Disclaimer:
I reserve the right to update this list if another book comes along that is
life-changing. The Bible, of course, reigns over all these books. Since this is
a blog about literature written by people alone, not divinely inspired writing,
as the Bible alone can claim, I didn’t think it made sense to include it.
One of the hardest things
for me to do is choose 10 books (only 10!) that have not only provided me hours
of joy and entertainment, but have also changed my thinking and way of life.
But I figure this list can be helpful for those who want to know my favorites
that I recommend, 110%, for ultimate reading pleasure and for a life-altering
experience. Up until July 27, 2011, these are the 10 books (or book series),
that I love for these reasons:
•
Great plots or stories
•
Re-readability
•
Themes that have had a profound
effect on my life
I have ordered these books
from top to bottom, an even harder job than narrowing all the books I love down
to my 10 favorites (So #1 is my favorite, but #10 is also my favorite but not
as favorite as #1, but they’re both favorites…think “snow cones” by Brian
Regan…). I imagine if I took the same books and ordered them a week
or a month from now, the list would come out differently. So realize, before
you read my brief descriptions about why I think these 10 books are so amazing,
that all of these books are terrific and are accompanied with my highest
esteem.
1.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Genre:
General Fiction
This book is the absolute
best example I have seen of a combination of beautiful writing, exciting plot,
fantastic characterization, and Christian themes. You would not find this book
in the Christian section of a store, just in general fiction, but it has more
meaty, solid Christian doctrine than many books published by Christian
companies. This is the kind of fiction that I think could be world-changing if
more believing writers would strive for not only God-glorifying stories, but
God-glorifying literary talent. The plot follows the life of Ruben Land, an
11-year-old in the 1960’s, and his relationship with his Bible-living father,
his sister Swede, and his brother Davy. This book contains all of the elements
of an intriguing story: murder, love, an epic journey, and God-given miracles.
I would rate this book PG for content.
2. Safely
Home by Randy Alcorn
Genre:
Christian Fiction, general
I first read this book my
junior year of high school (I remember because I would read it before my AP US
History class started, and I have a very stark memory of myself sitting at my
desk in that particular classroom, the book open and my mind thousands of miles
away as my classmates filed in). I had been a personal Christian for just a
couple years at that point, and this book, which is about Christian persecution
in China, not only gave me encouragement as I dealt with very minor persecution
from my close friends, who weren’t believers, but also gave me my first glimpse
of God’s vision for the world, not just Americans, to know Jesus (at the time,
I attended a church that spent more time worrying about organizing potlucks
than sending missionaries). The artwork on the inside of my copy is a painting
that makes me cry every time I look at it. More than any other, this book has
helped me understand that our suffering for Jesus’ sake is never, ever in vain.
I would rate this book G to PG for content. It is by a Christian author and
publisher, after all.
3. Harry
Potter by J.K. Rowling
Genre:
Fantasy
I grew up with Harry
Potter. I was Harry’s age when the books first came out, and in high school and
college and I stood in line for the midnight book releases. I bought a British
version of the fifth book because I happened to be in London with my family the
day it came out. The recent completion of this series really marks an end of an
era for me, the closing of a chapter of my childhood. So these books have a
special place in my heart for that reason, if nothing else.
This book series is easy to
talk about because everyone talks about it, and within the Christian community,
there has been some heated controversy over these books. I have written a more
thorough defense on why I think these books are just fine for Christians to
read, which can be found here, but more than any other book series or
individual books in the secular literary world, (I don’t include Lord of the
Rings, because Tolkien was an outspoken, practicing Catholic) these books have
done the best job of portraying a stark difference between good and evil. In a
world where relativism reigns, this is really important. The magic elements and
themes of death are cause for careful processing and lining up with Biblical
principles, but I think Christians all have a responsibility to do this with anything
they read, and to never take a book’s word over God’s Word. But one theme
that constantly pops up in Harry Potter is that magic doesn’t solve
problems, but love, sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, and honesty does. That is
absolutely commendable. Reading these books has always left me wanting, in the
words of Casting Crowns, “to storm hell’s rusted gates.”
If you read these books,
stock up on your favorite form of caffeine, as you will be up late gorging
yourself on the exciting plots. The film versions of these movies actually rate
the book contents pretty well: PG for the first three, and PG-13 for the final
four (five in the case of the movies). And I do not recommend letting children
under the age of 11 read the books or watch the films. I am always appalled,
going into the movies, how young some of the kids are in the theater. There is
some dark, scary content that is best left for mature readers/viewers. Oh, and
the books are way better than the movies. Hands down.
4. Desiring
God by John Piper
Genre:
Non-Fiction, Theological
This book is the reading
equivalent of a rich, five-course meal. If you read this book, you will
have a detailed framework for everything John Piper writes, preaches, and does,
and your view of God will be expanded until it is exploding that the seams. I
read this book my senior year of college, and it did much to solidify my belief
in God’s sovereignty, and that our greatest joy, in this life and the next,
will be found in God alone. I’m sure this book, with the Biblical principles
that it highlights and explains, will continue to shape my life as I grow in
understanding of it. I’m definitely not there yet! This probably goes without
saying, but G for content.
5. The
Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Genre:
Non-Fiction, Biographical
Another book I read fairly
young, this definitely played a part in leading me to Christ. I said it when I
first read it, and I still say it now: if you want proof that God exists and is
working and cares for each of us individually, read this true testimony of
Corrie ten Boom, a Christian Dutch woman, who obeyed God, got severely
punished by the world for it, and came out rejoicing and a better witness for
Jesus at the end of it all. As a person who has a soft spot in my heart for
World War II and Holocaust stories, this had interest for me on that level as
well. PG to PG-13 for content (Holocaust stories are never G).
6. Shadow
of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot
Genre:
Non-Fiction, Biographical
This book is a compilation
of the journal entries of Jim Elliot, explained and commented on by his former
wife, Elisabeth Elliot. For those of you unfamiliar with Jim Elliot, he was a
young man in the 1950’s who went to Ecuador to share the gospel with an
unreached people group notorious for their violence, and along with four of his
close friends and fellow missionaries, was martyred by the tribe. The world was
moved by their deaths, and their families, undeterred by the tribe’s reputation
and the harm it had already inflicted on their families, returned to the group
where the gospel eventually flourished. In this book, you learn not so much
about these events, but rather about the God that influenced Jim’s boldness and
sacrifice. You will also be impressed by Jim’s maturity. When most men are
spending their college years partying and generally wasting time, Jim spent his
studying to be a missionary. A book that challenges readers to live radically
for Jesus. It did for me. G for content.
7. The
Atonement Child by Francine Rivers
Genre:
Christian Fiction, General
This book answers a
fundamental question in our political debates today: is abortion right when a
woman becomes pregnant as a result of a rape? Through characters that are
admittedly archetypical, Rivers nevertheless answers this question in a
Biblical way, and shows that God can and does redeem the worst possible
situations. While it may not present a detailed, intellectual argument on why
abortion is wrong, it does give believers a foundational mindset for looking up
in the Bible what God believes about life, about sin committed against us, and
who is the Ultimate Judge. PG for content.
8. The
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Genre:
Fantasy
The book that set the
standard for fantasy in the 20th century and the next, this series is rich, detailed,
and yes, long, but well-worth the time and effort it takes to read. If you are
at all a fan of the fantasy genre, this is a must-read. And if you’re a
Christian, you will find the themes of love, sacrifice, good versus evil, and
the effects of sin to be fantastic and well-presented. And who doesn’t love
epic battles, sweeping landscapes, kings and elves, wizards, and talking trees?
On behalf of the late Tolkien, please don’t read too much analogy into World
War I or II for this book. He didn’t ever appreciate that. PG for content (the
books aren’t nearly as graphic as the movies, which are all PG-13).
9. The
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Genre: Young
Adult Fiction, Historical
This is perhaps the one and
only book that I have read simply because it was assigned in a class, and found
to be wonderful. I love this book for a couple reasons. First, it’s a Holocaust
drama. Second, the characters are really interesting. Third, it is written from
the point of view of Death and it actually WORKS. Fourth, the author uses
interesting, ground-breaking techniques that still make for an understandable
story that anyone can pick up and read. Snobby academics: take note! While
there are definitely some themes that line up with truth, you do have to be a
little discerning with this one in spots. Death is the narrator in this book,
and he is not what the Bible describes death to be. PG-13 for content
(violence, mostly).
10. Sense
and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Genre:
General Fiction
Now, before you write off
this recommendation as a girly infatuation with pretty dresses and chivalry
(though I admit that my love for all things Austen has an element of that!),
give me a chance to explain why I love this book. First, Austen is hilarious,
in a 19th century,
dry British way. She has a real knack for capturing people’s personalities on
paper and thoroughly making fun of them. I often wonder what her snarky
description of me would be. Second, her admiration and respect for good men and
women is wonderful. People who are kind and generous are praised, people who
are mean-spirited and selfish are condemned. She has absolutely no respect for
“bad boys,” and shows how toxic they really are. Every high school girl should
read Sense and Sensibility because of its themes of guarding one’s heart
and not settling for men who lack good character even if they have good looks.
This book helped me understand that. G for content.
What are your
top 10? Or 5? Or 3?
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