Best Books of 2021

[@Lou0302]

When you were saying "Stop talking Leena", I was like "No, don't stop !" I could listen to you talking about books (or anything else really) for hours :D

[@Cpark1401]

agree Leena talks about books in the most accessible and engaging way, never stop talking Leena.

[@charlottesmall9180]

In my mind Susanna Clark is basically the literary Adele where she just comes up from nowhere and destroys the competition and then retreats to basically do it again

[@cathfelton1955]

When I took Cellular Metabolism and Regulations class in university the first thing our lecturer explained to us - "your weight is more genetically predisposed than your height" This blew my mind!! I think I might read Why we eat too much ☺️

[@Tiffanyknows99]

I read the entirety of the Wayfarer series by Becky Chambers this year, a series of beautiful science fiction books that focus so much on communities and found family, and the 'humanity' in all species (there are several different species of alien in this universe). The worldbuilding is so believable and interesting and the characters are fantastic - I'd recommend these books to anyone!

[@caoimhenimhuireadhaigh1303]

I've added them to my Storygraph!

[@Tiffanyknows99]

@@caoimhenimhuireadhaigh1303 Hope you enjoy them!

[@katherineeaton2515]

I like Becky Chambers too.

[@missspice5801]

Becky Chambers is one of my favourite new Authors!

[@Berrymccherry]

My favorite book this year was Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The loveliest nonfiction nature book I've ever read, intertwined with native American folklore and perspective. It was nice to read a book on nature that left me inspired rather than devastated.

[@Jellibox]

Mine too :)

[@ayellowpapercrown6750]

So glad to hear Piranesi mentioned it’s literally the best book I’ve ever read and I don’t even know why, it just hit me right in the heart.

[@katherineeaton2515]

Also one of my favorites of 2021

[@SavidgeReads]

So chuffed to see Still Life on this list. Sarah Winman is a wonder. As is David Olusoga, I’m working with him on a libraries project and he’s all you could hope and wish. Now really want to read Trick Mirror and all the ones I haven’t.

[@isabbygabbyorcrabby]

Oooh it is so nice to hear David Olusoga is a good egg in real life (not that I had any doubt), I love his book and also his tv show!

[@whatsdozdoing]

Simon do you need an assistant so that I can bask in his glory??? I make great coffees!!

[@rebekahbacon7817]

A lot of my reading is catching up from previous years so I think my top 2 were 'Know my name' by Chanel Miller and 'If cats disappeared from the world' by Genki Kawamura. 2 very different vibes but both I will be rereading in future!

[@rymhreads]

Piranesi was a magical, other worldly read (or rather listen, for me! Chiwetel Ejiofor narrates the audiobook beautifully and with such humour). This year I found joy, comfort and catharsis in Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road. Miss Ranskill Comes Home is a hot water bottle of a book. Dial A for Aunties had me keeling over in laughter at one point (another well executed audiobook!) As a person that was a child in care, Lemn Sissay's My Name is Why struck such a chord with me and finally made me take a step to interrogate aspects of my own past. I've definitely hit a reading slump in the last part of this year, but The Murderer's Ape is added to the tbr and will be read with almost immediate effect!

[@jayciecarter2928]

My fave book was Piranesi, with the Vanishing Half coming a close second - I came across both of them from your women's prize video so thank you!!

[@tammyw-w4294]

My favourite books that I read this year were 'Equal Rites' by Terry Pratchett and 'The Rest of Us Just Live Here' by Patrick Ness. They were both phenomenal!

[@rowenball3922]

Piranesi blew my tiny mind and was my favourite book of the year... so happy it won the women's prize and that it was on your coveted best books list haha 😊 soo good.

[@jamilajones8177]

Thanks!

[@pendragonianlaw]

Piranesi was also one of my favourites, I didn't really have any expectations but it still blew them out of the water. Another book I really enjoyed was The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, I'm not a big non-fiction reader but that one was lovely, especially because I've been watching the vlogbrothers for almost a decade at this point. Definitely adding The Murderer's Ape and Still Life to my TBR. They sound great!

