Paul's TOP BOOKS Read in 2021

I didn't achieve my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2021, but it was a pretty loose goal. There's still a global pandemic happening and I started a new fulltime job this year. I'm still trying to find the appropriate amount of time to read for leisure. All of that considered, I still did read 41 books. 41 out of 50. Most of those books were graphic novels. Instead of doing separate lists for graphic novels, children's books, and non-graphic prose I have just one list of my top ten books this year. Below you will find those books. Click on the titles or cover pictures for links to my reviews! 

 MY TOP BOOKS OF 2021

10. Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals

9. The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee's Story

8. Secrets of the Sea : The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

7. Across the Tracks: Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre

6. Queer as All Get Out: 10 People Who've Inspired Me 

5. Be Dazzled

 

4. My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection

3. The Tea Dragon Tapestry

2. Money Shot Vol.1 & Vol.2

1. In: A Graphic Novel

What were your favorite books of 2021? What books are you looking forward to in 2022?

--PAUL

Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals
Author: Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Release Date: November 27, 2020


Synopsis: Undrowned is a book-length meditation for social movements and our whole species based on the subversive and transformative guidance of marine mammals. Our aquatic cousins are queer, fierce, protective of each other, complex, shaped by conflict, and struggling to survive the extractive and militarized conditions our species has imposed on the ocean. Gumbs employs a brilliant mix of poetic sensibility and naturalist observation to show what they might teach us, producing not a specific agenda but an unfolding space for wondering and questioning. From the relationship between the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and Gumbs’s Shinnecock and enslaved ancestors to the ways echolocation changes our understandings of “vision” and visionary action, this is a masterful use of metaphor and natural models in the service of social justice.

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Review: This book was not written for me. I am not the audience. I am a white cis gay man. So many books have been written for me, though. I recommend picking up a book focusing on a different perspective than your own. I learned so much from this book. It was recommended by a co-worker of mine who is using the framing of this book in their own program development.

I am a marine science nerd. I am also a feminist. Gumbs brings those two worlds together in such thought-provoking ways as well as the Black experience. I have a new lens to approach scientific facts about animals. They most often come from an old white man's view of the world. There are so many biases in these "scientific facts" found in guides. I hadn't taken that into consideration before. So many marine mammals have only been seen very few times by Western scientists. Western scientists often don't take into account how much their presence may create change in those they are observing. The empathy Gumbs uses in this book allows the reader to imagine the way these marine mammals move through this world that we cohabitate. 

There is inspiration and hope in this book, but Gumbs also acknowledges the very true reality of the world that we live in and the systemic oppression and toxicity present. There are activities for reflection at the end of the book, both for groups and for individuals. I did not complete them all, but this book will remain on my work desk (when it's safe to go back into the office that is) for me to peruse and reflect on. 

I give this book a 5/5. I now have a new way to think about marine mammals and how their lives can inspire us to live better for ourselves and those around us.


--PAUL

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - GUEST Kevin's REVIEW

*We received this book as an eARC from Random House via NetGalley. We voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are our own.*

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Title: Project Hail Mary
Author: Andy Weir
Release Date: May 4, 2021


Synopsis: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian--while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

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Review: This review is a guest post from my husband, Kevin Shah. He really enjoyed The Martian and dived into this book and read it very quickly. I'm hoping to read it soon, but here's his review:

I had enjoyed reading Martian by Weir. Project Hail Mary is true to the format of Martian (even in the feel of the ending). Project Hail Mary was a book I could not stop reading once I started. It was visually vivid in my head, and I was engaged from the first sentence. My journey with the book enhanced my love for science by making complex scientific concepts that were hard to understand in school and college accessible. Understanding and learning chemistry, physics, biology around a story that is plausible and through the approach of problem solving was so incredible. I wish I was taught science through the lens of such stories. As we run into a problem in the story, we all could all come together to research solutions and recommend options, and the science behind each of those. Its simple – the why helps us understand better. I especially recommend all teachers read this book and see how we can approach education through problem solving.

I kept imaging this story as how Star Trek would have started. How Earth was able to go beyond our solar system and how our survival was the catalyst and not space tourism. The story reminded me of parts of the movie Arrival as well. My favorite aspect of the story was that empathy was ultimately fundamental in human survival. The only part that felt unbelievable to me was humans from all over the world coming together and making such a mission happen. But that is my pessimistic lens based on our current reality.

I highly recommend this book. It will be hard to stop. 5/5

--PAUL

Power Rangers, Vol. 2 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Power Rangers, Vol. 2
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Francesco Mortarino
Release Date: August 24, 2021


Synopsis: In order to save the universe, the new Power Rangers team must once again turn to their greatest enemy - Lord Drakkon - but after their shocking discovery, they need him more than ever!

LORD DRAKKON - FRIEND OR FOE? In order to save the universe, the new Power Rangers team must once again turn to their greatest enemy - Lord Drakkon - but after their shocking discovery, they need him more than ever. But a new enemy is rising, one tied to the secret history of the Power Rangers, and it will take every member of this new team to defeat them. But is Lord Drakkon ready to betray the New Power Rangers or is he truly on a path to redemption? Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fan favorite artist Francesco Mortarino (Firefly: Bad Company) continue the UNLIMITED POWER era, as the Power Rangers continue their new mission...and Drakkon takes the next step towards his secret goal. Collects Power Rangers #5-8.

