Here are my favorites from the last six months or so….
by Ian and Larissa Murphy
Girl meets Boy, they fall in love, Boy gets into a car accident and becomes brain damaged, Girl marries him anyway. An almost unbelievable story apart from the gospel. Beautiful and inspiring.
by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
This book is the story of two men and their unlikely friendship. I was bothered by aspects of Ron’s story and his theology, but Denver’s story is gold, and makes the book worth reading for his glimpse into a life of sharecropping and homelessness.
Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything
by Anonymous
This book doesn’t mince words. It cuts to the heart of our desire for recognition and praise. Is there anyone who wouldn’t benefit from this kind of conviction? Not a long book–an easy read–but good for the soul.
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The fictional story of a Nigerian young woman who immigrates to the U.S. I didn’t particularly like the main characters or the choices they made, but as an insight into the lives of African immigrants to the United States, this book was brilliant. It’s as educational as non-fiction, yet deeply engages its readers through narrative.
Mom Enough: The Fearless Mother’s Heart and Hope
Are you Mom Enough? No, you’re not, and you never will be. That’s why we need Jesus. This is a collection of essays that is encouraging to any Christian mom.
The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard
by Kara Tippetts
The last words of a young mom dying of cancer, this book is as heart-wrenching as you would imagine it would be, yet full of grace and hope and peace.
by Jeannette Walls
A fascinating memoir on growing up poor in America by very eccentric parents. Beautifully written. What I found most interesting about this story is how it pokes holes in the politically-correct reasons behind poverty. One of those books I can’t stop thinking about, days after I finished it.
by Kay Bruner
Can you tell I’ve been into memoirs recently? Hard truth about the challenges of missionary life, told from the wife’s perspective. Transparent, compelling, thought-provoking, and hopeful. I really recommend this one for missionaries everywhere–especially wives.
by Elizabeth Esther
Memoir of a young woman who grew up in a fundamentalist “Christian” cult and how she eventually escaped. Though her story is extreme, it’s an important book to read because it shows how easy it is for Christianity to go haywire when grace is thrown out of the picture. A somber warning indeed.
Letters Never Sent: A Global Nomad’s Journey from Hurt to Healing
by Ruth Van Reken
Published in the 80’s, this book helped to bring about the “Third Culture Kid” movement, which has identified those characteristics of young people who grow up in between worlds. Recommended for missionaries or adult TCK’s, or for anyone who wants to understand them.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
In the age of Ferguson and Baltimore, this is a really significant book to read right now. This biography is stunningly written–it’s easy to tell why Angelou was also a poet. Important book, but deeply disturbing and definitely not for anyone under 16.
The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family
by Karyn Purvis, David Cross, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine
A MUST read for any adoptive parent. I put off reading this book for a number of years because I thought it was about attachment, and my kids have never struggled with that issue. But it’s really about so much more than attachment and delves deeply into the behavior of adopted kids, why they act they way they do, and gives very practical advice on how to help.
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