Favorite Books of 2017

One of my favorite questions both to ask and be asked is, "What are you reading?". You can tell a lot about a person by what they read. Whenever I meet someone especially inspiring or interesting, I always ask. Books can transport us to other worlds and cultures. Reading sparks the imagination, creativity and makes the reader an interesting conversationalist. Even Dr. Seuss knows, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." But beware, "Books can be dangerous. These should be labeled: 'This could change your life.'"* That's what I'm talking about.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could invite you over and we would sit in this room discussing books? One day when I have room like that, you can count on it. Rolling ladder - life goal. In the meantime...

Back in January, a friend suggested I write a blog post listing my favorite books of 2017. Since I'm forever asking the question and looking for referrals, I agreed. Most of the books I read are faith-based and lean toward teaching Christian principles. Still, there are a few "vacation reads" included for fun and refreshment. It's always good to read different authors and celebrate their unique writing styles.

Ok, here we go.

1. My most favorite book of the year was Spiritual Rhythm - Being With Jesus Every Season of your Soul by Mark Buchanan.

"This book is about four distinct seasons- not in the natural world but within us. It explores the cycles in our hearts that, like the axial turnings of the earth, mark out seasonal rhythms in our lives: flourishing and fruitful, stark and dismal, cool and windy, or everything coming up new. The seasons I'm describing are not the seasons of aging-where youth is spring, early adulthood summer, middle age fall, and old age winter. Interesting as that is, it's not what I've set my hand to here.

This is: our souls, our hearts, too. A soul in youth can turn grim and arctic, or a heart in dotage can grow breezy and fragrant. The season of the heart are no respecters of age, and seldom of person...We can steward the season we find ourselves in. Just as farmers plow in one season, plant in another, irrigate in another, harvest in another, and let the fields lie in fallow yet another, so there are activities and inactivities that fit our hearts' seasons...Every season will end, in time, but not by my own doing...My responsibility was simply to know the season, and match my actions and inactions to it.

This book looks at the seasons of the heart. I seek two things: Christ's presence in season and out, to know that even the darkness cannot hide him and that by his light I see light. And Christ's wisdom in season and out, to know how best to meet him, how best to make the most out of each season and each moment."

I.Love.This.Book. Having endured a long soul season of winter in recent years, I resonated with the authors' insights. I have never been taught the season of Winter in a way that captured its brutality and celebrated its value in such a way I can now embrace it. And that's just the winter chapters!

2. The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb - Searching for Jesus' Path of Power in a Church That Has Abandoned It by Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel

I've been increasingly troubled by how the Church seems to operate more and more like the world, the culture's influence taking over and replacing Biblical principles for living, working, dreaming, etc. So when a blogger I trust recommended it, I was drawn in right away.

 "Why do so many rock-star pastors implode under the spotlight? Why do modern-day churches become so entangled in growing their brand that they lose sight of their true purpose? Because, Christians have succumbed to the temptations of power and forgotten Jesus’ seemingly contradictory path to power—first giving it up.The authors invite readers to join them on an adventure around the world, seeking out great sages of the faith with uncommon wisdom to offer those traveling the path of Christian life. As readers eavesdrop on the authors’ conversations with people such as J. I. Packer, Dallas Willard, Marva Dawn, John Perkins, Jean Vanier, James Houston, and Eugene Peterson, they begin to piece together the new-old reality of following Jesus today."

This book challenged my thinking in a disturbing and refreshing way. Chapter after chapter, I'd lament, "I need to talk to someone about this", recruiting a few others to read and discuss with me. If you're worried that you've violated Romans 12:1, 2 and have been assimilated into Western (American) culture without putting up much fight, this book is for you.  It's a sharp critique of those of us who settle for quick fixes instead of deep wisdom. You will learn the strength and beauty of humility and Jesus' seemingly unconventional way to power: through weakness.

This was the "must have" book I added to my sons' libraries for Christmas.

3. Between Heaven & the Real World - My Story by Steven Curtis Chapman

I've written here in the blog many times, that I love biographies/autobiographies. For some reason, I prefer to read these in the summer, a time to escape from my life and jump into someone else's for a while.  These are not always the stories of great Christians, sometimes I like to indulge my imagination into the lives of the celebrities of the 80's, reminiscing my childhood or just out of pure curiosity. We can learn good things from all sorts of memoirs.

Every summer we required our children to read a missionary biography. When disenchanted and complaining about your current plight, there's nothing like a read about those who have suffered for their faith and been rewarded greatly. These were the heroes I wanted them looking up to, not those who pop culture put before them.

