My Top Books/Films/Albums 2021

It's official, I managed to read 24 books, watch 52 films, and listen to over 52 albums last year! I cut it a little close with the films, but we still did it!

I thought it would be fun to post my favorites, so in no particular order, enjoy!

Top Books

• The Southern Reach Trilogy, by Jason Van der Meer

Easily some of my favorite reads this year. I found the writing evocative and atmospheric, yet deceptively simple. I had been wanting to read these books for a while, and finally gained the gumption to when my friends started reading them. I blazed through all three books within the span of a week or two, and now I can't look at lighthouses the same. 

• Crying in Hmart, by Michelle Zauner

It's rare for me to feel seen in a book with my background, but this memoir did so in the most heart-wrenching way. About as cathartic a read as Minor Feelings, but with a lot more anxiety felt afterwards. I cried several times throughout this read, and it hasn't left me since. 

• Mexican Gothic, by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia

As a fan of horror who's familiar with gothic horror tropes, this was a fun read for me. I found the setting and characters refreshing, and while it follows the general formula of gothic horror, it still felt fresh and definitely did not shy away from the actual horror aspects. One of the few instances where I found the main protagonist likable, realistic, and filled with agency.

Honorable Mentions

• The Queen's Gambit, by Walter Tevis

I had already seen the show and was curious to read the original source material. A relatively quick and easy read, the show was fairly faithful to the book albeit with a few changes, some understandable and some not. I found the character herself to be the most consistent. For a novel written by a man about a woman in the 80s, I found the writing to be refreshingly feminist and not as objectifying as I was worried it might be. The book pretty much ends where the show does, so I'm not really looking forward to whatever second season Netflix is thinking of doing. 

• Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie

I learned about this book through a tumblr post and was intrigued. The first of a trilogy, it reminds me heavily of Ursula K Le Guin's work. I would call it a pretty high-concept science-fiction novel, but not in that the writing is overly technical. Rather, it drops you right into the world and does little exposition beyond what the narrator chooses to tell you. And even then it feels more like memories being shared rather than walking the reader through how things work. This made for a somewhat confusing read, but I enjoyed the concept enough to continue. It felt a bit of a slow-burn, but once it starts unravelling it doesn't stop. I'm unsure if I will finish the trilogy as it took me a while to get through this book, but I did enjoy the read and the questions it asked. 

Top Films

• The Fall

This was the second film I watched in 2021 and it still left a big impact. The cinematography, the costumes, the acting, the craft... I enjoyed nearly everything about this film, and especially how indulgent it was without feeling overly pretentious (in my opinion)

• Minari

Another one of those rare instances where I felt seen, this time on screen. All the little details in this film, from the house to the activities to the family dynamics really hit home. I cried several times. 10/10

• Nomadland

I actually watched this film twice this year, that's how much I liked it. Watching it the first time around really made me nostalgic and homesick for California, and reignited my interest in van-dwelling. The cinematography is really beautiful and I liked that pretty much all the van-dwellers weren't actors, but played themselves. Even though the circumstances that pushed these people into this life are sad and tragic, I find the film inspiring, along with its messages on independence and dealing with grief. 

• Shape of Water

This movie is on the list for monster-fucking reasons lmao. 

Honorable Mentions

• Love Hard

I found this Christmas rom-com cute and enjoyed the Asian representation. Maybe it's because I came in with 0 expectations, but I found the script surprisingly not awful. I thought the messaging was also relatively even-handed to both parties, and I didn't find either lead particularly annoying. 

• To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Love Julie Newmar

Even though this movie hasn't exactly aged well, I still enjoyed it for what it was and the time period it came out in. I thought the performances given were heart-felt and sincere and I enjoyed the actors. Again, definitely flawed, but I found it endearing.

• Encanto

I've only seen this film once, and while it isn't my favorite animated film, I thought the type of story it chose to tell was incredibly important and relevant for so many. I've also listened to the soundtrack countless times. I thought it was a solidly told story and the more I think about it the more I like it, even if there were moments I didn't necessarily agree with. 

• Tick Tick Boom

Mostly here because I really like Andrew Garfield, but I also found the anxieties of approaching your 30s and feeling as if you are running out of time to make something great relatable. 

Top Albums

• Montero by Lil Nas X

Albums were a little tricky for me to pick because they're typically shorter than films, and filled with more things, so it can be hard for me to remember all the songs. This album is a no-brainer though. I remember listening to it multiple times and enjoying it. Not only that, but it's probably one of the few on this list where I actually remember most of the set list lol. I was looking forward to this album for a while, and when it released I was not disappointed.

• A Mix for the End of the World, pt 1 by The National Parks

This was an album I discovered later in the year and played during one of my moves. I like the overall sound and vibe a lot, and replayed it recently, so even though I still can't sing any of the songs from memory, I like the ambience of it.

• lately I feel EVERYTHING by Willow

I remember really liking the energy and sound of this album. Pop punk and alternative are my two most listened to genres, and much of this album fits that. Will most likely be replaying a lot in the future. 

• Something Rotten OST

I found the lyrics funny and I still have "I hate Shakespeare" stuck in my head as an earworm. I'd love to see this musical performed in person. 

Honorable Mention

• Sour by Olivia Rodrigo

While I wouldn't call this the best album I've ever listened to by any means, I really did enjoy the song "Brutal" and with the amount of radio play her songs have, it's another one of the few albums I listened to this year where I know much of the set list. I think her songs are better on their own or in a playlist with other songs though.

• Lizard Boy OST

An independent musical soundtrack, I found the story compelling and the music very fun. It comes to my mind every now and then and the songs are catchy, so I think it deserves a mention. 

• Encanto OST

I've been listening to this album on repeat constantly

In Conclusion

There you have it! I'm not sure what this list really says about my taste... or my memory for that matter. There are certainly albums I remember enjoying but I can't remember the actual album, so it didn't make it. Or an album where I remember a song or two. But I stand pretty firmly by my film and book picks. This year I don't have a specific goal for either of these, so I imagine I will be consuming organically and adding to my "52 New Things" list as needed.

Was there any book, film, or album that really stuck out to you in 2021? Let me know!