Around this time of year, I often see posts or articles about the top books that people read. I
have received multiple useful suggestions from such lists, often regarding
books I may have otherwise never heard about. My desire is that the following
list of my favorite reads of this year would do the same for others.
(Please note, this post
contains affiliate links)
1. Bread and Wine: Readings for
Lent and Easter compiled by Plough Publishers
I did not know what to
expect from this book but was pleasantly surprised. Through the selection of
writing from a variety of writers, I was immersed in thoughts about Jesus’
sacrifice and His resurrection. This included meditations from writers like C.
S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Amy Carmichael, Edith Stein, Frederick Buechner, Philip
Yancey, and many others. I came away from the book with a deeper understanding
of how Christ’s death and resurrection radically changes all areas of life –
even in regard to issues I had not fully considered before. For example, I
found myself challenged through this devotional, and other books I read this
year, to reconsider what I believe about issues like war and helping those in
poverty. There were many areas that convicted me, as well as selections that
made me pause and praise the Lord for all He has done. I place this one at the
top of the list because of the Christ-centered content and the gems of writers
hidden within – a beloved resource I will be using for years to come.
2. Emily of New Moon by
L. M. Montgomery
This second place in this
list actually goes to the entire Emily series. As a fan of Anne of
Green Gables, I was excited to read other stories by L. M. Montgomery, and
I was not disappointed. The characters and setting in Emily of New Moon
and the other two books are interesting and lifelike. For Mongomery’s artistry
shines through in the way she crafts the scenes with humor and heart. By the
end, I felt like I had visited Emily at her home and met Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt
Laura, and Cousin Jimmy. And I found myself identifying more with Emily than I
had with Anne (even though I am a great fan of Anne), but that will likely
differ depending on the reader. Her struggles and failures as a writer were relatable
to me.
My favorite book in the
series would have to be Emily Climbs because of her adventures in
writing and her hilarious interactions with Aunt Ruth. Although the other aunts
are endearing, Aunt Ruth will continue to live on in my memory!
I mentioned Emily
Climbs in an earlier blog post, which you can read here: “Loving
Our Neighbors as Writers”
3. This Beautiful Truth
by Sarah Clarkson
I first heard about Sarah
Clarkson a year ago while listening to a podcast by Renovaré. They interviewed
her about her struggle with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and how she
found restored hope through noticing the beauty that God placed around her.
After hearing that interview, I intended to purchase her book This Beautiful
Truth, which I finally did this year. And I am so glad I did! Sarah is a
wonderful writer and draws readers into the story of her life. She deals
honestly with the darkness without neglecting the Light. I found her approach
to the problem of suffering and evil refreshing. She brings the reader’s focus
back to the larger picture of the Great Story – that the Lord originally
created the world good, but man’s sin brought in destruction. The Lord Jesus
came into this broken world to redeem it, which He accomplished through His
death and resurrection. And one day, He will return to restore all creation.
Sarah’s words show us
that there is terrible suffering and pain in the world. We should not ignore,
minimize, or argue away the darkness. However, beauty is still present, and
through this beauty we receive reminders of hope and love. Evil and death do not have the final say.
I enjoyed this book
immensely, which is why I now follow Sarah Clarkson’s Substack called From the Vicarage.
If you are looking for book recommendations, she is a great source. Also, she
has written other books including Book Girl and Reclaiming Quiet which
I am looking forward to obtaining and reading.
4. The Complete Fairy Tales
by George MacDonald
George MacDonald is known
as the father of modern fantasy. So, when I was preparing for my thesis focused
on fantasy literature, I meant to read some of MacDonald’s works. That did not
happen, and I was unable to include him in my thesis. But this year, I was finally
introduced to George MacDonald through The Princess and the Goblin and The
Complete Fairy Tales.
Although some readers
might assume his stories are only for children, he wrote for both adults and
kids. The fairy tales contain whimsical and serious themes. We find, for
instance, a princess who is cursed to spend her days floating, except for when
she is underwater. However, The Light Princess, for all its lighthearted
magic, is a weighty story that conveys the gospel message. Many of his other
works also convey strong biblically-related messages.
My favorites were The
Light Princess, The Golden Key, The Wise Woman, and The
History of Photogen and Nycteris. Many of the details and images in the
stories capture his literary craftsmanship. I could feel Nycteris’ longing to
see the sun, and Rosamond’s desperate desire in The Wise Woman to bring
forth life instead of death. MacDonald accomplished the writer’s goal – to make
people feel.
Of course, I do not agree
with every area of MacDonald’s theology, but his fairy tales are masterfully written
and convey powerful messages that glorify Christ. His other works, including Phantastes,
are on my list of books to read.
5. When the Sea Turned to Silver
by Grace Lin
Drawing from Chinese folklore
and fairy tales, this book follows the story of Pinmei and Yishan as they search
for the luminous stone. Pinmei, who was accustomed to hearing her grandmother
tell the old stories, assumed that the tales were just that – stories. But
gradually through their travels, the stories come alive. This book shows the
power that stories have in life, through connecting us with others and by preserving
memories.
When the Sea Turned to
Silver is the third book in a series by Grace Lin, which
began with her award-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Not only
is the book beautifully written, but it is also lovely in adornment with Grace
Lin’s illustrations. I appreciate how these stories sprang from the author’s
own experience with loss, and how she used grief to bring new life through this
book and the others in the series.
6. The Arrow and the
Crown by Emma C. Fox
This book reads like a fairy tale, which fits the theme of many other books I read this year. The Arrow and the Crown has all the enchantment of the old tales: a magical forest, a person under a spell who is forced to transform into a beast, a prince hidden in the forest, talking trees. Anna discovers that the feared Grünwald Forest is not what it seems, and secrets are hidden deep within. All these elements combine to create a magical adventure that reminds readers that light is stronger than darkness, and love is greater than any force of evil.