[@deadlymuffinz]

I was ready to give up on Piranesi at first, because the story didn't reel me in as much as I thought it would. But I'm glad I stuck with it because it's one of my favourite books of this year. I also fell in love with Helen Hoang's books, I have never related to a work of fiction more.

[@newt5111]

I want to thank you for getting me back into reading recently- I used to read a lot when I was younger but I'd been a few year long slump of reading before I found this channel. Thanks to you (and storygraph, which I found through you!) I've read so much this year and I'm so much better for it! All these books sound amazing too, although my 45 book long to read pile is becoming a bit of an issue.... You also got me invested in the environment, research about it, becoming more thoughtful with purchases and reducing the amount of meat I eat- Thank you!

[@mojimoji5368]

After watching this my tbr list has grown by several books! I finally got around to reading The House of the Spirits in 2021; it was everything I'd hoped it would be and more.

[@saffodils]

I read THotS in high school (while we were studying the history behind it!) and I still think about it to this day. It gave me such a strong sense of the place, and she used the magical realism so effectively and so beautifully. Glad to see someone else looking at THotS with new eyes!

[@mojimoji5368]

@@saffodils Jealous! What a treat to be able to delve into the story's history/context. For me, the novel kind of doubled as a primer on 20th century Chilean history, which I had previously been completely uninformed about. Completely agree about the sense of place - I can still recall images of the various residences/landscapes so clearly. I can't wait to read more of Allende's work!

[@Hillary429]

Loved Piranesi and since I couldn’t get a hold of the audiobook it really got me back into physically reading (albeit a digital copy) as opposed to always going with audiobooks. Loved the mystery of it, really sparked my curiosity and make me long for the museums of Italy and Paris filled with beautiful statues.

[@emmtag2962]

On the subject of discovering other peoples nostalgia, the Fablehaven series for me. My teachers in elementary would read the first book of a series out-loud to us, tell us what the next book was called and then start a new series. Which got a lot of people in my class to start reading, but I could never get the next book. So I'm picking it up now as an adult and loving it.

[@Abbieh95]

I've loved My Mess Is A Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett, probably my favourite read and definitely the year I learned to love memoir. I also loved The House in the Cerulean Sea, Unsettled Ground, The Girl with the Louding Voice, Stay With Me, and Beautiful World Where Are You.

[@kdonaldson7308]

Piranesi was one of my favs of the year as well, along with The Death of Vivek Oji, Invisible Women, The Diary of a Plague Year, Take a Hint Dani Brown, The Two Towers, Less, and Re-coil. I am absolutely going to check out Why we eat so much!

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

A great list!! Several of these (Transcendent Kingdom, Piranesi, Unsettled Ground) are on my TBR. Happy to hear your thoughts. 😊💙

[@Petitesser]

omg, I recognized the authors name on the Murderer's ape, and it's because I read one of his books (Spionerna i Oreborg) that probably hasn't been translated into English when i was like 10-11, and I absolutely loved it then. So much that when I saw it at the library a few weeks ago I lended it and reread it as an adult and it was still quite cosy, I tried to read it to my 4-year old but it was a bit too long, will wait a few more years. Definitely checking out his newer books, thanks!

[@KsenyaTs]

Oh, didn't know the paperback of "Unsettled ground" is already out! And apparently "No one is talking about this" is coming out now as well - I pre-ordered them both and am delighted I'll be getting them so much quicker than expected. Also chuffed to see "Still life" on your list as well, am waiting for that paperback too and am beyond excited. Thank you so so much for sharing your thoughts, makes me so happy to see that so many titles that piqued my interest did deliver! And for "Piranesi" I don't have any words either... A brilliant year for the Women's Prize, right?)

[@djunaskye6220]

Piranesi was my favorite book of the year and I read it because of you :) I raved about it all year and tried to get everyone I know to read it XD one person did end up reading it and liked it a lot!

[@fish-fingers_and_custard7685]

My favourite book I read this year was Just Kids by Patti Smith. A beautiful true story of friendship, deep platonic love, found family, survival and the music/art scene in New York from the late sixties to the early eighties. The writing was absolutely STUNNINGLY poetic and the ending made me sob!!

