Books of 2021 (What I’m Reading)

For my books of 2021, I have a few planned but often just pick up a book to read as the mood suits me. Certain moods require certain types of books (if you know, you know).

Anyways… I track all of my books so it seems obvious to share what I’m currently reading, what I’d recommend and thoughts on what books you should add to your “to read” list.

I used to read in the car often while waiting on Greyson at swim team but, as he has gotten older, we have started to drop him off and not wait as long in the car. It’s interesting to find different rhythms for this hobby (which reading for me definitely is).

If you are struggling to find reading time but want to, my advice is to find a ten minute pocket of time that works for you daily and just start reading. From there, as you get more into books and reading in general, you can make the choice whether to pick up your phone (let’s be honest, this is a common way that we all waste time) or pick up your book.

For me, personally, I read in the mornings. I’m an early riser so I tend to get about thirty minutes of reading in each morning first thing as I’m drinking coffee. From there, I might read for 15 min or so during the day (lunch hour or while I’m getting a cup of tea). It’s 50/50 on whether I take a book with me now and read while I’m doing the whole carpool waiting game. Sometimes, I just listen to a podcast and other times, I read. Then, most nights, I’ll read again for fifteen minutes or so.

I don’t sit for hours and hours, except for occasionally on a weekend when I’m wrapped up in a book. But, I’m able to finish books because I reach for them daily.

Anyways, hope that helps! I often hear from people that they just don’t know where I find the time so I thought it’d be helpful to share.

Books Read in 2021

What I read in December

• Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (4 Stars): If you are tired of fairytales and want to see real families go through real trials and come out the other side… this is the book. It kept me engaged and pulling for all the characters throughout.
• What is the Bible? How an Ancient Library or Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything by Rob Bell (4 Stars): I was listening to this so I’m not sure where this quote was pulled from in the book, but I keep coming back to it…. “Distributions are your catalyst for growth. You meet new people, you travel.. you see things you hadn’t seen before and you realize that your previous ways of categorizing, labeling and believing aren’t adequate. You have a choice in that moment. You ignore that experience or you make the choice to make the hard decision to go forward and embrace.” As I’ve delved deeper into the Bible, past the general readings and stories, I’ve come up with more questions. More questions about how I grew up with the Bible and the literal way the whole Bible (during childhood) was taught. The more I hear and understand about who the Bible was written to, the history of the people at that time, etc., the more questions I have. But also, the closer I feel to it in general. 
• Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (5 Stars): This is the type of book that will continually offer wisdom to you at different points in your life. I can see myself reading this at different seasons and really connecting with it in different ways.
• Dangerous Ground: My Friendship with a Serial Killer by M. Williams Phelps (3 Stars): I have so many thoughts on this book. First and foremost, the author calling his relationship with the serial killer a “friendship” struck me as weird. Yes, they did have a working relationship for many years, but that doesn’t register as a friendship to me. I didn’t know what to expect out of this book, but I was definitely caught off guard by the author sharing about his life and feelings and then switching to Jesperson’s story. Some parts seem to make sense and other parts were confusing. Overall, I’m left with the thought that the author put himself through so much anxiety and turmoil in making this book. To me, that feels like his priorities weren’t in the right place. On the flip side, maybe I would have felt different if he was able to help solve and find out who the Jane Doe in the story was. 
• The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (3 Stars): It took me about 300 pages to get into this but, after that, I enjoyed it. If I was just rating the last half, it’d be 5 stars. I loved two of the three main characters and really enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end of the book about them.
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini (5 Stars): Read this with my 11 year old and it was fantastic. We loved the vivid imagery, character descriptions/developments and more. He’s super excited to continue reading the series. I haven’t decided whether I’ll continue reading but series or not but it was a good one to read together for sure.
• The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian (4 Stars): A slow-paced thriller that had me guessing at the end. I enjoyed it.
• Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by Rob Bell and Don Golden (3 Stars): I keep coming back to Bell’s books because I agree with the themes of what he writes. This book had me engaged again with some of the connection points of the historical aspects of relationships in the Bible.
• How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious (150+ Symbols, Illustrated and Fully Explained) by Nicole Chilton (5 Stars): I connected so much to one of the first chapters of this book on types of dreams. I’ve had lucid dreams for years and had no idea what they were and what was happening. It was awesome to get more in-depth information on dream types and some of why dreams occur in the first place. As far as dream symbols and themes, I loved the descriptions of what certain dreams could portray as well as the illustrations. Some of my favorite pages were: glass house, caves and parades (cutest illustration ever). I’m not a deep thinker when it comes to my emotions. It was a bit shocking to me to think out of the box when it comes to dreams I’ve been having and what they could subconsciously mean. Growth is so good, as humans, and this book definitely helped me do that.
• American Spy by Lauren Wilkerson (3 Stars): This is a short read and I was pretty intrigued most of the time. The ending though…. I hated the whole dang ending. 
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (3 Stars): The writing style is unique with 2 pages or so per chapter. Some “chapters” pulled me in on life on Mango Street and others didn’t. Overall, it was interesting but I didn’t love it.

