Hello bookworms, wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!
It is time to share my top 10 favourite reads of 2021. I have read so many good books that it’s hard to choose which ones I loved the most. I’ve explored a various genres in 2021, from fantasy to horror to classics and even non-fiction, which is my least favourite genre. There were books that made me ugly cry and also the ones that made me laugh out loud, books that I stayed up all night to read and books that will stay with me forever. I also discovered many amazing authors whose works I loved and adored, and looking forward to reading more of them.
So, here’s the list of my top 10 reads of 2021:
- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Cemetary of Forgotten Books is a hidden library of forgotten titles in the old city of Barcelona. One cold morning a ten-year-old boy, Daniel holding his father hand, comes to visit it for the first. As a tradition of the library, Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the old dusty shelves and among them, Daniel pulls The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. But as Daniel grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race of searching answers to long-forgotten questions.
2. Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Beartown is slowly turning into a forest. Day by Day, the number of jobs are dropping, people are leaving the town, and the community is dying. Their only hope for development and opportunity is hockey. Every youth and elder of the town is obsessed with hockey. The future of the town depends on the junior ice hockey team. But to what extent they can go for a game, and what their obsession will lead them when a brutal act split the town.
Click here to get the book
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an epistolary novel written by Stephen Chbosky. Set in the early 1990s, the story revolves around a series of letters written by a young introvert boy called Charlie mentioning the experiences of his freshman year of high school.
A story filled with emotions, drama, friendship, love and sexuality-The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-read book.
4. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Univers by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a coming-of-age novel about two American-Mexican teenagers.
Aristotle ‘Ari’ Mendoza and Dante Quintana are completely different from each other. Ari is an angry, sad, and confused teen often lost in the thought of his brother, who is in prison. On the other hand, Dante is a free-spirited boy who sees the world in an unusual way. They meet for the first time at the swimming pool and instantly become friends. Slowly through their growing friendship, Ari and Dante discover their true selves, their own secrets. Told from Ari’s POV, this story is about family, love, friendship, and identity.
5. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
On a beautiful summer day, Basil Hallward, a talented artist, paints a portrait of a man named Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray is an innocent young man, unaware of his own beauty and charm. Basil introduces Dorian to his hedonist friend Lord Henry, whose epigrams on beauty and youth influences Dorian Gray to wish that the portrait bear all his sin and scar of age while he would remain youthful forever. And, his wish comes true! But is eternal youth and infinite pleasure is enough to make oneself happy?
The picture of Dorian Gray is a classic example of Gothic fiction.
6. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
The funny, touching and unpredictable No. 1 New York Times bestseller from the 15 million copy internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
The story starts when after a failed attempt to rob a bank, a would-be-bank-robber ends up in an apartment viewing, taking a group of people hostage. So it is a story about a would-be bank robber, eight chaotic strangers, and two clueless police officers. As the story unfurls, we learn more about these characters. They are not entirely who they appear to be – each of them carries a lifetime of grievance, loss, and secrets.
7. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie is a memoir by Mitch Albom about a series of weekly visits with his former professor Morrie Schwartz who was suffering from ALS.
This is such a moving, compelling and heartwarming book. The beautiful conversation between Mitch and Morrie about ageing, death, love, family, forgiveness teaches the readers about the true meaning of life.
8. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters- Vianne and Isabelle. They are unlike each other and have their own stories to tell. Separated by the war, both the sisters are fighting the war in their own way against cruelty and violence. It is a story of sacrifice, bravery, love and hate, loss, and survival.
9. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
The story takes us to the former capital of Arelon, Elantris, a city once glorious and magical is now ruined and cursed; the once Godlike inhabitants are now powerless wrecked.
In the new capital, Kae arrives the Teod princess Sarene to seal the political alliance between Teod and Arelon by her wedding to the prince. But the prince is dead, and now she is a widow of the man she never met.
Danger is lurking in Arelon. A Fjorden priest Hrathen arrives at Kae to convert and conquer the city. Determined to fight for Arelon and Teod, Sarene clashes with the priest. But Elantris still holds secrets and has an important role to play. Because magic still lives…
10. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Northern lights by Philip Pullman is the first book of His Dark Materials trilogy. The events of this book take place in a parallel world just like ours but different in many ways. Everyone in this world has their dæmons, a sort of shape-shifting spirit that represents a person’s soul.
Lyra and her dæmon have been growing up in the care of the scholars of Jordan College. Lyra is a feisty, clever and curious young girl. When her friend Roger disappeared, Lyra decides to bring him back. Unaware of the dangerous plots around her, Lyra is all set to go on an adventure to the north to find her friend. Along the way, Lyra meets the Gyptians, the witches, an armoured polar bear, and an aeronaut, and they become her companions.
Bookish Fae 
Amazing review! I’m definitely going to add this books on my booklist. Great job!Keep it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person