My book summary for 2021
In 2021 I have finished 52 books, it’s more than I planned and it’s more than in 2020. But it’s kind of a pyrrhic victory, in 2020 I finished fewer books, but read more pages… In 2022 the goal is again 45 books.
In this summary, I won’t mention books or authors that I gave a low score on last year. It’s not the purpose of this writing. And if I don’t like it, it doesn’t mean it’s bad or that you won’t like it. It just means the book was not meant for me or for the situation I was in. I will simply share with you a couple of books I find interesting or authors that I came across this year and are worth spreading the names.
One more warning before you continue and spend your time reading this article — the books are not new from 2021 nor 2020. Some of them are old and you may already read them all. Even if my inspiration to write this article came from readers like Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and many more bookworms out there, I’m worried to buy new books. What if I won’t like them??? And I love going to the beautiful library in my hometown.
Czech corner: I take inspiration from book influencers on IG and Databazeknih.cz
Reading books should be mainly fun and relaxing. But it’s also a good opportunity to learn something new from non-fiction or historical books and memoirs. This year I was not very lucky with some of the self-help books I have read. The only one I could highlight is the Deep Work from Cal Newport. But I was lucky to come across a journalist Åsne Seierstad. Her “One of Us. The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway” was great, shocking, and sad. (There is also a movie filmed by this book). Super relevant this year was her “The Bookseller of Kabul” from Kabul in 2002. And her last book (published in Czech) “Two sisters” is already on my nightstand. With this (if you are CZ or SK) I would like to recommend following “Absynt” publishing. They are not so well known but publish interesting books like the ones from Åsne.
Reading is a pleasure, fun, hobby but also a way how to spend quality time in bed (mainly before sleeping, but even during the day :) ). Before sleeping it’s nice to take a book that pulls you into a different world, a different reality. Last year I have started (finally!) the series from Elena Ferrante “L’amica genial (My Brilliant Friend)”. The story takes you to Neapol in the fifties (and later) to live a life together with two young ladies, best friends.
You can’t make a mistake with any book from Ruta Sepetys. Her “The Fountains of Silence” I read last year, is probably not her best one, but still worth reading. She builds her stories around strong characters living in some difficult historical periods. This one is about Ana in Franco’s Madrid.
A little bit controversial are books from Marc Elsberg. Last year I came across his “Helix — They Will Replace Us”. It’s a thriller, but as always from Marc with a taste of sci-fi. What do you know about genetic engineering? Would you like to have an ingenious kid?
Very nice and relaxing are books from David Michie. I read two of them and I would like to highlight his book “The Dalai Lama’s Cat” (it’s also the name for the whole series). In the current environment of negativity and arguments, this book was like shining sun of peacefulness.
If you want to enjoy a good crime book, any book from Angela Marsons or Rober Bryndza (love his surname) will do the work. Last year I have started his new series with Kate Marshallová and it’s almost as good as the one with Erika Foster.
Czech corner: From the Czech author I would like to mention Jan Stifler and his book “Sberatel snehu”. Pavel Bares with his series “Projekt Kronos” and Petra Stehlikova with her series “Naslouchac”. Books about Projekt Kronos are not the best Czech sci-fi. But Pavel is just 28 years old with already 4 books on his plate, all coming from Host publishing and all with good reviews. He is a rising star in the Czech book scene.
If this article inspires you to read at least one book, any book (not necessarily any listed above) in 2022 that would be great.
Happy reading!
