My Reading Log

I love a good book!  And I love a good recommendation for a book.  Here I am sharing with you [some of] my reading list.  There's no method to my madness.  I'll let you know if the book is worth taking up space on your shelf.  

Happy reading!

Stars:  

* * * * * = Buy this book and read it today!

* = I read it so you don't have to waste your time. 

RECENT READS:

Inspirational: 

Bittersweet by Shauna Neiquist (* * * * *)

I highly recommend this book to all readers!  Okay, actually, just to the girls.  You will not want to put this down!  It's inspiring (and will really want to make you cook something fabulous!) 

Cold Tangerines by Shauna Neiquist (* * * *)

This was actually Shauna's first book, written before Bittersweet.  It has very much a similar format, and I would suggest reading this one first.  It makes you wish she would publish more - and quick!!

Wild at Heart by John Eldridge (* * *)

I read this on a bus ride from Cambodia to Vietnam.  I learned a lot this year about the true calling of a man in the kingdom of God and have realized what the world and the church have done to this God-given role.  It's time to raise up men to fight for their Lord and their lady!  I know there's a "girl" version of this book; maybe I'll get to that one day.

Kingdom Dreaming/Missions:

Half the Sky:  Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (* * * * *)  The Pulitzer Prize-winning duo present this amazing account of the status of women around the world and delve into the stories of which solutions are working and which are not.  The book deals with three primary women's issues:  sex trafficking, gender violence, and maternal health.  This book is both educational and a powerful call to action. 

Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycowskie (* * *)

This book is the story of TOMS shoes and its founder, Blake.  In it he tells about his first fateful trip to Argentina, where he becomes aware of the needs for kids to have good, sturdy shoes that actually fit.  He tells how that experience led him to creating the multi-million dollar for-profit charity on the planet today.

Kingdom Journeys by Seth Barnes (* * * *)

Okay, I really wish I had read this book before going on the World Race.  I mean, I guess it hadn't been written yet or something, but still.  This is a great book for anyone experiencing the Gift of Restlessness and the desire to seek God's will outside of your comfort zone.  When this one hits the bookstore shelves, get it.  Read it.  And go on your own Kingdom Journey!

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (* *)

This books makes you think about your life - your dreams, achievements, goals, and what you think of yourself.  Donald Miller also wrote Blue Like Jazz (see All-time Favorites).   A nice read. 

Fiction:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (* * * * *)

What can I say?  Couldn't put this one down.  If you haven't seen the movie yet, get this book!  It will absorb you.

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins (* * * * *)

No explanation needed.  Just read them!

Flabbergasted by ?? (* * * *)

I did not have high expectations for this one.  I had just finished The Hunger Games and needed something to read at work, so I picked this one up off my grandma's shelf.  I didn't even like it at first.  I thought I was in for a girl-meets-boy at the beach book, but it actually turned out to be an excellent story and a very well-written one.  South Carolinians will appreciate this, since it was written by a local author and features, of all places, Greenville and Litchfield Beach.  Definitely a fun, no-brainer book!  I am currently reading its sequel (and equal) A Delirious Summer.

ALL-TIME FAVORITES:

The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson (* * * * *)

I read this book about a month after I was accepted to the Race, and I had to stop reading it a few times and check the cover to make sure it didn't say, "A Book About Erin."  This short and easy book is a fantastic read for anyone who has a dream and is scared out of their pants to actually do it.  

Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Brides (* * * * *)

I rarely read books twice.  I think I could read this one once a year for the rest of my life.  Regardless of your season of life, this book is an eye-opener about the sovereignty of God and His divine plans for your life and the world.   

The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (* * * * *)

Another bus ride book, this one through the winding mountains of Nepal.  This book will change your life.  How about this though?  If you have two coats in your closet, you are leaving someone out in the cold.  Yikes!  It's a kick-in-the-pants reminder of our calling to "the least of these."  It gets a bit political, but beyond that, read this book!