My husband Scott loves Steven Curtis Chapman the way I love MercyMe. We have arranged vacation time around seeing this man in concert many times and had the privilege of meeting him twice. We always say he is better than you hope he will be. Humble, deep, talented and a genuine giant of the faith. Naturally, his memoir was on my list last summer. While I know much of his story through following his ministry, his family walked through a very difficult time of loss and grieving and have come out as gold (in my opinion). This is their story and I highly recommend it. He's a hero whose example is one to follow.

4. Out of the House of Bread - Satisfying Your Hunger for God with the Spiritual Disciplines by Preston Yancey

This book. I read it during Lent last year and really enjoyed it. This is one of those books though, where you have to use discernment in my opinion. You don't have to agree with or be comfortable with every chapter in order to find value. You decide.

The author mirrors the process of making bread from scratch to working spiritual disciplines into your daily life. I love love love the concept. Probably because I'm obsessed with crusty white bread. Why is it so good? He encourages readers to try his recipe and work at it throughout the reading of the book. I did not do that. Yet. But I did take my time on each chapter. I like his style.

I also like the subject because I think spiritual disciplines are important and necessary, but we don't often hear much about it because discipline sounds like work and we kind of like our comfort more.

"Spiritual disciplines are like a well-stocked chocolate drawer. You never know what you might need at a given time, but the security of knowing you have plenty on hand and having just enough is vital. Spiritual disciplines are kinds of prayer, and when you find yourself in the middle of a season where nothing spiritual seems to matter and nothing feels like it's working, having something new to try, a different perspective, a new way of telling God you're in need or you're lonely or you''re just fed up can feel like a lifeline. It can be a lifeline." 

This is a book about prayer. We can learn a lot from it and be inspired to try new things. Even if all of it is not for you, there is some good stuff here. Take what works.

5. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

If I'm not sure of a book, I borrow. I saw this title in a small bookstore in Lake Placid. The reason I noticed it is the several employee recommendation post-it notes surrounding it. This is not my usual type book and don't think I would have given it a second glance until  I saw one quote guarantee both laughing and crying I was hooked. I mean, go big or go home, right? I like to read an occasional novel (summer reading), so I took a picture of it and went to the Lake Pleasant library to check it out (having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card!). I wasn't really expecting it, but sometimes a small town can surprise you - it was there - I didn't have to order it from another library!

Ove is a curmudgeon. He is grumpy, yet lovable we eventually learn. His responses to his new loud neighbors are so wickedly humorous you will laugh out loud, and his devotion to his late wife so heartbreakingly sweet you may just shed a tear or two. It lacks violence and profanity, is life-affirming and relationship-driven. This book will surprise you.

"He went through life with his hands firmly shoved into his pockets. She danced."

“A time comes in every man’s life when he decides what sort of man he is going to be.”   

"He had never heard anything quite as amazing as that voice. She talked as if she was continuously on the verge of breaking into giggles. And when she giggled she sounded the way Ove imagined champagne bubbles would have sounded if they were capable of laughter.”

“You don't fool me, darling,"she said with a playful little smile and crept into his big arms. "You're dancing on the inside, Ove, when no one's watching. And I'll always love you for that. Whether you like it or not.”
 
I found my father in this book and by the end wondered if, when he was living, I simply didn't understand who he was deep down underneath a sometimes harsh outer shell. This is another book I needed someone to read with me to discuss. I can't imagine a scenario where the reader will not love this character and the writers' spectacular use of words to tell a sweet, surprising story. 

6. Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

Many years ago, a missionary friend from Kenya introduced me to The Mitford Series, aka the Father Tim books. I'm not one for a long book series as I find them sometimes cumbersome and I despise waiting for the next volume to come available, but this is my one exception.

I believe when they came on the scene in my life I still had young kids at home. Why do I remember that? Because at least five of the books were already in print and I devoured them in one summer. Quiet afternoon reading times were uncharacteristically lengthy because I couldn't put the book down. I hope my kids aren't scarred from the neglect.

What young woman falls in love with a 60-year old bachelor preacher? This one. And all his quirky congregation. I've found many church friends and acquaintances in this series. Don't ask who.

As the saga continues, every installment is a delight. My husband has learned this is a slam dunk win on Christmas morning and never disappoints. The next one, To Be Where You Are, is currently on my shelf waiting its turn. One of these winters I'm going to start from the beginning.

Honorable mentions:

7 Women by Eric Metaxes
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp

Maybe you're not a reader. I doubt you would have made it this far if you aren't, but if you're still resisting, let me encourage you. Reading is life giving. What I especially love is that we lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there too.

So many books, so little time. I hope you found something here that intrigues you. Consider grabbing one or more of these to fight the mid-winter blues.

Please share your recommendations too! Either in the comment section or on Facebook or Instagram. I'm always eager to read what others are reading.

*Helen Exley