The 51 Books I Read In 2021

21 books in 2021.  That was my New Year's Resolution.  

Being an over-achiever, and champion of managing my time, I hit that goal on April 4th.  Enamored with all the fun I was having I decided to just keep going to see how many I could actually consume before the end of the year.   This particular blog is the unabridged compilation, in order, of the 51 books that I completed in the last 12 months.  There is no rhyme or reason to the order, which was largely dictated by the availability from the Houston Public Library.  

Disclaimer: I merely copied and pasted the reviews I had posted on my Facebook page throughout the year.  I hope you find some helpful insight, either positive or negative.  

At the end of the day, friends don't let friends read bad books.  

#1: Something In The Water — Catherine Steadman

Okay, since many of you have been asking for, and offering in return, book suggestions. In my quest to read 21 this year, I thought it might be nice to leave a quick review after each one. This is #1 for 2021. I would give it a solid 7. There’s a little bit of language (why?!? So unnecessary. So many other options for verbiage). It reads a bit like a typical Grisham. Good story. A heroine that you want to root for. Series of events that won’t let you put it down on those last 100 pages. Also, it starts out in Bora Bora, so that made my brain happy. #ReadMoreBooks #WatchLessNews. Additional suggestions are welcomed in the comments.

#2: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue — V.E. Schwab

Book #2 is under my belt! Also, my first Audible book ever. My fears of audiobooks being less captivating than actually reading were unfounded. That said, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I would give it a solid 8 out of 10, but it likely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Here’s my official review:

My favorite style of story-telling is that of analepsis. You know the style, but perhaps not the name. It’s that “flashback” type of telling the story. The most captivating TV shows (for me) are this way — Lost, The Walking Dead (the early seasons), This Is Us, etc. That’s the essence of what sucked me in with this book. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but it was a very well-told tale. Some of you may find the good vs evil, sell-your-soul-to-the-devil content somewhat disturbing. Keeping it within the confines of fiction (and sandwiching it between some hearty slabs of the Bible), I found it quite a fascinating and strangely haunting book. If you like darker fiction (The Passage, Unwind, anything by Anne Rice or Stephen King), you will likely enjoy this. If you prefer happier stories, I would recommend you pass on this one.

#3: Then She Was Gone — Lisa Jewell

I’m giving this one a 6 out of 10. If you like true crime, you will like this. It is a dark story that will make you want to know where your teenagers are every single second of every single day. I listened to it on audible. Set in the UK, it took me a few minutes to acclimate to the British and Irish accents of the narrator. It was captivating enough to make my drive seem shorter, but dark enough that I wanted to hug my daughter when I got home.

#4: The Road — Cormac McCarthy

I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. Post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction is probably my favorite genre. That said, I give this one a 3 out of 10. I guess Pulitzer, along with National Book Critics Circle is going to go into the same category as The Academy of Motion Pictures for me. Improper punctuation aside (no apostrophes in any contractions. . . seriously, this is elementary English, people) the adjectives and descriptors were just too much. It was as if the editor took the original story and then used a thesaurus to find the most obscure, least-used synonym possible. It just felt like the author and/or editor was trying too hard to sound smart. Maybe it’s just me, but I just like a good story, with good character development, that is captivating enough to make me want to stay up late reading. If you like hoity-toity books, you might be okay with this one. If you prefer a writer to just use normal English, this would be a hard pass. Also, if you are a grammar Nazi. . . just don’t.

#5: The Dispatcher — John Scalzi

This is less of a book and more of a short story (run time on Audible was right at 2 hrs). I would give it a 5 out of 10. The language was horrible! The story was average. Zachary Quinto was pretty good, although all I could picture was Skylar from Hero’s. It’s funny how actors end up stereotyped after a single role. Even when he was Spock, he was still Skylar. .

#6: Leave the World Behind — Rumania Alam 

I give this a 3 out of 10. If you liked The Road, you might like this. It is more well-written, but the story is a similar, winding, pointless dribble. Sigh . . . I’m really needing a book that rates an 8 or higher about now. Disappointed in the current state of fiction. #LeaveThisBookBehind.

#7: The One and Only Ivan — Katherine Applegate

So this is a PSA/shout-out/informational post veiled as a book review.

The review: book #7 gets a 6 out of 10 from me. Yes, it is a kid’s book. No, it’s not my normal genre. That said, with an audio running time of less than 3 hours (I listened at 1.5X speed), it was a nice distraction while driving. It was also a nice break from the unnecessary profanity and graphic sexuality of the stuff I have been reading lately. (Seriously, why do authors feel the need to inject such pointless elements?) If you have an elementary-aged kid, this would be a fun and easy thing to read with them at night.

The first shout-out goes to my friend Jordan for recommending it. You were right. The voice work (especially for the part of Bob) was pleasant to listen to.

Second shout-out/PSA/informational text goes to my friend Chris for letting me know about the Houston Library. As a TX resident, did you know you are eligible for a free membership? This includes digital downloads of both books and audiobooks.

