My Three Best Reads of 2021

 2021 was a tumultuous year for a multitude  of reasons. But as they say, there is nothing a hot cup of cocoa and a good book can't get you through. Here are brief reviews on three of the best I read in 2021.

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Em and the big Hoom

Em and the big Hoom is the spectacular and devastating debut novel of Jerry Pinto. The narrator lives with his parents and sister in a small, cramped apartment in Bombay. The spotlight is on Imelda, his volatile, beedi smoking mother. “Em”, as she is affectionately called, throws the whole family into chaos as she swings between deep depressive episodes and bouts of unpredictable mania. In contrast, her stoic and dependable husband, “the Big Hoom” is the rock of the household. The tale paints a vivid, evocative picture of everything it touches through effortless and witty writing. Suffused with humor, it never strays into the realm of sickly, sweet sentimentality.

Things fall apart

Things fall apart is set in 19th century Nigeria. It follows the story of Okonkwo, who lived in the village of Umofia. He was a great wrestler and a respected man, until he accidentally caused the death of a clansman. He was exiled, and when he returned, his village had been forever changed by Christian missionaries. I loved this book because of how insightful it is. Each character is flawed and morally grey, but likable. The protagonist Okonkwo can rightfully be described as a terrible person, and yet all his actions are well intentioned. The writing is beautiful, and it paints a rich tapestry of imagery and subtext. True to its title, it has a kind of pessimism to it, an impending sense of doom. Things do indeed fall apart, and it culminates in a tragedy. 

Red sorghum

This book perfectly blends horror and humor, both in graphic detail. It perfectly captures the brutality of its setting, rural China in the second Sino Japanese war. Rapidly skipping backwards and forward in time, it tells the tale of three generations of a rural Chinese family. The family owns a winery, where they make alcohol out of sorghum. Each page is thrilling and horrifying in equal measure. From a man being skinned alive, to the fields of sorghum, let’s just say that the ‘Red’ in its title is heavily featured. The writing is always richly descriptive, whether its about a field of shimmering crop or a fly infested, festering corpse. Overall, it is an evocative, tragic tale and a good read.