As Barack Obama said when sharing his own year end list of favorites, "art always sustains and nourishes the soul." Here are a few of the books, songs, and shows which nourished me this year. Working in a library means I have an embarrassment of riches for materials to consume, so I tried to keep it to what I truly loved.
Non-fiction
I read more non-fiction this year than I ever have before, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn. I enjoyed some memoir, some true crime, and some excellent deep dives into religion, race, and gender.
Fantasy and Sci-Fi
The fantasies that stood out to me this year had intricate plots, political intrigue, descriptive worldbuilding, found families, and some kick-ass main characters.
Short Stories
I like my short stories haunting and full of magical realism; these three collections did not disappoint.
The Office of Historical Corrections
Graphic Novels
My coworkers (who have amazing taste) introduced me to some wonderful graphic novels this year. A couple of these are adorable (think tiny pet dragons) and a couple are more melancholy and spooky.
Music
Some albums that formed the playlist of my year.
TV
These shows are not new, but I consumed their final/latest seasons in 2021 and they were excellent.