I am about to save soooooo much money! I am also looking forward to every second I get to spend in my car now. #FreeBooks

#8: Winter Garden — Kristin Hannah

FINALLY! I found a book that is worthy of a 10 out of 10!!! Book #8 for 2021 is the book by which all other books will now be measured. I don’t even know where to begin with a review of this work. This is, by far, Kristin Hannah’s finest work. The story gripped me from page 2. The writing was simple, yet elegant. If you are between the ages of 40-100, I can promise there will be some part of this story that resonates with you. I am nervous to give such resounding accolades, as it often sets the bar too high for some readers. Go into this book without researching the premise or the synopsis. Let it grip you and carry you down the perfectly crafted, and heartbreaking saga. When you are done, go hug your parents, your kids, your spouse and tell them all how much you love them.

#9: Fly Away — Kristin Hannah

I have spent 16 hours, over the last 3 days in a car. This is how I spent the bulk of that time. Book #9 I give an 8 out of 10. Not gonna lie, I may be a bit of a fan-girl when it comes to all things Kristin Hannah. That said, It was a little tricky listening to this one on the heels of Winter Garden. Also, I’m pretty sure I did this one out of order. I’m thinking Firefly Lane was the prequel to this? Not sure. . .

My official review: this will likely be a book for ladies only. No reason in particular, just not sure this will be most guy’s cup of tea (or scotch, if you will). It jumps around a lot and takes a while to pick up steam (which is typical for this author. Winter Garden is her one exception to this rule). It is pretty long, but it sucks you in about halfway. You want to root for all the characters by the end. If you want a book to whisk you away on a cold day, this would be a solid choice. Not quite as contemplative or deep as some of her other work, but it is an adequate option if you have a full day by the fire to read.

#10: The Dutch House — Ann Patchett

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It came highly recommended by a number of people. That said, I am going to reluctantly give it a 6 out of 10 (had it not had so many recommendations and positive reviews, I would have likely rated it a 4 or 5). Now that I have that disclaimer out of the way, here’s my official review:

This book reads a bit like an autobiography. I give it extra points for the Tom Hanks narration. (I did the audiobook version). It is a long (and somewhat slowly moving) story that spans over 50 years. It is a story about the importance of family, and a cautionary tale about how anger and bitterness can consume us. The take-home message for me was: family is more important than “stuff” or money. Bitterness and anger can steal your entire life. So, love your family, pursue your dreams, and don’t expend any energy hell-bent on ruining the lives of those you feel have wronged you in some way.

#11: The Huntress — Kate Quinn

Shout out to my friend Jordan for recommending book #11. I give The Huntress a 9 out of 10. The genre is WWII historical fiction. It did take a bit of literary license with the historical part (which is why I didn’t give it a 10), but it was one of those captivating reads that I really didn’t want to put down. The writing was solid. The story was captivating. The end was not what I expected.

#12: Home Front — Kristin Hannah

I give this an 8 out of 10. It’s not Kristin Hannah’s best book, but even her average work is better than most of the published stuff out there. This was a significant deviation from most of her writing. I appreciate that it shines a light on the fact that military service is a family affair. It made me even more appreciative of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform (and their families) make for all of us on the regular. The writer’s political bias seems to shine through from time to time, but overall I found it an enlightening, albeit humbling, read. If you have a heart for military families, you will likely find this worth your time.

#13: Before We Were Yours — Lisa Wingate

I give this a 9 out of 10. Set during the end of The Great Depression, this story shines a light on the dark place in history where being poor meant you ran the risk of having everything taken from you.

#14: Feeding the Mouth That Bites You — Kenneth Wilgus

This is a non-fiction parenting book. In the scope of aaaaallllll of the parenting books I have read over the years, I would give this a 6 out of 10. The premise is overall very good — planned emancipation. However, I feel like the author missed a lot of the foundational stuff about parenting. Practical tips like regular family dinners, serving shoulder-to-shoulder with your kids to teach them empathy and benevolence, structure when they are little, and then spontaneity when they are a bit older, being intentional about family vacations (IE: vacations that involve downtime to allow for conversation), teaching kids how to cope with boredom, cautionary tales about overextending kids (IE: too many activities, juvenile burnout), etc. The limited information was solid, but it did not seem to be grounded in a firm relational foundation. I suspect most parents will be able to find half a dozen practical ideas in here. It’s certainly worth your time to read it. But if you are looking for a comprehensive book that will “fix” your teenager, you will need a lot more resources.

#15: The Things We Cannot Say — Kelly Rimmer

This was a tough one to rate. Had I read it before Winter Garden, it would have been a 10. Since Winter Garden is the book by which all other books shall be judged, I am giving this a 9.9 out of 10. If you are a stay-at-home mom, or the parent of a special needs child, this will likely resonate with you in much the same way that the protagonist in Winter Garden resonated with me. The story is of a similar genre: WWII historical fiction. (WWII Poland). It is heartbreaking, given that it spans 75+ years. It is an interesting reminder of what true religious persecution looks like.

