As you eagerly await my hypothetical return to regular Substacking in 2022 (for which I have planned some posts on mystics and demons), I thought I would join the mass of book bloggers providing end-of-year lists. In this case, it takes the form of my favourite reads of 2021, regardless of when they were published. As a direct affront to my perfectionism, I’ve chosen 9 titles, which encompass my top 3 picks in Christian books, other non-fiction, and fiction.
Top 3 Christian books
Chris Green - The Gift (IVP, 2021)
I’ve already written about Chris Green’s excellent new book on leadership, which is a great addition to any church leader’s bookshelves. Chris shows the importance of right leadership in the local church, and then uses pizza to unpack what this looks like in practice. In the process, Chris offers a wonderful definition of Christian leadership as “corporate application” — that is, “applying God’s Word to a church, to its habits, plans, resources, weaknesses, dreams, strengths and patterns.” He helpfully warns against the dangers of self-sufficiency and ungodly ambition, offering much biblical and experiential wisdom. I hope this continues to be widely read, especially among full-time church leaders.
Colin Smith - For All Who Grieve (10Publishing, 2020)
I’m very thankful for Colin Smith’s compassionate and helpful exploration of what it looks like to grieve with hope as Christians. He uniquely brings together the stories of grieving parents (the catalyst for the book; it's applicable to all who grieve) and the book of Lamentations, in a way that offers real hope. I particularly appreciated his reflections on Lamentations 3:21-24, where God's people find hope not in a distant future but in truths that bring strength for that day: the steadfast love of the Lord, his daily mercies, and his unfailing presence. With good discussion/reflection questions, this is a valuable book both for all who grieve, and those providing pastoral support.
W. Ross Blackburn - The God Who Makes Himself Known (NSBT, 2012)
Last year, as the plague of Covid spread across the UK, I began a preaching series through Exodus, as the start of an annual incremental journey through the book. Sadly, I discovered this NSBT volume too late to help with the first 12 chapters. Happily, I discovered it in time to help with the remaining 28. Blackburn approaches Exodus as the story of God’s commitment to making himself known — first to the Israelites, and then to all nations. He helpfully shows how this commitment is manifested in each section of Exodus, before drawing some concluding lessons on mission and the church. One of the best NSBT volumes I’ve read, and a goldmine for preachers.
Top 3 non-fiction
David Baddiel - Jews Don’t Count (TLS, 2021)
For various reasons, I’ve been reflecting a lot more on contemporary antisemitism over the last year, and David Baddiel’s book has been a valuable part of those reflections (as I’ve written about before). It’s a short, punchy and passionate plea to fully include antisemitism in discussions of racism. Baddiel is particularly concerned about a progressive paradox — the increased concern for the status and rights of minorities has not led to an increased concern about antisemitism; rather, there has been a pernicious neglect among the political left. I don't fully identify with Baddiel's primary audience, and I found some parts of his argument stronger than others. But this is a powerful read on an important topic.
Judith Flanders - A Place for Everything (Picador, 2020)
Alphabetical ordering is one of those things that just seems so obvious and intuitive. But the road to widespread absolute alphabetising was a long, winding, and controversial one. And this is a fascinating book that gives us a tour of the journey, from Sumerian cuneiform to Wikipedia. There are so many interesting snippets of trivia, and the overarching journey is more varied than I first anticipated. Judith Flanders, as usual, has read widely and pulled everything together in a very readable way. She also annoys everyone by using both footnotes and endnotes. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in language or books.
Laura Dockrill - What Have I Done? (Square Peg, 2020)
Another book that I’ve written about previously, this is an incredibly honest and inspiring account of Laura Dockrill's experience of postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis. As a dad, I'm thankful for how Laura challenges unhelpful expectations around childbirth, raises awareness of what PND might look like, and offers hope to sufferers and their families. She has an amazing ability to put her thoughts and experiences into words, even to describe her periods of psychotic paranoia. She also includes some helpful reflections on how to be a good friend to new parents. This can't have been an easy book to write, but it is a very valuable one.
Top 3 fiction
Anthony Berkeley - Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery (1927)
If you didn’t already know, the fiction I read is almost exclusively golden age crime. Anthony Berkeley is one of my favourite authors from that period, and this third mystery in his Roger Sheringham series was a highlight of the year for me. Sheringham was deliberately conceived as a fallible amateur sleuth, who makes many mistakes, thus showcasing Berkeley’s flair for playing with multiple solutions and challenging the conventional amateur/professional detective relationship. Sadly, The Vane Mystery is very had to get hold of, but I highly recommend the more readily available The Poisoned Chocolates Case (1929) in the same series.
Dorothy Sayers - The Nine Tailors (1934)
Until recently, I’d avoided the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, because I assumed I wouldn’t get on with Sayers’ aristocratic detective. I’m now in the middle of a Wimsey readthrough, and realising what a mistake I had made. The Nine Tailors is my favourite in the series so far. A church belfry becomes one of the main scenes in this book, which borrows a lot from the world of campanology. Is there a lot of arcane detail about bell-ringing? Yes. But is it cleverly crafted into an evocative narrative, with a neat and very satisfying ending? Definitely. Wonderful.
Freeman Wills Crofts - Inspector French and the Starvel Tragedy (1927)
It seems 1927 was a good year for crime. The Inspector French series stretches to 30 volumes, providing some classic examples of police procedurals. In this mystery, the Inspector investigates a deadly house fire, which may or may not be an accident. Freeman Wills Crofts is a master at carefully and methodically leading you down the garden path, before hitting you with the real solution. You might solve some things ahead of Inspector French, but there is still an elegance in how everything fits together in the end. One of the finer Crofts outings I’ve read so far.
What about you?
What have you enjoyed reading this year? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!
And if you want to find out what I’m reading next year, feel free to subscribe to my Substack here.
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