We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you the first half of my book review for the year.
This post has been a long time coming, since I have been busy with my thesis, but I finally have finished my review, clocking in at forty books.
I spent much of my free time reading this year. I assembled this reading list the same way that everyone else does these days– by checking out the New York Times Bestsellers List, Tik-Tok sensations, Reese’s Book Club picks, and Good Morning America Book Club picks, as well as from the guy who sells books on the sidewalk outside my apartment, books for class, classics, and a handful of books that looked good in window displays. A few of these books were nominated for the Booker Prize, the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and the Pulitzer Prize and the ones that weren’t were oftentimes just as good.
Even the books that I didn’t like still brought me joy in the way that books do. Spending time in bed with a good book while my cat makes biscuits on my lap or being tucked away in the corner of a cafe reading is always a luxury.
Whether I loved them or hated them, all of them made me think.
Here are my unvarnished opinions on everything that I have read so far this year.
Judge for yourself…
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If you click on one of the links embedded in the book titles and purchase a book, I may receive a commission. Enjoy!
Dirty Diana by Jen Besser and Shana Feste– Once a wild and passionate artist in her youth, Diana Woods has since settled down as a suburban mom with a disappointing sex life and a predictable routine. I was clearly not the target audience for this book, since I cannot yet relate to the need for marriage counseling, a husband that you are no longer attracted to, and the death of all of your dreams, but it was an interesting glimpse into the ways in which one woman tries to fight against it. Based on the number one fiction podcast, this novel deals with what it takes to start re-exploring your passions through your sexuality and artistry. It is part of a trilogy, which I don’t think I am going to continue, but it was still enjoyable as a stand alone novel.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Garcia Moreno– If you’re a fan of Bad Cree by Jessica Johns you’ll like this novel. After receiving a distressing letter from her newly-wed cousin, Noemi Taboado, a socialite from Mexico City, decides to visit her to see for herself what has gone wrong. Her cousin lives in an eerie castle in a desolate, far-off town. The novel is disturbing, focusing on eugenics, incest, and colonization, compelling the reader to ask if the problems that abound in the novel are supernatural or psychological. It is an engrossing read, set against the backdrop of a creepy place, during a bygone era.
When She Was Good by Philip Roth– This book will have you taking your birth control. This is one of the earliest books to get into the pro-choice debate in the 1960s and comes from a singularly unexpected source. This is Roth’s only book with a female protagonist and not only did he make the protagonist a woman but he dealt with women’s issues, depicting a promising young woman who was cajoled into sex, impregnated, and then forced to live a miserable, domestic life. The shocking ending is well worth the wait.
100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell– A memoir that grapples with profound loneliness. The narrator experiences a revolving door of 100 boyfriends that blur together, leaving him miserable. People keep suggesting to the narrator that he get a boyfriend, rather than rely on meaningless hookups, which is easier said than done. The novel explores the difficulties of getting someone to commit to you and what it feels like when no one does.
Haroun and The Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie– I am not a very big fan of magical realism. Rushdie writes with an eccentric tone, straddling the line between parable and satire. This fantastical novel was not the type of thing I usually read, but even I can see that Rushdie is a master at his craft.
Is Mother Dead by Vigdis Hjorth– This Norwegian novel explores the judgment that sometimes comes from your family when you move away, divorce your spouse, and pursue your dreams… and also when you expose your family’s dysfunction in a world famous painting that you make. The novel’s pacing could be stronger, as the narrator watches her family from afar, imagining their lives and the place that she occupies within it, but never approaching them until the end. Overall, it raises many questions about your own personal happiness versus the personal happiness of your family and whether or not the people in your life are entitled to privacy when it comes to making art.
Problems by Jade Sharma– This novel about a disgruntled, pessimistic woman with sad sexual preferences and an insatiable drug appetite felt like such a messy woman’s story. The protagonist is a self-destructive woman whose life spirals further into disrepute without reprieve. A happy ending is too much to hope for.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway– I picked up this old paperback in advance of my trip to Paris. Parts of it don’t hold up as much to a modern reader, but it is still a good novel to pass the time reading. In case you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to fall in love with a nurse during World War 1, this novel answers that question.
Jillian by Halle Butler– is a pared down novel that reads like a screenplay at times, and tells the perspective of every character, at times simultaneously. Anyone who has ever had to work an office job will relate to the characters in this story.
Here is a book that I listened to on Audible. I prefer not to listen to audiotapes, because I feel like I absorb them less, but, in a pinch, I listened to this one for class.