#16: Camino Winds — John Grisham

John Grisham has, historically, been a staple for me. That said it pains me to give this book a 4 out of 10. I really enjoyed Camino Island (the prequel). This one was just trying too hard, though. The story was slow (borderline boring) and never really picked up steam. Grisham is notorious for easing into the story, as he develops his characters. Unfortunately, this whole thing just fell flat for me. None of the characters were likable or memorable. #ReadThePrequel #SkipTheSequel

#17: The Silent Patient — Alex Michaelides

If you’ve ever endured an overly detailed, long, drawn-out story from a middle schooler, you will be better prepared for this. I give it a 5 out of 10 — mostly because of the “surprise ending” that was strangely satisfying. This book, under my normal rule of sucking me in in less than 100 pages, would have never been completed. Since I was driving, and had nothing better to do, I endured until the end. If you like true crime or are sucked in by psychology, this might be worth your time. If you are looking for a book that will entertain, let you escape, or make you ponder life, this is not that book. Too many characters, too many extraneous details, too slow and boring for my taste. #RatingOfFiveIsGenerous #IGaveItTwoPointsForTheEnding

#18: Beneath A Scarlet Sky — Mark Sullivan

A BIG shout-out to my friend Karen for recommending my second 10 out of 10 in 2021!! Book #18 was A.Maze.Ing!!! Based on a true story, the setting is WWII Italy. This is a really long book. It clocks in at just under 18 hours on Audible! However, after the first 30 min, I was absolutely hooked. And, the longer it went, the more captivating it became. This is a story about the goodness that exists in a world of utter depravity. If you liked The Nightingale, you will likely LOVE this. It is a more masculine version of the same type of heroism in the midst of Nazi occupation. My favorite part was the last hour — The Aftermath — it detailed what became of all of the major characters once the war was over. Both heartbreaking, yet encouraging, this entire saga is a reminder that you never know what form a “hero” will take. This entire story made me want to go back and re-learn all about the plight of the Italian people during WWII. If you only read one book this year, read this one. Seriously!! So, so good!!!

#19: In Five Years — Rebecca Serle

I give this a 7 out of 10. A quick read, it was not what I expected. But, it was a nice, mindless escape from the world, for the 3 1/2 hours it took me to read it. This would be a nice vacation book if you are looking for something simple for the beach or airplane.

#20: Ready Player One — Ernest Cline

Well, I managed to keep going (primarily due to the prompting from my friend Melissa) and am glad I did. I give this a 7 out of 10. It would have been higher, but VR is super annoying and nerdy to me. I gave extra points for the 80’s nostalgia scattered throughout. I liked the dystopian feel, and the action sequences made me want to keep reading. If you are a child of the 80’s, this story will be filled with enough warm and fuzzy cultural references that you will remain engaged. If you are a nerdy gamer, you will REALLY enjoy this. If you are not either of those things, this might be a hard pass for you.

#21: American Dirt — Jeanine Cummins

The goal for 2021 was reached on Easter!!

I give this a 9 out of 10. I think this is an important book that every American should read. The story involves a Mexican woman and her 8-year-old son as they narrowly escape death from a Mexican cartel. It follows their harrowing journey from Acapulco to the US. Having read this on the heels of several WWII novels, I kind of wish I was a high school English or History teacher. I would assign a semester-long project to compare and contrast “Beneath a Scarlet Sky” (or The Nightingale) and “American Dirt”. I would list specific “characters” in these books to be compared and contrasted.

Hitler/Javier

The Nazi Party/Mexican cartels

Third Reich/Mexican Police

European Jews/Anyone pushing back against cartels

European church/Mexican church

Pino Lella/Mexican Coyotes

Italian people/Mexican people

Also, a comparison of US Border Patrol agents and US Vigilantes would be fascinating too. I very much like the way this book portrayed our border agents. They are still law enforcement and will detain, process, and return illegal migrants to their country of origin. However, they do it in a humane and compassionate manner — providing medical care and assistance along the way. The vigilantes, by contrast, shoot first and ask questions later.

I would welcome an honest, multi-dimensional discussion about this topic. No CNN or Fox News talking points, please. We have a real problem in our country. I DO NOT know how to fix it. I do know, there is not some simple black/white answer to the problem.

#22: The Four Winds — Kristin Hannah

I give this an 8 out of 10. Not Kristin Hannah’s greatest work, but a good read nonetheless. Set in the Great Depression/Dust Bowl era, this work of historical fiction was eye-opening and heartbreaking. I found it personally relevant, as I live 75 miles south of the opening setting, and I began reading it on one of our typical 60 mph wind days (with blowing dirt and lack of rain). On a typical spring day in the TX Panhandle, I frequently ask myself “why do I live here”? Reading about the actual dust bowl, I simply cannot imagine how horrific it was. Hannah paints a vivid picture of what life was probably like during that time. Anyone who has ever visited this part of the country can certainly sympathize with the unrelenting dry, windy climate. A captivating read, I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys fast-paced historical fiction.

#23: The Progeny — Tosca Lee

I can’t decide how I feel about this book. I’m giving it a 6 out of 10. It’s weird. It’s like Heros met Alias and then had a baby. And then, the baby announcement was penned byTed Dekker. Very disjointed and odd. I’ve never really been much of a Ted Dekker fan, and this writing seemed eerily similar. It was like I somehow missed the first 15 minutes of the movie and was trying to put pieces together the rest of the time. I think there could be a good story in there, but for some reason, I just didn’t quite get it. If you like fantasy or were a fan of Dekker’s Circle Series, you may really enjoy this. For me, I feel like there are better works out there in this genre. The ending ALMOST made me want to download the sequel . . . which is perhaps a sign the story may improve? As an aside: it did make me interested in visiting Hungary someday. Or perhaps taking a trip down the Danube.

