And Why You Should Read Them Too
Every year I keep a detailed log of all the books I’ve read with ratings out of ten and a quick note about why I did or did not like it. Sometimes I rate books in Goodreads, but I usually end up forgetting. But every time I open up my Notion app I see my “Reads” tab and am reminded to update it, so it works out great. If you’re a reader who also wants to remember why you liked (or hated) a book, I’d recommend this. Plus it’s fun to know all the books you’ve read and look back on that time in your life. With that being said, here are the first ten books I read this year and my takes on them.
1. The Goldfinch
Rating: 7/10
The Goldfinch was written by the same author as the famous Secret History, Donna Tartt. And while the writing style was similar and the main character was relatable and interesting, I did not find the plot to be as unique or enticing as the Secret History. It follows a boy who survives a terrorist attack in a museum and ends up stealing a painting from it. We see his attachment to the artwork, the grief he feels for his mother who was killed in the attack and the guilt he faces for committing the crime. While the story was very long, I’d say it was worth the read if you feel like you can commit to 800-plus pages.
2. The School for Good Mothers
Rating: 8/10
This dystopian tale is set in a world where “bad” mothers are sent to a reform school by the government. It follows one woman on her journey at this school, and certainly evokes emotions as well as makes us question the pressures put on mothers.
3. Eighteen
Rating: 8/10
This book is about 18 important figures in British history – my dad got it for me before I went to study abroad in England. While I’m not usually a big nonfiction reader outside of academic contexts or memoirs, this book was probably one of the best gifts I could’ve asked for from my dad. The way the author tells each character’s story was done in a strong narrative style, and made me interested in each of their impacts on history.
4. Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words
Rating: 7.5/10
This memoir of Princess Diana was a perfect read for me while studying abroad in England, watching The Crown (which I highly recommend) and becoming slightly obsessed with the royal family. However, at some points it felt like the author subtly villainized Diana for some of her choices, and it was written from the perspective of a man, so I wouldn’t say it completely captured her tumultuous experience as a member of the royal family. Then again, the only person who could do that would be Diana herself, and I’d still say this was worth reading.
5. Blue Sisters
Rating: 6.5/10
This novel is by the same author as Cleopatra and Frankenstein, so my hopes for it were high as I loved that book. While I wouldn’t say it was as good as her debut novel, I still really enjoy her writing style and liked that this book followed a tale about the complex relationships between sisters. It’s described by some as a modern adaptation of Little Women, which obviously made it worth my time.
6. Story of A New Name
Rating: 8/10
Part of a series by Elena Ferrante, this book follows two women as they grow up, go their separate ways and experience challenges within their friendship. It’s set in 1960s Italy, and I was lucky enough to visit there while reading it as I was studying abroad in Europe; this made the experience of reading it all the more interesting. While sometimes depressing and confusing to read, it is about the complexities of friendships and is set amongst lots of historical upset in Italy.
7. Anxious People
Rating: 8.5/10
If you want a heartwarming tale, I’d recommend this book. It explores human nature and people coming together in a crisis, and the way the plot is set up keeps you reading til the end. It is also all set in one day, which I sometimes hate in a book but really loved it in this instance.
8. Hamnet
Rating: 8/10
This book is an imagined tale of the inspiration of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and explores complex themes of love, family, death and grief amidst the Black Plague in England. It jumps back and forth in time, which I think worked really well for the book. I think it was very well-written, easy to follow and descriptive of the setting and time period. However, I found the ending a little bit underwhelming.
9. Rules of Civility
Rating: 6/10
By the same author who wrote A Gentleman in Moscow, this story follows a young woman in the years after the Great Depression as she finds herself thrust into high-society New York. For some reason, it’s always fun to read about the lives of the rich, and in New York no less. Sometimes it felt kind of slow, however, and I think the protagonist was hard to get a grasp of.
10. The Mothers
Rating: 7/10
This story was interesting as it follows Nadia, an African American girl from a small town, as she grows up, goes off to college, and experiences the guilt of leaving her community and family behind. It deals with grief, teen pregnancy, friendships, religion, community judgement, caretaking and so many other heavy topics that kept me invested.
Since none of these books got below a 6 on my scale, I think all of them were worth the time and would definitely recommend them. I think the variance in the list makes it so that there’s something for many different types of readers. Happy reading!