[@lisavanherck5761]

My favorite books this year: - Outlawed by Anna North (It's kind of an AU sort of western, but with mostly women as the outlaws? It was fab.) - The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (I'm a sucker for stories that have to do with tailoring and dressmaking, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful) - Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (Because I read the first few chapters of this when it was leaked in 2008 and the finished product lives up to my teenaged expectations so I love it.)

[@lauraenright5412]

Some more information about Piranesi: the disease that Susanna Clarke has is ME/CFS, widely misunderstood and extremely underfunded multisystemic neuro-immune disease that affects millions of people worldwide (it's not a rare disease), and is also a disease that many people with long covid are being diagnosed with, as it is very often triggered by a virus. It's an issue quite close to my heart, being another one of the people who has ME/CFS. Just that I would take the opportunity to put this here in case anyone reads this and happens to be interested :)

[@emmakates]

it’s so hard to pick just a few, but my favorites that i read this year were the anthropocene reviewed by john green, on earth we’re briefly gorgeous by ocean vuong, lonely castle in the mirror by mizuki tsujimura, and the bell jar!! i also really loved piranesi, homegoing, trick mirror, and little weirds

[@isabelleadlam1317]

Thank you!

[@JessicaMiller-sd2uf]

It feels weird to say but.. No One Is Talking About This was the most stand out read for me this year. Not sure if I have any books that feel like "favorite"

[@caitmcg4382]

My favorite books of the year were Psalm for the Wild-Built and Amari and the Night Brothers! Adding so many of these to my TBR, thanks as always Leena!

[@whyshouldi4417]

Maintenance phase is one of my favourite podcasts so happy u linked to them and will definitely look into the book about eating behaviour

[@ededdeddy17]

The Murderer’s Ape was my favourite of the year too!!! Such an incredible adventure filled with so much love, I adored the narrator so much. So lovely to readdddd

[@tiffytattoo2450]

May I thank you so much for reigniting my love for reading?! I discovered your channel in 2020 and this year was filled with books. An absolute joy I thought I lost along the nervwrecking journey of growing up. Your love for literature is contagious! I loved Spinster and Undying. My To be read grows and grows and I truly thank you for this new found old love in my life!

[@helenaelizondo]

oh no Leena I read all the books in the Women's Prize except Transcendent Kingdom and Unsettled Ground because I left the ones that sounded best for last and now it's 24 of december and you are making me read both of them xx

[@anabluu]

Leena, you are literally the friend I always wanted to have, intelligent and knows books to recommend AND we have the same taste! Thank you for existing and having a channel so we could (half) meet 💛💛💛

[@sophiapearson6473]

Oh!! I'm so SO happy you loved Piranesi!!!! I read that book so fast, I just loved it. Will probably have to re read it/buy a physical copy!!

[@sophiapearson6473]

Also! I loved The Golem and the Jini

[@HT-vm4nr]

The Northern Lights and the sequels by Phillip Pullman - another makes you feel like you are little again and falling in love with reading for the first time.

[@lowlowcheeses]

You inspired me to actually get back into reading. I haven't properly read a book since before college and I'm now graduated from college. I started reading a book last night before bed, thank you so much for giving me that gentle push to go back to reading I'm really excited for new book adventures

[@odhtate987]

So I also started reading a series of unfortunate events in 2020, but I never finished as I was getting them as audio books from the library and other holds came in first, but now you are making me want to finish the series! Thanks for the reading recommendations

[@jenlong4139]

This is fab as I was like 'I need to read more in 2022 where should I start let's check Leenas channel' and this is the newest video! yesss

[@beeboca]

not to be dramatic but this series really kept me going this month, thank you 🙏

[@minaermelyn]

One of my favourite books this was "Where you come frome" by Saša Stanišić, which I want to give a special shout out to because it's English translation was just released. Saša was born in Bosnia and came to Germany as a refugee of the Bosnian war with his parents, when he was a teenager. The book tells a fictionalised version of his life and his family, of arriving in Germany, of being a young person in a new place, and of dealing with family history. It's a beautiful, beautiful book and I want to give it to everyone on Earth.

[@ropatandy8577]

Thanks

[@marui57]

Díky!

[@ayahsaheb9029]

Love from A to Z was one of my favourite books this year. Incredibly reflective of my own life and it was so wonderful to see that!

