarily. That may allow one to look beyond the MC's actions to what the author actually thought...always an interesting thing to glimpse, especially through tiny scriptural references. I know a lot of people really hated the ending--and I did, too, mostly because I LOVED Father Sebastian, and it Wasn't Fair, but with the view of maybe-the-author-is-separate-from-the-MC, one can perhaps see a different view, and get the correct thing out of it. Maybe. It's a puzzling and troubling book, for certain. 

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
I'm glad I waited to read this one until I was a little older, even though it's technically middle grade, not because I wouldn't have understood it, but because it would have scared me. So, that disclaimer aside--WOW. This book was so...cohesive. I'm not sure how else to explain it. The story-telling theme, the scary part, and the what-do-you-care-about, along with the characters, were knit together in a way that made it clear that the author spent a ton of time and care "weaving in the ends", to continue the knitting metaphor. I became attached to all the characters, and the whole story felt like a fairy-tale that couldn't have happened any other way. Jonathan Auxier--kudos.

Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber
This is quite possibly the best independently published book I've ever read. The pacing, plot, characters, and theme were all excellent, and although I guessed one twist towards the beginning, I didn't guess the one in the middle, and I have a hunch that the reader was meant to guess the first twist and so be drawn off from the second, which gives me an even higher opinion of Barber's storytelling abilities. I am, as I have probably made clear at this point, a sucker for good sci-fi, but very meh about poor and mediocre sci-fi, and this one falls in the category of good sci-fi, to my great satisfaction and happiness. 

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This is a book of actual letters written by the author to an independent bookstore in Britain...during WWII, I believe? And it was simple and brief, but I LOVED it. There were many things that reminded me both of myself as a reader and of friends, and the MC's (well, the author's) personality shines through so quirkily that even if one is not A Reader and can't identify with her that way, they would still be a delight to read. 

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 
This Potok wasn't quite as good as The Chosen (which I'll be talking about in a moment), but it was still Potok, and thus, beautiful, mysterious, thought-provoking, and full of philosophy. Especially about art, what being an artist means, and the matrices and legacy of art. But really, I came and stayed for Asher, who is precociously wonderful and far too innocent for what he goes through. 

Best

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
I was not particularly expecting to love this one as much as I did, especially considering that when my mom (whose taste in books I tend to trust) read it, she didn't even finish it. And also considering that almost everyone who I talked to about it complained about the huge number of nicknames, and the forty-minute monologues. But somehow, I never found a one of those ginormous and boring monologues (or at least, I never found them boring. Ha, see what I did there?), and the nicknames did not confuse me. Instead, I was fully sucked into this story about three (four) brothers trying to find the meaning of life and how to live it to the fullest. I (of course) loved Alyosha (who doesn't?) but Ivan really spoke to me as well, especially through "The Grand Inquisitor". I sort of think that I could all too easily fall into Ivan-ing, if I hadn't been brought up with knowledge of the truth, and that's very scary. So I have a lot of compassion for him! And the fact that Alysoha does, too, endears him to me even more. 

The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis
This is probably my favorite compendium of Lewis's essays I've ever read, and that is quite the statement, given that there's another compendium of essays in the Best section for this year. But still, I stand by my initial statement. Because, I mean, his essay on The Inner Circle is in here, and THAT was amazing, and the titular essay was fantastic (on heaven), and all of the other essays, on topics from pacifism to democracy to culture and learning during war, were very thought-provoking, and I still think about the ideas that I picked up from reading it. (And I need to reread it. :))

Saint Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton
Chesterton's biographies are forever phenomenal, and I really appreciated how this book gave me a better view on St. Francis as a whole, not as the kitschy and saccharine person often presented by too-pious biographies. I especially loved the meditation that St. Francis was the one who brought the love of creation back after men had fasted from it as a penance for the nature-worship of the ancient Greeks, Romans, &c. There were many other parts I loved, but that's the one that I think about most often.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
This might be the most unique book I read all year, bar none. I mean--a sentient, possibly evil, mandatory school for young wizards? With mysterious libraries that are THE BEST? From the first scene, wherein our heroine attempts to not destroy the world while cleaning her room, to the last scene, wherein #spoilers, I was hooked on the world, on the MC, and on the turns of events. In addition, the MC, El (short for you-will-never-guess-what, I promise you) is one of the most hilarious (not on purpose, of course) AND most relatable (for me) character I've read in SO LONG. Her cluelessness in social situations, and her crustiness about how she will do it HERSELF, and her sarcasm, and how much she scares people...okay, maybe I'm not quite that cool, but I DEFINITELY saw myself in her. Which doesn't happen all that often. Full review HERE. 

