2021 has finally started. But the hangover from 2020 has not gone yet. There were empty chairs at the Christmas table. The New Year fireworks played to empty galleries. The Earth completed a circle around the Sun, but life on Earth is yet to come a full circle. And it will be like this for a few more months to come because we will only be fools to think that everything will return to normal with just a change of the calendar on our desk. However, we did have our moments of joy in 2020 and we will continue to find happiness in 2021 as well. And as we continue to feel hopeful for the future which lay in front of us, why not add some more positivity into our lives through these 10 comforting books to read in 2021. This list however is not ordered in any sense.
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
It is a beautiful story of a boy, his unique view of the world and the mysterious murder of a dog in the night time. This is one of the most unusual books I have read in a long long time and hence makes it straight to my list of most comforting books to read in 2021. If you are looking for something to warm your heart this winter, pick this up and read away. Read my full review here.
Buy your copy here.
2. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
This is a book by a Swedish author (lifetime journalist turned author) Jonas Jonasson and is one of the wittiest modern authors I have read. Actually there are a lot of Swedish books on this list and all of them narrated with amazing wit, gratitude and love. This particular book is about a man who on his 100th birthday decides to climb out of the window and ends up gifting himself another life time of adventure. If this does not make you curious enough to start reading this book then may be you need a cat. Read my full review here.
Buy your copy here.
3. The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden
The Jonas Jonasson magic continues. This is his second book but not second at all to the humorous plots and narrations that you get used to reading this first (The 100 year old man). The story is about an orphan from Soweto (Africa) who by chance becomes involved in international politics and then you know what happens if you have read the title of the book intently enough. Read my full review here.
Buy your copy here.
4. A Man called Ove
Chances are that you do not know how to pronounce the word ‘Ove’. But that ain’t gonna stop you from loving this book to pieces. By the way, “Ove’ is pronounced as “Oo-vuh,” much like when you start saying “vegetarian”. So now that we have sorted how we should call the lead character of the book, let us discuss what is so special about this book. Truly speaking – nothing. There are no extravagant plots, no political sarcasms and definitely no fairy tales. A Man called Ove is about Ove, who is just an average Swedish man who loves his wife and hates people who buy cars which are not a Saab, who cannot park their cars, who change jobs, who wear suits and then just a few more. But if you are ready to be moist eyed with a warm feeling in the middle of your chest, then look no further.
Buy your copy here.
5. My Grandmother sends her regards and apologies
This is the fourth Swedish book in this list and the second from Fredrik Backman (A Man called Ove). I have now read 4 of this books and seen one of the movies and currently reading the 6th. And among these 6, while I will always place Man called Ove at the very top, there is no second thoughts on the second place – My Grandmother sends her regards and apologies. This book has the quintessential Fredrik Backman touch, the touch which I sort of missed in his other books. The story is about a 7 year old girl Elsa and her rogue granny and a fairy tale land of dreams and possibilities. All I can say is that if you feel continue feeling the warmth left over from Man called Ove, then pick up My Grandmother sends her regards and apologies as your next read.
Buy your copy here.
6. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
This is indeed an unlikely candidate as it is an unlikely story. Harold Fry is a retired man who one day goes out to post a letter to a long lost friend. What happens after that is a story of love, friendship, despair and determination. I had not heard of this book and bought it on Amazon’s recommendation and boy was Amazon right this one time!
Buy your copy here.
7. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
There are children’s books and then there are books for adults. And then there are some books which are meant as much for the 8 year olds as it is for the 80 year olds. Such books, though rare to come across, do exist. The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse is a fine example of such a book. It is almost a picture book if you look closely and can be read in about 30 minutes. But the strange thing about this book is that you just want to re-read it the moment you have finished it. Incidentally this was one of the most sold books on Amazon during the first lockdown. If you read it once you will know why it is one of the most comforting books to read in 2021.
Buy your copy here.
8. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
Eleanor Oliphant lives in Scotland, in a community flat, works as an accountant in a design company, drinks two bottles of vodka every weekend, hasn’t taken a single day of leave from work in nine years, speaks to her mother on Wednesdays and has a dreary sense of fashion (or the complete lack thereof). And Eleanor Oliphant believes that she is doing just fine. I would not call this a brilliant book per se, but it is a book enough to re-instill faith in ourselves and believe that not all is lost when we think it is. Read my full review here.
Buy your copy here.
9. A Gentleman in Moscow
A Gentleman in Moscow is an endearing story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov who was ordered into house arrest in Hotel Metropol in Moscow during the Bolshevik revolution. This historical fiction is set in the 1920s and narrates a stunning rendition (often fictional) of Russian history through Rostov’s eyes from within the four walls of the Metropol. This book is New York Bestseller author Amor Towles’ second book but more importantly has a dedicated review by Bill Gates himself (which I have not come across often). And this is what Bill Gates writes about this book:
“A Gentleman in Moscow is an amazing story because it manages to be a little bit of everything. There’s fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood, and poetry. The book is technically historical fiction, but you’d be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story.“
Buy your copy here.
10. Ruskin Bond
If you are wondering why is this not a book but instead an author, well it is simple. Every piece of writing from Ruskin Bond is warm and comforting for any situation in life. For years I have gone back to his beautiful stories of innocence and courage whenever I needed comfort and solace. And his stories have always provided me a warm hug. This list of the most comforting books to read in 2021 will not be complete without featuring some of Ruskin Bond’s writing. If you are new to his work I would suggest starting off with his Omnibus or his collection of stories such as the Best of Ruskin Bond (link to Amazon below).
Buy your Ruskin bond here.
With that I finish off my list of top 10 comforting books to read in 2021. The past year has been very difficult for all of us in various ways, but it is time to embrace the new and move forward. And I hope these books will make your 2021 even more warm and enjoyable.
Happy reading!