[@gem3630]

Hearing you talk about authors having a way with words and constructing sentences made me think about recently reading the first chapter of The Wind in the Willows. The way the river and forest is described and the writing style is so beautiful. It makes me want to re-read books I read as a child, something like The Secret Garden. Anyways, hope you’re having a lovely festive season Leena, loving the videos x

[@noelle7pages]

LOVE the way you talk about reading/"retaining" history books as a kind of proactive lie detector! Going to carry that idea with me also, Cultish by Amanda Montell was definitely one of my top reads this year, and I feel like you would really enjoy it too. An approachable and feminist look at sociolinguistics being one of the primary tools of both bonafide cults and cult-like organizations in society.

[@themidnightlibrarian5159]

I swear, every year I watch your favorite books video and every year I add some of them to my tbr going "well Leena thought this was great!" I'm determined to read some of your favorite books it 2022!! I really loved Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer this year. I started reading it at perfect time in the year when I was feeling very overwhelmed with everything and getting very slumpy in my reading and Robin Wall Kimmerer's book was just a good pat on the head and nudge on the back to keep going.

[@kelso365]

My best books of the year: Honeybee by Craig Silvey, The Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks, and Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Dolan and Harold Morris… 😀

[@alexaanderson8805]

I've been waiting for this video!! Some of my faves for the year (including some I discovered through your excellent recommendations: - When the Music Stops - Joe Heap - Ninth Street Women - Mary Gabriel - Motherhood - Sheila Heti - Many Different Kinds of Love - Michael Rosen - Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo - The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy - The Dictionary of Lost Words - Pip Williams - Midnight Chicken - Ella Risbridger

[@JulieKroun]

I read a lot of short stories this year, but my favorite books have probably been Beloved and Chernobyl Prayer! Svetlana Alexievich is just phenomenal in every sense of the word! Thanks for the recommendations! I’m going to pick up Still Life immediately!

[@susannaobrien8372]

Some of my fav reads have been: - The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye (recentres a lot of the "debate" around trans rights on the things that matter most and is a brilliant call for solidarity) - Poor by Caleb Femi (heartbreaking and joyful poetry) - Mr Loverman by Bernadine Evaristo (a surprising and charming story) - Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac (a great argument for including sex workers' voices in feminist activism and why various models don't work) Thanks also for last year's recommendations of The Overstory, Factfulness and Set Me On Fire: A poem for every feeling - all were amazing!

[@evemhooper]

I also highly recommend all four of these books!

[@bethpalmer4970]

Always love your book videos! I received Still Life for Christmas, so very happy to see it on this list - makes me want to read it even more. Black and British is also on my list for 2022. I’ve just finished Why We Eat (Too Much) and boy was it so fascinating! As you said, there’s so much in there that completely changed how I understood nutrition, the body, and weight. If you’re looking for another great job-fiction book, I’d recommend The Body Keeps the Score. It’s probably my favourite book of the year (if I had to narrow it down to one). It explores the impact of trauma on the body. It’s so well written and is another book that makes so much sense when you read it!

[@LarryS378]

of all the booktubers/influencers out there I am so glad I found your channel as your recommendations are consistently amazing and so in tune with my tastes. Thank you for these lists!!

[@LarryS378]

my faves this year: 1) No one is talking about this 2) Detransition baby 3) Invisible women (have you read this? I expect you'll love it) 4) Gone (Min Kym) 5) Kim Jiyoung born 1982 6) Bluets 7) This is pleasure 8) Educated 9) Mythos 10) Autumn ali smith

[@alanah3533]

Absolutely love your content Leena. Your channel is such an insightful but comforting watch.. One thing I sometimes struggle with is where to start with non-fictiony topics (social/climate/political etc etc), having a few of your must-read recommendations (covers basics to get you started but easy and digestible so you can read further) on mainstream issues would be super super helpful! Thank you as always for the vid! x

[@corneliusowl6024]

Ahh my TBR for 2022 is so big. I really loved Still Life and I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Loved the characters so much and the way the story develops over time.

[@corneliusowl6024]

I read quite a few Brill books this year it's been a good year for reading! My favourites include the first 2 Strange worlds Travel Agency books ❤️, This Green And Pleasant Land, Detransition Baby.... Just so many!

