In the spirit of ending the year on a positive, I wanted to highlight some of the books I read and loved this year. I read a total of 26.5 books in 2021. While not all of them were amazing, there are several that I thought deserved as many literary accolades as possible. And while many of these books have already won legitimate awards, I decided to give out a few arbitrary and meaningless ones of my own. So, I give to you, The Ashley Weleschuk Book Awards, 2021. Since I recommend every single one of these books, there will be no spoilers in the descriptions.
Most Sensory: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I love everything about this book – the characters, the imagery, the laughter, and the heartbreak. But my favourite thing is Betty Smith’s rich imagery, particularly the way she describes textures. It is right up my alley as a super tactile person. I’ve never been to turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, but mid-way into this book, it was like I was there. While its official award is “most sensory”, this book easily comes out as my favourite read of 2021. Come for the tenement houses and sprawling family histories, stay for one of the best coming-of-age narratives around.
Most Likely to Influence a Thanksgiving Dinner: A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
There are three women in my immediate family, and we all adore this book. We continued to be tantalized by the descriptions of the sprawling meals, gorgeous cafes, and rich wines long after we’d finished reading. While I’d love to travel to Provence, since it wasn’t practicable at the time, we did the next best thing and put together a Provencal dinner for thanksgiving. All the recipes were inspired by the book, including a delicious cheese course. I don’t think there is a better endorsement of a book’s description of food than wanting to make all of it immediately. Do not read this book hungry or you may end up eating an entire tarte citron by yourself.
Most Tears Shed: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I didn’t cry for like 90% of this book, because it’s mainly just delightful and imaginative and carefree. This book is a fun counterpart to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for magical coming-of-age tales. Anne is another great protagonist, but Marilla slowly became my favourite character as I went along. The melancholy ending totally got to me, particularly the theme of growing up. The magic of the first part of the book made the later bittersweetness all the more bittersweet. While I doubt anyone will sob quite as hard as I did, I think many people in a similar “transitionary” phase of life will shed a tear at the end of this one.
Most Likely to Prove Wrong a Well-Known Fact I’ve Been Saying For Years: Singular Sensation by Michael Riedel
I love Broadway history, and nobody does Broadway history like Michael Riedel. He knows his facts, but also intertwines so many delightful personal anecdotes and connections to the major players. This is his second book, and I had to read it after devouring his first last year. If theatre is your niche, I don’t think I have to tell you to read this one – you’ve probably already read it twice.
The incorrect fact: Mamma Mia was the first Broadway musical to resume performances after the 9/11 attacks.
The correct fact: All the Broadway shows re-opened on September 12, 2001, to mostly empty audiences. Producers all decided that the shows had to run, to show the world that the terrorists hadn’t won. Mamma Mia was the first new show to open after 9/11, in October 2001.
Most Heart-Wrenching: Small Country by Gaël Faye
Anyone who took grade 10 social studies in Alberta knows about the Rwandan genocide, but before reading this book, I had no idea that the conflict extended to the neighbouring Burundi. This story is largely inspired by Faye’s experiences growing up with a Rwandan Tutsi mother and a French father as the civil war breaks out, and it is completely devastating. The story completely changes when the fighting begins and continues to escalate, all the way to the gut-punching climax. This book packs a lot of emotion into a relatively short page count, so be prepared to cry if you read it.
Most Engaging Story with the Fewest Number of Words: 750 Years in Paris by Vincent Mahé
I don’t include this in my count of “books read” given that there is no text, but I wanted to shout out this absolute gem of a coffee table book I found at the library. The illustrations are fantastic and there are a ton of little details to admire as you move with a single building from 1265 to 2015.
Handsomest Edition of a Book: Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock, illustrated by Seth
On route to a snowshoeing trip last winter, I listened to Stuart McLean’s toast to Stephen Leacock, and to Sunshine Sketches in particular. I knew right away that I had to read it. I am a sucker for a collection of same-universe short stories, and this set fully delivered. The stories are a fantastic blend of humor and heart, and the cast of characters is amazing. But reading Leacock’s work was made extra special by the gorgeous artwork by cartoonist Seth. When I opened this book and saw Seth’s drawings, I was enamored. I fully let out a squeal when I saw there was a fold-out illustrated character guide at the front. I cannot think of a better way to experience Leacock’s work than this edition.
Book I Chose Only Because I Liked the Cover but It Turned Out to be Excellent: The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
This book has a lady riding a bicycle and wearing a big hat on the cover, so when I saw it, I assumed it was going to be good at least for the aesthetic. Little did I know that the story has a lot to offer, even though the bicycle features less than I'd hoped. The strength of this book is really in its characters. Everyone is so nuanced and interesting. I worried that some might fall into tired stereotypes, but they never did. I got super invested into everyone’s stories and was sad to say goodbye to them at the end. I’m not sure I can even pick a favourite character, which is testament to everyone being so well-written.
Thank you for reading! I am always looking for book recommendations, so if you have any that you think will make this list next year, definitely let me know!
Wishing everyone a new year that brings more good, less bad, and a lot of peace.
-Ashley
Current Mood: I am not anti-book club, but I am pro-Irma Kostroski on the newest season of Curb
Comments