The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera
One of my new favorite books of 2021, discovered at Miss Megan's recommendation! (Although it's one my mom loves, too.) A librarian moves to a small town to keep a small private library, and finds herself let in for a whole lot more than she bargained for. And there's PHILOSOPHY. And SUBTLETY. And CHESTERTON. It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea (case in point: Goodreads), but it was certainly mine. Full review HERE.

On Stories by C. S. Lewis
Another collection of Lewis essays, and while I didn't love this one quite as much as The Weight of Glory, it was still marvelous, especially the parts where he talked about children vs. adults and story, literary criticism, and different types of sci-fi/fantasy. Also, I will be forever grateful to Walter Hooper for also including Lewis's review of LOTR (I love Walter Hooper. In a totally non-weird way, I promise).

The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Another one discovered at Miss Megan's recommendation (just fyi, I'm not keeping track of who recommended EVERY book on this list--many of them are from Chloe, several from The Temperamental Writer, &c, but the fact that Megan recommended many of the books in Best amuses me, and so I'm noting it) and immediately loved and adopted. THESE BOYS. I LOVE THEM. This was incredibly well-written, using the subtlety that is the mark of an excellent writer, with less being more and things being left for the reader to figure out. I love all of the characters, especially my dear Danny, and their journeys. Even more impressively, I love the parts where they're debating Talmud. Those might have been my favorite parts, and I'm not entirely sure how Potok did that. Full review HERE. 

Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Another Megan recommendation! I love many of Lord Tennyson's short poems, but I'd always found the long ones intimidating (I always forget my soft spot for epic poems while I'm not reading one XD), until Megan mentioned that Idylls had redemption for Guinivere and Lancelot, and could I resist that? No. Was it just as good as I expected? No...it was better. 

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein
Was this one quite as good as Code Name Verity? No. But was it still amazing and did I still LOVE it? Yes. Because JAMIE. If that isn't enough of a recommendation, a certain spoilery character ALSO happens to be in it, AND most of the new characters were lovable as well! And it re-introduced several of the themes from Code Name Verity, and I'm not tearing up, you're tearing up. Full review HERE.

The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge
This was the first "adult" Goudge I'd ever read, and it came at just the right time with the quiet fortitude of Lucilla, the rightness she encourages (and forces), the refuge of Damerosehay, and the beauty of the writing style. Oh, and the correct depiction of love, which was AMAZING. 

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden 
My mom has been recommending this book to (read: shoving this book on) everyone she knows for a Very Long Time, and she FINALLY deemed me old enough to read it, which was a great relief (and joy) because I was starting to think that she was never going to think I was old enough! It was a most beautiful journey through the religious life right on the cusp of Vatican II, and the day-to-day lives of the nuns, and when I say it like that, it sounds boring, but it is not. It's beautiful. Especially the sensory and seasonal details, which permeate the whole thing and give it an unforgettable atmosphere. Also, no one writes like Rumer Godden, in the best possible way--she has a very unique style that is probably not for everyone, but which I love dearly.

The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
I happened to finish this particular book while our pastor (a HUGE Chesterton fan) was over, and that made it so much better than it would have been if I tried to appreciate it on my own! So, disclaimer: an awesome Dominican may be required to understand all of the nuance. And a Dominican is almost certainly required to find the Easter Egg that Chesterton leaves for Dominicans. ;) Anywho, this is, like most of Chesterton's fiction, wild and wacky, but incredibly insightful and beautiful in its own way. Especially at the end, when it explores the problem of suffering, but in a very subtle way. 

Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
I read this book on the same day as The Man Who Was Thursday, and lemme just say, that was an EXCELLENT reading day. This book kept me glued to the couch until it was done, "being a good host" notwithstanding. The mystery was excellent, and the Oxford setting is My Favorite, and there was LATIN, and LORD PETER and also LORD SAINT-GEORGE and it was Just So Good. 

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene 
This graduation gift may be the most thought-provoking book I've read this year, especially about issues of grace, forgiveness, humility/pride, love, and what following God really means. It's about a "whisky priest" during the Cristero Wars, and it's told in a way reminiscent of Willa Cather and Flannery O'Connor's writing. The whisky priest is MY SON and I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH, and THAT ENDING, I CAN'T DEAL WITH IT. Full review HERE. 

Tolkien's Modern Reading by Holly Ordway
Can I be Holly Ordway when I grow up? Please? How do I get that job?? (I know, I know--lots more college, probably as an English major, and then I will not get paid very much. I don't think I'm going to do that, but IT'S TEMPTING.) She has spent so much time studying Tolkien and his reading and making exhaustive lists and studies (I sense a kindred spirit) and absolutely debunking Stupid Humphrey Carpenter's false view of Tolkien that he proposed in his Stupid biography. (I dislike Carpenter even more after reading this book, to the point that I went and yelled about it to my friends in the caf for probably two minutes straight while I was reading it). I loved hearing more about Tolkien's taste, especially where it lined up with mine/things I had read--for instance, he read The Borrowers! I LOVED The Borrowers! It was certainly a very academic book, but since I like those, that was no burden. 

Leaf By Niggle by J. R. R. Tolkien
Tolkien, I just want to give you a Big Hug. (But you're dead, so I'm going to have to wait for Heaven, I guess.) The was so sweet and beautiful and allegorical in a way that I never through Tolkien would be, but it's perfectly done.
(I kind of want to write a paper comparing this to The Great Divorce, which is an idea that just occurred to me, but might actually get done. An essay, or maybe a blog post.) (That would require me reading both of them again, which would be no hardship.) (If you want me to do that...let me know in the comments! If I get enough pressure positive comments, I'll make it happen.)

The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton
Chesterton obviously needs to be reread before it's completely understood, but even on my first readthrough of Everlasting Man, I loved it. There's just so much. I could mine this book for philosophy possibly forever. I especially loved the parts where he talked about humans and art, the rational soul, and God/gods/demons/philosophers. Overall, it's about humanity before and after salvation (sort of. it's complicated) and the discussion of humans and human nature obviously fascinates Chesterton, and thus the reader also.) I need to read it again, and I also need my own copy. 

The Samurai by Shusaku Endo
A recommendation from the same person who gave me The Power and the Glory, and somehow, even though this book was very different, it also felt similar. Analogous, if you will. Or maybe opposite, if that makes any sense. And it's SO HARD to summarize. It's also about pride/humility, like TPatG, but also about God's will and how we do it, how God's grace works, the Sacraments, and so much more, especially about human nature. And the ending...<3 This one was simply Beautiful. 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 
Another book that I'd heard my mom getting excited about a while ago, this one surprised me in so many ways! Firstly, in how well Backman can get into this crotchety old man's head. Secondly, how dark this crotchety old man's head is. Thirdly, how funny this book is, despite the darkness of the crotchety old man's head. Fourthly, how much I came to care about the crotchety old man, and his whole neighborhood...especially the Cat Nuisance.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I always, as I may have mentioned, forget how amazingly ironic Dickens is, until I start reading another of his books. Also, how fantastic his characterization is, even for side characters. (How is Madame Defarge so terrifying?) And how twisty his plots can be. I remember reading a child's version of this story as a kid, and I still didn't figure out some of the twists and turns of the plot. But the storytelling is not the only reason I loved this one so much. There were also Charles and Sydney, both of whom I love muchly for VERY different reasons. SYDNEY why do you have to be so amazing? And Charles, why do you have to be so sweet? You both have raised some bars. :)

How many of these have you read? What were your favorite reads of the year? Do you have any new year plans?