[@deenoekuekinjuhuujahaa1804]

I love this series sooo much! I do also appreciate your opinion on books a lot, which is why I did wishlist quite a few of the books your mentioned and I will actually reread Lemony Snicket 😅 You know I had these because they were a multipart gift at McDonald's here in Germany at some point, think it was just book one and maybe book two in a small format, split up into small books of 3 or 4 for each title. What kind of publishing choice was thaaaat ahahah

[@cindyhaiken5644]

I’m so glad you highlighted Still Life, which is my favorite read of 2021. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Ulysses and his friends existed? Also how incredible was this year’s Women’s Prize shortlist?? The Gyasi and the Lockwood in particular just stunned me.

[@k-m___]

one of my most anticipated videos of the year, was soooo excited to see this! also would you make a lil video on how to take notes when reading, I get too overwhelmed but it really helps me retain info xx

[@aftonphilbrick9473]

I always love your favorite books of the year videos. Hearing you talk about why you love books has cheered me up so thank you. I'm so glad you mentioned the Murderer's Ape. That feeling you were talking about where you feel like you did reading as child is a feeling I have been chasing for years. Recently I felt some of it while reading the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos. A series I would highly recommend. Now I definitely want to read the Murderer's Ape so thank you for the recommendation. The Why We Eat Too Much book also sounds really interesting. It seems the breath of fresh air and dose of sanity that I could use right now. Also thinking I should retry the Series of Unfortunate Events now. As for my favorite books of the year so far, I loved loved loved the Mirror Visitor Quartet as I already mentioned. I also loved Old Baggage by Lissa Evans. And I think my favorite of the year would be The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. This is one I would highly recommend for you if you haven't already read it. I think it definitely falls into the category of a will they won't they story of a woman and her religion. It's a dual timeline story. One takes place in the present day about two historians who study Jewish history and the second takes place in 17th century England and follows a young Jewish woman on her journey trying to make sense of how her desire to read, write, and philosophize often conflict with the expectations of her as a woman in the 17th century and her service in her religious community. I know I'm not doing the book justice but please believe me when I say it's honestly just amazing. There are moments in that book that I still think about and make me quite emotional. After I finished reading it you honestly came to mind as one of the first people I wanted to recommend it to lol. So I had a to find a time to mention it at some point.

[@edwinamceachran]

thank you for this series of the last month - really enjoyed watching these everyday in my lunch break or catching up in the evening. deffo going to add some of these to the listening list next year

[@charau95]

For books that recapture the magic of reading as a child, I recommend (another MG book) Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. I absolutely adore that book.

[@bassoonrckr]

This is going to be my first year of reading 100 books in a year (on track at 97 and halfway through two books)!! That’s mainly what I’m excited about this December, but I also finished reading the Discworld series after three years of slowly making my way through. Other Sci-if fantasy favs were the Skyward series and Once and Future duology. I’ve read a lot of audiobooks this year and because I used my library to check them out I read some books that are in my top books that I wouldn’t have ordinarily approached, like 84 Charing Cross Road, Hollow Kingdom (seriously no one has heard of this the main character is a cussing crow in a zombie story) and a road dahl I hadn’t heard of before - Henry Sugar.

[@athenamcewan5207]

Thanks - i just spent a ton of money on books again from your recommendations, lol. Seriously, the best book reviews i have heard in a while, thank you soo much! Happy Holidays xx

[@stephwhite7983]

❤❤❤Still Life ❤❤❤ I still miss those people. Fight Night by Miriam Toews also has characters that still have my heart ❤❤❤

[@albaruizdunbar4565]

Oh my gooooooood the best vid of the year on youtube has arrived

[@bethanygreenwood8259]

I've been watching for my lunch break, I will miss seeing you every day in the new year 😅

[@georginachard8604]

I read "Guards guards!" by Terry Pratchet this year and it was bloody beautiful. I'd heard from many lovers of discworld that it's the best place to start and I'm glad I did. I think you'd really like it Leena, lots of sarcastic social commentary, dragons, fast paced and overall very hopeful and fun :)

[@testosteronic]

Oh I started with The Wee Free Men (Tiffany Aching), I'd heard of starting w the city watch but hadn't had it recommended, main thing I was told was _not_ to start with The Colour of Magic lol. I'm in the middle of Hogfather rn, I planned a bit so I'd have it lined up for Christmas. Hope you really get into all of the rest of discworld! It's so good!

