13 Books I Loved Last Year

from my book list to yours

Over my life reading has been both a source of rest and enjoyment, and one of the ways I have learned to be a grown up in life and faith. I have desperately needed the wisdom and experience of others. I have needed to learn how to see the world in new ways. I have needed joy. I like to admire my bookshelf - its my treasure chest, full of valuable gifts that have enriched my life.

Last year I set the (for me) ambitious goal of reading 40 books and with the help of an ample supply of audio books and easy reads, I made it! I’m rather proud.

I’m very excited to pass a few treasures onto you! Of the books I read last year, here are the ones I would most recommend. It’s a truly random list, and in no particular order, but ta daaa! Here it is…

Books with a *** next to them are included as audiobooks on Spotify Premium! If you don’t yet know, you get 15 hours of audiobook listening included each month.

1. To remind you of the gift of reading and to fill your lists with good books – Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

I loved this book so much I just reread (listened to…) it! It was a beautiful exploration of the reading life and it strengthened my commitment to being a woman who reads. Sarah’s writing always re-enchants my vision of the world and I feel like I see the glory of life anew. I also LOVED getting so many book recommendations! I read a few off her lists last year and was not disappointed. This year my to-read-list is thoroughly Clarkson inspired.

2. For those who want to read a classic but need a great love triangle/slow burn romance - Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy***

This was one of those books I tried to get into for months and kept putting down because of the English pastoral style. But once I made it about a quarter through I was hooked! It’s a wonderful, dramatic love triangle story with a plot to rival any modern slow burn romance and a lovely rural setting.

3. For beauty and comfort in darkness – This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

I read this book while we were in Israel and I cannot stop thinking about it. I want to read it again! I feel like it was the best explanation I have read for how God meets us in places of suffering. The author has suffered for two decades with very intense mental illness and her honest account of faith in the face of suffering blessed me deeply. It re-enchanted my vision of the world and strengthened my heart to face my small portion of suffering last year.

4. For something practical and fresh - God and Money by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer

This is HANDS DOWN the best book I have ever read on money. Not that I have read a lot… but STILL. I heard a pastor say this book is essential reading for any middle or upper class Christian and I agree. I also think its amazing for young adults setting up their money habits. The first half was slightly bland but the second was amazing. It’s such a helpful exploration of biblical teaching on money, backed up with super practical advice on how to implement it, and it’s not anything I had ever heard before. It was fresh and insightful and gave me such a desire to live a radically generous life.

5. Encouragement on how to be a follower of Jesus in all the flurry of the modern world – Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

I loved this book. I think it does two things really well. Firstly, it helps us frame the Christian life in the language and terms of the earliest followers of Jesus. Secondly, it does such a great job of grappling with how we actually change. How the life that Jesus talked about goes beyond being a nice idea or an unattainable ideal, to an actual lived reality in our everyday lives. Its honest, practical, gracious and hopeful.

6. For something strange and wonderful - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke****

I gave a longer review of this book at the bottom of this post, but here I will say that it continues to stand out in my mind as a truly unique and interesting book. This story is an alternate history of early nineteenth century England where magicians are respected members of British society, influencing war, politics and the weather. And all the magicians await the return of the Raven King… The way the story ended stabbed my heart with what C.S. Lewis would describe as joy, the longing for the home I have not yet seen.

7. For a gentle dystopia and a reminder of what it is to be human - The Giver by Louis Lowry***

This is a dystopian modern classic and I loved it! Its short, interesting and easy to read. Honestly it’s what I was expecting from Brave New World and didn’t get. It does a beautiful job of exploring what it is to feel, remember and be human. For a dystopian novel it is rather gentle and my little soft heart was surprised and grateful.

8. To help you care for your brain well - The Neuroscience of Self-Love by Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa***

I know, I know, I know, I rolled my eyes too. I almost didn’t read it because of the title and only did because my counsellor recommended it and it was included on Spotify Premium. But it was genuinely so helpful. I cringed over the ‘self love’ language but it was mostly a super balanced account of how we can care for ourselves well as people with a great dose of neuroscience thrown in there. I could take issue with a few things of course, but all in all it was practical, helpful and made a genuine difference for me. Oh and the audiobook is only 3 hours long and read by an Aussie!

9. To help you care for kids well – The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt***

I think this book is important for anyone who has or cares for children or teens. It explores the way that the shift away from a play based childhood and toward a screen based childhood has radically reshaped the experience of growing up. It’s pretty easy to read (or listen to) and has a lot of practical advice on how to help young people grow up healthy. (It’s also not a massive guilt trip.)

11. To make you hungry for prayer – Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton***

This is the only book I have ever read that has genuinely made me hungry for prayer. Its honest and deals with the real struggles we face when wading into the mystery of prayer. At times I could wish the language to be less floury and more balanced and for the scriptural interpretation to be a little more careful. But it’s an honest account of learning to pray and it awakened a desire in me that nothing else had. And its an easy read!

12. To help you think well about marriage before you get there – The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Kellar***

I enjoyed this book but think I would have REALLY enjoyed it in my late teens, early twenties or around the time we got married. It is such a helpful picture of what marriage actually is so that you don’t over idealise it or see it as absolutely essential or else undervalue it. I always love the thoughtfulness and balance of Kellar.

13. To fill your heart with Christmas cheer - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickons***

I try to read or listen to this every Christmas. It’s so short and such a perfect introduction to Dickens. It’s funny and heartfelt and fills me with Christmas spirit! The writing is so delightful if you take the time to push past the unfamiliarity.

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May you be blessed as you read! I have set myself the even more ambitious goal of 50-60 books this year and have a to-read list I’m seriously excited about… will keep you updated…

Rachel