Alta Journal’s Top Book Reviews of 2021
This year, our critics sought out books that dealt with crucial themes like freedom, history, race, power, and adventure.
In 2021, Alta Journal got literary. Check out our editors’ favorite Alta Monday Book Reviews, which deeply and carefully attended to some of the amazing California-related books that were released this past year.
”THE PLEASURE-SEEKERS”
Myron Brinig’s The Flutter of an Eyelid is the great lost classic of Los Angeles literature. Reviewed by Chris Daley
“BODY LANGUAGE”
Carribean Fragoza’s debut collection, Eat the Mouth That Feeds You, is a work of exceptional power. Reviewed by Wendy C. Ortiz
“THE ALTERNATE HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES”
In ELADATL: A History of the East Los Angeles Dirigible Air Transport Lines, Sesshu Foster and Arturo Ernesto Romo imagine the City of Angels as it might have been. Reviewed by Mark Haskell Smith
“THE LONELY CITY”
Rosecrans Baldwin’s Everything No is a Los Angeles fever dream. Reviewed by David L. Ulin
“SPHERES OF INFLUENCE”
Matthew Specktor’s Always Crashing in the Same Car is a memoir through the lens of art. Reviewed by Claire Dederer
“TAKING LIBERTIES”
With On Freedom, Maggie Nelson raises complicated questions about what it means to be free. Reviewed by Joy Press
“CRIME AND PUNISHMENT”
Percival Everett’s The Trees is a masterful allegory about America and race. Reviewed by Michael Schaub
“NOTES OF A NATIVE SON”
José Vadi’s Inter State looks at California from the inside. Reviewed by Sophia Stewart
“ONLY REVOLUTIONS”
Revolutionary Letters and Spring and Autumn Annals recall the power of Diane di Prima’s voice. Reviewed by Lynell George
“BODY AND SOUL”
Natashia Deón’s The Perishing and Venita Blackburn’s How to Wrestle a Girl give voice to powerful Black women characters. Reviewed by Anita Felicelli
Alta Journal’s Top Poetry 2021
Top Illustrations of 2021
Top Literary Pieces from the California Book Club
2021 Editor’s Picks