[@BookNomming]

Middle grade is honestly becoming my fave type of books! They tackle so many tough topics beautiful, they are engaging and beautifully written and so much more effort is put into them in terms of language and world building

[@xiahkixiri]

Please recommend some! I want to find my way back to them.

[@makermeagan3975]

I read The Murderer's Ape because of you and its one of my favorite books for the year too. I really enjoy your videos, thanks for making them!

[@MissMuffin446]

I could listen to you talk about books for hours. It's always a bit of a problem though because you end up making my tbr way too long!!! My favourite book this year Circe by Madeline Miller or the 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Or where the crawdads sing! God so many good ones haha

[@rhonamitchell975]

Not read as much this year as last year but still some great ones: Written on the body by Jeanette Winterson - I’m not usually one for the poetic would rather just get into the story but this was so beautifully done I love the bones of you by Christopher eccleston - I love an autobiography that is more than just a straightforward this is what happened in my life and this is just that you can tell Chris is deeply thoughtful and there’s so much insight to be gained from him talking about masculinity, class, and mental health. Such a fun age by Kiley Reid just felt so spot on and relevant as well as being funny and warm

[@balletlover95]

I read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" twice this year, it was so good! "The 7¹/² Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" was really cool and kicked off an interest in mysteries that I have never had before that has now lead me to read several Agatha Christy books (which I also really enjoyed). I also read "The Martian" by Andy Weir again this year because it is fantastic. I have it on audio book and I have listened to it like 5 times total. Thank you for your favorites list, I love adding to my TBR and now I feel like I have some really good ones on there!

[@shaneyswift3127]

Evelyn Hardcastle is so twisty, I've listened to it twice on audio and want to read it physically too because I still feel like two times wasn't enough to keep up with all the twists and turns. I love it so much.

[@seilanna1]

I mainly read romance/ urban fantasy but some books I really liked was the grave witch series by Kalayna Price. The last book in the series came out this year and I really enjoyed the ride.

[@brenna_adel]

i also have no nostalgia connected to a series of unfortunate events and am actually in the process of collecting all of them to start reading next year. BUT i DID read poison for breakfast this year and i loved it soooo much. recommend that for more lemony snicket.

[@shangoshango2471]

Piranesi was incredible, I cried so hard and it felt so real. Pew, House of Leaves, The Three Body Problem were great as well!! And a few Dutch books , two 5 stars and lots of 4 stars this year :D

[@t.w.2821]

I look forward to your favourites video every year!!

[@eveprickett]

i read the entirety of the lord of the rings this year! the films mean so much to me so finally reading the book gave me hope and warm fuzzy feelings in a year that wasn’t the best :-)

[@flikitaw5654]

My favourite read this year was definitely Maggie O'Farrells Hamnet - it was super comforting and beautifully escapist for me during a difficult moment, I LOVED it. I'm also currently reading The Betrayals by Bridget Collins which is like some kind of amazing 1920s-ish non-magic-based Harry Potter for adults?! I liked her first book but this one has totally blown it out of the water, it's so clever and dreamy, highly recommend! Last one is an honourable mention for Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee, about as far as you can get from a comforting read, but I couldnt put it down and her writing - holy shit, I would kill to be able to write half as well as that!

[@pyjamabottoms670]

My favourite book for 2021 was "such a fun age" It wasn't complex or anything like that - but it's one that I have not stopped thinking about x

[@emmatheowl]

I think this is an INCREDIBLE and incredibly complex book! So much going on in such a simple story 🤩

[@pyjamabottoms670]

@@emmatheowl that's true! A lot going on but very subtle. I loved it.

[@munglejoela]

I'm interested to read Still Life after seeing it on Between the Covers on BBC recently. I've really enjoyed these videos, thank you. My faves off the top of my head are Piranesi, A Still Life by Josie George, Wintering by Katherine May, and Humankind by Rutger Bregman which really cheered me up in a dark year.