#24: The Chemist — Stephenie Meyer

Okay, I seriously LOVED this book!!! Kudos to my friend Jordan for another great recommendation. I would never, in a million years, have found this one on my own. It is from Stephenie Meyer (of Twilight fame). I have never read that series because the genre and overall cheese has long-deterred me. That said, I’m pretty sure this is a significant detour from her normal work. I am only giving it a 9 out of 10, but only because there were a few times where I feel the author was tempted to regress into her more normal “trashy romance” style of story-telling. That aside, the rest of the story is FANTASTIC! It is Jason Borne/Alias/Burn Notice/Jack Ryan all rolled into one. The heroine is a physician by education, but chemical interrogator by trade. This book is a fast-paced, escape from the hum-drum of life and a strangely satisfying thrill ride. If you like anything from Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, or other similar writers, I bet you will enjoy this one. Give some latitude for the smattering of cheesy romance, and I suspect you will find this time well spent.

#25: Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir

This is going to be a tough one to rate. I’m going with a 9 out of 10, but this will likely not be everyone’s cup of tea. I really, really loved this book! But, full disclosure: I am a HUGE nerd! Written by the same author as “The Martian” (which is in my top 20 favorite books ever), Project Hail Mary is of a similar genre. It is a super technical (think aerospace and astrophysics), sci-fi story. I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are a science nerd who likes an exciting survival story I suspect this will be one of those books you just can’t put down. Also, if you enjoy a healthy dose of snark and sarcasm, the writing style will certainly resonate with you. If you don’t really get into scienc-y things, this might be a hard pass. It won’t be for everyone, so don’t hold it against me if you hate it. To my fellow nerdy friends (you know who you are), go ahead and hop on Amazon and get this one.

#26: And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer — Fredrik Backman

This can hardly be called a book, but I’m counting it. Audio version running time was just slightly over an hour. I still struggle trying to figure out why so many people love this author. I give this one a 6 out of 10 — mostly because Backman’s writing style just doesn’t resonate with me (except for Beartown). That said, if you have a family member who struggles with memory issues, this should be on your must-read list. It paints a beautiful picture of empathy. I may have shed a few tears during that last 5 minutes.

#27: Artemis — Andy Weir

After reading both “The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary”, I decided to check out more of Andy Weir’s work. Sadly, I’m afraid he did not hit the trifecta. I give this a 5 out of 10. I really, really wanted to like it. It perhaps just kind of got lost on the heels of “Project Hail Mary”? As is his typical genre, this was a sci-fi work about outer space — more specifically, colonization on the moon. The story was just okay. The language was HORRIBLE!!! I mean, how many F-bombs are really necessary in the same sentence?!?! I almost gave up multiple times, due to the language alone. If you like sci-fi and have a longer fuse for profanity, this might be an okay read. For me, I think the bar was simply set too high with his other works.

#28: Heirloom Garden—Viola Shipman

I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book, just from reading the Amazon synopsis. Turns out it was very good! Thanks to my friend Karen, for another great recommendation. I give it a 9 out of 10. This is a great summer read. Nice and easy. Sitting by the pool, or curled up in the shade, it is a simple story about the power of relationships. 2 families, torn apart by wars that took place 50 years apart. It weaves together all the emotional threads. Having spent a lot of the last decade attempting to grow flowers on my desolate landscape, I particularly enjoyed the connection that gardening can have on one's mental health. The therapeutic benefit of creating something beautiful, and then sharing it with others, really resonated with me. This may not be to everyone’s liking, but if you are looking for a simple summer read, this will only occupy about 4-5 hours of actual read time.

#29: Redeeming Love—Francine Rivers

I have had sooooo many people recommend this book to me! It has been on my list for quite some time, but when your librarian friend openly reprimands you and tells you to stop what you are doing and immediate read a book, you just do it! So, thanks, Julie, for boxing my ears and bullying me into this one. I really, really loved it! I give it a 9 out of 10. Christian fiction has always been super cheesy to me, but somehow this author made this one both interesting and believable. A (sort of) modern-day story of Hosea, this is set in the mid-1800s during the California Gold Rush. The main character, Angel, was sold into prostitution at the age of 8. A story of the grace and love of God, amidst the depravity of man, it is a long and winding tale. Clocking just over 17 hours in audiobook form, every time I thought the author was about to wrap it up, something else happened to poor Angel. I think this would be an excellent book for a week-long vacation, or long boring road trip. It will definitely keep you awake and make you want to read all the way to the end. I suspect this author’s work may be frequenting my reading list very shortly.

#30: Redemption—Karen Kingsbury

A big shout out to my friend Brandi for recommending this one to me several months ago. It has been sitting on my “to read” shelf all this time! I give it an 8 out of 10. The genre is Christian fiction. The first of a series of stories about The Baxter family, this book tells the story of Kari—a young, married 20 something who is dealing with the betrayal of a cheating husband. It definitely has its share of cheesy dialogue (thus the 8 ). However, the story is a good one, and definitely worth the 5 hours it took me to pour through it. I suspect I will end up reading the rest of the series at some point in the future. This is a good book for the plane, or sitting by the pool. Easy and somewhat predictable, it is a nice reminder to invest in your spouse.

#31: Truths I Never Told You — Kelly Rimmer

Ugh. . . I don’t know how to review this book. I am so torn . . . Until the last half hour, it was headed toward a solid 10. Because of that, I’m giving it a 9 out of 10. This story hit me at a deep and personal level. So much of the prose sounded as if I were personally telling it. Spanning 2 generations of women (1958 - 1997), this book does an exceptional job of outlining all of the various components of postpartum depression, as well as society’s attempts to minimize the actual medical and psychological components involved. Impactful and heart-wrenching, every woman of child-bearing age (and their husband) should probably read it. I am grateful to live in a world where my choices, as a woman, are vast. I am sad that the generation(s) that came before me were not afforded those same choices. I am forever grateful for the brave women who paved the way for later generations.

