(Originally posted over at CherokeeChix.com)
Throughout the winter and spring I managed to read a lot of books. Feeling inspired by friends on Goodreads (an app to track reading) and learning from writers such asCrystal Paine the MoneySavingMom and Mark Batterson (who I heard speak last fall and I blogged about here), I began the New Year with the ambition of reading a book a week. Two international flights in January and several snow days helped me get ahead early in the year. I was on a reading roll until May and then my summer ended up jam-packed with work, travel, and hosting guests. Also, I found myself putting more time into writing and less time into reading.
As fall approaches and many of us get into that back-to-school learning and
reading mode, I thought I’d suggest some of my favorite books so far from 2014. Maybe you’ll find some books to read this fall – and maybe you’ll make some suggestions for me in the comments!
reading mode, I thought I’d suggest some of my favorite books so far from 2014. Maybe you’ll find some books to read this fall – and maybe you’ll make some suggestions for me in the comments!
Fiction:
The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere – She has become one of my favorite authors since I read Finding Grace in November. I also read her book The Angels of Morgan Hill. Julie and I have inspired each other to read more of her books – check out Julie’s review here.
The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere – She has become one of my favorite authors since I read Finding Grace in November. I also read her book The Angels of Morgan Hill. Julie and I have inspired each other to read more of her books – check out Julie’s review here.
Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin – I discovered Lynn Austin’s historical fiction a couple of years ago – her books are well written and I learn a lot. This book dealt with the Civil War and was based in Richmond, a city I drive through every time we go back home for holidays. I highly recommend Lynn Austin’s books. PS: This one is free for Kindle (at the time of this post.)
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys – Don’t get this book mixed up with any other books mentioning shades of grey in the title. This book is quality historical fiction, telling about a teenage girl in the 1940s, when the Soviet Union invaded and controlled Lithuania. During that time, many people were exiled from Lithuania to the far, far, northern land of Siberia, where they were put into labor camps and had to fight for survival through the frigid winters. I just so happened to read this book while visiting Lithuania, and my husband pointed out a couple of his family members who had been exiled to Siberia in their youth. Though this book hits me on a personal level, it’s a book I’d recommend to anyone: it’s well-written, informative, and a beautiful story.
Biography & True Stories:
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan – Don’t let the title offend you – Jim Gaffigan is a
well-known comedian and he is not only funny, but his humor is clean. He and his wife are Catholic, and they have 5 young children, so if you have little kids, you might just get a kick out of this book! It’s written in very short chapters, so you can read a bit at a time or skim through to the essays that interest you.
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan – Don’t let the title offend you – Jim Gaffigan is a
well-known comedian and he is not only funny, but his humor is clean. He and his wife are Catholic, and they have 5 young children, so if you have little kids, you might just get a kick out of this book! It’s written in very short chapters, so you can read a bit at a time or skim through to the essays that interest you.
Little Princes by Conor Grennan – this is a wonderfully told story of a young man dedicated to helping trafficked children in Nepal. See my full review here.
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore – Although it wasn’t the most exciting story ever, this book was extremely thought-provoking about two topics: death/dying and finding friendship with someone very different from yourself.
Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom by Ken Ilgunas – This book caught my eye because the author lived in a van on the campus of Duke University in order to live simply and avoid debt. It was an interesting enough read, and it amazes me that someone can write an entire book about college debt. He offers some great lessons in living simply in order to live debt-free.
Self-Help & Teaching:
Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst is a must-read for any woman struggling with a love for food or weight issues. I believe that it has helped me in my journey to lose weight and become healthier. I have since gotten the devotional book to read daily as I continue to work toward better health and weight.
Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst is a must-read for any woman struggling with a love for food or weight issues. I believe that it has helped me in my journey to lose weight and become healthier. I have since gotten the devotional book to read daily as I continue to work toward better health and weight.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. This book is all about simplifying life – I read it in one sitting on an international flight, and came away from it with a new perspective on living simply. She describes how she took a month at a time extremely limiting certain areas of her life, such as food, clothing, media, and money. I joked that I didn’t have to take extreme measures to simplify after reading Jen’s detailed (and sometimes painful-sounding) description. I would say that this book is definitely worth a read!
The Spirit of Adoption: Winning the Battle for the Children by Randy & Kelsey Bohlender. We’ve mentioned this book on the blog more than once, and Randy guest-postedfor us back in May. This couple has a huge heart for adoption and I encourage you to read this book as well as Randy’s blog http://randybohlender.com/blog/.
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