[@munglejoela]

Oh, I read Black and British a few years ago and loved it. Of course was not taught any of it at school. I liked the TV series as well.

[@WellTraveledBooks]

series of unfortunate events was my favourite series as a kid/teen. i am so glad to see you giving them some extra love!

[@quietfi123]

my reading mojo has come back slowly this year so I haven't read enough to recommend anything. However, I read Red, White and Royal Blue for the first time this year and freakin' loved it! Seeing your list has got me pumped tho' for more reading in 2022.

[@MargaretPinard]

LOVE that! Not that it equips you to know all of history, 'but it prevents you from being lied to' YES, Leena!

[@landuola]

so many of my favorites this year were books you recommended!! we got spinster, transcendent kingdom, defining decade, and everything by mhairi mcfarlane. thank you for your always spot on recs!! other notable books include: gallery of clouds by rachel eisendrath, etel adnan's poetry (all of it), and how to be both by ali smith. added all these new recs to my storygraph tbr; tysm!! long winter ahead

[@fionaboyle7616]

I have ten books I gave five stars this year and can't narrow them down into favourites so sorry for the long list haha Exit West- Mohsin Hamid No One Is Talking About This- Patricia Lockwood (which I read because of Leena's Women's Prize video!) The Book of Trespass- Nick Hayes A Still Life- Josie George Lanny- Max Porter Shuggie Bain- Douglas Stuart Diary of a Young Naturalist- Dara McAnulty The Wanderer- Peter van den Ende Small Island- Andrea Levy Rebirding- Benedict Macdonald

[@melodiesandmemories7739]

If you want to read more middle grade, my favorite book I read this year was The Line Tender by Kate Allen! It's told in retrospective and set in the 1990s, so it really reads like more of an adult novel. And the language is exquisite like you were saying with The Murderer's Ape!

[@phaithfishy]

Love hearing you talk about books! It makes me excited to read.

[@clairesilverspar]

I struggle to find time to read properly at the moment (6 month old takes up a lot of time), but I can highly recommend the Black and British tv show on the BBC if you cant sink the 24 hours into the book. I learnt a lot and it has made me want to find the time to read the book.

[@wiggleallaround]

Still Life is one of my 2021 faves too!!

[@GrainneH984]

The Midnight Library by matt haig and Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid were my favourite books of the year! I didn't read as much this year as I would have liked but I'm hoping next year is different

[@uri65]

really loved this, i have put Still Life on hold on my library app :') my favourite book from this year was Little Weirds by Jenny Slate, it's a gorgeous essay collection and it felt like i was staying up all night with a friend at a sleepover to then go to brunch with them the next day and not feel in any way tired. just marvellous.

[@laura__5544]

Always my favorite video of the year!

[@dotdotdot8376]

In the intro, I thought I saw A Series of Unfortunate Events, and then I realised that it actually was and got so excited! One of my favourite series growing up, and still now :D

[@MmllePertiwi]

This video reminded me that despite all 2021 threw at us - I had a pretty good reading year too. So thank you! I highly recommend Aftershocks: A memoir by Nadia Owusu (wonderful breadth and glorious writing) and The Mother Wound by Amani Hayder (one of the most heartbreaking and amazing books I have ever read - trigger warnings necessary but I think the world needs to read this!) Also for a stunning piece of fiction One Hundred Days by Alice Pung.

[@tegan6554]

Somebody's daughter by Ashley C. Ford is a memior about Ford's childhood growing up with an incarcerated father and a mother who had emotional issues. It made me weep (and definitely check the content warnings cause it gets dark). It was written so beautifully and with a lot of love and forgiveness to her past. Almost painfully raw but in a way that's really stuck with me. And it was her debut!

[@AneCathrine]

Some of my favourite books from 2021 were the Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Transcendent Kingdom is on my tbr!), All Systems Red by Martha Wells, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (I really need to read her other book), the Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton and Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore. When 2021 was over, I really felt like I’d had a bad reading year, but looking back these books bring me so much joy and have a somewhat overarching theme of the love of humanity☺️

[@caoimhenimhuireadhaigh1303]

I'll be going on a mad book buying trip thanks to this video!