I’ve never been an avid reader and I’ve never been a good reader. Until recently.
My birthday falls right at the end of the cut off for the school year made me the youngest in my class and considerably damaged my confidence level. That’s not how it works out for everyone with a late birthday, but that’s how it worked out for me. Factor in attention issues and highly sensitive hearing, I get distracted easily. This makes reading for me and arduous journey and quite the adventure.
My favorite books growing up were The Golden Books. My mom said my favorites were Peter Rabbit, The Three Little Bears, and Cinderella. I remember one of my favorites being Where the While Things Are. I still have my childhood copy in a box somewhere. I bought another copy recently and I still love it just as much. It’s also available on AudibleKids. This version includes automatic page turns and music to add to the drama. It’s very well done!
I either took a break from reading in my middle school/high school years or I blocked that from my memory. I’m thinking maybe I was forced to read so I refused to enjoy it. I’m a rebel that way. I do recall reading Of Mice and Men in high school. That was the first time I remember being impressed with the actual writing process. Oh, and I remember reading Gone with the Wind. Interesting that those are the two I remember. They couldn’t be more different from each other.
As an adult, my busy mom life didn’t do anything to help with my distraction issues. I was proud of myself for reading a “big book”, Les Miserables while raising littles. That book rekindled my love for stories. I read Keith Green’s biography, No Compromise, as well. These are still two of my favorite written stories today.
I really enjoy participating in book launch teams and beta reads. I love the perk of being able to read a book before it’s released but I especially love to support my author community. Some of the books in my lists are from book launch teams I’ve been on. I tell you that only because some might seem like a Sesame Street game of “which one of these books doesn’t belong”. Some of them don’t fit what I would normally be interested in but reading them to support authors has broadened my horizon and I’ve found a few that I really enjoyed that I would not have been enticed by.
Consider this page my personal Goodreads listing. I do have a Goodreads account but it’s easier for me to keep up with and share it with you from here.
Books I’m currently reading:
Sex, Jesus and the Conversations the Church Forgot, Mo Isom
The Living Cross, Amy Boucher Pye
Trivium, Amber Nguyen
Wingbound, Heather Trim
A Place to Land, Kate Motaung
Books I’ve read and highly recommend. I’ll add more as I read more.
Children:
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, Sally Lloyd Jones
Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One, Lauren Flake
Where Did My Sweet Grandpa Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One, Lauren Flake
It Will be Okay: Trusting God Through Fear and Change (Little Seed & Little Fox), Lysa TerKeurst
What Do You Do With an Idea?, Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom
What Do You Do With a Problem?, Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom
What Do You Do With a Chance?, Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom
Fiction:
The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho
People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
Wonder, R. J. Palacio
When I’m Gone, Emily Bleeker
Nor Forsake, Julie Presley
Stones of Remembrance, Julie Presley
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
Snowflower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
The Viscount of Maisons-Laffitte, Jennie Goutet
Non-Fiction:
Let Your Life Speak: Parker J. Palmer
Still Waiting, Ann Swindell
A Passion for the Impossible, Miriam Huffman Rockness
Love Does, Bob Goff
Choosing to See, MaryBeth Chapman
People Are Good, AnnaMarie McHargue
The Time of our Lives, Peggy Noonan
Table Mentoring, Sue Moore Donaldson
No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green, Melody Green and David Hazard
Twirl: A Fresh Spin at Life, Patsy Clairmont
Stars Upside Down, Jennie Goutet
Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanity, Kathi Lipp & Cheri Gregory
Giddy Up, Eunice: (Because Women Need Each Other), Sophie Hudson
*No More Faking Fine, Esther Fleece
*Bloom in the Dark, Paula Wallace
The Gift of Second, Brandy Lidbeck
His Comfort of Silence, Eriko Valk
Through Waters Deep, Erin Shafer
The Best Yes, Lysa TerKeurst
Embrace Grace, Liz Curtis Higgs
Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, Max Lucado
Marriage:
Boundaries in Marriage, Henry Cloud & John Townsend
Sheet Music, Kevin Leman
Unfaithful: Hope and Healing After Infidelity, Gary & Mona Shriver
Shattered Vows, Debra Laaser
*Mingling of Souls, Matt Chandler
Love & War, John & Stasi Eldridge
*Cherish, Gary Thomas
The Book of Romance, Tommy Nelson
*Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts
Beyond Ordinary
Bible Related:
The Bible Project Coffee Table Book: Illustrated Summaries of Biblical Books, Timothy Mackie
She Reads Truth Bible, Holman and Raechel Myers
Inspire Bible NLT: The Bible for Creative Journaling, Tyndale
Devotionals:
31 Days of Prayer for Your Marriage, Jordan Harrell
Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You, Kelly Johnson
Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Shane Claiborne & Jonathon Wilson-Hartgrove
*Haven’t finished but needed to make the list for reference
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