The 12 best fiction books I read in 2021

2021 has been a good reading year, despite the fact that I had to struggle really hard to keep my various emotions at bay. It was a very different annual experience indeed, we spent the first full year in the midst of the pandemic. It was exhausting to see so much death, pain and commotion all around — so much hate, politics, contempt being casually strewn across. But no, books didn’t help me sail through this frenzy, neither did it promise me a larger utopia sprouting out of imagination. I didn’t take to my books to escape what is around, neither did I expect fiction to engulf me into a safe haven, away from all the sticky troubles. This year I read books to open my eyes — not just fiction, but a lot of non-fiction too, and a lot of opinions and discourses — to make sense people and our world, to try to fathom the utter chaos and find a place amidst this camaraderie that I can call my own. 2021 was filled with good books from great places, books which the crowd looks forward to and even books they stay away from. ‘Impactful’ is a word I will use to describe the general theme of the books which turned out to be my favourite, and I hold the memory of their impacts very close to me — often reminiscing about the first waft of their meaning sweeping in: that contentment.

1. ‘Animal’ by Lisa Taddeo

Taddeo’s writing is flinching and shocking, but with a legible reason. This fast-paced, stomach-churning book isn’t a comforting read. Read my post here.

2. ‘The Maidens’ by Alex Michaelides

‘The Maidens’ turned out to be one of the best thrillers I’ve read in my entire life. And the dark academia vibe — wonderful. A blend of Greek myths and psychological crime mystery, I devoured this book. Read my review here.

3. ‘Murder at the Mushaira’ by Raza Mir

Historical fiction at it’s best, and also literary fiction at its crescendo — this book’s importance won’t be understood if not read. Ghalib turns a detective in this novel taking place around the riots of 1857, and presents to us a multi-layered and stratified picture of the tremors of the first Sepoy Mutiny. My review is here.

4. ‘Song of Draupadi’ by Ira Mukhoty

Only Ira Mukhoty can turn a mythological perspective to a flamboyant and grand historical tale, and weave the feminist spirit of her writing across the myriad of women voices in the Mahabharat — Satyavati, Gandhari, Kunti, and of course Draupadi — a hymn of womanhood. Read my full review here.

5. ‘Sugarbread’ by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Simple yet profound, ‘Sugarbread’ follows a Sikh family immigrated to Singapore — and through their story, covers the essence of diasporic living, and a picture of family, race, culture and prejudice almost as real as it gets.

6. ‘The Greatest Assamese Stories Ever Told’ compiled by Mitra Phukan

One of the most balanced and nuanced translated anthologies I ever read, this book of translated Assamese short stories makes Assam’s demography and people come alive through words and thoughts. Each story here, meticulous and beautiful — is thought-provoking and touches the heart.

7. ‘The Illuminated’ by Anindita Ghose

Ghose writes about feminine sentiments and lets her book revolve around the lives of women, while carrying along themes like difference in perspective, identity and coping with acute grief. Her work is emotional, deep and passionate. Read my review here.

8. ‘The Demoness: The Best Bangladeshi stories 1971–2021’ edited by Niaz Zaman

Bangladeshi Bengali literature is teeming with rich references and beautiful imageries, but unfortunately doesn’t permeate much beyond the Bengali community. This anthology collects some best Bengali stories by Bangladeshi authors, and tries to uplift the Bengali culture to new literary heights. Read my review here.

9. ‘Amader Shantiniketan’ by Shivani

Translated from Hindi by her daughter Ira Pande, Shivani’s book is an ode to her school days back in Tagore’s educational paradise — Shantiniketan. Written in the style of a memoir, this book is unusually vibrant in its storytelling — which is why I kept it in the fiction list. Her voice here is nostalgic, sentimental, dripping with colourful memories and aware of the good times gone by. Read my review here.

10. ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ by Gail Honeyman

Undoubtedly my best book of 2021, Eleanor’s story will make you laugh and cry with its originality, observation and understanding. This book will haunt you after you are done, making you brim with empathy and with the strength of kindness. There is so much in this book that one post can’t suffice, so I wrote 2 posts about it — the first and second part.

11. ‘A Slow Fire Burning’ by Paula Hawkins

Hawkins’s comeback is a thriller I can’t get out of my mind. A grieving, retrospective story — makes each character induce unimaginable sympathy. ‘A slow fire burning’ can easily be as good a literary contemporary fiction, as it is a crime mystery.

12. ‘Loveless’ by Alice Oseman

I’m glad that my entry to the Oseman world was through this deeply moving book, which made me fuzzy with warm thoughts. A stellar asexual representative book and an endearing YA, this is the one which will make you believe in the power of love and friendship. Read my thoughts here.

That’s it! My top 12 fiction list.

Some other notable mentions which I also loved:

1. ‘One Last Stop’ by Casey McQuiston
2. ‘Budhini’ by Sara Joseph (translated by Sangeeta Srinivasan)
3. ‘The Eminently Unforgettable Life of Mrs. Pankajam’ by Meera Rajagopalan
4. ‘Kunti’ by Koral Dasgupta
5. ‘Exciting Times’ by Naoise Dolan