Top 2019 Reads Thus Far

I haven’t been blogging much this year. Life has a way of “happening,” and I’ve been concentrating on lots of other things besides blog posts (including writing my next book).

Some of my life’s happenings have been joyous ones, as in the arrival of the newest member of my family, Adaline Jo. Here she is at a month old all dressed up for her uncle’s wedding. She’s in my arms (I’m her Grandy), but you didn’t need to see me when instead you can see that adorable face and smile. Right?

Some of my life’s happenings have been sad and/or trying ones, things that I have had to pray through and cry through and work through. Definitely reminders that this world is not my home and that I will have to wait for heaven to find a place where there is no more sorrow or tears.

In the meantime, there have been some wonderful books to make me laugh, to bring me pleasure, and to instruct and guide me. So far in 2019, I have finished reading 25 books. That puts me way ahead of schedule in my Goodreads Reading Challenge.

4 Star Reads 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Thus Far)

The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life
by Louie Giglio

A small but inspirational book. I want worship to be a way of life, not just an occasional experience. May it be like the air I breathe always.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J.K. Rowling

I’m enjoying the Potter series thus far (well, this is only book 2) and expect to read them all if they stay this entertaining. I’m listening to the audiobooks, and Jim Dale is an awesome narrator. One line that jumped out at me: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” What a pearl of wisdom.

True to You
by Becky Wade

An unexpected romance with depth and breadth (and more than a little heartbreak). I loved the sprinkling of other POVs beyond the hero and heroine, especially because of the unusual way they were often delivered.

Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On
by Stormie Omartian

This book was a great reminder that I only need enough of God’s light for the step I’m on. I don’t have to know everything that awaits me in the future. I can trust Him with my tomorrows as long as I draw close to Him.

5 Star Reads 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Thus Far)

The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis

I first read The Screwtape Letters in 1976. This is my fourth time to read it. In this novel, CS Lewis gives the reader a great glimpse into how (probably) demons affect and influence humans. There is a lot of wisdom in this book. Don’t let its novel form fool you.

The Wednesday Wars
by Gary D. Schmidt

I first read The Wednesday Wars in 2011, and I have never forgotten it (especially the yellow tights and the story that surrounds them). I bought the audiobook so I could read it again. Glad I did. It was just as much a delight the second time through. Toward the end of the book, I drove to a wedding, an hour drive each way along a winding mountain road. I laughed out loud numerous times, and the drive seemed to fly by. (To read my full, much longer review, visit https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/538007261.)

How Al-Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics
by Al-Anon Family Groups

Like so many others, my life has been impacted by the alcoholism of a loved one. And I am thankful for the experience, strength, and hope offered by Al-Anon through their groups and their literature, including this book.

Long Way Gone
by Charles Martin

What a wonderful story of a prodigal son. It resonated in my heart the way Cooper’s music resonated whenever he played. (Read the book to know what I mean.) Emotional and uplifting, this book shouldn’t be missed.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered
by Lysa TerKeurst

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way was the very book I needed in a tough season of my life. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and at the end there was bonus material (including an interview) well worth hearing. Lysa doesn’t sugarcoat the rough things that can happen on this earth or how they can seem to pile on, one thing right after another. But she points the way to trusting the Father, even in the midst of the storms, and she doesn’t pretend that we can go through it without tears and heartache. Highly recommended.

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Well, that’s nine of the 25 books I’ve read so far in 2019, all the ones that received either four or five stars from me. With the huge number of unread books waiting on my Kindle and in my Audible library, I fully expect to add plenty more four and five star reads to my list by year’s end.

Stay tuned…

~robin