I never intended this to be a 3-part series, yet here we are: part 3 of the list of all the books I’ve read so far in 2021. Whew! Ready?
- The Witch Elm by Tana French — This was the first mystery I’d ever read by Tana French, and holy heck was it powerful. I was glued to the page right from the beginning, and it was just literary enough to get my brain churning without leaning into pretension. You’ll see a lot of her on this list after this for a very good reason.
26.The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James — My mystery/horror binge continues with this twist on a haunted house story: a haunted motel! The main character follows her missing aunt’s footsteps by taking on a job at the (haunted) motel where she worked until her mysterious disappearance. I loved the premise, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the author delivers on it.
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley — Another mystery, set in a remote location (an island) where everyone’s a suspect. Outside of the relationship between the sisters, this one didn’t really stand out to me, and the ending felt like it could have been a lot stronger. I much preferred The Hunting Party.
- Lock Every Door by Riley Sager — Remember how Home Before Dark (reviewed previously) reminded me uncannily of Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House? This Riley Sager novel felt uncannily like the film Rosemary’s Baby. A young woman moves into a wealthy apartment complex, realizes something is extremely wrong, gets gaslighted by all of her neighbors, and… I won’t spoil the ending. There’s no baby though, at least.
- The Searcher by Tana French — Wow. I was excited to return to a Tana French novel and I was not disappointed. Moody, atmospheric, and whip-smart, this mystery, set in Ireland, features a retired detective picking up a missing persons case. Keep asking yourself throughout this one who “the searcher” really is — and what they’re searching for.
- The Broken Girls by Simone St. James — The Sun Down Motel (reviewed above) was interesting enough for me to pick up a second book by the same author, though I think I preferred the first. Four girls, a creepy boarding school, a ghost, maybe (?), and lots of fun twists and turns.
- Start Ugly: The Unexpected Path to Everyday Creativity by David duChemin — This is the book that led me to invite David duChemin onto the Write Now podcast. As happens with so many books, I picked up this one when I needed it most, when I needed to begin to break my way out of a shell of perfectionism that was really harming my work. David’s premise is that there is no known/sure path in creating, and guides us through the fear, resistance, messiness, self-sabotage, and expectations. If you need a creative wake-up call, this is the book for you.
- Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage by Anne Lamott — Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers on writing, and I was honored to be able to interview her (here’s the video!) about her latest book. I read it three times to be prepared for the interview, and each time I read it, I gained a deeper appreciation for her honesty, grace, and artistry. If you’re searching for meaning, hope, and reassurance in our current age, check out this book.
- Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand — I admit it… I picked this one up because the cover was so pretty. But despite the rave reviews for this YA girl-power horror novel, I found it to be a messy, contrived hive of cliché characters, mismatched imagery and confusing lore. Not for me.
- The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James — Back to an author I’d enjoyed, though embarrassingly I don’t remember a lot about it. Set shortly after World War I, this horror/mystery features an angry ghost and some romance, I think? Maybe I was just still mad about Sawkill Girls.
- Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates — I was a little cautious of this one, especially given YouTuber Logan Paul’s recent fiasco with the famous Aokigahara (nicknamed “Suicide Forest”) in Honshu, Japan. I was curious how a horror novel would handle a culturally sensitive topic in a respectful way. Well, long story short — it didn’t. There were only two Japanese characters (including a man named Honda who drove a Toyota, har har), tons of uncomfortable cultural appropriation, and an insufferable narrator (for whose death I was actively rooting). Not recommended.
- All Things Cease To Appear by Elizabeth Brundage — Okay, this one I picked up because I was intrigued by the trailer for Things Heard & Seen on Netflix, and I saw it was based on a book. I also saw that the movie had a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so picked up the book instead. It was… okay? Trying too hard to be literary, maybe? Or just trying too hard in general?
- Into the Woods by Tana French — Back to an author I can trust, after that series of missteps! The first in the “Dublin Murder Squad” series, Into the Woods elevates the mystery/detective thriller with French’s trademark darkness and complex ambiguity. I was really impressed by this one and fascinated by the main character’s descent into… well, no spoilers.
- The Likeness by Tana French — Book 2 in the “Dublin Murder Squad” series was even better than the first. This installment features Cassie (from book 1) as the main character and gives us a sharp, immersive analysis of what it means to lose and find yourself. Plus, the setting is gorgeous and the crumbling old house was *chef’s kiss* perfection.
- An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena — Another mystery where the guests are snowed in and someone is killing them off one by one? Yes, please! (Seriously, I don’t know what my deal is.) It actually took me a while to wrap my brain around Shari Lapena’s writing — it’s very straightforward and Agatha Christie-like, which was a huge shift from Tana French’s layered ambiguity. Still, enjoyable and borderline cozy.
- Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire — A friend lured me into reading this YA fantasy novella with promises of a Hogwarts/Narnia vibe mixed with a gothic darkness / murder mystery. It was fun, and a quick read, but ultimately (for reasons I can’t quite articulate) not my particular cup of tea.
- What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon — Tim and I have been listening to the “Maintenance Phase” podcast recently (it’s so good!) and so I had to pick up co-host Aubrey Gordon’s book. This is a nonfiction exploration of what it means to be overweight, fat, plus-sized, or obese in America, and how our fears and anxieties about weight affect the health of our entire society. I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot along the way, which made it a win-win.
- The Fisherman by John Langan — I had never heard of John Langan, and only discovered his work after a trip down an internet rabbit hole. But I’m so glad I did! The Fisherman is a generation-jumping horror story-within-a-story that is smoothly told and well written, and skillfully blends frightening images with important social questions and a message of hope at the end. I’d definitely recommend it.
- Bullsh*t Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber — (I know the email title says 42 books, but I finished another one after my initial email.) I have been recommending this book to everybody. It questions why so many people are stuck in so many meaningless and unfulfilling jobs, and explores the role those jobs play in our society and economy. Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? If you’ve ever found yourself pondering that question, read this book.
All right! Those are the 43 books I’ve finished so far here in 2021. I’ll let you know what else gets added to the list as 2021 draws to a close. Until then, what would you recommend?
Words & warmth,
Sarah