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.

Dec 22, 2021

Alta

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”

Cady Wells

Myron Brinig’s The Flutter of an Eyelid is the great lost classic of Los Angeles literature. Reviewed by Chris Daley

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“BODY LANGUAGE”

eat the mouth that feeds you, carribean fragoza

City Lights Publishers

Carribean Fragoza’s debut collection, Eat the Mouth That Feeds You, is a work of exceptional power. Reviewed by Wendy C. Ortiz

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“THE ALTERNATE HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES”

Jeff Clark

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

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“THE LONELY CITY”

Vincent Perini

Rosecrans Baldwin’s Everything No is a Los Angeles fever dream. Reviewed by David L. Ulin

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“SPHERES OF INFLUENCE”

always crashing in the same car, matthew specktor

JULIE PATTERSON

Matthew Specktor’s Always Crashing in the Same Car is a memoir through the lens of art. Reviewed by Claire Dederer

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“TAKING LIBERTIES”

Harry Dodge

With On Freedom, Maggie Nelson raises complicated questions about what it means to be free. Reviewed by Joy Press

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“CRIME AND PUNISHMENT”

Graywolf Press

Percival Everett’s The Trees is a masterful allegory about America and race. Reviewed by Michael Schaub

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“NOTES OF A NATIVE SON”

Bobby Gordon

José Vadi’s Inter State looks at California from the inside. Reviewed by Sophia Stewart

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“ONLY REVOLUTIONS”

revolutionary letters, spring and autumn annals

City Lights Publishers

Revolutionary Letters and Spring and Autumn Annals recall the power of Diane di Prima’s voice. Reviewed by Lynell George

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“BODY AND SOUL”

how to wrestle a girl, venita blackburn, perishing, natashia deon

Virginia Barnes and Brienne Michelle

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

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