With the pandemic still in full swing, I spent much of 2021 reading. In total, I read about 82 books. Some turned out to be favourites, while others not so much. Delving into each book would take too much time, so I gave my favourite books particular awards this year. Without further ado, here are my 2021 book awards.
Best Non-fiction
Winner: Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey
Twice-appointed the Poet Laureate of the United States, Trethewey’s memoir details her life leading up to her mother’s murder by her abusive stepfather when Trethewey was just 19. This memoir reflects Trethewey’s childhood in Mississippi, growing up as biracial and her relationship with her mother. This is a stunningly written book that I thought about for months after reading. This book depicts some heavy topics such as domestic abuse and racism, but it is a must-read.
Best Plot Twist
Winner: The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup
Don’t be alarmed by this book’s 500+ pages – I flew through it! This Scandinavian thriller (which recently got adapted into a Netflix series) follows two detectives attempting to solve a series of murders that all have a puzzling connection – a chestnut doll found at the crime scenes. However, everything begins heating up when one chestnut man becomes connected to the missing daughter of a government official. This book was engaging, fast-paced and full of red herrings. There were twists and turns throughout the entire book. If you read it, I advise: clear your schedule because you will not want to put it down.
Best Series
Winner: The Frieda Klein series by Nicci French
This might be cheating because I started this series at the end of 2020, but I devoured the rest of the series throughout 2021. Written by husband-wife duo Nicci French, these eight books follow psychotherapist Frieda Klein as she gets into all kinds of shenanigans. In the first book, Frieda becomes involved in the disappearance of a five-year-old boy when one of her patients describes having dreams that are the spitting image of the missing boy. When the police dismiss her, it is up to Frieda to follow new leads. Once I read the first book, I devoured the rest as each book was page-turning. Frieda Klein may be my favourite character of all time as you get to uncover her layers throughout the series. I would recommend anyone to pick up this series because you might just fall in love with Frieda yourself.
Best Character
Winner: Nurse Julia Powers from Emma Donoghue’s The Pull of the Stars
Aside from Frieda Klein, my favourite character this year would have to go to Nurse Julia Powers from The Pull of the Stars. This book follows Julia over three days as she cares for the mothers and babies on the maternity ward during the grips of the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic in Dublin. Throughout the novel, I felt like I got to know and become friends with Nurse Powers. Her character was so impactful – I found myself rooting for her throughout the entire novel, yet my heart also broke for her. She is strong-willed, caring and strives to care for her patients. Nurse Powers is a character I will never forget.
Best Book Cover
Winner: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
This cover might be the most stunning I have ever seen, but the story it contains is equally impactful. Firekeeper’s Daughter follows eighteen-year-old Daunis as she navigates being biracial while also participating in her Ojibwe community. As this book is a young adult crime fiction, I would recommend going into it not knowing much about the plot. This story sheds light on the rich culture, language and traditions of the Anishinaabe people. It is a piece of Indigenous literature that I will be revisiting in the future.
Best Overall Book
Winner: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Emma Donoghue is one of my favourite authors and she wrote another masterpiece with The Pull of the Stars. This is a masterfully written story following three Irish women over three days during the height of the Spanish Flu in an understaffed Dublin hospital. What ensues is a story of heartbreak, tragedy and hope that reaches far beyond the confines of the maternity ward where the plot unfolds. This is a slow-burning story, yet it captivated me from page one. Donoghue expertly weaves her fiction with historical facts. If you take one recommendation from this list, let it be this one because it was so impactful.