Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2021

Hello ADG comrades. Here are ten titles that topped my list of books I read in 2021. I bring nine chapter books and one super-de-duper sweet and heartwarming and charming children’s picture book. They are listed in the order I read them throughout the year. {other than the Kid Pick}

{My favorite books in 2020 are in this post.}

1. God Has a Name by John Mark Comer

I began 2021 reading this book and it was powerful. It shows who God is and how much love He has for mankind. He is I Am and He sees us, loves us, saves us.

2. The Courage to Stand by Russell Moore

This book spoke to me in many ways. I kept my highlighter near by and pondered much as I read the pages. I wish reading equated to instantly having the ability to live it out well in my own life.

Let me leave you with a couple of quotes ~

“That’s why we will often encounter Jesus the most intensely when we feel the most alone, but we will learn there that He has been with us all along, and is leading us toward others who have been lonely too.”
Russell Moore

“Worship power-you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay.”
Russell Moore

3. That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs

I like to listen to the That Sounds Fun podcast here and there and especially to Annie’s Enneasummer episodes. I anticipated this book and had pre-ordered it.
Annie F. Downs is an entrepreneur of fun and she cheers each of us on in finding what is uniquely fun to us.
A super fun feature of this book….it contains pages with lists in tiny prints of fun things shared by Annie’s podcast listeners and readers.

4. Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren

This book was a balm for my soul. It’s filled with bookdarts all through marking pages and paragraphs. Beautiful all the way through.
I wasn’t surprised. Tish Harrison Warren’s first book Liturgy of the Ordinary was on my favorite books read in 2020 list.

5. Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

I always appreciate Jon Acuff’s wit woven into his words. This book was great. He conducted some study groups and turns out the Soundtracks we play over and over in our heads really do matter. Overthinking and negative thinking and ruminating really aren’t good tools to help us live our best lives.

6. A Burning in My Bones by Winn Collier

Ah. This book was so good in my opinion in all the ways. Winn Collier did a masterful job of writing and sharing the story of a lived life. I love hearing people’s stories, struggles, and successes. I am fascinated to hear the “why” behind people’s passions or projects.

Eugene Peterson was masterful with languages and studied Greek and Hebrew. It is interesting and inspiring to read about what prompted the translation of The Message into today’s “Americanese” as Eugene calls it.

I relate to the title and a deep desire and burning in my bones to be like Jesus.
I appreciated hearing how he struggled and wasn’t able to do everything perfectly even though he deeply desired to be formed like Jesus.
It was inspiring to see how he strove for a hidden life and quiet humbleness, while also juxtaposed with our human desire for position and recognition. How he recognized the danger this can cause to our souls.
I like how he deeply cared about people. I wish I was so much better at that.

This resonated with me so very much ~
Eugene tells about a pastor his church denomination considered the enemy or Beezelbub. Eugene meets with this man because his book on prayer was the best he’d ever read. He concludes, “I think Fosdick was quite wrong in some of his conclusions, but I also think we were even worse in our vilification.”
This stood out to me because I think some people and some denominations have vilified Eugene Peterson. It’s easy for us humans to make judgments, snap verdicts, and call out the speck in someone else’s eye because we really have no idea their story and life path. Not a one of us is doing everything right and I’m not sure that Jesus ever expected or wants any of us to “have it all figured out.”

7. Help, I’m Drowning by Sally Clarkson

I so appreciate Sally Clarkson’s wisdom and words. This book is a kind friend walking with you through the ups and downs and overwhelms of life. I found encouragement and hope in the pages.

8. The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson

This book was another pre-order for me. I loved Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson, so I was willing to make a rather large wager I would like this one as well. I was absolutely right.
I appreciate Andrew Peterson’s depth and perception of the human experience. I appreciate how he shares the love of God and the God who loves us.

9. The Remarkable Ordinary by Frederick Buechner

Frederick Buechner has long been on my list of people I want to read. I picked this book up close to the end of 2021 and I’m grateful I did.
It’s written in a very conversational style with much to ponder on.
The subtitle is: How to Stop, Look, and Listen to Life.
It encourages us to pay attention to how remarkable life is in all of its ordinary of days.

KID PICK

10. Stay This Way Forever by Linsey Davis

All of Linsey Davis’ children’s picture books are the best! They are darling and kind with gorgeous illustrations. I love having them on my bookshelves.