*Disclaimer: soapbox ahead*

That said, if you even know me a little bit, you know I am unashamedly pro-life. The stories of women who felt abortion was their only option are devastating to me. As a society, we have failed them. I really, really loved this book — right up until the point where the author began to celebrate the abortion movement. Yes, this is our dark history. Yes, this history needs to be taught. However, rather than celebrating the killing of a child, wrapped up as “a woman’s right to choose”, we should be looking for ways to keep women from ending up at that horrible crossroad to begin with. And for the love of all that is good in this world, if you have never battled depression, please, please, just stop trying to give advice. Phrases like “buck up”, or “you need to just. . .” or (and this one makes me want to scream!!) “if you only had more faith, or just prayed harder” are simply not helpful to the conversation.

*climbing off my sizeable soapbox now*

I would still highly recommend this book, but be prepared for the ending. I just wish the author had taken the opportunity to finish strong. She was so eloquent in the build-up and it would not have been very hard to convey the end as the tragedy that it was.

#32: Eat That Frog — Brian Tracy

I really wanted to like this book, but it fell a little flat for me. I was half expecting it to just be a simple feel-good, how-to read that reinforced my conformational bias. Instead, it made me kind of want to write my own book about time management. I give it a 5 out of 10. For super disorganized people, there will likely be a handful of useful tips for increasing productivity. However, those are the people who are so disorganized they will likely never make time to read it. At about 2 1/2 hours of audio time, it wasn’t a total waste. I did find myself formulating rebuttals to all of his points, and my brain began formulating chapters for my own version on this topic.

That was the Twitter-version review.

Here’s the unabridged addition:

My biggest issue with this book was the author’s rationale for why we need to be more organized. His take-home points were all wrapped around increasing productivity so you can double your income. In the corporate world, this is probably an acceptable premise. Maybe it’s just me and my current stage of life (at 50, most would agree that I have reached the summit, or halfway mark in life) but, my “Why” has dramatically changed.

I have long-believed, the answer to all of life’s problems can be found in either Jesus or time management. That said, my “why” would focus on the intersection of those 2 things. Were I to ever write a book on time management, the central focus would be “managing your time properly, allows you time to investigate and explore all of the divine detours God throws in your path”. I have spent the greater part of my life, laser-focused on my education, my profession, and my family. Sometimes those things put unnecessary blinders on me. Had I been better at managing my time, in my younger days, I am convinced I would have had many more opportunities to invest in the lives of others.

Our lead pastor talks about running all of our life decisions through the filter of “will what I am doing right now matter in 10,000 years”? I think that is profound and sage advice. Had I been aware of that filter 30 years ago I do think many of my decisions in life would have been made differently. No regrets, as God uses where we are. But, I often shake my head thinking about all the missed opportunities.

No, I’m not planning to write a book anytime soon. But, if I were, that would be about the gist of it. If you are running a little frantic in life right now, this book will likely give you a few salient pointers. I would recommend you run some of his rationale through a more “eternal” filter, though.

#33: Remember—Karen Kingsbury

I give this an 8 out of 10. The second in The Baxter series, this story fans out to engulf more of the Baxter family. The setting was pre and post 9/11 and how that impacted the various characters. Even though we are coming up on the 20th anniversary of that horrible day in history, the stories still make me tear up a bit. Though this was a work of fiction, the emotions were the same as what most of us remember about that time in our lives. Typical for the genre (Christian fiction), the writing is somewhat sterile at times. Although, I do prefer that to some of the more graphic writing out there. This provided a nice mental escape on my day off, and I rather enjoy long sagas where the characters are developed slowly. I suspect you will see the entire series reviewed at some point. Overall a relaxing and easy read.

#34: Zero Day—David Baldacci

I give this 6 out of 10. It was decent enough to keep me awake on my recent road trip but wasn’t as good as a lot of the reads I have had this year. The setting was rural West Virginia. It read a bit like an episode of NCIS (CID officer investigates the murder of a high-ranking Army officer). I suspect it is actually better than a 6, if you enjoy this type of read. I feel as if Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy do this genre better. If you enjoy those authors, this will likely be an entertaining read. Relatively clean with minimal foul language, at least it won’t accost that part of your brain. The descriptions of certain parts of WV made me want to add that to my list of places to visit soon, though.

#35: Angel Falls — Kristin Hannah

I’m giving this a 6 out of 10. This is one of Kristin Hannah’s earlier works (10 years before Winter Garden and 15 years before The Nightingale). Her writing has improved much over the years. Better than most modern fiction, but not Hannah’s best work. It is a simple story of love, loss, and a mother’s selfless sacrifice for her kids. It would be a good summer read. Easy, not too deep, not as heart-wrenching as her other pieces, but still a satisfying story. If you don’t read much, or want something easy to stoke a fire for reading, this book would probably fit that bill.