Mother for Dinner by Shalom Auslander– Adult children come together after the death of the matriarch of their family, only it’s not to bury her. It’s to eat her. They are a family of cannibals due to their strange religious beliefs. The mother is a garden-variety bigot. The novel depicts what it means to have a sense of familial obligation, while poking fun at identity politics. It is intentionally politically incorrect and will likely offend many, many people. Overall, it comes across as an intellectual exercise from Auslander that does not fulfill every promise that it makes, but it goes to interesting places.
The Delan Deck by Matt Bucher– captures the ouroboros-like way in which humans invented AI, the thing that will eventually ruin human life (if it hasn’t already). Bucher fills the pages with loosely-connected trivia facts in order to illustrate the ways in which technology muzzles out human life. This story is short, making it difficult to really sink your teeth into the rich topic of how we’re stymied by technology.
I Hate the Internet by Jarett Kobek– Similarly, this book captures the waking nightmare that we have subjected ourselves to by relying on technology. Kobek points out the hypocrisy of those who post about human rights abuses on the internet using a phone that was built with slave-labor and how every time we complain about gentrification on twitter, we fuel twitter’s gentrification of San Francisco. At times, the novel doesn’t make as strong of a point as it thinks it does, complaining about war crimes in the same breath as it complains about cosplayers.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach– A depressed woman goes to a luxury hotel to kill herself only to instead become enmeshed in the lives of the wedding party that have occupied the hotel for the week. Despite this premise, the writing never becomes painstaking or desperate. The narrative is actually funny throughout. It is a nail biter until the end with incredibly well-drawn characters that put an interesting spin on the marriage plot. This is one of the first novels that I have read that actually acknowledges the pandemic and its repercussions. Unlikable characters are made redeemable enough to root for. I’m impressed by Espach’s ability to convey chemistry between two characters and a lack thereof between others. She is skilled at showing each characters’ perspective. 10/10 would recommend.
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters– The Berry Pickers is about a Native American family being rocked by the sudden disappearance of their youngest daughter. I read it in just a few days because that’s what a quick read it was. It was good overall, but I have questions about the realism of it. I imagine that the characters would be so much more upset by the emotional fallout of the events in this novel.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (trans. Elisabeth Jaquette)– This novel is based largely on a true story about a teenage bedouin woman during the days of the Nakba. It doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, depicting a graphic rape scene. The victim’s perspective is completely muzzled out, conveying the way in which she was silenced, unknown, and disregarded. The book is only about a hundred pages long and divided into two sections. I do feel like the author could have expanded it in order to make the ending less rushed, while at the same time, she has slow beginnings in both halves of the book. The author does a good job writing subtext overall.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison– I’m not sure what there is to say about The Bluest Eye that hasn’t already been said before. To me, it is a brilliantly written novel that never lets up. What I was struck by most while reading it was the total lack of shock value, despite the novel’s heavy subject matter. Morrison treats the horror of a young girl’s life as a matter-of-fact, which, in many ways, it is.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado– is part collection of essays, part poetry, part short story, but all memoir. It tackles the subject of emotionally abusive, queer relationships and the danger of making them public. Machado knows that the perception will be that the gay community is eating their own.
Good Girl by Aria Aber– I read this book because it was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction. Much of the story is a litany of parties and nightclubs that the protagonist attends and all I can say is… yeah, we’ve all done that. Most modern day women have had disappointing hookups with men who have pathetic sexual predilections, and most have gone to nightclubs and done ketamine or some other designer party drug. I don’t think that it’s that deep. She dates a man who treats her poorly. I do not understand why the protagonist is attracted to him. Aber writes vaporous prose, so if that is your thing, then pick this book up.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy– After the world has been ravaged by climate change, a woman with a past follows some ailing fisherman throughout the world to try and find the last remaining arctic terns. It feels like the author made an assortment of choices with the intention of publishing a bestseller and she was successful. It felt like at times there were transparent attempts to make her story appear more diverse without any real exploration of identity, the slightest push of the envelope to give the impression of a deep, transgressive story about social change, and a pile of dead bodies that were added into the story to turn the book into a thriller. The novel looks at the detrimental effects of climate change, which I believe should be talked about and written about more, but I wish that she had gone into further depth on the topic.
The Namesake by Jhumpha Lahiri– The novel follows a first generation Indian family in the United States. It focuses on assimilation and the ways in which we have to compartmentalize parts of our identity in order to make ourselves more palatable to the people in our lives. Lahiri’s prose glide off the page with perfect clarity. This book was a breezy, but palpable read that asks the question: what’s in a name?
