As I mentioned yesterday, I only finished 50 books in 2021. For some people, that might seem like a lot of books to finish in a year. For me, that’s definitely much lower than usual — and I know it was because of not setting weekly goals for much of the year.
But even though I didn’t finish as many books as usual, I read/listened to some real winners! Here were my top six books I finished in 2021:
We Were the Lucky Ones
This was my very favorite audiobook of the year! This is based on the true story of a Jewish family during World War II who were separated all over the world and how they ended up surviving and eventually being reunited. It is deeply moving, gripping, and heartbreaking. But at the same time, it is the story of love, family, and perseverance against all odds.
One thing I noticed was how creative and determined each of the family members was to beating the odds, coming up with outside the box ideas, and not giving up. When all around it felt like everything was crumbling and hopeless, they chose to keep pressing on and keep holding on to the will to live.
Of all the parts of the book, I think the sections that most impacted me were thinking of what it would be like to have young children during the Holocaust and how deeply difficult it would be to try to care for and protect a baby or child in the midst of so fear, uncertainty, and straight up disregard for human life. I can’t even begin to imagine and this book helped me to have a glimpse into just how horrific that would have been.
Note: There is a little bit of language and, as you can imagine, some intense and graphic topics are touched on. However, I felt like the book did a good job of not going into unnecessarily graphic details and stayed true to the story and experiences.
Verdict: 5 stars
Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need
And this was my top read of the year — the one that most deeply impacted my life! If you read one book from this list, please read this one.
I just couldn’t give this book any less than five stars! It chronicles in beautiful and brutal detail David Platt’s week-long trek in the Himalayas. He takes you on the journey with him to experience the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and bone-chilling cold he witnessed. But the cold wasn’t the most chilling part of his week, not by any stretch of the imagination. He pens so vulnerably his encounters with great poverty, trafficking of little girls, and human suffering, the likes of which he didn’t even believe existed.
This book is his honest account of questioning his long-held beliefs about God, suffering, and what it truly means to give your life to follow in Jesus’ steps. He doesn’t give a lot of answers in the book; he mostly just shares stories, asks questions, and challenges you to stop living a life of complacency.
It’s a well-written book that draws you in with the engaging story line and leaves you taking a really deep look at your heart, your choices, and your perspective. I highly recommend it — and can’t stop talking about how it has made me examine life with fresh eyes and ears to the need around me — and around the world.
Verdict: 5 stars
The Things We Cannot Say
This book wasn’t at all what I expected and I almost didn’t keep listening after the first few chapters because it threw me off… but I’m so glad that I did because it ended up being such a beautiful story.
I loved getting to walk in the shoes of a mom who has a child on the autism spectrum and to feel more empathy for what she is experiencing and walking through. The book also made me think of how everyone is carrying heavy burdens and how many people are probably walking around with secrets and burdens and struggles that we don’t know anything about.
Note: This book contains a little crass language.
Verdict: 4 stars
Don’t Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life is Better With the Holy Spirit
If you feel like something is missing in your spiritual walk, if you have always struggled with wondering what you believe about the Holy Spirit, or if you are tired from trying to power through life in your own strength, I think this book this book will encourage and bless you.
I appreciated Jeannie’s honest words of how she’s wrestled through what she writes in this book. As someone who — just in the last few years — has began to truly understand the Holy Spirit and what it means to live life relying upon upon Him, I resonated with so much of this book. I highly recommend every Christian read this book and take it to heart… it just might completely change your entire life!
Verdict: 4 stars
The Woman With the Blue Star
I listened to this audiobook and found it to be a really engaging story (that was also well narrated). While some of the story felt fairly improbable and impossible, it opened up my eyes to another World War II story I’d never heard of before: Jews who hid in the sewers in order to survive the Holocaust.
If you want to read more of the real-life accounts of Jewish people hiding in the sewer, check out this site. And now I want to read The Girl in the Green Sweater, a first hand retelling of surviving in the sewer for 14 months and also the book, In the Sewers of Lvov: A Heroic Story of Survival from the Holocaust. (Have any of you read either of these?)
