As I was finishing up my “Top 10 Reads of 2019” post, Matt suggested that I should do a
favorites list from the whole decade—just for fun, of course (he knows me so
well).
Typically, one might expect it would be difficult to even remember
all the books they’ve read in the last 10 years… but being the type of person
who loves both reading and keeping lists of things, I started writing down—in
both chronological and alphabetical order—all the books I’d ever finished
starting in 2009! A bit embarrassing
actually, but the nerd in me secretly relishes having this gargantuan list of
books to look back on (exactly 270 of them, to be precise).
Long story short, these are some of my favorite reads of all
time. Please enjoy!
1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
“Let us step into the night and pursue
that flighty temptress, adventure.”
I read these when I was a kid and over
again as an adult… still just as good.
They probably don’t need a lot of intro or explanation other than to say
that while the movies are phenomenal, the books are still reams better. Read them if you haven’t yet! They’re quick and delightful and will make
you want a real life grown-up wand and an invisibility cloak to match. Also, if it seems like cheating to pick a
whole series for a Top 10 list… well, too bad, it’s my list and you can make
your own ;)
2. The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
“…all we have to decide is what to do
with the time that is given to us.”
For similar reasons, I couldn’t not
put these on the list. LOTR will be one
of my favorite book and movie series of all time for as long as I live. I’m a huge fantasy geek and I think Tolkien
was brilliant (The Hobbit is wonderful as well). Again, these are great to read even if you’ve
seen the movies. Thoughtful,
entertaining, imaginative… sometimes going on an epic other-worldly adventure
is just what you need after a few days in the real world, amiright?
3. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
“Remember that wherever your heart is,
there you will find your treasure.”
I’ve read The Alchemist three times,
and each time I’ve like it better than the last. It’s about a shepherd boy from Andalusia,
Spain who goes in search of a great treasure he believes lies buried near the
Pyramids in Egypt. Throughout his
journey he encounters remarkable friends and ideas that point him in a
direction he least expects. Though not a
Christian novel, Coehlo utilizes Biblical concepts and undertones that give an
incredible depth to the story. It
scratches at the meanings of life hidden under the surface of our everyday
experience.
4. The Story of God, the Story of Us, by Sean Gladding
“Life is hard. We know that.
And that is why we must tell each other the Story, and keep telling it,
to do exactly what God has continually told us to do: remember… remember… remember.”
I know few people who have read the Bible
the entire way through (though I would recommend that, too, if you have a
chance!). But in this book, Sean
Gladding reminds us of the way Biblical stories used to be told—over a campfire
or around a table, where family and friends share their shared heritage with
one another. He tells the over-arching
story of the Bible from the eyes of those who lived it, whether in the
Babylonian exile or in small house churches in the Roman Empire. It is a well-written, highly accessible
narrative of the whole story: the story
of God and of the people who continue to encounter Him.
5. The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning
“My deepest awareness of myself is that
I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve
it.”
This is one of those books that came at just
the right time in my life. Brennan Manning,
a recovering alcoholic and former Franciscan priest, writes in a way that brims
with vulnerability and grace. He shares
his experiences and reflections on what he sees as the true gospel of Jesus: that God is not in the business of tallying
our successes and failures, but is constantly reaching out with “furious love”
to all of us struggling “ragamuffins” who continue to need his help despite our
best efforts.
6. The Me I Want to Be, by John Ortberg
“The main measure of your devotion to
God is not your devotional life. It is simply your life.”
This book found me shortly after college,
as I was just starting in ministry and learning what it means to be an adult
out on my own. I read it with a beloved mentor
of mine, and it helped me process who I am rather than who I felt I was supposed
to be. Turns out it’s pretty scary and vulnerable
to shed the façade of being a “good Christian” in favor of surrendering
ourselves to the One who makes us fully human.
I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but Ortberg gives his readers plenty
of insight into God’s love and encouragement to keep trying.
7. The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis
“There are only two kinds of people in
the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says,
in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that
are in Hell, choose it. Without that
self-choice there could be no Hell. No
soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.”
This book is C.S. Lewis’s fictional story
of a man who travels on a bus from Hell to Heaven, and discovers their
distinction in the process. In
characteristic Lewis style, it is a clever and theologically weighty narrative
that portrays Hell as “locked from the inside” by those who wish to keep
themselves separated from God and others, while those in Heaven encounter what
is really real—the fullness of joy and light and becoming. The characters are sharp, the imagery is
beautiful, and the implications are meant to be wrestled with for a long
time.
8. Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: and How You Can Make Yours
Last, by John Gottman
“If there is one lesson I have learned
from my years of research it is that a lasting marriage results from a couple’s
ability to resolve the conflicts that are inevitable in any relationship.”
Matt and I read this book in our second
year of marriage, and we’ve recommended it to many, many other couples since. It’s been the most helpful and rewarding of
all the books on marriage that we’ve read thus far—primarily because it deals with
how couples engage in conflict. Gottman,
who has done 20+ years of research on marital intimacy and longevity, helps his
readers identify their “conflict style”—from avoidant to validating to volatile—noting
that any of these can be healthy so long as the couple maintains a 5:1 ratio of
positive to negative interactions. He
also explains the behaviors and assumptions that can lead to disaster over
time. Well worth the read even if you’ve
been married for years, and especially if you’ve just tied the knot!
9. The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah
“Men tell stories… women get on with
it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was
over, no medals or mentions in history books.
We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up
the pieces and started our lives over.”
This one is a repeat from my “Top 10” of
2018 (posted here), so I won’t go into much more detail. Suffice it to say the story has left a lasting
impression on me, and I’m grateful to have been given a glimpse (albeit a
historically fictional one) into the bravery and commitment of women in World
War II and the lessons they learned.
Still a page-turner and an all-time favorite.
10. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
“And now that you don’t have to be
perfect, you can be good.”
I read Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
back in high school, but hadn’t picked up this classic until a few years ago
when it was chosen by our book club.
Consequently, I highly suggest finding a friend or two to read it with
because getting to talk about the character complexity and story arc with other
people brought out so much more from the book than I would have experienced on
my own. The plot is essentially a
modern, multi-generational exploration of the Cain and Abel story from Genesis
set in California in the mid-1900s, and it is fascinating. I underlined in the book, wrote notes and
questions in the margins, and loved getting to mull over its intricate themes.
Just making this list made me want to go re-read several of
these books all over again. They’ve
stayed on my shelf for that very reason.
If you manage to read (or have already read) any of them, I’d love to
hear your thoughts! And, as always,
other recommendations from your own “favorites list” are more than
welcome. Happy reading!
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." -Dr. Seuss