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugindes– At times his prose is clunky as he revels in an indulgent amount of details about each character that he introduces, but overall the details make the story feel vivid and real. I was mostly struck by the way in which the neighborhood boys idealize the young girls around them and, as a result, misunderstand them. The novel overall makes a strong point about sexualizing young girls and ignoring their suffering, though I still wish I had more insight into why those virgins killed themselves.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan– This petite book could be devoured in just a few hours and it probably will be. In a small, coal mining town in Ireland, an honest working man uncovers a devastating secret about his local church and must decide what, if anything, he will do about it. The harsh Irish winters jump off the page even in the dead of summer. The pain and suffering inflicted by the Catholic Church against young women will fill you with rage (I hope).
Liars by Sarah Manguso– the narrator outlines a litany of abuses from her husband, who is a failure in many respects. In all likelihood, this book will be uncomfortably relatable to many. After pulling your hair out while reading the book, the story at least has a happy ending.
First Love by Gwendoline Riley– is a well-written, messed up tale of an emotionally-abusive age gap relationship that explores the very real way in which women can struggle to leave bad relationships when they rely on their partner for their income. It is depressing to slog through the emotional abuse that the protagonist experiences, but it is an unflinchingly honest story.
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood– I read this Booker Prize shortlist nominee because of the New York Times review praising the book’s use of interiority. A woman at a monastery recounts the strange happenings that take place over the span of several days and poses lofty questions, such as “what is forgiveness” and “can people be morally good?” The praiseworthy interiority, while well-written, sometimes does not come with enough present action to warrant such internal monologuing.
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? by Lorrie Moore– This novella tells the story of two female friends. It captures so much about female friendship, as the girls spend their summer carefree, laughing constantly amongst themselves, until life has other plans for them.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata– In this novella, the protagonist, Keiko, is a thirty something convenience store worker. She has never been in a relationship and yet she is perfectly content, stocking shelves on display racks and never having feelings for any man or woman. Those around her fail to see anything other than what they consider to be an unfulfilling life. It is all about being misunderstood and conforming to societal expectations.
Bliss Montage by Ling Ma– A collection of short stories, each one quirkier than the last. There is little that can be said about this book other than the fact that you have to read it to understand for yourself what is going on. This collection of short stories is definitely not for everyone with its experimental and abstract writing, but many can probably find a piece that they enjoy.
Favorite short story: G
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder– I have read many stories about women who are discontent with their lives and marriages. I had never read one where said woman turns into a dog. In many ways, this novel adheres to many tropes about motherhood: a numb-nuts husband who does not understand what she is going through, the exhaustion that comes from chasing around a lovable, but tireless toddler, and the sacrificing of a dream job for her family. But in this novel, the stresses of motherhood turn the protagonist into a carnivorous, feral creature. It is about how motherhood connects women back to the primal feelings within them. It will make you question whether you want kids and whether or not you’ve chosen the right partner in life.
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski– There’s nothing like coming home at the end of a long day and cracking open a nice gay love story that takes place in 1980s Poland. Two young men fall in love in their youth, but disagree when one of them supports the nation’s socialist regime and the other one supports the promises of capitalism. It’s a tale as old as time. It was a place and an era that I knew nothing about, so I decided to read it and in doing so learned about Poland’s recent history. I felt like the first half of the story was stronger than the latter half, but that it was still good.
Election by Tom Perrotta– Those familiar with the Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon film from the 90s should know about this epic story of a high school election gone wrong. Even though the story is about a high school election for student body president, you keep turning the page, hooked from the first paragraph. You sit on the edge of your seat, because you just have to know who wins the election and what it will mean in the grand scheme of things. Perrotta has a smooth turn of phrase and many tongue-and-cheek witticisms throughout the book, as he writes what should be a dull topic in such a compelling way that it becomes fascinating.
My Friends by Frederik Backman– I was absolutely down to give this book a four out of five stars review until the ending. The main character makes a worse decision than when the protagonist in Happy Place by Emily Henry decides to quit being a surgeon so that she can make pottery. The novel was charming throughout, conveying a genuine love of art and childhood, but I also felt like it was a little sappy for my tastes. Those who love art and don’t mind a questionable book ending should read this book as well.
Jaws by Peter Benchley– Midway through summer, I decided to pick up the ultimate beach read: Jaws, the novel, and then the movie, that made everyone afraid to go into the water. Reading about vicious shark attacks can send a chill down your spin, even without the tight shots and iconic theme music that made the movie so legendary. Benchley is a great writer, even if he didn’t come up with the infamous “you’re going to need a bigger boat” line or the monologue about the U.S.S. Indianapolis. It is a smooth, quick read that is both entertaining and serious. To my surprise, this novel had much to do with class, infidelity, and mob dealings, being more tawdry and complicated than the simple man versus nature story that I was expecting.
