Everything I’ve Read This Year and What You Should

I have always loved reading. I once won a read-a-thon. Yes, those are a thing. That being said, when I got to the later years of high school and into college I lost a lot of the time I used to have to read. Since I graduated college, I’ve definitely lost time in certain areas, like being able to take naps in the middle of the day, but I’ve gained back other time, like my weekends. I decided to pick up reading again because it was something I always enjoyed doing.

Below is my list of every book I’ve read this year (don’t worry, it’s not super long) and which ones I would recommend. I can’t believe we’re already in the last stretch of 2021. This year flew by. Reading is a great pastime, even if you only get a couple chapters in on your lunch break, in between classes, or right before bed. A little goes a long way. Not to mention books make a great Christmas gifts! I didn’t link anything because I prefer buying local as it’s a great way to support your community and I can’t link everybody’s local shop.

Silent Spring — Rachel Carson
This environmental science book is most widely known for its research and findings on the adverse effects of pesticides, notably DDT. It gets into so much more than that though, the disinformation, the ways we could have avoided this, and the impacts, that, frankly, we are still feeling today. This one has been on my list forever since I vacation by her wildlife reserve. It did take me a while to get through. I minored in sustainability, but I had to re-read a lot of sections because it was a really technical book. Nevertheless, I would recommend it as a must read for anyone interested in the environment and how we treat it.  

Ogre Enchanted — Gail Carson Levine
I was really looking forward to reading this one because it is a companion novel to Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, who was one of my favorite authors as a child. She has a great way of spinning traditional fairytales in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, I didn’t really care for this book. The protagonist wasn’t relatable and compared to Ella Enchanted, it fell short, which often happens with sequels, prequels, and companions. It definitely had its moments and I loved that the world and some of the characters were the same, but overall could have skipped.

Franny and Zooey — J.D. Salinger
I didn’t love this one, but it’s one that you can appreciate because you know it’s good. It’s by J.D. Salinger, who also wrote Catcher in the Rye. The story is told from two points of view, Franny and Zooey, the Glass siblings, as they try to find meaning through religion in their busy lives. The Glass family is said to be the inspiration behind the family in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums.

Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
This one gets brought up in a lot of the psychology podcasts I listen to. Viktor Frankl was as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and this book describes his experiences in the camp and psychotherapeutic method of ascribing purpose to life, even suffering, in order to be positive. This one is worth a read; it’s a good blend of history and science.

“The salvation of man is through love and in love”

Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

Silence — Shūsaku Endō
LOVE! This was the best book I read all year and made it into my top ten books of all time. It’s one of those books that makes you stretch your thinking and reconsider what you have always taken have granted to be true. Silence is a historical fiction novel that follows two Portuguese Jesuit priests on their journey to find a former mentor rumored to have apostatized. The main focus is, “what does God’s silence mean?”

The Death of Ivan Ilyich — Leo Tolstoy
This book will make you examine your priorities. This novella follows Ivan Ilyich, a prominent Russian politician, through the last months of his life as he dies from a terminal illness (though never specified, many assume cancer). Ivan spends most of the book examining his life, the choices he’s made, and relationships he’s formed, to come to his definition of a life well lived. I enjoyed Leo Tolstoy’s writing style and have added Anna Karenina to the list for next year.  

Unhooked — Lisa Maxwell
This one was a really fun read. The basic plot of the story is that Gwen and her friend Olivia get kidnapped to Neverland get separated from each other. On the way to find her friend, Gwen has to decide who the bad guys really are in order to save her friend and Neverland. I love Peter Pan retellings and this one is well written and keeps you wanting more.

Midnight Sun — Stephenie Meyer
This one is good in the way the Twilight series is good, in a really bad way. Midnight Sun is Twilight told from Edward’s point of view. I feel like that’s all I really need to say.

The Inheritance — Louisa May Alcott
This one was cute. It’s Louisa May Alcott’s first novel. I’m a big fan of Pride and Prejudice (another one in my top ten) and this book has a very similar vibe. It’s based off the gothic novel formula – poor orphan girl with wealthy friends, falls in love and then finds out she’s an heiress. And that’s the whole plot right there. If you’re into period pieces, this one is a quick read and worth it.

Dune — Frank Herbert
Not gonna lie, I am still reading this one. I started it with the movie coming out (which I saw and would also recommend). The book does an amazing job at world-building, but to that point, you do have to be prepared for reading that requires a lot of brain power. Dune is a science fiction novel, the first in a series, follows Paul Atreides and his “terrible destiny.” Other than that I, A. don’t want to give too much away and B. am only on chapter 8.

So there you have it, all the books I’ve read this year and the ones I liked, disliked, and everything in between. Let me know what you read this year and if you have any recommendations for me! I’m always on the lookout for the next reading adventure.