It's hard to believe that 2016 is drawing to a close already! Here's the latest run-down of the books I've read over the past few months. The categories are from this list, mostly.
A book about Christian living: The Faith, by Charles Colson
This book reminded me a lot of Colson's other book "How Now Shall We Live?" I felt like it was kind of a shorter version of that book, but still good nonetheless. The book goes through the main tenents of the Christian faith, and then discusses the necessity of fully intetegrating our faith into every aspect of our lives.
A book about a current issue: They Say We Are Infidels: On The Run From ISIS With Persecuted Christians in the Middle East, by Mindy Belz
It feels wrong to use the word "good" to describe this book. It was powerful. Informative. Heart-wrenching. Anger-inducing. And hopeful. Mindy Belz (who is a columnist for World magazine which is a publication I can't recommend highly enough) describes the history of the rise and fall of Saddam Hussien, and how things became to be the way they are in the Middle East. Having been just a kid when the conflict in the Gulf first started, I can't say I paid all that much attention to it, or even really understood it. It was good to learn more about the history, and how the actions (or inactions) of the U.S. and the international community in many ways created fertile soil for the atrocities of ISIS to grow. Mindy tells the stories of Christians, Yazidis and other persecuted people groups as they literally run for their lives from ISIS. She also relates hope in the midst of the horror, as Christians both in Iraq and the U.S. work tirelessly to bring aid and safety to those fleeing persecution. Reading this book really put into a completely different perspective all of the news stories about ISIS and what's been happening in the Middle East. As hard as this book is to stomach, I think it is an important one for Christians to read.
A book written by a first-time author: First Destiny, by David S. Clarke
This book was written by someone I know personally, and I didn't even realize he was an author until one way or another I stumbled upon that little detail. This book is set in a dystopian-like future U.S. The main character, in his search to find a sister he was separated from years before, gets tangled up in trying to save a town from a brutal tyrant and along the way learns more about himself and some of his family secrets. This is the first in a series of books that follows the same characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story leads!
A book about a country or city: In a Sunburned Country (audiobook), by Bill Bryson
This is the first book I've read/listened to by Bill Bryson. It follows his travels around Australia, and in a humorous and self-depreciating way, he describes some of the outrageousness and wonder that is Australia. He describes the history of the continent, how it first came to be settled, and what it's like today. I never realized that Australia was so....just straight up strange...when it comes to its geography, plant and animal life, and history. It was a fun book to listen too - perfect for a long car ride.
A book about evangelism: Tactics, by Gregory Koukl
This was a great book, and it convicted me that I'm not as intentional as I should be about sharing my faith. One of the main take-aways for me in this book was that much of evangelism can be simply asking questions of people. This is a tactic I want to put into practice more.
A book about suffering: World War Z (audiobook), by Max Brooks
I'm not entirely sure if this counts as "a book about suffering", but it's the best way I could categorize it on my list. It's the story of the U.S. following an outbreak of zombies. So I guess the people running from the zombies were the ones suffering? Regardless, it was entertaining to listen to as I was driving to wherever it is I was going.
A novel longer than 400 pages: Passage, The Twelve, and City of Mirrors, by Justin Cronin
This is a trilogy, and all three of these books were longer than 400 pages. These books were my summer reading. I can't say "mindless summer reading", because they weren't mindless. They were so good! These books are about vampires. (Apparently I like vampire and zombie literature?) More accurately, these books are the story of what happens to the U.S. and the world when military leaders in the U.S. develop a virus that they believe will turn people into "super soldiers" who can't be killed. But oops...they made vampires instead. But these books are not silly like the "Twilight" vampire books, and it's about way more than just vampires. These books cover about 1,000 years worth of history in the U.S. and other parts of the world as it tells the story of how humanity fought to survive in the midst of the horror they found themselves in. There is a core group of about 12 characters that you come to know and love, and the novels follow them from their childhood into their elder years (and before and after by ways of flash-backs and flash-forwards). In the midst of all of the horror, you see humanity just wanting to survive, and there is love and humor and courage and sacrifice and friendship and tragedy and everything in between. The writing is so great, and I loved that it's a long, slowly told story, which made it something I could savor. I felt sad when I finished the final book, which is always a good sign of a good book.
A book you have read before: Rilla of Ingleside, by L.M. Montgomery
This book is as about as far way from zombies and vampires as you can get. It's the final book in the "Anne of Green Gables" series, and this book focuses on Anne's youngest daughter, Rilla. The story opens with the start of WWI, and Anne's sons go off to fight in the war. This is really a coming-of-age story for Rilla as she is quickly thrust into womanhood because of the war. It's just so good, and is one of my favorite books ever. There is a certain part of the book that always makes me cry. Every time. I can get teary just thinking about that part of the book. I will forever be re-reading this book every few years for the rest of my life.
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