Verdict: 4 stars
Wonder
I read this book a number of years ago and loved it. Silas and I just finished reading it together for his summer reading project and I loved it even more — especially since the main character has cleft lip/palate and we could relate even more to him because of what we’ve walked through/experienced with Baby D.
This book sheds light on the importance of kindness, empathy, and compassion. And how our words and actions can make such a difference in someone’s life — both positively and negatively.
Verdict: 4 stars (Note: I edited some of the language in the book while reading the book aloud to Silas.)
Honorable Mention: Charlotte’s Web
I finished reading this book to Kierstyn last week. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Charlotte’s web and we really enjoyed reading it together (or at least I enjoyed the story and she seemed to at least grasp a tiny little bit of it from the pictures in the book!).
The one thing I had forgotten was that the book could be very sad (Charlotte dies) and possibly scary to sensitive kids (Before Charlotte saves his life, Wilbur is going to be butchered and the book alludes to this multiple times). I also felt like there was definitely some bullying from the animals and some shaming. I know, I know, I probably am over-analyzing these things, but I think it’s important that we call these things out to our kids and have conversations about it.
That said, I’m giving it four stars because I really enjoy the story overall and think it’s a worthwhile classic book to read aloud as a family — especially if your kids aren’t highly sensitive, enjoy animals, and are between the ages of (maybe) 6-10?
Note: This book has three books by E.B. White in one book and we read them all. We especially enjoyed Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan.
Verdict: 4 stars
Honorable Mention #2: Books by Charles Martin
I asked you all for recommendations of good, clean fiction with depth. Many of you recommended Charles Martin as an author. I listened to a number of his audiobooks this past year and really enjoyed them. His writing is raw and real and his stories pull you in… but they also have a lot of underlying meaning and make you think.
Most of them are not overtly Christian, but have Christian undertones. If you are looking for a new fiction author, definitely check out his books!
What were the best books you read in 2021? Any that I must read in 2022?
Coming soon: My Reading Goals for 2022
SK Bell says
I was shocked by the number 50! Do you feel happier? I guess I’m asking, do you feel more like you miss “the rest” of the usual reads or like maybe such a high number wasn’t serving you?
I read many books each year too and sometimes have to step back and take tithe obligation back out of it for myself.
Yes, Charles Martin is a great Christian author! I share lots more on my podcast The Christian Bookworm.
Crystal Paine says
I really, really missed reading more and am so hopeful I can do much more reading this coming year! It teaches me so much and feeds my soul!
Karen says
I read a LOT of WWII books, this past year especially. So glad I’m not the only one! Suzanne Kelman is an author I’ve discovered and really like in that genre, along with Christian author (but her books aren’t overly religious) Melanie Dobson.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Amy Chaput says
Hi, thank you for sharing your top 6 list. Some I have read or listened to and some I am adding to my TBR/L list. Here are a few I enjoyed this year.
The Medallion and Saving Amelie both by Cathy Gohlke,
The last bookshop in London by Madeline Martin,
The Light In the Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
Emily says
I’m always so inspired by your posts about books and reading goals, will be checking out what you’ve recommended here! Especially the one by David Platt.
My favorites from 2021 are ones I read with my kids:
The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom) – totally blown away!
William Penn – from the Heroes in History series (I unexpectedly found this book so impactful, learned so much history and Penn’s amazing and bold faith despite a lot of hardship)
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
The Mysterious Benedict Society series
Ella says
You should try “Silent Night” by Sue thomas
It’s an autobiography about a girl who went deaf at 21 months and her story of navigating the hearing world
Crystal Paine says
Thank you for the recommendation!
Leigh says
Are you on goodreads? Would love to follow your recommendations.
Crystal Paine says
Yes — but I pretty much just share what I share here and don’t friend or interact with anyone because I don’t have space or desire to add another social media platform! But my account is linked at the top of the post here.
Theresa says
Just checking. Your review of All the Thing We Cannot Say mentions a mother raising a child with autism but the Goodreads description of the book is a WWII story. Is it both or is the review meant for a different book? Based on your review, I’d like to read the book as one of my friends has a child with autism but the Goodreads description is throwing me off.
