Books I Read In 2021

With the second lockdown and slow recovery from the pandemic, there was a lot of time at my disposal. And I utilized every second of it to transport myself to the land of the books.

Below are reviews of all the books I read this year, ranging from romance to non-fiction and fantasy.

Ember Quartet by Sabaa Tahir

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Rating: 4/5

Summary

The four-book series follows Laia, a Scholar girl who is fighting for her family and Elias, a martial yearning for his freedom. In the brutal high-fantasy world, inspired by Ancient Rome, the duo explores and learns the meaning of love and friendship whilst fulfilling their duty to their loved ones, nation, and each other.

Review

It was my first YA fantasy series and I loved it. The series improves with each book, thanks to a great cast, gripping plot lines, and a fantastic setting. Once I was done reading the first book, I never imagined the series would take such an unexpected turn in the third and fourth books. The books will take you on an emotional ride from sadness and pain to laughter and love.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Genre: Tragedy

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary

Chief Bromden, the narrator, is a patient at a psychiatric hospital in Oregon, who pretends to be deaf and dumb to go unnoticed. The hospital is ruled by Nurse Ratched. One day, Randle McMurphy arrives at the hospital and turns everything upside down with his rebelling nature. He stages protests and tries to defy all the strict rules set by Nurse Ratched.

Review

An amalgamation of funny, heartbreaking, and shocking, this book is very powerful. The author uses life in the ward as a metaphor for the outside conformist. He demonstrates how people in positions of power control and manipulate others to the point where they are unaware that they are being controlled. The writing is simple and magnificent, and while it moves slowly at times, you will be hooked from the start.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Genre: Romance

Rating: 4/5

Summary

In a first-person narrative, Jane Eyre narrates the life of Jane from childhood to adulthood. She is a simple, plain girl who has experienced multiple difficulties in her life, from her cruel Aunt to the conditions at her charity school and her love for Rochester. She faces each adversity with determination and courage, transforming herself into a strong, independent woman.

Review

For a book published in 1987, the strong female protagonist took me by surprise including her kindness, strength and sense of wrong vs right. Yes, some beliefs of Jane and Mr. Rochester might not sit with modern feminism but if looking at the age when the book was written and published, we can agree that it was well ahead of its time. The book has simple language and an interesting plotline that will keep the readers engaged until the end. It is without a doubt one of the best classic novels I have read.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Genre: Autobiography

Rating: 4.5/5

Summary

When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon and lover of literature, who is diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This book takes us through the life of Paul from when he fell in love with literature to a naive medical student to a successful neurosurgeon and finally into a patient and father faced with death.

Review

This book is raw and heart-wrenching whilst being inspirational and eye-opening. Paul poses an important question to the readers: What gives meaning to life in the face of mortality? And he beautifully takes the readers on a journey to answer the question. Even though I knew how this book ended, I couldn't put it down. You should pick this up if you are looking for a deeper insight into life and death.

A Man Called Over by Frederick Backman

Genre: Novel

Rating: 5/5

Summary

A Man Called Ove narrates the story of a 59-year-old man who lives in Sweden. Ove is a stickler for rules and strict routines and gets furious every time someone breaks a rule. But behind this exterior is a sad man who wants to end his life. However, all of that changes when a young couple with two daughters moves next door and turns Ove's world upside down.

Review

I anticipated being in tears as I got closer to the finish of the book. But at the end, a faint smile lay on my face.

Backman has explored love, friendship, and loss intricately and delicately to give you a book that is funny yet sad and inspiring. From feeling a little annoyed by Ove's behaviour to laughing at his reactions and feeling sad for him, this book has encapsulated multiple emotions in a couple of pages. But, in the end, I understood why Ove was the way he was. And I believe that's what Backman wanted to convey through the book: we should always do our best to dig deeper to understand people.

Everyone Has a Story by Savi Sharma

Genre: Romance Fiction

Rating: 3/5

Summary

Everyone Has a Story chronicles the story of four friends, Meera, Vivaan, Kabir and Nisha. Meera is a writer in search of a story while Vivaan is a young successful banker. On the other hand, Kabir is the coffee shop manager and Nisha is the girl with whom Kabir falls in love. In both books, the four friends navigate the ups and downs of life while battling their love and friendship.

Review

This book is a simple and easy read with an engaging plot. The characters and their journeys are relatable and the style of writing makes you feel as if you are a part of these characters' lives. I would recommend picking up both books when you are looking for a light read that you can finish in a couple of hours. It served as a good break for me after reading a classic or a heavy non-fiction book.

The Mind of a Terrorist: The Strange Case of David Headley by Kaare Sorensen

Genre: Biography

Rating: 5/5

Summary

The Mind of a Terrorist is an expose on David Coleman Headley, an American citizen who was behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Using over 300 unread emails and extensive on-ground reporting, it dives into his crime in Europe, people related to his life and the ways he got away from all his criminal acts.

Review

This book has been on my shelf for a long time. I finally decided to pick it up and I am glad that I did. It is an eye-opening and frightening book that gives an insight into the intrinsic motivation of terrorists around the world. It helps to understand ways in which criminals can go free and undetected from the eyes of the law. The grimmest part was reading about the Mumbai attack in detail from the perspective of one of the people present at the attack.

What books did you read this year and loved? Let me know in the comments below.