21 Books I Want to Read in 2021!
- writer_alexandra_lee
- Jan 15, 2021
- 7 min read
Hello, everyone! This week’s blog post is about 21 books I want to read this year. I plan on reading a lot more than 21, but I specifically selected these 21 for this post because I’m super excited about them!
When I’m creating my tbr (to be read) list for the year, I always try to include a wide variety of genres, so this post is broken up by genre.
The idea for this post was inspired by a video by BookswithEmilyFox. She is a BookTuber, and she did a video about 21 books she wants to read in 2021, so I thought it would be fun to do something similar in written form.
Without further ado, let’s get into this. Please make sure to leave a comment below, telling me about some books you plan on reading in 2021, so we can see if we have any common to-be-reads…if that’s even a word.
Classics
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Is it strange that my favorite first line comes from a book I haven’t even read yet…probably. I’m ready to dive head first into classic literature this year. I did not read a lot of classics last year, and I’m eager to up that number for 2021, especially since I got a “100 classic books to read in your lifetime” poster for Christmas, and I’ve read a measly ten of them!
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
To be one-hundred percent honest, I have next to no clue what the majority of these classic books are about. (I may want to look into that.) On the other hand, I think that may be beneficial for me because I get to form my own opinion and discover the story for the first time. The Picture of Dorian Gray sounds kind of dark to me, so I’m hoping it will be dark. Perhaps the story has something to do with identity? I’ll come back to this post and laugh at all of my predictions after I’ve read these books, won’t I?
1984 by George Orwell
I know a little more about this one. I know the clocks are striking 13. I know Orwell was trying to predict what the world would be like in 1984. I read Animal Farm back in September, so I’m excited to see more of Orwell’s writing and compare his style in this book to his style in Animal Farm.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
I learned about this book from reading another book…is that a sign I read too many books? Absolutely. I first heard about this book last year while reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. The main character in that book, Jenna Fox, reads this book in her literature class. There are some passages from Walden quoted in that book, and those passages stuck with me. Along with the book, Thoreau greatly intrigues me—his life story and the inspiration behind his work. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this!
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
This has been on my tbr list for a while. One of my friends actually bought me a copy of this book for my birthday (thanks, friend) and now I get to read it and, hopefully, love it. The cover is beautiful. The story sounds like it’s full of twists and turns, and Anna herself seems like she is a fierce woman. I hear that there are two plot lines running throughout the book, so I’m very excited to learn more!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I planned to read this last year, but kind of pushed it off to the side due to some bad reviews about it (not a great thing to do). It still intrigues me though, so I want to give it a go. The name itself (if you cannot already tell, I’m a big sucker for good titles) makes me want to read it.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
And now the classic book everyone, everywhere tells me to read—the one I’ve been meaning to read for months, maybe even years (probably not years, I’m only sixteen)—JANE EYRE! There, I said it. I’ve been ready to meet Jane for a long time. Everyone tells me just how incredible she is, and I’m ready to experience her and her story for myself. 2021…you are the year I read Jane Eyre.
Fantasy
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
King of Scars is the only book by Bardugo I haven’t read. (In case you don’t know, I’m not sure how you wouldn’t know, but I LOVE SIX OF CROWS.) I hear the sequel for this book is coming out at the end of March, so if I could read this one before then, that would be ideal. I know some of the characters from Shadow and Bone are in this duology, but I don’t know much about the plot. I’m super excited to read it!
Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
I got this book over a year ago, started reading it, then forgot about it. I picked it up a few months ago, started reading it, and forgot about it again. Now it’s sitting on my shelf with a bookmark in it. I believe I read the first five chapters, and I remember enjoying it, so I look forward to picking it up again and finishing it once and for all.
Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley
I picked this book up specifically because of the cover. It’s soooooooo gorgeous! When I heard it was fantasy, I was all in. I’ve never read anything by this author, but I recognize the name of the book. I’m not sure where I know it from, but I look forward to reading it.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I read the first three books in this series at the beginning of last year—The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Horse and His Boy. I loved The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, but I wasn’t a huge fan of The Horse and His Boy. Hopefully, I can finish the other four books in the series this year. I always find myself enjoying children’s literature—it’s always mystical or witty or so strange that you just have to laugh at it.
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
Another book I thought was contemporary, but is actually fantasy. (I really need help.) It just has such a contemporary title. Again, this cover is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I love the color scheme, and I look forward to uncovering the, hopefully, marvelous and magical story inside.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
This is another book I’ve heard is super good. I didn’t know it was fantasy though. For some reason, I thought this was a contemporary book. The name and cover (especially the blue and gold edition) are gorgeous.
Sci-Fi
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
I started reading the Red Rising Saga in December. (I’m currently halfway through Golden Son, which is book two.) Morning Star is the final book in the original trilogy. (I’m not sure if I’m going to continue the series after I finish the original three.) I love Darrow and Sevro in this series. Golden Son is picking up, so I look forward to seeing how this series will come to a close.
Rebel by Marie Lu
This is another book I planned on reading last year, started, and never finished. It is the final book in the Legend series. I read the first three all the way back in 2019 and enjoyed them. This one is set farther in the future than the original trilogy. I'm interested to see what direction Lu is going to take this final book in.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
The book that kind of broke the book community—the book I certainly did not see coming until the day Collins announced that it was in the works. Everyone who has read this story either likes it or hates it. I don't think there's really an in between. I'm not sure how I feel about rooting for President Snow, but I am curious to learn more about the development of the games and how he rose to power.
The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
And yet ANOTHER book that has been sitting on my shelf forever! Do you see a pattern here. (I acquire books and never read them.) I mainly know about this book from the TV show. I haven't seen the show, but I believe it was pretty popular for a while. If I enjoy the book, maybe I will end up watching the show.
Historical Fiction
A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean
I just got this book for Christmas, and I'm so excited to read more historical fiction this year. I love history, especially 19th and 20th century stories. This story is about a girl who has to uncover the secrets about her grandma's love affair with a Nazi solider during WWII, so it sounds right up my alley.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
I've seen a few book bloggers and BookTubers review this book, and I think it sounds very good! It is set in WWII and follows a girl named Alina as she waits for her love to return home so they can get married. Then things go downhill...I don't know what that "things go downhill" part includes, but my interest has been caught, so I'm ready to find out.
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
Once again this cover is beautiful! From what I know, this story follows a young widow as she traverses west across the Overland Trail. I don't really know what else happens. I think there is some romance, and a big twist at the end. Hopefully, I can get to this one this year!
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
And finally, 20 books later, we have reached the end! I've seen this book everywhere—all over Instagram and BookTube, requested to me again and again on Goodreads until it forced me to add it to my tbr list.
Like Anna Karenina, this book follows two different plot lines that intersect. (I like this idea for some reason, but I don't recall reading many books that do this.) I have very high expectations for this one. Hopefully they are well met!
And we have reached the end of this post...a breath of ease can now escape us all. Thank you for reading this post. Please make sure to leave a comment and a like on this post if you enjoyed it. I'm trying to grow my blog platform this year, so any support is greatly appreciated and encouraging!
It's been a pleasure writing for you, and until next time—stay weird and stay writing. - Lexi
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