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie– Brutal. Chilling. Haunting. Deeply upsetting. Purple Hibiscus tells the story of a wealthy, privileged family living in Nigeria during a time of political unrest. Nambili, the fifteen year old protagonist, lives a troubled life, devoid of any joy. Her father, who is a radical, fundamentalist Christian abuses his wife and children. The whole time I was reading it, all I could think to myself was, “this better end with his death, preferably his murder.” I won’t say whether or not that comes to pass. You read this book with a lump in your throat, filled with dread for the protagonist’s well being.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry– I read this book as a chaser after reading Purple Hibiscus when I decided that I needed to read something light and rompy. Like Emily Henry’s other rom coms, this book was cute and sweet, filling you with romantic hope. My copy was rife with typos, including getting the male love interest’s name wrong at one point (Emily Henry, fire your editor) but it was still fun to read. The men are charming. The women are quirky and relatable. The plots are endearing.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid– For whatever reason, I had been fantasizing about surfing in exotic locations. Particularly, I wanted to surf in Malibu, despite having no plans, in the near or distant future, to ever go there. So when I picked up this book with Malibu in the title and surfers on the cover, I knew that I had to read it. The story really builds on itself, giving each character a backstory that is compelling to read. I understand why this book was chosen as the number one book on goodreads the year that it came out, being entertaining and reasonably thought-provoking. Anyone who feels nostalgic for the 80s will probably like this book.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid– Atmosphere confirmed for me something that I already knew, which was that you couldn’t pay me to ever go to outer space. I do not like enclosed spaces, wide open spaces, math, or science, all of which seem pretty essential to space travel. I also have such bad motion sickness that I can’t swing on a swing for more than a minute. Space travel is just not in the cards for me, but Reid makes it seem like you are there, leading a mission through the solar nebula as you float through time and space or leading mission control in Cape Canaveral, Florida. I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know not just how the space mission ends, but how the relationships at the heart of the novel resolve themselves.
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid– It should be clear by now that I am having a love affair with the writing of Taylor Jenkins Reid. I appreciate Reid’s clean, clear prose, the pop culture savviness of her work, and what can be described as the female-centricness of her narratives, which she never deviates from. This work in particular features a father-daughter relationship at its heart and looks at the obsession and drive of a tennis pro. This novel, which will test your knowledge of Spanish, tackles the vitriol that female athletes face, what it means to be considered past your prime, and shows not only what it takes to have a great career, but what it takes to have an even greater comeback. If you are a fan of The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis, you will likely enjoy this book as well.
Last but not least:
The Idiot by Elif Batuman– Some books are ruined by their endings. This book was enhanced by its final sentence. This novel is entirely about language and communication, the irony being the narrator’s inability to communicate meaningfully with the people in her life. The book is praised for its wry humor, which is to say that it isn’t laugh-out-loud-funny but that it thumbs its nose at society.
I liked so many books from this year but if I had to narrow it down to three favorites, I would have to pick:
Top Three Favorite Books
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Election by Tom Perrotta
Honorable Mentions
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Namesake by Jhumpha Lahiri
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugindes
Even if a book isn’t in my top three or my honorable mentions, that doesn’t mean I won’t still recommend it. Here are some books that I can’t recommend enough:
Recommendations
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (trans. Elisabeth Jaquette)
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Despite the diverse array of books I have read so far this year, there were some oddly specific similarities between a few of them.
Novels in which a mother is struggling with motherhood because her husband is failing her in some way and the story is so indicative of so many women’s reality that the baby isn’t even given a name:
People in a European country reflecting back on a relationship that they once had when they were younger and exposed a conflict between who they really were and the life they wanted to live:
Stories about convents and dealing with the Catholic Church:
Stone Yard Devotional
Small Things Like These
And yet, despite all of these similarities, I still read many things that were new to me. For the first time in my life, I read books that took place in Nigeria, Poland, and Australia. Naturally, now, I would like to visit.
I am slightly behind on my reading goal (gasp) and will therefore need to have my nose stuck in books until the year’s end.
Do you agree with my review? Leave a comment (nicely) with your take on these books.
Happy reading!
The Tragic Queen,
Raquel
P.S.: Check out my previous book review of all of the books I read at the end of last year.
The Tragic Queen 
I loved this list. Totally agree on The Bluest Eye, Election, The Wedding People, Small Things like These, People We Meet on Vacation and Malibu Rising. I’m reading Atmosphere now and so far it’s another TJR hit.
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