Top Books of 2021
I hit my usual goal of 50 books for the year and read some real winners this year! Here’s my list…it is in no particular order.
Eat a Peach by David Chang
I go through years where I read strictly fiction or non-fiction. There is no in-between! This year I only read 3 non-fiction books…out of 50. I want to try and read more in 2022. To kick off the list is one of my favorite Chef’s biography. If you didn’t know, I love Dave’s podcast, so when I saw that he wrote a book I ordered it immediately. A quick background- Chang started Momofuku and turned that into a massive restaurant brand. He has cookbooks and a line of products used in his restaurants. This book talks about his interesting/unusual path into the restaurant world and so much more. If you are interested in cooking, restaurants, or entrepreneurship give this book a go. I am still patiently waiting for his new microwave cookbook to come in at the library :(.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I found this book at the most perfect time possible. I am extremely indecisive and seem to think that every decision I make is for life and I can’t change anything. This book gave me a new perspective on life. The book follows Nora Seed who is unsatisfied with life and doesn’t feel like she hasn’t accomplished anything. She gets the chance to visit The Midnight Library, a space in-between life and death. It plays out all of the possibilities in your life. Newsflash…they’re endless. Nora tries countless lives out trying to find the ideal life. The book tries to show us that while our lives may improve in one area, we will always face challenges. It is such a unique concept and makes you think about how much life has to offer us.
How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens
I love writing and collecting knowledge I find in books. That requires one to have a top notch note system. It wasn’t until I read this book that I knew this was the way. The system described in this book is based off of Niklas Luhmann’s slip box method. The key to learning new things is being able to 1. write things in your own words and 2. connect it to other things you have learned. His notes could be extended in an infinite number of directions. Luhmann often described his slip box method as his second memory. If you are looking to up your game in the note taking department (school, life long learner, or love reading/writing) give this a go.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Heed my warning because I neglected to check before I started reading. This is a trilogy and unfortunately the 3rd book has no release date yet!!! I sped through the first 2 books and now I have no clue what to do with my life. This follows the story of Kvothe and the retelling of his life as one of the most powerful/talented wizards the world has ever seen. These are long books, but they do not slow down at any point. The writing is phenomenal, characters are well developed, and the world building is impeccable. I could not put this book down and constantly wanted to keep reading. I have since found a 2.5 book that could help fill the time until 3 comes out.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
I read this back in January, but I was reminded of it today because I started watching the HBO adaptation of this novel. NOTE- this book was published in 2014 which makes the whole thing even more spooky. Anyway, goes between a few different characters and jumps back and forth between past, present, and future. This book starts out following Jeevan, a paramedic in training, who receives a call from a doctor friend. His friend warns him that a mysterious flu (Mandel predicted this damn pandemic) is spreading around the city and he should leave the city. He helps out a young girl, Kirsten, who can’t get in touch with her parents. Jeevan stocks up on months and months worth of food and hides out in his brothers house. Fast forward 20 years and the book follows Kirsten who has joined a group called the Traveling Symphony. She still has this self-published comic book called Station Eleven. The author goes back and forth in time to show where characters end up and it is up to the reader to make connections between these people. The biggest connection being the comic book.