What stood out to me the
most was that this was a well-designed independently published book, which is
something I do not typically encounter. Careful thought was placed in the
layout of the book, with lovely illustrations at the beginning of the chapters.
She also includes a pronunciation guide at the end of the book – which any
fantasy reader will appreciate. I have read other indie books in the past, but
this one set itself apart in design, quality, and storytelling.
Emma C. Fox is an author to keep on your radar, as she will surely continue to write engaging stories. Her most recent book is The Carver and the Queen, another story that draws on old fairy and folk tales.
7. Too Small a World: The Life
of Mother Frances Cabrini by Theodore Maynard
I had not heard of Mother
Cabrini until this year through the promotional trailers of Cabrini by Angel
Studios. The short clips intrigued me, and I decided to read Theodore Maynard’s
biography of Mother Frances Cabrini. Not only did the story of this woman’s
life inspire me, but I also appreciated the way Maynard told her story. No dry
lists of dates or endless historical details. He brings the audience into
Cabrini’s world. The opening chapter was enough to capture my attention by
reading about her arrival in New York along with other nuns to work among the
poor Italian immigrants of Five Points.
There are parts that I do
not agree with in terms of doctrinal differences since Cabrini was a Roman
Catholic. However, there is a lot that Christians everywhere, regardless of
denomination or tradition, can learn from her and celebrate. She demonstrated
in her life what it means to love Christ by loving “the least of these”
(Matthew 25:40). Those of us from Western contexts need this reminder to serve
those who society has deemed unneeded and undesirable – like refugees,
immigrants, and the poor. We need the example of Cabrini, especially now with numerous
lies
and myths about immigrants being propagated online and on
social media.
Faith is at the heart of
this biography, as it tells the story of a woman who trusted in the Lord to do
all things.
8. An Eagle in the Snow
by Michael Morpurgo
I wrote about this book
in a post that included thoughts about Morpurgo’s
story set in World War I. An Eagle in the Snow is based on the
premise that a soldier (Billy) unknowingly spared the life of Hitler in the
first World War. If he could go back and change it, would he? And if Billy had
the opportunity to finish the deed, could he do it?
Tied into this book are
strong themes about the power of mercy as Morpurgo raises ethical questions
about life, war, and justice. These are not only questions that apply to the
characters in the story but are also for us today. Do we believe that there is
more power in showing mercy than in taking a life, and if so, how will that
affect our choices and views?
Michael Morpurgo is a
master storyteller, which is evident in the way he sets the scenes of the story.
The opening chapter brings us into the perspective of a young boy and his mother
on a train. Readers identify with this little family as they travel and hear
the story of the mysterious passenger about the life of Billy.
Many other books have
been written by Morpurgo, such as the well-loved War Horse and An
Elephant in the Garden among others. These stories shatter the romance
and glory that many people associate with war, showing instead how ordinary
people are tragically impacted in ways that change their lives forever.
9. The Cost of Discipleship
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
What does it mean to
follow Jesus?
Bonhoeffer’s classic and
most well-known work sets out to answer this question. He saw that many within
the German church had bought into the lie of “cheap grace.” This is an empty
grace in which a person is not changed, and no fruit exists in their
life. The German church needed this reminder, but so does the modern church. In
many ways, people continue to want to have the comfort of religion without recognizing
the cost of salvation – the price Jesus paid with His life, and the costly life
of discipleship He calls us to.
For me, the greatest part of the book was Bonhoeffer’s exposition of the Sermon on the Mount. Through this passage, he walked readers through what it looks like to be a disciple. To be a follower of Christ means thirsting and hungering for righteousness, keeping our eyes on Jesus, living peacefully and pursuing peace, and combatting evil with good. There were times when I could not help but wonder about Bonhoeffer’s own decisions when reading about what he believed Jesus taught about fighting evil with good, especially regarding his involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler. However, I greatly appreciated this book and recommend it to believers seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ.
Be forewarned
– it is a convicting and challenging read.
10. Women Who Risk: Secret Agents
for Jesus in the Muslim World by Tom and JoAnn Doyle
An inspiring book that
takes readers to various places across the Middle East and introduces them to Muslim
women who learn the truth that they are loved and cherished by Jesus. After
coming to know Him and His love, they cannot help but use their lives to make
Him known throughout the Muslim world. They risk everything to follow Christ.
Some believers from
Western countries may struggle with the stories about Muslims encountering
Jesus through dreams. I understand that many Christians think that such stories
are an infringement on the final authority of the Bible. However, we must
remember that people in the Middle East who are having these dreams come from
highly restricted backgrounds with no access to the gospel. Their culture also places
an emphasis on dreams. Can Jesus not use anything to accomplish His purpose,
even dreams if needed? We should praise the Lord that many Muslims are seeking
out the Good News after having a vision or dream about the Savior.
Overall, the examples of
these women are convicting. In the West, we are not at risk of being killed by
our family and neighbors for following Jesus or sharing the gospel. Yet, these
women are in dangerous contexts and are actively making disciples. What is
stopping us from doing the same?
Honorable Mentions:
- A Horse Named Sky by Rosanne Parry
- Thou Givest, They Gather: Truths Gleaned from the Word of God by Amy Carmichael
- A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness
Suggested Resources for
Finding More Books to Read:
If you are like me and are
always on the lookout for good books to read, then there are a few websites and
organizations I suggest following. These include:
- Anselm Society
- Randy Alcorn’s Blog on Eternal Perspective Ministries
- Renovare
- Sarah Clarkson’s From the Vicarage
- The Rabbit Room
