The ONLY up side of having a 45 minute 1-way commute is that I get to read books like crazy. It also helps that Chicago has a fabulous and massive library system, with a branch conveniently located mid-commute. I’m always interested in book recommendations, so I figured you might be too and I’d give you my thoughts on what I read in 2009.
This year I was much more interested in good, true stories, mostly about other people’s faith journeys. For some reason all the “ How to be a more satisfied Christian” stuff was just not interesting me. I tried one by Max Lucado and gave up on it about 2/3 of the way through. I don’t want to hear how great and wonderful God is in theory; I want to SEE it!
So without further delay, here ya go!
100 Amazing Answers to Prayer by William Petersen(5/5 stars)
This book was absolutely amazing. I know I often get in these prayer ruts where I don’t see the point, and a lot of times I get too comfortable with God and forget what He is capable of, and this book is the jaw-dropping reminder of the power of God that I needed. There's a chapter on Angels, which I never really thought much about, but I do now! DL Moody also gets a few mentions, which was fun since I’m a member at Moody Church.
A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken (4/5 stars if you’re bitter about love, 5/5 if you're sappy)
A wonderful love story! This is the only book I’ve read since being married where I truly related to the kind of love being described. Basically, this atheist couple falls deeply in love, gets married, and then they start wondering about God and if He exists. The wife gets saved, but the husband is still reluctant, so he writes C.S. Lewis (who was once atheist and became one of the strongest Christian apologists in history) and C.S. Lewis WRITES BACK! I’ve got to warn you, it’s a tradgedy. I literally cried on the train.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (3/5 stars: Good, but not for everybody)
Okay, so it was kinda touchy-feely, in true Miller fashion, but I liked it. It’s another book by Don Miller about Don Miller, but it was a good story. In the wake of the success of his book, Blue Like Jazz, two movie guys approach Don to see if he wants to make a movie about the book, which if you’ve read it, you'll know it doesn’t exactly lend itself easily to a screenplay because it’s all over the place. The movie guys basically tell Don that they need to make up and exaggerate stuff from the book to make his life “a better story”. So his whole point in the book is him living a good, interesting story in real life… which sounds lamer than it was. HIGHLIGHT: he goes on a cross-country bike ride, which ends in the Atlantic ocean, which he said was in Dealware, and I can tell from context is the Cape Henlopen State Park in my hometown of LEWES! He even stops at a Dairy Queen a mile before the end of the trip…. And I know which Dairy Queen he’s talking about because that’s MY Dairy Queen!
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis(2.5/5 stars: the movie is sufficient, but it’s a great story, so I enjoyed hearing it again with details.)
I saw the movie, and had to read the book to see how much was exaggerated. It turns out that it wasn’t much! Some details were left out or hinted at the movie, I’m sure for the sake of brevity. The book talks waaaay too much about football and football history and famous football players, so I skipped most of those chapters.
It’s all About Him by Denise Jackson (3/5 stars: good, but not for everybody)
Another great story where the wife of one of country music’s biggest stars, Alan Jackson, goes from being totally obsessed with pleasing and seeking approval from her husband to realizing that she needs to be getting that from God alone. It covers Alan’s rise to fame, the near-demise of their marriage, and how she went from being “culturally Christian” just from growing up in the South to joining a women’s Bible study that sparked her true relationship with God.
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (5/5: Absolutely amazing, must-read!)
It’s about Corrie, who lived in Holland around WWII and hid Jews, then got caught and sent to a Nazi concentration camp, but God was gracious to her even there. I was very touched and inspired by her faith and humility. Ask my husband... I couldn't put it down!
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun(4/5 stars: Better than I thought it would be)
Maybe I’m partial, but it’s great to hear how the underground church is moving and thriving in China. Chinese people have a capacity for intensity that is beyond most Americans, and when it’s applied to their love for Christ it’s the kind of thing that gives you goose bumps!
The Non-runner’s Marathon Guide for Women by Dawn Dias(5/5 stars if you have my sense of humor about running. 2/5 stars if you don’t)
This was more encouragement than technique, and I loved it! If Dawn can do it, so I can I!
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (4/5 stars)
There are 30 chapters, so I’ve decided to read this one every September, the month of my wedding anniversary. With all the marriages going crazy these days, it’s more important than ever to PRAY for it, to pray for your husband, to pray for yourself. This is an excellent tool to get you started. This, along with “the Power of a Praying Husband” and “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey (a whoooole ‘nother post) are going to be our signature wedding gift.
The Duggars: 20 and Counting By Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar(?/5 - depends of how much you love the Duggars)
I admire the Duggars because they are so strong and consistent with their beliefs, and they are raising delightful children. The book is kind of like the TV show on paper; the various happenings and systems of the Duggars, but it gets into more detail and back story, which is nice.
Multiple Blessings By Jon and Kate Gosselin with Beth Carson (0/5 - Don’t read it now. Nothing in it applies anymore)
This was a gift from Christmas 2008, so I read it about a year ago, and it’s absolutely shocking that the same people who wrote this book all about God and faith are the same people who got divorced and ended up on tabloid covers as the year went on. God did some amazing things in their lives, and it seems like they’ve totally forgotten about that.
Outliers by Malcom Gladwell (3/5 stars: Good, but not for everyone)
Another Christmas 2008 gift. It’s very interesting if you’re into sociology and social patterns and stuff, which I am. He talks about Jewish lawyers in New York and how Bill Gates had an advantage to becomming "THE Bill Gates" he is today... that kind of stuff.
The End of Overeating by David Kessler (5/5 stars: highly recommended)
Not the most interesting to read in a page-turner way, but the information is absolutely fascinating and everyone in America should read it. It’s not all about shock-value like Skinny B*tch and doesn’t talk about baby cows or anything. Instead, it’s written by a doctor, who ultimately presents a research-based theory about why Americans overeat (both chemical and cultural reasons) and how the food industry loads our food with sugar, fat and salt. It’s eye-opening for sure!
NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman(2/5)
It’s basically a bunch of long articles about what we think is good and right for kids is actually not true. It includes praising kids, talking about race, and why kids lie. It was interesting, but it’s not like you’re going your kid’s life or anything if you don’t read it.
No comments:
Post a Comment