Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On InstagramVisit Us On LinkedinCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Youtube
  • Homeschool
    • Book Lists
    • How Do We Do That?
    • Notebooking
    • Subjects and Styles
    • Unit Studies
  • Travel
    • Europe
      • Benelux
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • London
      • Porto
      • Prague
    • USA
      • Chicago
      • Georgia
      • Hawaii
      • Ohio
      • Utah
      • Yellowstone and Teton
  • Family
    • Celebrations
    • Frugal
  • Military Life
    • Deployment
    • PCS
  • Health
    • Recipes
    • Essential Oils
    • Fitness
    • Mental Health
    • Natural Living
    • Natural Beauty
  • Faith
  • About Me
    • Favorite Resources
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
    • Policies
  • Reviews

© 2023Jennifer Lambert · Copyright · Disclosure · Privacy · Ad

You are here: Home / Family / Best Books of 2021

Best Books of 2021

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

November 22, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 18 Comments

I read a lot, like a lot a lot.

We do read alouds for our homeschool every morning and some evenings.

I always have several books on my Kindle app or nightstand or side table, throughout the house, really.

I love exploring new concepts in history or self-help and reading fiction with my kids.

I try to intersperse fun fiction reads. There are no fluffy, bad, or wrong books. There are just preferences.

I read lots of books. It tends to go in waves depending on what’s going on in my life, how busy we are, my moods and availability of library eBooks. I think I notice themes each year that help me grow and become a better person, wife, mom.

I tried and quit reading Gilead multiple times. I don’t like quitting, but I really loathed the book, the characters, and story. I couldn’t find any reason to finish. Some books I read in a single evening. Others take a few days or even weeks.

My Favorite Books I Read in 2021

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

A sweeping, revisionist history of the last seventy-five years of white evangelicalism, revealing how evangelicals have worked to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism.

This was an enlightening book explaining many historical events and helped me make connections during my lifetime.

The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn

It isn’t paranoia if it’s really happening . . .

Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.

Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.

What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.

I really enjoyed this book and the film was ok too. I love Amy Adams and she did a great portrayal.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

I love, love, love all the books by Matt Haig and this one was very interesting and thought provoking. I have The Comfort Book on my list to read.

Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker

Ware can’t wait to spend summer “off in his own world”—dreaming of knights in the Middle Ages and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called “normal” kids do.

On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon he starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot.

Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer—he doesn’t live in the “real world” like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge.

But when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware looks to the knights’ Code of Chivalry: Thou shalt do battle against unfairness wherever faced with it. Thou shalt be always the champion of the Right and Good—and vows to save the lot.

But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?

I love this author and this book was so, so sweet and lovely. We enjoyed the characters and were so sad when it ended.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

In this breakthrough book, clinical psychologist Lindsay Gibson exposes the destructive nature of parents who are emotionally immature or unavailable. You will see how these parents create a sense of neglect, and discover ways to heal from the pain and confusion caused by your childhood. By freeing yourself from your parents’ emotional immaturity, you can recover your true nature, control how you react to them, and avoid disappointment. Finally, you’ll learn how to create positive, new relationships so you can build a better life.

Discover the four types of difficult parents:

  • The emotional parent instills feelings of instability and anxiety
  • The driven parent stays busy trying to perfect everything and everyone
  • The passive parent avoids dealing with anything upsetting
  • The rejecting parent is withdrawn, dismissive, and derogatory

This book was helpful for me understanding my parents and making sure not to make similar mistakes with my own children.

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

A decadent rock star. A deeply religious radio host. A disgraced scientist. And a teenage girl who may be the world’s last hope. From the mind of Chuck Wendig comes an astonishing tapestry of humanity that Harlan Coben calls “a suspenseful, twisty, satisfying, surprising, thought-provoking epic.”

Shana wakes up one morning to discover her little sister in the grip of a strange malady. She appears to be sleepwalking. She cannot talk and cannot be woken up. And she is heading with inexorable determination to a destination that only she knows. But Shana and her sister are not alone. Soon they are joined by a flock of sleepwalkers from across America, on the same mysterious journey. And, like Shana, there are other “shepherds” who follow the flock to protect their friends and family on the long dark road ahead.

For on their journey, they will discover an America convulsed with terror and violence, where this apocalyptic epidemic proves less dangerous than the fear of it. As the rest of society collapses all around them—and an ultraviolent militia threatens to exterminate them—the fate of the sleepwalkers depends on unraveling the mystery behind the epidemic. The terrifying secret will either tear the nation apart—or bring the survivors together to remake a shattered world.

