Books Archives - Kristin Saatzer

My Best-Loved Books of 2021

January 5, 2022 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

Let’s talk about books. Since 2015, I have shared my best-loved books of the year on the blog. I enjoyed most of the 45 books I read in 2021, it was another great year of reading for me.

There are far too many good ones to review, but I pulled out some of my favorites…

Novels:

Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool: I immensely enjoyed this young reader’s book that is not just for kids. I often look for Newberry Award winners that I have not read, and this one is delicious. It is a story about a town, a girl, friendship, and so much more. It is a historical fiction that transports the reader to Kansas in the early 1900’s.

All She Ever Wanted, by Lynn Austin: One of my favorite Christian writers. This one focuses on four generations of women with heartbreaking stories and riveting writing. The best is that God wins in the end!

The Downstairs Girl, by Stacey Lee: A book geared to Young Adult readers that I couldn’t put down. The protagonist is half Chinese and it takes place in post-Civil War Atlanta with the beginning of segregation laws.

Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery: Yes, another “kid” book that delighted my heart. It was just what I needed this summer. Anne brings out all the feels and her outlook on life and chattering on and on is a pleasure to read. I just adore her.

Next Year in Havana, by Chantel Cleeton: If you want a fantastic history of the 1950’s Cuban revolution wrapped in romance, this book is for you. The author was inspired by her family’s stories of their Cuban past. This is the first one in a series of four and it is my favorite.

Fall Book Talk

October 7, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

Autumn Greetings

It is fun to think about a new season, new possibilities, and of course, new books! Of late, my reading trend is books about books. Books about libraries and librarians. Books about bookstores and their dealers and owners. This all began with The Library Book, my book club read in early summer (see:https://kristinsaatzer.com/happy-summer/)

Here are a few I’ve enjoyed since then:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes: This was my second time to read this one. It was a book club selection, and I enjoyed re-reading the tale of Packhorse librarians in Kentucky during the Great Depression.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fickery by Gabrielle Zevin: An ornery bookstore owner, the people who come into his life, and the changes they bring. Lots of bookish references and humor.

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson: In this story, a young woman inherits a bookstore, sending her life into a tailspin. There is a scavenger hunt, family secrets, and lots of books (of course).

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff: A quick read. A record of letters between an American woman and a used-book dealer in London. Utterly delightful, touching, and funny.

There are two more in the queue:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan

A shout out to another literary delight (I have read it three times): The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is another gem written exclusively in letters from one character to another. It is set on the Island of Guernsey after its WWII German occupation, focusing on a book club and its quirky characters. Sweet, sad, beautiful, and funny. Also a fantastic Netflix movie.

Literary accounts I like on Instagram:

@sweetbookobsession

@booksandbeans

@bookstrofficial

@librarygram

@prettybookplaces

Happy fall reading, friends.

“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.”

~ Jane Austen

PC: unsplash.com/@alexgeerts

Happy Summer!

June 21, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

Hi friends,

Summer always blows in with the scent of nostalgia: Coppertone sunscreen, pool chlorine, and the faint whiff of musty sand. The finest bouquet.

I am crazy about this time of year—the feel of my library book in its plastic cover perfectly gripped in my hands. Next to me, ice melts in my glass of brewed iced tea. I enjoy these the most with the sound of the ocean merely steps away.

To kick off the season, I thought I’d share a few favorites or favorites “to be.” It’s been a while!

So here are five for you…

Books:

My book club just finished a fascinating book called, The Library Book by Susan Orlean. For fans of libraries and books, this is the one for you. It is about many things, including a mystery fire, bad guys, good guys, librarians, and lively library history. And it is long. But worth it.

One I plan to read this summer: Haven Point by Virginia Hume. It looks like the perfect beach read: Multigenerational with strong women, focused around the family property on the coast of Maine.

(Look for me on Goodreads.com to see what else I’m reading these days.)

App:

The Pause app (www.pauseapp.com or wherever apps are sold)

A one minute (or more) pause in the day to focus the mind on Jesus. Led by the developer and author John Eldredge. I play it a few times a day to quiet my monkey mind. Two thumbs up!

Music:

These days, my best-loved Pandora station is “We The Kingdom”, a contemporary Christian family band with so much heart and passion. Number two is Thomas Rhett. No description needed, of course.

Sports:

Summer and sports go together like peas and corn. Watching my San Diego Padres is a joy. Need a team? They are a blast to watch!

Coming soon- I plan to be hopelessly obsessed with the Olympics (as I always am).

What are you watching, reading, or listening to these days? Let me know in the comments.

May your summer be filled with your favorite things!

Blessings,

Kristin

“Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

Charles Bowden

My Best-Loved Books of 2020

January 2, 2021 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

Hello, friends!

I read quite a bit in 2020, as you can see by the pictures of the fifty-two books I tackled (copied from Goodreads). I reread seven from my shelves at home because of quarantine and the library was closed and I blew my book budget.

I would like to highlight some of my 2020 favorites for you bibliophiles (and wanna be’s) as I do each year on the blog. So, here we go…

Non-fiction:

Chasing Vines by Beth Moore: I deeply enjoyed the lessons on viticulture and the tie ins between the Old and New Testaments. Great questions for readers about the fruitfulness of our lives.
Doing Life With Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut & The Welcome Mat Out by Jim Burns: So… funny timing… I read this book just before my three adult children moved back in for quarantine! There were no big light bulbs here for me, but it is all practical, doable, encouraging, and engaging.
The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation by Miles McPherson: This book is my favorite out of all I have read on this difficult subject. The author (a beloved San Diego pastor) brings much hope and positivity while writing through a biblical and practical lens.
Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World by Andy Stanley: This is a controversial book. I find myself still thinking about it often and I read it over two months ago. There are points the author makes that are hard for me to swallow. Then, other points that challenge me in the deepest parts of my Christian soul and cause me to embrace the New Testament and Jesus as never before.
The Path Between us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile: An Enneagram book by my favorite Enneagram teacher. If you know your number and the numbers of those with whom you do life, you will find this book an invaluable tool. I refer to it often.