I can’t quite believe that 2021 is already over. Is anyone else amazed at how quickly that year passed!? I have had a fairly good year in terms of reading, with some slumps and quieter periods scattered around.
At the start of this year, I had initially set myself a target of 70 books, but when I reached that sometime in the Autumn, I decided to change it. I haven’t quite reached my new target of 100 books, but I did do better with my Reading Women Challenge this year. This is actually the best I have ever done since I have been participating in this challenge.
I managed to complete 18 of the 24 prompts, as well as 1 of the bonus prompts. Below is a breakdown of the books I read for this challenge:
1. A book that was longlisted for the JCB prize:
2. A book by an author from Eastern Europe: Chernobyl Prayer, by Svetlana Alexievich
3. A book about incarceration: Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi. Also, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris
4. A cookbook by a woman of colour: Nadiya Bakes, by Nadiya Hussain
5. A book with a protagonist older than 50: Elizabeth is Missing, by Emma Healey
6. A book by a South American author in translation: City of the Beasts, by Isabel Allende
7. Re-read a favourite book: The Valley of Horses, by Jean M. Auel
8. A memoir by an indigenous, first nations, native or aboriginal woman:
9. A book by a neuro-divergent author: Odd Girl Out, by Laura James
10. A crime novel or thriller in translation: The Dying Game, by Asa Avdic. Also, The Boy in the Suitcase, by Lene Kaaberbol
11. A book about the natural world: The Salt Path, by Raynor Winn
12. A young adult novel by a Latinx author: Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo
13. A poetry collection by a black woman:
14. A book with a biracial protagonist: Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon.
15. A Muslim middle-grade novel:
16. A book featuring a queer love story: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Also, The Never Tilting World, by Rin Chupeco; Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo; I Have Always Been Me, by Previous Brady-Davis; The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai
17. A book about a woman in politics: Unbowed, by Wangari Maathai
18. A book with a rural setting: Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg. Also, The House Between Tides, by Sarah Maine; The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah
19. A book with a cover designed by a woman: The Shadow King, by Maaza Mengiste
20. A book by an Arab author in translation: Celestial Bodies, by Jokha Alharthi
21. A book by a trans author: I Have Always Been Me, by Precious Brady-Davis
22. A fantasy novel by an Asian author: The Never Tilting World, by Rin Chupeco
23. A nonfiction book focused on social justice:
24. A short story collection by a Caribbean author
Bonus:
A book by Alexis Wright
A book by Tsitsi Dangarembga
A book by Leila Aboulela: Bird Summons
A book by Yoko Ogawa
Unfortunately, this is the last year that there will be a Reading Women Challenge, as the podcast is coming to an end. So I am now on the hunt for a new reading challenge for next year. Any suggestions would be very welcome!