What I read in November

• I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider (4 Stars): I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with comics. So, from that perspective, I enjoyed reading something different. As a reader, most of the comics in this were pretty funny. It would be a fun book to give to any reader in your life.
• The Boy Who Drew Auschwitz: A Powerful True Story of Hope and Survival by Thomas Give and Charlie Inglefield (5 Stars): I’ve read quite a few WWII memoirs and still, I can’t get past the horror of what happened. This book was a bit different than the others I’ve read, because instead of reading about an adult… you are reading about a child. A child living in concentration camps. A child surviving and coming out with hope for the future.
• Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball (3 Stars): I’ve read a lot of historical romances, so I tend to be a harsh reviewer on them. I was in need of a palette cleanser; basically, a book that I could just enjoy. This was that. It’s wasn’t great in regards to the love story and the characters were just ok, but the book was enjoyable. I wouldn’t rave to my friends about it, but if you are looking for a decent historical fiction then you might try it.
• You’ll Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe (4 Stars): This was engaging and interesting. I thought the formatting of the book was great. The added inserts and tables throughout each chapter were helpful. Learning more about how the United States government worked and operated was insightful. Learning more about George Washington and especially how he treated his slaves, was definitely disappointing though. As with us all, he was a flawed man that made some good changes to the world but also contributed his fair share of negative ones.
• The Sisters of Auschwitz: The True Story of Two Jewish Sisters’ Resistance in the Heart of Nazi Territory by Roxanne van Iperen (3 Stars): The way this book came to life is fascinating. The author moved into this old house out in the countryside and started renovating it. As the renovation was underway, she found secret hiding spots and remnants from WWII. The story followed two sisters and their efforts to keep their family safe during the Holocaust. As part of that resistance movement, they sheltered many people through the war and a big part of the book focused on that. Eventually, they were rounded up and sent with Anne Frank (who they knew) and her family to the concentration camps. Their story was gritty and beautiful. In the face of such despair, they were helping people; which is inspiring. For me, the book is a three stars based on how it was written. There were too many details and names to connect to which made the read a bit challenging.

What I read in October

• Home Body by Rupi Kaur (5 Stars): This is the third book I’ve read by Rupi. This one connected with me far more than the others. I love her poetry style and found the chapter divisions of this book (mind, heart, rest, and awake) to be interesting. I didn’t connect as much to the poems in the mind chapter but really connected to most of them in the next three chapters. In the past, I felt like most of her work focused on trauma. This book had some poems about trauma but more anxiety, love, hope, being aware and rest. I can’t get the following out of my head…

“no one on the planet
is in more denial
than the white man 
who regardless of all
the evidence in front of him
still thinks racism and sexism
and all the world’s pain don’t exist”