This was a prophetic book and very disturbing. Eye opening into the human condition.

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Overwork is the new normal. Rest is something to do when the important things are done-but they are never done. Looking at different forms of rest, from sleep to vacation, Silicon Valley futurist and business consultant Alex Soojung-Kim Pang dispels the myth that the harder we work the better the outcome. He combines rigorous scientific research with a rich array of examples of writers, painters, and thinkers—from Darwin to Stephen King—to challenge our tendency to see work and relaxation as antithetical.

I am constantly searching for confirmation bias that we are counter-cultural in our seeking to be out of the rat race.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behaviour of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass in the street outside. She remains hopeful a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change for ever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.

This book was very emotional. I am still disturbed by the ending and keep trying to figure it out in my head.

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

In a near-future world beset by war, climate change, and overpopulation, Portland resident George Orr discovers that his dreams have the power to alter reality. Upon waking, the world he knew has become a strange, barely recognizable place, where only George has a clear memory of how it was before. Seeking escape from these “effective dreams,” George eventually turns to behavioral psychologist Dr. William Haber for a cure. But Haber has other ideas in mind.
 
Seeing the profound power of George’s dreams, Haber believes it must be harnessed for the greater good—no matter the cost. Soon, George is a pawn in Haber’s dangerous game, where the fate of humanity grows more imperiled with every waking hour.

Whew, this book gave me nightmares. It has stayed with me all year. So disturbing on many counts.

Recipes for a Sacred Life: True Stories and a Few Miracles by Rivvy Neshama

On a dark winter night with little to do, Rivvy Neshama took a “Find Your Highest Purpose” quiz. And the funny thing was, she found it: to live a sacred life. Problem was, she didn’t know how.

But she set out to learn. And in the weeks and months that followed, she began to remember and encounter all the people and experiences featured in this book—from her father’s jokes to her mother’s prayers, from Billie in Harlem to a stranger in Salzburg, and from warm tortillas to the humble oatmeal. Each became a story, like a recipe passed down, beginning with her mother and her simple toast to life.

I enjoyed reading these snippets of wisdom gleaned from seeking a sacred life.

A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler

Barnaby Gaitlin has been in trouble ever since adolescence. He had this habit of breaking into other people’s houses. It wasn’t the big loot he was after, like his teenage cohorts. It was just that he liked to read other people’s mail, pore over their family photo albums, and appropriate a few of their precious mementos.

I keep thinking about how real and relatable the characters are. I highlighted so many lovely phrases and wish I had more to the story.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over…

I just cannot quit thinking about this book. What would it be like if I forgot the last ten years? What if I could go back to then? Would I even really want to? But what could I incorporate about that younger, more innocent self into the jaded me right now?

What have you enjoyed reading recently?

You might also like:

  • My Favorite Books 2020
  • My Favorite Books 2019
  • My Favorite Books 2018
  • My Favorite Life Changing Books

Linking up: Grammy’s Grid, Pinch of Joy, Anita Ojeda, Silverado, Random Musings, Mostly Blogging, OMHG, InstaEncouragements, Lou:Lou Girls, Suburbia, Jenerally Informed, Shelbee on the Edge, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, Note Me Happy, Being a Wordsmith, Cottage Market, Embracing the Unexpected, Pieced Pastimes, Answer is Choco, Stroll Thru Life, Ginger Snap, Ducks in a Row, Ridge Haven, Try it Like it, Slices of Life, Artful Mom, Moment with Franca, Momfessionals, Pam’s Party, Hubbard home, Create with Joy,

Share
Tweet
Pin4
Share
4 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: book list

