Those who know me well know that I read (or listen to audiobooks) a lot. This year I set a goal of reading through an average of one book a week (52 for the year) and I’m currently four books ahead of schedule.
With COVID-19 hindering many people’s travel plans, I thought I would recommend a few good reads you may enjoy. The links provided here are for the Amazon Kindle edition of the book, but many of these are available at your local library. For those who may not know, you can borrow digital / kindle books directly from the library and return them after 14-21 days. It’s a free service, and well worth utilizing.
If you have any other book recommendations, feel free to leave a comment below. Be blessed all!
Christian Non-fiction:
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning:
The Ragamuffin Gospel was originally published in 2009, but is a book that will continue to go down in history as a classic. Manning repeatedly focuses on the wonders of God’s grace. As I read through it (and am reading through it again), I find myself regularly stopping to absorb the weight of his words. A powerful book worthy of the accolades it has received over the past 30 years.
In the Name of Jesus : Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen was a Catholic Priest who penned a ridiculous number of books throughout his ministry. While having opportunities to teach at Notre Dame and Harvard, he ended his career caring for those with severe intellectual and physical disabilities at L’Arche institute in Ontario.
In the Name of Jesus is a fairly quick read, but is another that will provide a plethora of insights worthy of chewing on for days, or even weeks at a time.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.
Corrie Ten Boom, her sister Betsy, and their father sheltered Jewish refugees during WWII and were late captured by the Nazis and forced to labor in Ravensbrück concentration camp. Corrie’s real life story will inspire you to think about those who persecute you in new ways. Know going in that you may need to keep a few tissues nearby, but it’s well worth the time to engage with her story.
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
Growing up in a community with less diversity, I didn’t (and probably still don’t) fully understand and appreciate the ongoing conversations about racial inequality and bias. The Color of Compromise is one of a dozen or more books I’ve read over the past year in an effort to understand the need for the conversation and to educate myself as to how to better engage in the discussion. Admittedly, you may find parts of this read unsettling. You may even wonder why our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents generations allowed certain things to happen. But a hundred years from now, there’s a good chance our great grandchildren will be wondering some of the same things about the decisions we make today. Hopefully they won’t still be asking questions about why we allowed any form of racial inequality or bias to continue.
Young Adult / Fiction:
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Yes, this is yet another old classic that was originally published in 1961. I believe I first read this one in 8th grade as required reading, but during the COVID-19 stay-at-home-order I was looking for something light and easy to read. Where the Red Fern Grows fit the bill nicely. If you’ve never read it, or even if you have, consider giving it another go.
Fiction:
The Guardians by John Grisham.
Generally speaking, I’m not a huge Grisham fan. But The Guardians has been highly reviewed, and for good reason. While the story itself is fictional, it is based on real life stories of racial injustice that continue to be part of our culture. All in all, it was an excellent portrayal of inequality and one man’s mission to have a wrongful conviction overturned.
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