I fell behind in my reading this year; only 24 books compared to 2018’s 42! I suppose starting grad school accounted for the slow down!

Nevertheless, I finished some good ones this year. Here a a few of my favorites and quotes!

Fiction (plus based on true stories):

Beartown by Frederick Bachman – Like A Man Called Ove, very real characters draw you into this story. A failing industrial town is held together by hockey, and nearly ripped apart by an assault and tragedy.

We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter – a fictionalized account of the true story of one Polish Jewish family that survived the Nazis. Through perseverance, faith, and a devotion to family, they survived atrocities and horrors that I could never dream of.

The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – another fictionalized account of a true story from World War II. The horrors of Auschwitz are all too real in this story, and yet the ability of many of the prisoners to retain their humanity despite the circumstances, is truly inspiring. In this story, love wins.

(I’m currently in the midst of two of my favorites for the year but won’t finish them before midnight – you’ll have to wait a year to find out!)

Non-fiction:

Anatomy of the Soul by Dr. Curt Thompson – I’m so grateful for the writings of Dr. Thompson. His insight into the human soul and how God has wired us as humans has been eye-opening and soul-enlarging for me.

A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss by Jerry Sittser – this is a book I had to take my time through, the entire year in fact. It is heavy and a lot to take in and it is one of the best I’ve read. The human condition is filled with loss, and Sittser knows it well – losing his mother, wife, and one young daughter instantly in a tragic car crash. Reading his reflections on loss, and how God works in us and through these times, was like sitting down with an old friend, and being known and understood. His guidance on facing our pain and darkness is loving and inspiring.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scarzerro – I loved this book and the lessons within on integrating our emotions with our spirituality. It’s truly beautiful to understand how God has created us as humans; when we understand how important every aspect of ourselves is, we can grow.

Politics and Prudence by Clark Forsythe – This was a realistic and yet hopeful reminder of the value of perseverance and prudence in policy and politics.

A new year lies ahead, with stacks of books surrounding me. I can’t wait to dive in!

We may be entering the futuristic year of 2020, but may we all rediscover the old-fashioned blessing and joy of a printed book.