#36: This Tender Land — William Kent Krueger

I’m going with an 8 out of 10. Shout out to my friend Karen for always giving me great book suggestions! I think this is probably more like a 9, but I was listening to it in a very disjointed manner—15 min here and there. Had I been able to sit and listen in large chunks of time, I think I would have rated it higher. An entertaining read, for sure, this book is kind of a darker Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn. Set in the 1930’s, this is a story about a group of orphaned kids, sent away to an Indian (or Native American, for the more PC reader) orphanage. These kids escape and venture from Minnesota to St. Louis via a stolen boat. The author does a great job developing the characters and the plot is solid. Definitely worth your time to read it.

#37: Catch and Kill — Ronan Farrow

I’m rating this a 7 out of 10. Graphic in nature with atrocious language, it was an otherwise fascinating read. Ronan Farrow, son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, interestingly details the dubious culture of sexual assault within the entertainment industry. While the story is in the form of a documentary/investigative report (highlighting the horrific actions of Harvey Weinstein) the REAL story is about the death of journalistic integrity in our country. Mr. Farrow does an excellent job of detailing how journalism, in current America, is nothing more than legalized prostitution — journalists selling themselves and their last shred of self-respect to the highest bidder. In much the same way that watching every season of Scandal made me even more distrustful of politicians, this book was a scathing indictment about the death of journalism and freedom of the press in the US. Be careful what you read. Be careful what news you cite. There is an extremely high likelihood that it has been whitewashed and sanitized of any unbiased truth. I’m gonna need some nice, clean Christian fiction after this one. #SometimesTruthIsMoreBizzareThanFiction #DontGetAJournalismDegree #ThereAreMoreHonorableWaysToMakeALiving

#38: Return — Karen Kingsbury

I give this an 8 out of 10. The 3rd book in the Baxter series, “Return” explores the ever-changing relationships for the Baxter kids and their journeys back to family and faith. This story is starting to feel like a comfortable sweatshirt. The characters are likable, the story is heartwarming and it has sucked me in to the point where the rest of the series will be showing up in book reviews soon. I have several books that I have been waiting many months for queued up, so it will be a bit before I finish this series. I will circle back soon, though. If you are looking for a series that will occupy your nice, cool fall months, this would probably be a good one.

#39: Us Against You — Fredrik Backman 

I don’t really know how I feel about this book. I’m giving it an 8 out of 10. The sequel to Beartown, it picks up with many of the storylines and adds new characters. The setting is a small town that lives and breathes ice hockey. This book is dark. It’s long. It has a TON of characters and an equal number of storylines. I very much appreciate the intricate storyboarding that went into this book. The attention to detail in that realm was incredible. Everything about this book was sad, and quite frankly I just wanted it to end. If you don’t mind letting that much negative energy into your life, it was masterfully written. You will need to read with your brain fully engaged, as it is a wild, tangled web of characters. If you need books with a “happily ever after” this might not be the book for you. I may need to binge Adam Sandler and David Spade movies after this one.

#40: A Time To Dance — Karen Kingsbury

This wasn’t my favorite book, but it wasn’t the worst one I read this year, either. I’m giving it a 5 out of 10. The story was okay, but extremely predictable. It’s kind of what I have always expected from Christian fiction. It was clean. No foul language, but not overly exciting either. It kept me awake on my drive, but would have not made me want to sit and read if it had been an actual paper book.

#41: Lions of Lucerne — Brad Thor

I’m giving this a 6 out of 10. A fairly average political thriller, this book kept me awake on the long trek from AZ after dropping my kid off at college. While Tom Clancy and Vince Flynn still do this genre better, this was an okay version of the same. The story revolves around a Secret Service agent tasked with the head of the POTUS detail. POTUS is kidnapped and then the race begins. Of course, as with all political thrillers, there is corruption within the deep state, and the protagonist never knows who to trust. Fairly boiler-plate stuff, but if you have a long drive and need something to listen to, this will probably provide some distraction from the hum-drum of the road.

#42: Going Home — A American

Some of you may lose all respect for me after this book review. That’s okay. There are lots of great literary options out there. I’m struggling with a rating on this. My English-matters brain would give it about a 6 out of 10. The storyteller in me gives it a 9 out of 10. Dystopian fiction mixed with a smattering of politics, this was a satisfying scratch for my post-apocalyptic-fiction itch. The story follows one man’s 250-mile journey home following an EMP in Florida. The protagonist—an avid prepper—was uniquely equipped for the journey when his car unexpectantly died on the side of the road. If you have ever fancied yourself a prepper, or have ever contemplated what that would look like, you will probably enjoy this book. It goes into great detail with the equipment and supplies available for your “bug-out bag”. This will likely not be to everyone’s liking. No matter your particular opinion of this book, the last 15 minutes are particularly terrifying in light of our current national state. There is a substantial amount of foul language, but unlike other reads this year, it seemed strangely appropriate within the particular confines of the tale. However, I really, really loved it! I consumed it in audio format, which probably helped my grammar Nazi brain. It is told in a manner like one would hear around a campfire. Great for a long drive or series of long workouts. It is the first in a series, so you may be seeing those follow-up reviews in the weeks to come. Apologies if you hate it. If you find yourself intrigued by it, shoot me a comment below with your other post-apocalyptic fiction faves.

#43: Island of the Lost — Joann Druett

I really enjoyed this book. Shout out to my friend Chris for the recommendation. I give it an 8 out of 10. This is a true story, set in the mid-1800’s. It’s about leadership, teamwork, and the deep programming within our DNA to survive. It is a detailed account of 2 different crews, unknowingly shipwrecked on the same island at the same time. It shows what strong leadership, positive attitudes and the resiliency of the human spirit can accomplish. A fascinating comparison between 2 different styles of leadership — one born out of social hierarchy, the other from humility and social equality.

