Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
The latest novel from Pulitzer Prize winner Doerr is a huge undertake, spanning centuries and incorporating multiple storylines. Amid this tangle of events, each character must face what feels like the end of their worldly concern, and it feels like a endow to the reader that Doerr ’ s reception to each of these characters, evening those who commit potentially inexcusable deeds, is clemency and hope and compassion. We have seen iniquity times before, and we ’ ll see them again—and possibly, if we trust in each other, it will all work out in the end. —Cat Acree, Deputy Editor
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
If potential, this mystery is flush better than the Osman ’ s smoothie of a debut, The Thursday Murder Club. It ’ s a load of fun and an ode to how important the power of friendship is throughout one ’ sulfur life sentence but particularly during the final reach. —Savanna Walker, Associate Editor
These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
As BookPage reviewer Kelly Blewett put it, “ These Precious Days reinforces what many longtime fans like best about Ann Patchett : her healthy appraisal of what is good in the world. ” indeed, this essay collection overflows with good : good write, adept stories, good people. ( One essay is literally about a priest whose work with unhoused people in his residential district caused Patchett to label him a “ living saint. ” ) This is a companionable book, full of warmhearted reflections on how to love what we love—books, dogs, family—a little better. —Christy Lynch, Associate Editor
Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson
today ’ sulfur unseasoned readers are indeed lucky to have a writer like Renée Watson creating books for them, and Love Is a Revolution is a perfect model of why. This YA fresh is a master class in portrayal, from its grounded however swoony central couple, to the family and friends who surround them, to Harlem itself, which Watson evokes vividly. Her regard for and impression in the office of young people comes through on every page, but what sets Watson apart are her words. Watson is a poet who writes novels, and that means every few pages, you will encounter a sentence so beautifully phrased that your eyes will brim with tears and your heart will be softly filled. —Stephanie Appell, Associate Editor
Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
A angelic and lighthearted rom-com that will appeal to readers who prefer stories that focus more on character than conflict, Very Sincerely Yours centers on the epistolary kinship between Teddy, a new woman who feels reasonably adrift in life, and Everett, the beloved host of a local children ’ mho show. Both characters are fondly and cautiously drawn by Winfrey, who besides creates a cozy, friendship-filled environment around her central pair. —Savanna Walker, Associate Editor
Read more: The 36 Best (Old) Books We Read in 2021
On the one hand, reading Goodbye, Again feels like sharing a warm cup of tea with generator and illustrator Jonny Sun. On the other hand, your buddy Jonny might be a little press down, or at least profoundly introspective, and so your prison term together, while enriching, might make you cry. They ’ ra good tears though—an overflow of feeling silent, of relief after hearing from person else who feels as alone, burnt out and aspirant as you do. Each short essay touches on an view of modern life that makes true connection, with yourself and others, hard. in concert, they form a kaleidoscopic announcement that it ’ s worth the effort to nurture yourself and see what grows. —Christy Lynch, Associate Editor
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan, illustrated by Lian Cho
In her author ’ sulfur bill, Mary Lee Donovan writes that this deceptively simple word picture reserve is her “ sexual love song to our shared humanity. ” In multilingual rhyme couplets, A Hundred Thousand Welcomes offers a blessing for the sacredness of gathering together. Lines such as “ The door is across-the-board open— / come in from the storm. / We ’ ll tax shelter in peace, / break boodle where it ’ randomness warmly ” have a plainspoken exponent, and Lian Cho ’ s friendly, colorful illustrations capture the gladden of greetings and the happiness to be found around a shared table. —Stephanie Appell, Associate Editor
Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation by John Lewis
During the last months of Congressman John Lewis ’ life sentence, he put penitentiary to paper to collect some depart thoughts after 80 years of noteworthy activism and service. Carry On captures Lewis ’ memories of growing up as the son of a sharecropper in Alabama, shopping for comedian books at the flea market, joining the Freedom Riders movement and more. Interspersed are snippets of advice for the adjacent genesis who will carry on the department of justice work Lewis and others began during the civil rights drift. After his death in 2020, Lewis ’ survive book reads as an evening more valued british labour party of love, laced through with the congressman ’ s brand wisdom, solitaire, determination and hope. —Christy Lynch, Associate Editor
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
The type of book that the discussion heartwarming was made for, Chambers ’ sci-fi novelette follows a monk who is literally devoted to minor comforts as they brew tea, explore the wild edges of the world and try to offer consolation and heat wherever they can. There are some judicious philosophical themes at toy, but just enough to engage and not overwhelm your brain as you happily sink into this little, absolutely knead jewel of a story. —Savanna Walker, Associate Editor
Of a Feather by Dayna Lorentz
“ Two lost souls find each other and the way forward ” is a story I will read as if it ’ s the beginning prison term every time. In Dayna Lorentz ’ middle grade fresh Of a Feather, the lost souls are a young girl named Reenie who ’ s been sent to live with an aunt she ’ s never met and a 6-month-old owl named Rufus who has besides found himself alone and unprotected in the broad, wild populace. Watching these two lento drop their defenses and open themselves up to curative, love and hope has frightful invoke and power : It reminds us that no one is always in truth so lost that they can not be found. —Stephanie Appell, Associate Editor
