Because all of these are so different, I didn't rank them. So, in no particular order, the best books I read last year are:
Americanah by Chiamanda Ngozi Adiche: I can't say enough good things about this book. Ifemelu and Obinze are young Nigerian sweethearts who dream of going to the United States for college. Ifemelu experiences America and comes to terms for the first time with what it means to be black. She also notices distinct differences between African-Americans and the African immigrants around her. Obinze ends up living on the fringes, undocumented, in London after post-9/11 America shuts its doors to him. The struggles both of these young people go through, including love, tragedy, racism, and class, eventually bring both of them back to Nigeria, where life is both the same, yet very different, from the country they left.
This description doesn't even come close to describing Adiche's lyrical prose and character development. I've read most of her work (Purple Hibiscus is on my list for this year), and she is just getting better and better as a writer. Definitely check her work out!!
The Ocean at the End of the Land by Neil Gaiman: This was my first Gaiman read, but it's not going to be my last. I have The Graveyard Book on my nightstand, and the rest of his work is on my to-be-read list.
The narrator returns to his home in Sussex to attend a funeral. Although his childhood home no longer stands, the Hempstock Farm at the end of the lane does. Inexplicably drawn to the Farm, the narrator finds himself reliving long forgotten memories from his childhood. When he is seven, a visiting South African opal miner commits suicide on the Hempstock Farm. An ancient entity hears his dying sounds and comes to investigate. People begin to act strangely, and the narrator crosses to the Farm to discover the cause. There he encounters eleven year old Lettie, her mother, and grandmother. The women talk of other worlds, times beyond, and the Big Bang. Lettie sets out to banish the ancient force, taking the narrator with her. Unfortunately, he makes a mistake, unleashing the force out of the Farm and into his world. She takes the form of Ursula, who manipulates his parents and sister, drawing out everyone's darkest desires. In order to save him, the women must call upon ancient female wisdom, and risk everything in the process.
Gaiman is a master storyteller. This work is dark, creepy, magical, and soul-wrenching, everything a good fantasy novel should be.
A Reason for Hope by Dr. Jane Goodall: Forget Woman Crush Wednesday, Dr. Goodall is one of my idols. I am so, so grateful I was able to hear her speak in person this year. This work came at just the right time, as I was starting to be pulled down into the darkness of the world between the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Ferguson, Gamergate, gun violence--you name it, it was dragging my soul down this summer. In addition to detailing her early work with the chimpanzees of Gombe and her creation of Roots and Shoots, and children's environmental program, Goodall discusses her spirituality, and how her belief in a higher power has helped her through the most difficult times in her career.
Some may find her beliefs incompatible with a scientific background (she has no problems reconciling them with evolution and even reincarnation), but for many who read this, it will prove reassuring. In fact, I have a feeling this is one that I will be coming back to.
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay: If you haven't read this, stop what you are doing and find a copy. Now. I'll wait. I don't care if you're male, female, black, white, gay, straight, Christian or Muslim. This is a must-read collection of essays on feminism, rape culture, music, pop culture, gender, and even football and Scrabble. (Gay even spent several years of her life in my home state of Nebraska.) She addresses the complexities of our society, trying to navigate modern life while trying to be a feminist (There IS no right way to be a feminist, by the way. Just a desire to see true equality and justice for everyone, men and women.)
This was one of the last books I read last year, and it's probably going to be a reread this year. It's that good and thought-provoking.
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud: I first read Claire Messud's The Emperor's Children in 2008. I was blown away. It remains one of my favorite books, but this one may have overtaken it. The story is narrated by 37 year old elementary art teacher, Nora Elridge. Nora has all but given up on her dream of becoming a professional artist, until she meets the family of a new student in her class, Reza Shahid. She falls in love with the entire family, including Reza's mother, Sirena, who is a talented installation artist. Sirena is everything Nora has longed to be: charismatic, beautiful, and talented. Nora and Sirena rent a studio together, where Nora begins to return to her own work. But, as in any fairytale existence, things are not always what they seem. Betrayal, deception, and lies soon take over this perfect union.
This is a powerful novel, and although Nora may not be a completely reliable narrator, her voice is utterly compelling, showing the plight of many women who have given up their dreams to live the dreams expected of them.
Five books. Five amazing stories. I'm looking forward to what this year's reading brings; it's already looking good. Check out Emily St. John Mandel's terrific dystopian novel, Station Eleven!
No comments:
Post a Comment