If you think your meat comes from the grocery store, the details in this book may be a shock to your system. There is a fair amount of scientific detail with regard to genus/species of both plants and animals. I found the methods used to acquire protein sources strangely fascinating, as well. Largely written from the actual accounts of the castaways, the verbiage and syntax take a minute to acclimate to.

Set in the Auckland Islands — just a bit north of Antarctica — it was fascinating to read how humans are able to survive at all in that climate.

Having binged many seasons of “Alone” this past year, this was kind of that, on steroids. Though not alone, the survival methods employed, mirrored that show.

I particularly liked the last hour. It detailed the fact that emergency provisions and supplies were later left on these desolate islands, for what would sadly be a string of additional shipwrecks.

#44: Surviving Home — A American

I give this one a 7 out of 10. The second in this series, it is a pretty garden-variety tale of what Americans will be forced to do should our electrical grid/society ever collapse. Particularly interesting, in light of the current government “over-reach”, is the mantra “we are from the government, and we are here to protect you”. I’m gonna have to do some research to find out if this is true, but I also found it interesting that USPS mail carriers may be used to “inventory” people and supplies? That’s kind of freaky. If you like this kind of story, you will probably like this one. It’s just more of the same, with less cerebral writing. It was a very entertaining story to keep me awake on my long drive.

#45: Robinson Crusoe — Daniel Defoe

Okay, I know a lot of you will be saying “I already read this book when I was a kid”. My response will be, “I bet you didn’t.” In my quest for the best of the best in survival books, I decided to go back to the OG in this genre. I opted to listen to the unabridged version, and I’m sooooo glad I did! Clocking in at just over 13 hours, I can assure you THIS was not at all the same book I read as a kid! I’m giving it a 10 out of 10!! Published in 1719 (yes, you read that right — Seventeen Nineteen!!!), the writing is glorious. The narrator was British. I felt smarter with every passing minute, just listening to the lovely accent and ”Middle English prose”. If you read this in middle school, or read any type of edited version of this story, you likely missed the entire point of the book. If I were a theology professor, I would absolutely design a theology course around this entire work. There are 3 distinct “sections” of the life of Robinson Crusoe. 1). His early life — prior to being shipwrecked, 2). His 28 years spent on the island, 3). His life after finding a way off the island. All three, beautifully tie together the whole of our human nature, the goodness of God, and what true gratitude and faith in a creator looks like. The last few chapters do a wonderful job of outlining the parable of the talents better than any fictional piece I have ever consumed. I could write an entire book about the spiritual aspects of this unabridged work. It is so unfortunate that centuries of editing have essentially erased the entire meaning of the story. If you have a love for God, are floundering in the purpose of life, or simply need a wonderful escape that will make you look at life through a different lens, you need to add this book to the top of your list IMMEDIATELY!! This may be one of those works I will have to read again, just to fully digest all Defoe had to say. #ClassicLiterature #ItMayBeHardToReadContemporaryWritersNow

#46: The Undoing Project — Michael Lewis

So this book is going to be very polarizing. I give it a 10 out of 10. A lot of you will give this a zero out of 10. Which camp you fall into will be largely determined by a short litmus test. You will like this book if:

1. You are fascinated by human psychology and/or economics.

2. You are that person who does every single personality test that comes down the pipe (Myers Briggs, Enneagram, Love Languages, etc).

3. You spend any amount of time contemplating free will vs. instinctual response.

On the surface, this non-fiction book is about 2 Israeli psychologists and their unlikely friendship. When you do a deeper dive, this is the sum total of a lifetime of 2 brilliant men combining their love for statistics and their fascination with human behavior. Why do humans react the way they do based on visual cues, statistical probabilities, and societal bias? How do these reactions impact everything from the economy, to medicine, to politics, to professional sports? What happens when a person makes one decision vs another? (For instance: what would have happened if Hitler had followed his dream of becoming an artist? Would the world have essentially experienced an "undoing" of one of the greatest atrocities of mankind? Statistically, there was a 50/50 probability that Hitler would have been born female. What would the world look like today had the odds fallen in that direction?) The same author as "Moneyball", this book explores how behavioral psychology impacts every facet of our world. Every chapter makes an abrupt turn, going in an entirely different direction from the one before. Oh, how I would love to do a year-long book club with a dozen of my most inquisitive friends (you know who you are. . . ). To walk through every aspect of this work, nice and slow, would be a mental workout like none I have ever experienced. It's almost a shame that I consumed this alone. I feel this is one of those books that needs to be discussed, mulled, debated, and explored on dozens of topics in our current world. It would have been fun, over the last 18 months, to explore every polarizing topic (mask/no mask, vaccine/no vaccine, lockdowns/no lockdowns, remote/in person, natural selection/heroic measures, etc) through the filter of "The Undoing Project".

The quote: “Small minds discuss people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas,” kept reverberating in my brain during the 10 hours of audio time. It would have been so cool to have spent the last 2 years of social media time exercising all of our "great minds", as opposed to the hate and name-calling.