Brotzeit!Happy Oktoberfest! Brotzeit!Happy Oktoberfest!
Taco Tuesday pregame Taco Tuesday pregame
Amaretto coffee milkshake kinda Saturday Amaretto coffee milkshake kinda Saturday
I know you've been on the edge of your seat, wonde I know you've been on the edge of your seat, wondering about my dishwasher saga. The plot thickens. Two weeks ago the repair guy came out and I thought it would be fixed but no! Two electronic boards shorted out while he was trying to repair it and replace the first board so then he had to reorder two boards. This afternoon he showed up again to fix it. Only one board got ordered. I had my bulldog (husband) call the company and question the situation. Someone dropped the ball and didn't order the second board. So hopefully this gets resolved and sometime this week I might have a working dishwasher. Reminder that it's been nonworking since April 4th.
I didn't know asparagus ferns got adorable little I didn't know asparagus ferns got adorable little pink flowers!
Ah, the rough life she has. Ah, the rough life she has.
Dehydrated Roma garden tomatoes in olive oil and s Dehydrated Roma garden tomatoes in olive oil and spices, like sun-dried but easier
Some nice pizza nights these last couple Fridays - Some nice pizza nights these last couple Fridays - margherita and fig!
From April 4 to August 16. We've waited for a part From April 4 to August 16. We've waited for a part to repair this brand new dishwasher. I pay off the dang account tomorrow. Several times I almost replaced it with some other lesser dishwasher that now costs twice as much as we paid for this one. I've hand washed dishes for four months. This is adulthood.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Our Curriculum for 2023-2024
  • Cleveland Trip
  • CCAD College Preview
  • Space Camp
  • Gulf Shores
Booking.com ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    November 22, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    I really liked The Midnight Library too and I read What Alice Forgot a few years ago and loved it!

    Reply
  2. Theresa E Boedeker says

    November 22, 2021 at 10:44 pm

    This list was fun to peruse as I haven’t read many of them. Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents is so good and one my sister and I read together and talked a lot about.

    Reply
  3. Michele Morin says

    November 23, 2021 at 9:56 am

    You are brave to do a best of post. It must have been hard to choose! I also loved and was haunted by Klara and the Sun.

    Reply
  4. Amber Thiessen says

    November 24, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Thanks for sharing Jennifer, I always love a good book list :)

    Reply
  5. Catherine says

    November 24, 2021 at 9:44 am

    What an impressive number of books you’ve read!

    I have The Midnight Library on my Christmas wishlist. I’m really intrigued to read What Alice Forgot after reading your post, it sounds like an intriguing story.

    #WedsBlogShare

    Reply
  6. Note Me Happy says

    November 26, 2021 at 5:31 am

    I’ve already read two of your picks, so I’ll be returning to this post for inspiration on what I like to call ‘new book day’ – it seems we have a similar taste! #WedsBlogShare

    Reply
  7. Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) says

    November 26, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    Love a good book list. The Midnight Library is one I want to read at some point. I like the sound of What Alice Forgot as well. #WedsBlogShare

    Reply
  8. Cindy Davis says

    November 27, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    I recently added The Midnight Library to my want to read list, a lot of book bloggers have been recommending it lately :)

    Reply
  9. Kendra says

    November 28, 2021 at 12:07 pm

    Great books! I have perused several. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      November 28, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      #KCACOLS

      Reply
  10. Lauren Renee Sparks says

    November 28, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    Your very first one is on my list. And the adult children book sounds like something a friend of mine might need.

    Reply
  11. Ann @ Live The Old Way says

    November 30, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    I haven’t read any of these yet, but I have now added a couple to my “‘to read” list! Thanks for sharing this with us on the Homestead Blog Hop 368, please come back again soon!

    Reply
  12. jade says

    December 1, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    I really do need to read more I have piles of books but tend to read a lot for work so less so in my own time. Sounds like I could do with reading Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents – looks really interesting and I bet its helpful too. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  13. Lisa notes says

    December 1, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    Oh my. I tried and quit reading Gilead too. I thought I was the only one. lol. It just was too slow for me. My sister loaned me her copy today of Jesus and John Wayne! I can’t wait to get started on it.

    I love Matt Haig too. I read The Midnight Library earlier and loved it, as well as The Comfort Book and Reasons to Stay Alive. I have his other books on hold at my library.

    Reply
  14. Sam says

    December 3, 2021 at 7:29 am

    The woman in the window I enjoyed, good solid thriller x #kcacols

    Reply
  15. Lydia C. Lee says

    December 4, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    I’m keen to read Klara & the Sun – it’s popping up as favs all over the place. I just finished The Railway Man which I really loved. fantastic book #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Crummy Mummy says

    December 6, 2021 at 8:37 am

    That’s a lot of books! I’m lucky if I read one a year at the moment – that said, I have spent this year writing one which is my excuse! Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Inspire Me Monday Linky Party #350 | Mostly Blogging says:
    November 29, 2021 at 9:30 am

    […] Best Books of 2021 […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Suggested ResourcesGet Unlimited Teaching Resources | TeachSimple.com

Archives

Popular Posts

10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils
Natural Remedies for HeadacheNatural Remedies for Headache
10 Natural Remedies to Keep on Hand10 Natural Remedies to Keep on Hand
Homemade SunscreenHomemade Sunscreen
Henna Hands CraftHenna Hands Craft
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT