My Best-Loved Books of 2017

Jan 21 2018 My Best-Loved Books of 2017

Best-Loved-Books!

Can we talk about books?

What fun! This subject is one of my favorites, and this is the third year I’ve written the “Books” blog.

The beginning of 2017 was dry as novels go. I read and read, hoping for a delicious novel to sweep me away. It took heaps of reading to get there.

Because I don’t read many current Best-Sellers (I wait until they land in my library, a friend loans one to me, or prices drop), the books shared here have been around for a while.

I adore the Goodreads app. When I hear about an interesting read, I look it up on Goodreads and put it on my list. Goodreads also notifies its users when Amazon holds Kindle sales.

Another way to enjoy books is by listening. Our family subscribes to Audible (mobile.audible.com). I have spent hours driving to my dad’s these last eight-plus months during his illness. Listening to books and podcasts helps brighten the drive time.

I found some jewels I’d like to share with you.

Now, let’s talk books…

Non-fiction:

This was my favorite non-fiction book of 2017! I am a big fan of the author; he is profound, funny, and loves God. The premise of this book is that we can live without taking offense. Yikes! A challenge: we have no right to get angry or take offense, and “righteous anger” is unjustified. Hansen backs his suppositions with scripture. What a perfect time to embrace this virtue (offense is everywhere today). The virtue of “unoffendableness”.

This one was on my list for a few years. Malcolm Gladwell writes beautifully. I enjoy his podcast and his use of language. Brilliant man. Gladwell has chosen stories and interviewed a mix of people to support his theory: the underdogs, less fortunate, less gifted, and misfits often have an edge and, therefore, win, succeed, and flourish in life.  *Strong language in some of the quotes.

I read this Beth Moore book for the second time. It is an intimate peek into the life of Jesus based on the book of Luke. This walk through the life of Jesus is a deep one and granted me a greater understanding of my Savior. As usual, Beth is humorous and authentic.

Oh, rejection, you stink, and you have tried to define me. Lysa Terkeurst did it again. The author truly speaks to where so many of us live and directs us to God’s inviting love for us. I needed this, and God used Lysa to speak to me.

~Biography:

Malala is an amazing, inspirational girl! She is the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. My mouth was on the floor for much of this sometimes intense read. I learned the history of Pakistan and the Taliban. My heart broke for this brave, sweet girl and the millions of girls who cannot attend school. Malala was an activist with her father from her earliest days. It is a long but worthwhile read. *There is an abridged version for younger readers.

~Marriage:

The authors have a beautiful, biblically charged redemption story. The tale oozes in inspiration and hope. They believe God has called all married couples to thrive and have “beyond ordinary” marriages. No matter what our story is as couples, we can move beyond selfishness, immaturity, and ordinary to extraordinary.

Fiction:

The delicious novel that swept me away. Based on the life of Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary. A work of historical fiction, meticulously researched. A captivating story of her court life and the characters surrounding her. I went on to read the second novel in the series and have enjoyed reading about this empress online. *Some coarseness and sexuality.

This is a fascinating story about a world I knew nothing about: the Chinese ethnic minority called Akha and the farming of tea. Lisa See also sheds light on Chinese girls adopted into American homes. I loved the back-and-forth between the USA and China and the insights into the vast gap between cultures. The characters are fascinating, especially Li-yan and her amazing journey. *Sexuality (cultural) and language.

My mom recommended this one: a touching book that deeply affected and surprised me. This book could be a fantastic movie. This story is not cheesy or sappy. I’ve read a few of her books and wasn’t a fan, but I’m glad I tackled this one. *Language

I adore the Mitford folks of North Carolina. AND I had the pleasure of reading this book, which begins in the Carolinas, while I visited N.C. in the fall. It is simply splendid. It is a slow read with lovely characters and settings. I have savored each book Jan Karon has written.

Yet again, my year was beautifully accented with words—stolen away long ago and to foreign lands. Inspiration came from authors and tales of all kinds. God blessed and lifted me through His word and writers who love Him and have learned along their journey. What a gift it is to hold a book in my hands.

I have an ever-growing list for 2018. Here are a few:

What will you read in 2018?

PC: Unsplash and Pinterest

For more: https://kristinsaatzer.com/books-that-have-changed-me/