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This year has been an absolute rollercoaster. We thought the pandemic was nearing its end, but in reality, it was just mutating. We tried to create a new normal only to see it be destroyed by constant change. I have realized that 2020 and 2021 were difficult no doubt, but every year has its challenges. We are foolish to think that the years before 2020 were significantly better because there were still wars, diseases, and natural disasters all around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic perhaps reminded us that we should never take anything for granted. And every year, I curate this list to remind me of the beauty and comfort words have brought me. This time, I have added a new category related to TV and film because these on-screen characters were often the only people we saw at the beginning of the year. Without further ado, here is my 2021 list of articles, podcasts, books, and television/film. Enjoy!
Articles
This list was genuinely the hardest to write because there were so many brilliant articles I read this year. The articles of my fellow staff writers on the Spartan Daily left me in awe. Please check out their work here.
As editor-in-chief of Her Campus at SJSU, I had the opportunity to witness and be a part of the growth of so many writers. Please check out their work here.
All of their work was so incredible but in fear of making this list too long, I managed to narrow it down. I also included some of my favorite articles written by revered journalists at publications such as SF Gate, The New York Times, and The Atlantic.
Here are my favorite articles of 2021:
Eric Ting, SF Gate
Ronan Farrow and Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker
Aatish Taseer, The Atlantic
Lindsay Zoladz, The New York Times
Ibram X. Kendi, The Atlantic
Quinn Moreland, Pitchfork
Willa Bennett, GQ
Stop and Smell the Coffee: How Nirvana Soul Creates a Warm Environment for Customers | Her Campus
Wila Mae Navarro and Sachi Tolani, Her Campus at SJSU
San Jose Marches For Women’s Reproductive Rights | Her Campus
Karson Wells
SJSU: A School That Doesn’t Seem to Mind Sexual Harassment | Her Campus
Mary Kay Jimenez – Floyd, Her Campus at SJSU
Sabrina Nabizada, Her Campus at SJSU
Evan Reinhardt, Spartan Daily
Christina Casillas, Spartan Daily
Amani Hamed, Spartan Daily
Royvi Hernandez, Spartan Daily
This time last year, I was just starting to publish my own articles and I never thought I would get to be the editor-in-chief of Her Campus or a staff writer on the Daily. The beginning of my writing journey was difficult because I truly struggled to find my voice and express it in my writing. Writing for incredible publications such as Unpublished, Popshift, and of course, The Spartan Daily strengthened my confidence and next year, I will be Co Arts & Entertainment editor at the Daily and I can’t believe how much I have grown as a writer.
Here are some of my favorite articles I wrote this year:
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily
Books
There were so many books that I read this year that made me feel less alone. With people starting to accept the new pandemic normal, life felt started moving again. But there was still lots of chaos in the world and I once again retreated into the comfort of the words of others. I tried to cut this list down to just 5, but there were many other unlisted books that helped me through this year. Nonetheless, here are my top 5 books of 2021 and my favorite quotes from them:
The truth often lies, unclaimed, in the middle.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
What independence had changed was our people. You could see it in the way they stood, chests puffed, as if they could finally allow themselves to breathe. You saw it in the way they walked—purposefully, pridefully—to their temples. The way they haggled—more boldly than before—with the vendors in the bazaar.
Alka Joshi
Time moves so fucking fast.
Blink, and you’re halfway through school, paralyzed by the idea that whatever you choose to do, it means choosing not to do a hundred other things.
V.E. Schwab
“History isn’t only a subject; it’s also a method. My method is, generally, to let the dead speak for themselves. I’ve pressed their words between these pages, like flowers, for their beauty, or like insects, for their hideousness. The work of the historian is not the work of the critic or of the moralist; it is the work of the sleuth and the storyteller, the philosopher and the scientist, the keeper of tales, the sayer of sooth, the teller of truth.”
Jill Lepore
The blessing of life as a whole, inherent in labor, can never be found in work and should not be mistaken for the inevitably brief spell of joy that follows accomplishment and attends achievement.
Hannah Arendt
To keep up with what I am reading, follow me on Goodreads!
Television/Film
Podcasts
As you can probably tell, I am a big fan of podcasts. These episodes were just a few of my favorites that I listened to this year. I love learning about history and podcasts are the best way for me to learn more about the past.
I had the opportunity to record my own podcast episode this year with the talented Raghav Ravi who is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Take a listen if you can. I would love to hear your thoughts on it!
If you are interested to see my 2021 music picks, check out this article I wrote for the Daily on my favorite albums:
https://sjsunews.com/article/year-in-review-2021s-best-albums
See you all in the new year! I hope you continue to pursue the things that truly give you joy. 2022 is going to be a great year!
Saumya Monga 