There are so many topics that would have rabbit trails off of this work -- predictive psychology in marketing and economics, parallel universes, dark matter, time travel, the mysteries of God, how free will reconciles with an omniscient Creator, what separates humans from other high-order predators, medical decision making, facts vs statistical probabilities vs opinion vs truth, and the list could go on. If you aren't much for the human brain, or don't like to bother yourself with statistics, epidemiology, economic theory, etc, just go read some fun fiction. You will likely HATE this book. If you need an escape from whatever your current situation is, or you just need a break from your Soduko game, go get this book NOW! As you read it, post your thoughts in the comments so we can nerd out together.

#47: This Light Between Us — Andrew Fukuda

I’m gonna give this an average rating of 7 out of 10. In the genre of teen fiction, the setting is WWII. If you have a teen reader, this would probably be closer to an 8 out of 10. If you are an adult reader of WWII historical fiction, it will likely be more like a 6. This is a somewhat below-average love story centered around a Japanese American boy in Washington state and a Jewish girl living in France. Assigned to be pen pals prior to WWII, this book is primarily a series of letters between the two characters. For teens, this work probably does a decent job of shining a light on the social injustice experienced by Japanese Americans following Pearl Harbor. It does a poor job of detailing the perils encountered on the French front, and by the end I felt like the author was on a deadline and just needed to wrap things up. An obviously sanitized version of history, it’s probably a less-traumatic way for teens to take a foray into this type of historical fiction. It’s a medium-length book (just shy of 11 hours in audio form). If you have teens that are reluctant readers, this one might be a bit slow. If your kiddos enjoy historical fiction they will probably like this one. I think the overall message is a good one—Americans are Americans, no matter what our ethnicity.

#48: The Tattooist of Auschwitz — Heather Morris

I give this a 6 out of 10. As the name implies, this is in the genre of WWII historical fiction. Based on a true story, this is a novel about how humans can manage to find love even in the darkest of places. At its foundation, this is a love story. I wanted to like this book more, but I feel like it brushed past the horrors of WWII Poland (and specifically Auschwitz). While that part of world history is horrific and dark, I do feel it is something that needs to be told over and over and over again. We can never minimize the atrocities of WWII. Ever. In the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. If you like love stories and don’t want to be bothered by the horrors of genocide, you will probably like this. Personally, I read historical fiction in order to do a heart-check on my 21st-century mindset. Evil does exist, as does heroism, love, and kindness. It’s important to temper one with the other.

#49: Cilka’s Journey — Heather Morris

I’m giving this a 7 out of 10. The sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this book details the story of Cilka. The writing is still not awesome, but the story resonated more with me than the prequel. This book picks up at the end of the liberation of Auschwitz. Charged with “collaboration”, after being repeatedly raped and abused by the SS Commandant at Birkenau, Cilka is subsequently sentenced to 15 years in a Siberian prison camp. In this camp, she simply goes from a German abuser to a Russian abuser. Befriended by a female doctor, Cilka is trained to be a nurse in the local prison hospital. This book really highlights the plight of women during this period of history. I suspect this is why it resonated better with me. Forever thankful for the sacrifices of women who have come before me, these are the kind of stories I feel need to be told over and over again. There are better books in this genre, but none have documented what happened to Russian prisoners post-WWII. I always find it fascinating when I can add another layer of understanding about the atrocities of this particularly horrific time in history. This book seeks to do just that—another perspective and layer to the fallout from the dysfunction of European society in the mid-1900’s. This will be an easy and worthwhile read, if you don’t mind fairly rudimentary writing styles.

#50: The Liberty Box — C.A. Gray

I’m giving this an 8 out of 10. Shout out to my friend Vickie for the recommendation! We generally have similar literary tastes, so thanks! Fast-paced, easy to read, it will either suck you in right away or you will hate it. This is definitely not bougie literature, but it was a fun ride nonetheless. If you liked The Hunger Games or Divergent series, this will probably interest you. If you are a die-hard conspiracy theorist (especially with regard to current vaccine mandates) this book will just reinforce your informational bias. Please don’t start arming yourself or ramp up your prepper tendencies. Just enjoy it for its entertainment value. I don’t want to be the straw that breaks your conspiracy-theory-laden camel’s back. Always distrustful of elected officials, this will probably make me more paranoid than I already am. But, I do like a good dystopian novel. It will forever be my go-to genre. Enjoy, but don’t do anything that will get you arrested or killed.

#51: The Midnight Library — Matt Haig

What a great read to finish off my year! I always like going out on a high note, and this was certainly that! Not quite a 10, I do think it is a very solid 9. If quantum physics fascinates you, or you enjoy pondering the idea of parallel universes, I think you will enjoy this book. What would you do if you could undo some of your biggest regrets? How do small, everyday decisions shape the trajectory of your life? How would your life have turned out if you had said “yes” to one thing, or “no” to another? That is the basic premise of this book. If you are looking for an enjoyable read in the months ahead, this would be a solid one to curl up with. I suspect it will make you take a deep dive into some of your decisions over the course of your life. I have a plaque hanging in my breakfast nook that states, “You are the author of your own life story. Make it a good one.” This book dovetailed nicely with that sentiment. As we approach a new year, this book will probably make you rethink some of the paths you are currently on, and entice you to explore some new ones. I hope you enjoy it!

In closing, I am always looking for great recommendations for my next "favorite" book. Now that you have some insight into my preferences, I would love some suggestions in the comments!

Happy reading in 2022!