• Natural Living Style: Inspirational Ideas for a Beautiful and Sustainable Home by Selina Lake (5 Stars): For someone who is interested in living a more sustainable life in a beautiful way, this book knocked it out of the park. I enjoyed the tips on which products were better for the environment (ie. linen and sisal) but also the home inspiration images that went along with it.
• The Devil in Vienna by Doris Orgel (2 Stars): Somehow, you are reading a diary of a young girl during WWII, yet you never really get a sense of who she is. The story followed two young girls (one Jewish and one whose father is a Nazi SS officer) as they navigated their friendship during a time where consequences would be massive to be friends. Overall, I just feel like you should feel more connected or know more about a main character and this book left much to be desired on that front.
• White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler (4 stars): I grew up in the Nazarene church with a very conservative family. Billy Graham, Promise Keepers and the idea that Christianity looks a specific way (consistent with Eurocentric cultural norms) were all very prominent in my upbringing. I found this book very enlightening. I’m a fan of history in general; but, honestly, I loved hearing more about the background of what role mainstream Christianity has played and is playing in politics in America. In the conclusion of the book, Butler states the following, “Why do people who identify as evangelicals vote over and over again for political figures who in speech and deed do not evince the Christian qualities that evangelicalism espouses? My answer is that evangelicalism is not a religious group at all. Rather, it is a nationalistic political movement whose purpose is to support the hegemony of white Christian men over and against the flourishing of others.” Yep, I agree whole-heartedly with that. I also really agreed with the idea that Christian America expects Christianity to be culturally similar to their own culture. Anything outside of that, is wrong or weird. With that expectation, they have promoted the “whiteness of Christ” which has always really bugged me. The bit where she talked about cultural norms with Christianity, really had me agreeing. I think the more you travel, the more your eyes are opened and if you are staying in the bubble of America… you are doing the biggest disservice to yourself and others by continuing on with the narrow viewpoint of what you have been taught/embraced on all things, but especially religion.
• Books Make a Home: Elegant Ideas for Storing and Displaying Books by Damian Thompson (3 Stars): Although a bit dated now, this book had some beautiful tidbits in it. I enjoyed seeing lively libraries instead of the more staged, clean-lined libraries that you see today. These spaces were lived-in and loved and I think there’s something timeless in that itself.
• Once a Laird by Mary Jo Putney (1 Star): ** spoiler alert ** The setting of this book could have been magical but the author didn’t draw us in at all. The story took place on a remote island in Scotland but never once, did I feel like I was there experiencing the story. The story was about a young man who is called home to become the Laird (of which clan or who… who knows) after his grandfather passes away. He finds love immediately and with the sister of his first, childhood love. The end. Honestly, the book from start-to-finish was a huge letdown. 

What I read in September

I read a lot of books in September. We took a family trip to rural Tennessee and listened to a few audiobooks along that road trip. I also think that life has felt a bit overwhelming lately and reading is a form of escape for me. I remember a few Friday nights this month where I shut my door and read (it’s a wild life over here, lol).

