The Resolution I Kept
It’s a well documented fact that I’m not good at keeping New Year’s resolutions. My ambitious diet and exercise goals usually go the way of last month’s wrapping paper and packaging, and aggressive reading goals like “read more books” get gobbled up by January’s schedule. It feels like a sad commentary on an undisciplined adult.
So several years ago, rather than documenting what I was going to DO, I decided to document what I’d already done. And in only one arena: Reading. I resolved to “keep track of books I read.”
So in celebration of the resolution I kept, I’m sharing a few recommendations and favorites you might enjoy this year. (Interested in past recommendations? Find them here: 2017, 2016, 2015 )
2017 Reading: Favorites
Fiction Favorites
When Crickets Cry[image error], by Charles Martin
Amazon says it’s about “A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.” I enjoyed it! I’ve also loved Martin’s books Long Way Gone[image error], (here’s my review) and The Mountain Between Us. If that title sounds familiar, it’s because they recently released the movie, which deviated from the book and left readers disappointed in the film (The book is always better!). Charles Martin is a fabulous writer and story teller. I’ve also learned he is a tremendously gracious human as evidenced by his response to the movie’s deviation.
June Bug[image error], by Chris Fabry
It begins with this genius first line from the child narrator, “I believed everything my daddy told me until I walked into Wal-Mart and saw my picture on a little poster…” Chris Fabry, radio host and author, has a knack for stories with an unexpected twist, and I enjoyed this one.
Nonfiction Favorites
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert : An English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith[image error], by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
Butterfield deals with the cultural controversy surrounding homosexuality and Christianity from an insider’s perspective. Her beautiful writing style treats both communities with candor and grace. Referring to her conversion as a “train wreck,” her story is shocking and honest, and her life a uncommon example of walking in faith and obedience to God.
Love Idol: Letting Go of Your Need for Approval and Seeing Yourself through God’s Eyes[image error], by Jennifer Dukes Lee
“If you, like so many of us, spend your time and energy trying to earn someone’s approval―at work, home, and church―all the while fearing that, at any moment, the facade will drop and everyone will see your hidden mess . . . then love may have become an idol in your life. In this poignant and hope-filled book, Jennifer Dukes Lee shares her own lifelong journey of learning to rely on the unconditional love of God. She gently invites us to make peace with our imperfections and to stop working overtime for a love that is already ours.” (I got to meet Jennifer this year and she is as delightful as her writing style. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.)
Here’s to keeping the same resolution in 2018!!
What are you reading this year? What book do you love to recommend?
Four recommended reads for 2018. What book do you love to recommend?
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Other 2017 Fiction:
Watership Down by Richard Adams A long children’s classic, with excellent characterization of a little community of rabbits.
A Prayer for Owen Meany[image error] is a brilliant writer and a master of characterization, but I did not enjoy it mostly because of lengthy opinions on the Vietnam war and tons of adolescent angst.
Ears to Hear[image error], by Joyce Cordell. A short work of biblical fiction based on the biblical Malchus.
Other 2017 Nonfiction:
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Randolph Richards & Brandon O’Brien: An explanation and comparison between western and non-western cultural norms and how it affects our understanding of the Bible. Fascinating but also something akin to looking at a world map upside down. Still accurate, but hard to get used to.
Behold the Lamb of God[image error] by Russ Ramsey: Fabulous 25 day Advent devotional I will heartily recommend in November 2018.
A Great and Terrible Love, by Mark Galli: Rich prose on the attributes of God.
Holding On to Hope by Nancy Guthrie: Her painful story of loss and restoration.
The Hiding Place[image error] by Corrie Ten Boom. I made my kids read it this summer, so I read it again too. Everyone should read it.
The Polygamist’s Daughter: A Memoir[image error], Heartbreaking story of growing up in a polygamist cult, and how she escaped.
Talking with God, Adam Weber: Short read on prayer by a Sioux Falls pastor.
Still Waiting, Anna Swindell: Her story of God’s presence while hoping for a cure and yet still waiting.
What are you reading this year? What book do you love to recommend?
P.S. Last year I applied to be an affiliate with amazon.com. This means if you buy one of these books through the links in this post, Amazon will pay me a few cents for recommending it to you, but you will not be charged anything extra. It’s just a way for amazon to thank bloggers for getting the word out about good books or products. Bloggers are required to disclose this information to their readers. 
