Eleven Books

This is my semi-lame “Best Books I’ve Read This Year” entry. It’s semi-lame because I only read eleven. Or at least that’s all I remember. Some I didn’t quite finish. If I wanted to write a “Best Of” entry that was not lame, it wouldn’t be very interesting. “Best New Ways to Use Hamburger” comes to mind, as does “Best Ways to Multitask While Giving the Appearance that Your Child Has Your Undivided Attention.” On the other hand, at least I did read 11 books this year—and skimmed several others to write book reviews. That’s a handful more than last year. And many left a powerful impression on me. So here’s my semi-lame list, offered to you because 1) it reflects my year’s spiritual/emotional/intellectual journey, and 2) it seems like a blogger thing to do.

Rock-My-World Favorites
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul by David L. Goetz

The first helped me understand Kevin; the second helped me understand myself. Dr. Laura’s book is a must-read for any woman who doesn’t get her husband. And if you’re lucky enough, like me, to get your husband to go through it first and highlight the parts that most apply to him, all the better. Suburb cemented a lot of the ponderings and stirrings I’ve had during the past two years. The author lives a parallel life to mine and apparently wrote this book just for me. Especially chapter six, which hits the nail on my suburban head. It’s all pretty offensive stuff, especially chapter six, but I devoured every word.

Revelations of a Single Woman: Loving the Life I Didn’t Expect by Connally Gilliam
After finishing the book, I e-mailed the author, an acquaintance, and called it, “Loving the book I didn’t expect.” Struggle is struggle, and Connally shares hers with the kind of transparency and authenticity I didn’t think existed anymore.

Expand-My-World Books
Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development by John M. Perkins
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter
Both reflect my growing interest in the poor and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Perkins has spent his life loving and caring for our country’s urban poor, and he makes me want to do the same. Carter’s book was a decent, straight-forward introduction to the history of the Middle East conflict. Both books made me think. Ouch.

Spiritual-Growth Books
Intercessors Arise: Personal Prayer that Changes the World by Debbie Przybylski
An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale
When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg

All three influenced, if only for a time, my thinking about God. I got more out of the quotes in Intercessors than the actual words of the writer. Dale’s stories are almost too incredible to believe, but the same could be said of God. John Ortberg could write 224 pages about cockroaches and have me riveted. Luckily, he chooses more interesting topics.

And Finally, Fiction
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
The Shack by William P. Young

Engaging writing can do a lot for a sad story, which is about all I have to say about the first two. Chesil Beach was especially disheartening. (At least it was short.) I didn’t get caught up in the maelstrom that was The Shack; I actually just read it because I was paid to. Liked the story, loved the way-way-outside-the-box portrayal of God, but other parts made me want to beat my head against heavy objects. If my daughter had been abducted and was presumed dead, the last thing I’m going to want to talk to God about—should I get the chance to hang out with Him—is the relational dynamics of the trinity. The dialogue didn’t feel real to me, though I applaud the author for his creativity and chutzpah.

Books to Read in 2009
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (because I’m a sucker for a sad, engaging story?)
Redeeming Love (because I’ve gotta try Francine Rivers some time, and the book of Hosea intrigues me)
Un-Christian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters (curious)
365 Days by Charla Muller (intriguing, but hope my husband doesn’t get any ideas)
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (heard a lot about it)
The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer (sent by a friend)
Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
by N. T. Wright (recommended by a friend)
Abandoned By Stanley Telchin (recommended by my sister-in-law; a Jewish perspective to balance out all I've learned from my Muslim-oriented friends)
More by John M. Perkins

Any other suggestions?