• The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (4 Stars): Coming at the heels of his first book, The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides does it again. This book isn’t quite as good, but it was still a fun read. The ending came as a huge surprise, which was great.
• Cabin Style by Chase Reynolds Ewald (4 Stars): This was definitely high-end cabin inspiration. I’ll never hire an architect, hot spring pool designer from Japan and interior designer, BUT I still enjoyed seeing glimpses of spaces that were inspiring. I think there’s always something to learn when reading design books and this one was no exception.
• The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg (4 Stars): I saw someone review this book as a “hug in a book form” and I agree. The story follows an 80+ year old man as he continues in life after his wife passes. His love for her is always there but his love expands to those that enter his life in unexpected ways. I loved Arthur’s character. Maddy, a young teenage girl, unexpectedly moves in with him. To watch their relationship grow and flourish is so heartwarming.
• Bombshell by Sarah Maclean (2 Stars): I’m usually a big fan of historical fiction but, honestly, the whole story didn’t feel genuine to the time period.
• Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home with Books by Nina Freudenberger (5 Stars): My dream is to have a library in my home and this book gave me tons of inspiration. I absolutely loved the background on each person, type of collector they were and photos of their home. I’ll be adding this to my collection for sure.
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (3 Stars): I’m struggling with how to review this. On one hand, some of the passages really spoke to me (and I’ve always loved quotes and sayings in general). For example: “You’ll never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.” Another one is: “If you know about love, you must also know about the Soul of the World, because it’s made of love.” There were tidbits of beautiful poetry in this, but then there was also a disconnect (for me) when it came to following the story and enjoying it as it unfolded. Either way, it’s a simple, short read and probably worth your time to check out. You might love it and, if not, you’ll probably come away thinking through some of the more poetic parts of the book.
• Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetutate Racial Harm by Robin DiAngelo (3 Stars): I didn’t realize that this book is basically a going deeper version of the author’s first book, White Fragility. I didn’t read the first book and feel like that could have helped with some of the ideas that the author assumed the reader (me) had been exposed to. Parts of this book read like a textbook and were pretty hard to stay engaged with. Other parts, were great. She seemed to pull in a lot of quotes and snippets from other writers on this topic and I enjoyed those the most. I came away with a broader perspective on racial harm, patterns in our society, and ways to engage with the problem.
• The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt (3 Stars): I thought the author provided a new take on the minimalist lifestyle and I enjoyed hearing her personal anecdotes. That being said, I felt like the book could have been much shorter. Overall, the book felt repetitive and I found myself getting bored.
• Remember When by Judith McNaught (2 Stars): For romance, this author is one of my favorites but this book was so mundane. The storyline was easy to figure out and the romance was lacking.
• The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer (3 Stars): I’d recommend borrowing this from the library instead of buying it. There were some good tips in the book but it wasn’t as helpful as it could be. I would have liked to see unique product sources that were shown in some of the photos and there weren’t very many notes on that. Also, it made me feel a bit icky about all the “extra” things we accumulate and then need to manage. Overall, I enjoyed reading through it, but I came away with the idea that I want to own less, manage less and spend less instead of having this perfectly curated pantry, etc.
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K Rowling (3 Stars): For Harry Potter fans, this is a fun read. Also, I believe Jude Law is the narrator of Albus Dumbledore’s notes in the audiobook, which is cool. The book contains a few short fairy tales (wizard-style) with commentary from Albus between each story. We listened to the audiobook on a road trip and it was fun because they have sound effects and different voices for each story.
• Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen (5 Stars): I read this aloud with my 11 year old and we both really enjoyed it. It’s a story of a slave boy who gets mythical powers and fights against all odds. It weaves in Greek mythology, family strife and a longing to belong in a way that is entertaining and enjoyable.
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (4 Stars): Read this aloud to my 11 year old. It’s about a china rabbit who doesn’t know how to love. He learns over time how to love through the ups and downs of his life and those who love him. I thought this was beautifully written and the ending was just perfect.
• The Golden Bull by Marjorie Cowley (4 Stars): This story is set in 2600 BC in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). I loved getting to glimpse in on what life could have been like during that time. This story follows a brother and sister as their life takes twists and turns because of a drought. From slavery to meeting a high priestess, this story was short but well-done. I read this book because my son (who is homeschooled) is learning about the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia and life in ancient civilizations. I’m so glad that it was on our list to read though. Even though it’s historical fiction, I learned a lot and it was fascinating.

What I read in August

Two of the books that I read this month were on the longer side (A Promised Land and For Which We Stand) and were great, but took longer to digest. I say that to say that I didn’t get to read a ton of fiction this month, but I’m looking forward to more next month. =)

1. A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal by Sarah Bessey (5 Stars): I wanted to slowly go through each prayer but found myself not wanting to put the book down. I loved this so much. It’s definitely a book to buy. Get out your highlighters and write on the margins.
2. The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar (3.5 Stars): It’s a quick read about a woman who loves her library, her husband and her friends and wants to save them during WWII.
3. A Promised Land by Barack Obama (4 Stars): Every American should read this. It doesn’t matter if you agreed with his politics or not, you’ll come away with a human understanding of what it takes to be President. I’m more appreciative of President Obama now after reading this and know you’ll be as well.
4. For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters by Jeff Foster (4 Stars): Read this with my 11-year-old but I’d recommend this to all adults as well. We BOTH learned so much! Would recommend for sure.
5. Maroo of the Winter Caves by Ann Turnbull (3 Stars): I read this with my 11-year-old as part of a homeschool curriculum to help teach about ancient civilizations. For that, it was helpful. As a stand-alone book, to read on your own, there was a lot of context missing and the plot could have been better.

Overall, I feel like my reading picks for February were so weird. A few of the holds that I had requested at the library all came available at the same time, so I think that’s why I ended up with so many self-help type books.

For next month, I’m ready to pick up some easy-to-read fiction books. Hopefully, I find a few that are great!

I’ll continue to update this list of books of 2021 each month as the month ends. If you read something you love, leave me a comment below… I’d love to check it out. And, if you’ve read any of the books above… what did you think?

p.s. If you want to see what I read last year (there were some great ones!), check out my book list for 2020.