Crystal Paine says
It’s both — it’s a modern day story (of raising a child with autism) woven in with a story from WWII.
Sara says
Have you read the follow up to The Things We Cannot Say? It is called the Warsaw Orphan. It is very good.
Crystal Paine says
Yes!
Leah says
Four winds
The masterpiece
The midnight Library
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much! I just added to of these to my holds on Libby!
Becky Roberts says
In order to live : A North Korean girls journey to freedom. Yeonmi Park.
Judy Robinson says
Yes, in order to live was wonderful!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you for the recommendation!
Rachel says
I enjoy reading about the books you’ve read but I seldom finds one that would interest me.
Rachel says
However, I did enjoy Wonder after your recommendation several years ago.
Crystal Paine says
I’m so glad you enjoyed Wonder!
Jamie Maria Collins says
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert!
Crystal Paine says
That was a great read!
Elizabeth T says
In the Time of the Butterflies — Julia Alvarez
True Grit — Charles Portis
These had not been on my radar at the beginning of the year, but I read them for our mommy book club and thought they were so great! Both books feature unforgettably strong [young] women. Google “Donna Tartt and True Grit” for her introduction/forward to Portis’ book (she also narrates an audio version)—she convinced me to read it.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Kendra says
The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Goldfinch by Donna Tarrt
Crystal Paine says
Thank you for the recommendations!
Jody says
Black Prep: Life Lessons of a Perpetual Outsider By Kimberly Baker Guillemet was my favorite read of the year. I highly highly recommend this one!
Ordering your Private World by Gordon MacDonald was a really impactful read, I found it on one of your lists from previous years.
Thief of Corinth by Tess Afshar is also really high up on my list. I’ve read several by her and always really really enjoy them. She writes biblical historical fiction.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Emily Nielsen says
Some of my 2021 favorites (I read 52 books total):
Call of the Wild and Free
The Me, Me, Me Epidemic
The Four Winds
The Silent Patient
It’s Always the Husband
A Man Called Ove (hard to get into but i liked it!)
Lazy Genius Way (can’t wait for her new book in 2022)
She Was the Quiet One
The Last Thing He Told Me
Forest of Vanishing Stars
It’s always so hard to narrow down the list, haha!
Crystal Paine says
I just added The Four Winds to my Libby holds! Thank you for this list!
Jamie says
I love that you have been reading books from the Holocaust! My oldest daughter and I love that era and have enjoyed adding some of the books you have read to our list! I also just recently picked up a copy of Charlotte’s Web and can’t wait to dive into it because it’s been years since I’ve read the book or watched the movie.
Crystal Paine says
I read it aloud to our older kids and it was so fun to read aloud again!
Alicia says
Thanks for sharing your top reads. I will have to put the ones I haven’t read on hold. :)”
“Miss Buncle’s Book” was an enjoyable fiction read. I like fiction without a lot of PG-13 content, and this fits the bill!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Jenni says
We must be brave, American Dirt
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendations!
Jen Obstein says
The Midnight Library was my favorite! Check it out, if you haven’t read it!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you! I just put that on hold at the library!
Jen says
Fantastic! I hope you enjoy it!
Tracy L says
Charlottes Web is my all time favorite book. My kids are grown now but I still have a copy! Happy New Year to you and yours. At 55 I follow you and always think that I wish I was more like you back then. I sometimes think I’ll be a better grandma. Hugs!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, you are so kind!
Tabitha says
Forgiving Paris by Karen Kingsbury
A beautiful story that reminds us of God’s forgiving heart and that He never leaves us midst struggles. A great story with lots of suspense.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I just checked and it’s not out until May it looks like?
Tabitha says
This was her latest released book. https://www.amazon.com/Forgiving-Paris-Novel-Karen-Kingsbury/dp/1982104414/ref=asc_df_1982104414_nodl/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=525188730924&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15749388418099921514&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015012&hvtargid=pla-1211534740535&psc=1
Crystal Paine says
Oh! Thank you! I was looking in the wrong spot — the paperback is what doesn’t come out until May! T
Sheena says
The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis! It was great!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for the recommendation!