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Review: I really like that the Omega rangers are staying in space. We get to see some of the Power Rangers characters that are more otherworldly. Astronema! SPD! Ecliptor! Jason and Zack have awesome disguise outfits on Onyx. The heist is fun. I'm kind of into Astronema and Jason together. Trini is the moral center of their group. There's some great moral dilemmas in this volume. Do you save a planet that has done bad as a whole, but is made up of individuals? Each character has their own perspective and opinion. The complexities are shown well.

I give this volume a 5/5. I love that these stories are not connected to the original tv show. Ryan has diverged us from the intended timeline and it's great. It's exciting that I don't know where this is going. The whole multiverse awaits. 


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin, Vol. 2 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin, Vol. 2
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna
Upcoming Release Date: August 17, 2021


Synopsis: After the New Green Ranger’s shocking decision, everything has changed for the Mighty Morphin team - and no one is safe!

WHO IS THE NEW GREEN RANGER?

After the New Green Ranger’s shocking decision, everything has changed for the Mighty Morphin team! Still reeling from this discovery of the Green Ranger’s true identity, the Mighty Morphin team must face a new threat with a secret connection to Zordon’s past...and the potential to destroy all their futures!

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and rising star artist Marco Renna continue the UNLIMITED POWER era with the next shocking chapter of the story no one expected! Collects Mighty Morphin #5-8.

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Review: Matthew's perspective! I like seeing the original characters introduced so many volumes ago getting more character development. This volume dives more into Zordon's backstory. Grace and Matt being "with the villains" leads to some interesting moral dilemmas. 

The zeo crystal! Aisha is just such an awesome ranger. She's one of my favorites.

This is a great arc. It leaves the rangers in a really interesting place by the end of this volume. I'm excited to see more about the history of Eltar. I give this volume a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Power Rangers, Vol. 1 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Power Rangers, Vol. 1
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Francesco Mortarino
Upcoming Release Date: May 25, 2021


Synopsis: A new Power Rangers team comes together to battle a new cosmic threat - and only Lord Drakkon, their greatest enemy, can save them! It’s a new beginning perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

A NEW ERA BEGINS HERE WITH A NEW TEAM -AND ONLY LORD DRAKKON CAN SAVE THEM!

Only the original Power Rangers, now known as the Omega Rangers - Jason, Trini and Zack - can hope to defeat a new cosmic threat, but their secret weapon is... the villainous Lord Drakkon?! Zordon forbids the new Power Rangers team from contacting Drakkon, so if they want to save the universe then they’ll have to go rogue - and go up against their Mighty Morphin allies. But will Drakkon be their ally...or the one who dooms them all?

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fan favorite artist Francesco Mortarino (Firefly: Bad Company) introduce the UNLIMITED POWER era, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike - and nothing will ever be the same! Collects Power Rangers #1-4. 

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Review: The ongoing series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues in two different versions now. One focuses on the Omega Rangers while the other sticks with the original gang. The first few issues of both of these ongoing series go hand-in-hand at the start. I would recommend going back and forth between the two Vol.1s so you're reading the individual issues in the order in which they were released. By the end of these volumes the two teams each have their own stories to follow. 

I loved seeing the Omega rangers interacting with the main Mighty Morphin team, especially the Stone Canyon trio. Zordon and Jason's relationship gets a nice focus. The role of the red ranger is also a focus for Rocky in this volume. 

Will Drakkon be good? I give this volume a 5/5. Ryan is taking us on a whole new adventure. I'm excited to see how the more non-Earth elements of the Power Rangers multiverse come into play with the adventures of the Omega rangers. 


--PAUL

Mighty Morphin, Vol. 1 (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Mighty Morphin, Vol. 1
Author: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna 
Release Date: May 11, 2021


Synopsis: A new Mighty Morphin team has assembled to take on the deadliest threats to Earth - but who is the All New Green Ranger by their side? It’s a new beginning perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

A NEW ERA BEGINS HERE WITH A NEW TEAM - BUT WHO IS THE NEW GREEN RANGER?

The new Mighty Morphin team is on a collision course with an even deadlier Lord Zedd, who has a new mission and a new motivation - one that will change everything you thought you knew about our heroes! But even if the Mighty Morphin team can find a way to survive Zedd and their mysterious new enemies, they may discover the greatest threat to their future is the shocking secret of Zordon’s past!

Superstar writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and rising star artist Marco Renna introduce the UNLIMITED POWER era, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike - and nothing will ever be the same! Collects Mighty Morphin #1-4.

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Review: The ongoing series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues in two different versions now. One focuses on the Omega Rangers while the other sticks with the original gang. The first few issues of both of these ongoing series go hand-in-hand at the start. I would recommend going back and forth between the two Vol.1s so you're reading the individual issues in the order in which they were released. By the end of these volumes the two teams each have their own stories to follow. 

This volume starts diving into Zordon's past. The Green Ranger mystery continues. The rangers aren't quite sure about the Omega rangers. Lord Zedd makes some new putties. 

The reveal is great! I give this volume a 5/5. Ryan is taking us on a whole new journey now. We've left the original tv show behind, diverging enough from the expected timeline. I'm really excited to see how these series continue.


--PAUL