Favourite books from 2021

With all the hardships of 2021, books have been my escape. I read to keep sane. But sometimes I didn`t read because I couldn`t get the relief I wanted. However, today I share some of the important books that I think everyone must read-if they haven`t already.

These books literally transported me to the settings. I was one with the characters. I felt with them. I cried with them I became them. Above all, I enjoyed the knowledge I gained about different cultures, history, food, landscape and so much more.

• The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Listen, this book is everything you need to know about Ganda tradition, traditional feminism, and everything in between. Jennifer writes beautifully. Best of all, she writes for Ugandans. What a joy to see me on paper.

• Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela. Leila is a marvellous storyteller who weaves a tender yet heat-wrenching tale of fallen dreams and the reality of life. Change is a must. Read this book. You will learn so much about Islamic culture.

• A thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Y`all Khaled Hosseini is a man who writes so powerfully. You are guaranteed to feel every emotion that Miriam feels. You will want to punch someone for the cruelty expressed in the book. It is a worthy read.

• Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. An immigrant story and reality for those close to us. In order to understand our relatives abroad, we must read this book and treat them with grace.

• The Girl who smiled beads by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil. If you have heard about the Rwanda genocide, this book takes you on a journey of one of the survivors. What she endured, how she endured. It reveals the cost of war on a nation. It’s gripping and worthy of all your attention.

• The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. This beautiful autobiography fused faith and purpose. A well-lived out life where the gospel I believe came alive. This book deeply encouraged and challenged me. Please read it.

What were your favourite reads in 2021?