21 favourite books for 2021

But first, some graphs!

If I’d bothered to publish my graphs last year I think this would be year eight of ‘books unnecessarily graphed’. I’ve cut back over the past couple of years on the things I record in my reading spreadsheet, which means you get only the best graphs. Enjoy the colours…

This year, 40 of the books I read were audiobooks (up from 24 last year). If I started a book – print or audio – and realised within a couple of chapters it wasn’t for me, I didn’t bother adding it to the spreadsheet; the 12 here are ones I gave up on a good way through, and not necessarily because I didn’t like them.

I deployed Andrew Roff’s patented grading scheme, and found it to be excellent. So many books are heaps good!

I have slightly broken my unnecessary book-buying habit since I started putting books on hold at the library then waiting a year for them to become available. Want to discuss Hannah Kent’s new book? Ask me in July 2022! I have also been getting a lot more audiobooks from the library. But never fear, bookshops: I did spend $1,231 on books in the 19-20 financial year, and one day I will read those books.

Seems like no. But I have started reading books from the future. The oldest book I read was a re-read (and technically, this time, a listen) – Georgette Heyer’s *The Grand Sophy*

And now for 21 favourites

Lots of these have already been talked about all over the place, so I won’t go into too much detail. Links are, wherever possible, to libraries where you can borrow the book.

Books published in 2020 and 2021

Smokehouse Melissa Manning – linked short stories set in southern Tasmania – I don’t normally go in for realist stuff like this, but the writing is utterly brilliant and I couldn’t stop thinking about this book for ages.

By chance the future Amy Rudder – Amy’s my friend, but even I was a bit shocked by how great this book is: a novel set in London in 2001, about travel, politics, nostalgia and uncomfortable truths. The sentences are cut-glass perfect.

The fortune men Nadifa Mohamed

The Bass Rock Evie Wyld

The employees Olga Ravn – This strange, short workplace novel-in-documents is set in a far-future spaceship and has a lot to say about you and how you live now.

Harrow the Ninth Tamsyn Muir – made me want to be a completely different person so I could write a book like this (you definitely have to read Gideon the Ninth first to have any hope of making any sense of this).

The airways Jennifer Mills

The good neighbours Nina Allan – Nina Allan isn’t much read or talked about in Australia, but she writes some of the best genre-blurring books out there, in my opinion. Her novel The Rift is one of my all-time favourites and I’m glad I finally gave in to James Bradley’s nagging and read it.

Smart ovens for lonely people Elizabeth Tan – I love it.

Leave the world behind Rumaan Alam

How to blow up a pipeline Andreas Malm – this might be my favourite read of the year; for the first time in however long it made me feel hopeful and powerful. A great companion piece is The book of trespass by Nick Hayes, which I haven’t quite finished yet so it’s not on the list.

Stranger care Sarah Sentilles – one of the best writers about ethics and responsibility, who is also very (darkly) funny.

I love you but I’ve chosen darkness Claire Vaye Watkins and A ghost in the throat Doireann Ní Ghríofa – both uncategorisable, weird, slippery, funny and uncomfortable.

Older books

The traitor Baru Cormorant Seth Dickinson 2015 – epic fantasy featuring forensic accounting; twists and turns! Thanks Andrew Roff for recommending

Exterminate all the brutes Sven Lindqvist 1992

Aue Becky Manawatu 2019 – had to keep putting it down because it was too distressing, which is a recommendation of sorts. Thanks Alex Kutt for recommending.

The autobiography of Red Anne Carson 1998

Audiobooks

An American marriage Tayari Jones, narrated by Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis

True Grit Charles Portis, narrated by Donna Tart – this is utter delight. I couldn’t wait to set out on my commute and listen some more.

Unsettled ground Claire Fuller, narrated by Kim Bretton – life under whatever we’re calling this political system can be so bleak, and so beautiful.

Jane Rawson