Since my first encounter with Laura Ingalls Wilder somewhere around age 6, I have always been an avid reader. I’ve never made a list of books to read or set a reading goal, however, until last year. Inspired by Jon Acuff’s posts on what books he had been reading, I decided to make a list of every book I finished in 2017.
My decision was part curiosity and part goal oriented. I was curious to see how many books I read in a year, with a loose goal of reading 50 by years end. The rules were, I only counted books I finished. If I had started the book in 2016 and finished it in 2017, I counted it. If I started the book in 2017 and didn’t finish it, it didn’t make the list.
The Top Ten
Instead of sharing details or summaries of each book, I’ve highlighted what I feel were the ten most impactful or most enjoyable reads.
The Broken Way was a book I began in 2016 and finished in 2017. I read it while on a trip meant to make the holidays a bit easier after losing my mom. I don’t know that it did, but this book was helpful. I had to read it slowly. I think I cried through every chapter. I highly recommend it to anyone facing a season of brokenness. And if you aren’t read it anyway.
The Help and To Kill a Mockingbird were both highly entertaining as well as enlightening. These books tell powerful stories of the injustices suffered by African Americans in the south. They left an imprint on my soul I hope never fades.
Big Magic is a priceless text on creativity every artist, writer, actor, singer, creator of anything meaningful should read. It is encouraging, humorous, challenging, and motivating. In fact, I am looking forward to reading it again soon.
Atlas Girl is a memoir of a young girl who left home to find herself and ended up truly healing and growing by returning home to help her mother who had been afflicted with a brain tumor. I saw a lot of myself in the pages and cried my way through most of the second half. The story is powerful, but more so are the spiritual takeaways.
The Glass Castle is another memoir with a deeply impactful story. It is a well-written tale of growing up under the care of parents plagued with addiction and mental illness. I’m not sure if I’ll watch the movie, but the book will stay with me for some time I expect.
The Historian is the best-written version of the Dracula tale I have read. It’s definitely not for everyone as the story is rather dark. However, the weaving of history and fantasy is masterful and the descriptions of the places, both ancient and modern, pull you into the drama and make it hard to put down.
The Furious Longing of God should be read by every Christian seeking a closer walk with the Lord. The book is thin, but the contents are deep. I hope to read more of Brennen Manning’s books this year.
Simply Tuesday is the second Emily P. Freeman book I’ve read. The first A Million Little Ways is one of my all-time favorite books. Simply Tuesday was a timely reminder to value the little things in life. It’s not all about striving to be the best we can be for God. Sometimes all God wants from us is to love our families well and be kind to our neighbors. To listen and love without hurry. Maybe you need that reminder too?
Daring Greatly is the first Brené Brown book I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. She focuses on overcoming shame and fear, two of my own greatest hurdles in life. The explanation of her studies makes a difficult subject easy to digest and apply to your own life. Though not a spiritual book, many spiritual parallels can be made.
Honorable Mentions
A quick glance will show my affection for the Aunt Dimity series. My mom recommended these cozy mysteries to me several times, but I never took the time to read them until after she passed. I’m still only about halfway through the series, but I have fallen in love with the quirky main character and I would kill to live in her gorgeous English cottage. These books are mostly fluff, but a perfectly lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
I highly recommend (and often recommend if you get me talking about books) anything and everything written by Joel Rosenberg. A quick google search will explain his rather impressive history. His writing is captivating and intense. The stories move quickly and are dramatic without being over the top. If you have even an inkling of interest in end times theology, read his books.
All the Rest
Though I won’t bore you by discussing the rest of the titles, every book on this list has merit. A couple I would recommend with caveats, but overall, each is worth the time.
See anything you’ve read? Adding any to your book list for the new year? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
The List
- The Broken Way – Ann Voskamp – 1/10/2017 (Read my full review here)
- The Fool of New York City – Michael D. O’Brien – 1/29/2017
- The Help – Kathryn Stockett – 2/4/17
- Drops Like Stars – Rob Bell – 2/5/17
- To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee – 2/12/17
- Aunt Dimity: Snowbound – Nancy Atherton – 2/20/17
- White Chocolate Moments – Lori Wick – 2/26/17
- Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea – Nancy Atherton – 2/27/17
- Aunt Dimity Goes West – Nancy Atherton – 3/5/17
- You’re Already Amazing- Holley Gerth – 3/13/17
- The Four Loves – CS Lewis- 4/2/17
- Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austin – 4/18/17
- Big Magic – Liz Gilbert – 4/21/17
- Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter – Nancy Atherton – 5/10/17
- The Third Target – Joel Rosenberg- 5/13/17
- The First Hostage – Joel Rosenberg- 5/15/17
- Without Warning – Joel Rosenberg – 5/17/17
- Aunt Dimity Goes Down Under – Nancy Atherton – 5/21/17
- Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree – Nancy Atherton – 5/28/17
- Atlas Girl – Emily Wierenga – 6/2/17
- The Red Sea Rules – Robert J Morgan – 6/4/17
- Real Artists Don’t Starve – Jeff Goins – 7/12/17
- Crossroads – Wm. Paul Young – 7/15/17
- Funding Your Ministry – Scott Morton – 7/16/17
- Writing Down the Bones – Natalie Goldberg – 7/19/17
- The Christian Atheist – Craig Groeschel – 7/25/17
- Eve – Wm. Paul Young – 7/30/17
- All In – Mark Batterson – 8/6/17
- The Grave Robber – Mark Batterson – 8/19/17
- The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway – 9/3/17
- Living Forward – Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy – 9/4/17
- The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls – 10/1/17
- Stop Walking on Eggshells – Mason and Kreger- 10/6/17
- The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova – 10/13/17
- The Furious Longing of God – Brennen Manning – 10/15/17
- Danger in the Shadows – 10/28/17 – Dee Henderson
- Illuminated – Matt Bronleewe – 10/29/17
- Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil – Nancy Atherton – 11/11/17
- Aunt Dimity: Detective – Nancy Atherton – 11/12/17
- Aunt Dimity’s Christmas – Nancy Atherton – 11/14/17
- Aunt Dimity Digs In – Nancy Atherton – 11/17/17
- Strengths Based Leadership – Don Clifton, Tom Rath, Gallup – 11/23/17
- Simply Tuesday – Emily P. Freeman – 12/9/17
- The Negotiator – Dee Henderson – 12/9/17
- The Guardian – Dee Henderson – 12/10/17
- The Truth Seeker – Dee Henderson- 12/10/17
- The Protector – Dee Henderson- 12/13/17
- The Healer – Dee Henderson – 12/15/17
- Uninvited- Lysa TerKeurst – 12/16/17
- The Rescuer – Dee Henderson – 12/17/17
- Daring Greatly – Brene Brown – 12/30/17