Not including the entire Bible (which I have now read completely three years in a row... woot!), I read a total of 33 books in 2016, which makes me wonder how on earth I got anything done. But reading is my "social outlet" during this season of life, so I do it with gusto. As C. S. Lewis put it: "we read to know we are not alone."
How did I narrow down the books on this list? They all moved me and/or changed me in some way.
So without further ado, in no particular order, here they are --
By Liane Moriarty
What if you were to wake up tomorrow and realize you have lost 10 years worth of memories? Would you be pleased with the way your life "turned out"? Have you maybe been putting too much importance on things that really don't matter? These are just a few of the many questions the author will have you reflect on while walking alongside the fictional character Alice.
Excellent writing, excellent story. It changed the way I relate to my husband, children and friends. This is not a "G-rated" book, so please keep that in mind while flipping through its pages.
By E. Prentiss
The story of a girl that grows into adulthood, and her day-to-day struggles as wife, mother, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, friend, homemaker, etc. It is a fictional story, but it's saturated with so much wisdom that I would even dare suggest it could also be read as non-fiction.
This was my second time reading it, and I already know I'll be reading it multiple more times throughout the rest of my life.
By Jim Martin
Jim Martin is the founder of International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization that uses the local law enforcement of countries around the world to free modern-day slaves. A *must* read for everyone in the church. It not only exposes you to the problem, but it also presents ways in which we can be part of the solution.
By D. A. Carson
A short book on the simple life of pastor and Canada missionary Tom Carson. Why this book was so moving to me? I am not entirely sure. The book was as "ordinary" as Tom himself. And yet... I think it's because of that precisely that it meant so much to me. Ordinary me over here, just plowing away, trusting the Lord to do his thing through me, whether I will ever see (or whether there will even be) the fruit of my labor on this side of Heaven.
By L. M. Montgomery
I reread this entire series because I was looking for an escape from this modern-day world, and that is exactly what you get when you read through the life of fictional character Anne.
The story of Anne begins in the late 1800s, when she is mistakenly adopted by an elderly brother and sister who were hoping to adopt a boy to help them on their farm. They instead got this red-haired, high-spirited, loving and simple girl. This series walks you through Anne's life from age 12 to around 50.
All eight books are excellent, and depending where you are in life, different books will mean more to you than others. When I read them the first time around about seven years ago, my favorites were #6 (Anne of Ingleside) and #8 (Rilla of Ingleside), but this time around I found myself really enjoying #3 (Anne of the Island) and #7 (Rainbow Valley).
by Christopher Ash
This is a quick and to-the-point book. A good read for anyone doing any kind of ministry and constantly struggling with how much they should do. As anyone in ministry will tell you, there is always something more that you can do, and this reality will drive you to the end of yourself if you don't pace yourself and realize that you have human limits.
When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons you never wanted to learn, truths you cannot live without
by Laura Story
I first heard of Laura Story when I heard her song Blessings. Then I would often YouTube her video and listen to it every morning before the kids woke up and my day started. There was just something about that song that deeply resonated with me. Then I learned her story. This is the book where she tells her story and how this song came about.
***
I will list the remainder of the books I read below. These were also very good (I do not read a book I do not like), but they were simply not on my "Top List." They will not be linked to Amazon, and may or may not have my brief thoughts on them.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow them and people will follow you
by John C. Maxwell
He had good insight, but I don't like the way he seems to base the success of a church by numbers.
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Business of Life
by Joanna Weaver
I didn't agree with some of her interpretations of Bible characters Mary and Martha.
When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependancy, and the Fear of Man
by Edward T. Welch
He seemed a bit redundant in some chapters. Good message. Just too many words.
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
The Last Sweet Mile: A Journey of Brothers
by Allen Levi
Just Because I said "Yes": One woman's testimony of what great things God can do through an ordinary person who simply says "YES" to God
by Rohnda Jackson
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J. K. Rowling
A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family
by Mary Ostyn
I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
by Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
by Ben Carson
The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin
Life Together: The classic exploration of Christian community
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing
by Marie Kondo
The Language of Flowers
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Awakening of Miss Prim
by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera
This was actually a very good book and I highly recommend it. However, the ending is a bit vague, and so because of that it did not make it to my "Top List."
Mistakes Leaders Make
by Dave Kraft
Another really good book with great insight that would have made it to my "Top List," except that it annoyed me that the author used fictional examples instead of real ones.
You are What you Love: The spiritual power of habit
by James K. A. Smith
Another good read. Great insight. However, there were a few things that were a bit over my head, so because of that it did not make it to my "Top List."
If you counted all the books on this post, you'll realize that I am short two books that would add up to 33 books total. There are two that I do not feel comfortable announcing to the world that I read. I am not embarrassed by them, so if you are just dying to know which ones they are, please feel free to PM me :)
Happy Reading!
This is a quick and to-the-point book. A good read for anyone doing any kind of ministry and constantly struggling with how much they should do. As anyone in ministry will tell you, there is always something more that you can do, and this reality will drive you to the end of yourself if you don't pace yourself and realize that you have human limits.
When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons you never wanted to learn, truths you cannot live without
by Laura Story
I first heard of Laura Story when I heard her song Blessings. Then I would often YouTube her video and listen to it every morning before the kids woke up and my day started. There was just something about that song that deeply resonated with me. Then I learned her story. This is the book where she tells her story and how this song came about.
***
I will list the remainder of the books I read below. These were also very good (I do not read a book I do not like), but they were simply not on my "Top List." They will not be linked to Amazon, and may or may not have my brief thoughts on them.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow them and people will follow you
by John C. Maxwell
He had good insight, but I don't like the way he seems to base the success of a church by numbers.
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Business of Life
by Joanna Weaver
I didn't agree with some of her interpretations of Bible characters Mary and Martha.
When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependancy, and the Fear of Man
by Edward T. Welch
He seemed a bit redundant in some chapters. Good message. Just too many words.
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
The Last Sweet Mile: A Journey of Brothers
by Allen Levi
Just Because I said "Yes": One woman's testimony of what great things God can do through an ordinary person who simply says "YES" to God
by Rohnda Jackson
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J. K. Rowling
A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family
by Mary Ostyn
I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
by Nujood Ali and Delphine Minoui
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
by Ben Carson
The Fortune Hunter
by Daisy Goodwin
Life Together: The classic exploration of Christian community
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing
by Marie Kondo
The Language of Flowers
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Awakening of Miss Prim
by Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera
This was actually a very good book and I highly recommend it. However, the ending is a bit vague, and so because of that it did not make it to my "Top List."
Mistakes Leaders Make
by Dave Kraft
Another really good book with great insight that would have made it to my "Top List," except that it annoyed me that the author used fictional examples instead of real ones.
You are What you Love: The spiritual power of habit
by James K. A. Smith
Another good read. Great insight. However, there were a few things that were a bit over my head, so because of that it did not make it to my "Top List."
If you counted all the books on this post, you'll realize that I am short two books that would add up to 33 books total. There are two that I do not feel comfortable announcing to the world that I read. I am not embarrassed by them, so if you are just dying to know which ones they are, please feel free to PM me :)
Happy Reading!
1 comment:
GREAT UPDATE of PHOTO!!!!!!!! Love the fact that you read and critique!! That IS something few people want to publish!!! CONGRATULATIONS. Now, can you tell me the titles of books #31 and #32. I think they were 2 that I gave you for your birthday. One was political/Asian?
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