A running list of all the books I read in 2021.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Finished 25 February. I like Dumas' writing style and I did enjoy reading this; it’s a ripping yarn. However, it’s far too long! Given that it was originally published in serial format (like Dickens) there’s speculation that he was paid by the word… and it shows.

Wintering: The Power of Retreat and Rest in Difficult Times by Katherine May. Finished 28 February. I devoured this in just a few days (which is practically unheard of for me). It’s beautifully written, poetic in places. A winning combination of memoir, nature writing and thoughtful advice on how to prepare for winters of our own.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Finsihed 4 March. A quick read but nevertheless this packs a punch. The ease and subtlety of the writing makes the more brutal aspects of the story feel even more shocking.

The Green Road by Anne Enright. Finished 13 March.

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe. Finished 21 March.

Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake. Finshed 11 April. This has been on my reading list probably since I watched the BBC adaptation in the early 2000s. I’d always been slightly apprehensive of it, but I don’t know why. I really enjoyed it!

Lowborn by Kerry Hudson. Finished 19 April.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Finished 23 April.

Tags: #reading #books