2021’s MOST IMPACTFUL READS
2021 stands as a strange yet powerful year in my personal life. I got promoted at a job I truly enjoy. Books & Cleverness performed better than any previous year. I took my mental health seriously and got the help I needed. I think I’ll remember this year as the beginning of an era of growth and development.
That being said, let’s talk about books, or a lack thereof. In 2021, I read 76 books – not nearly as many books as 2019 (134) or 2020 (140). I refuse to feel guilty over this; I refuse to turn reading into a numbers game. I read some monumental literature this year. I read some absolute schlock. So, without further ado, I present 2021’s Most Impactful Books.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong
How can I impress on you that this semi-autobiographical novel contains some of the most gorgeous prose I’ve ever encountered? Vuong pieces the English language together like it’s an intricate quilt. Written non-linearly as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, it explores life as an immigrant, PTSD from war, sexual trauma, addiction, homosexuality and the cultural shame surrounding it. The narrator, Little Dog, balances empathy and resentment for his mother, recognizing her traumas in turn manifest to traumatize Little Dog. If in anyone else’s hands, this novel could feel simply hopeless and futile, but Vuong imbues the story with conviction and beauty.
Night Sky with Exit Wounds – Ocean Vuong
The instant I finished Vuong’s novel, I was on the lookout for his poetry. Night Sky… is pretty obviously the foundation for On Earth…, and is just as beautiful and blistering. This collection feels confessional and yet private, universal yet esoteric. I am not a male, gay, Vietnamese-American child of immigrants, but I felt immersed in those experiences.
Ulysses – James Joyce
I’ve said a lot about Ulysses on the blog and my social media, so I’ll not rant too long. Just know that there’s a reason I write about impactful reads, not favorite reads. Ulysses will never be a favorite book, but it did properly kick my ass. That, I can appreciate. It’s one of the most unique books EVER. It took me (and my book club buddy Jo) nine months to cover what amounts to 24 hours in Joyce’s narrative. I think reading Ulysses taught me to be braver when approaching those behemoth books that seem so intimidating.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Caitlin Doughty
Ask a Mortician is one of my favorite YouTube channels, so, of course, I had to read Doughty’s memoir about her six years working at a crematorium in California. I highly recommend the audio book for this one because Doughty narrates with her unique voice. For years, Doughty has sought to make death more approachable, less terrifying, more sustainable, and less commercialized. Her memoir is funny but informative, scathing but sympathetic. It manages to tell the whole and often gruesome truth while not coming across as torture porn or a snuff film. We’re all going to die someday, and ultimately, that’s okay.
Beartown – Frederik Backman
Listen, any book that can make me care about a sport is an achievement. Backman’s novel is about a small, Swedish town whose main attraction and revenue source is their junior hockey teams. When a violent crime occurs, the town is divided. Backman easily manages a huge cast of characters, each with their own nuances, problems, and moral compasses. There is no easy answer, no quick clean-up, no perfectly happy ending. Just people trying to learn and grow.
Lore Olympus Volume One – Rachel Smythe
Okay, I’m cheating with this one a little bit. Technically, I’ve been reading the webtoon Lore Olympus since 2019. However, it’s officially being published physically, and the first volume came out this year. Congratulations to Smythe! Her completely unique retelling of the Greek pantheon has overtaken the world and deservedly so. I don’t know if I can put into words the love I have for these characters (except you, Apollo). Smythe’s visual storytelling, pacing, and character development are all incredible. I could gush about it all day, but I’ll stop for now.
