the Good & the New: Books

I'm thankful for Goodnight Moon, Love You Forever, The BFG, and the Narnia series. I'm thankful for the Christy Miller series, To Kill a Mockingbird, Brave New World, and all the Khaled Hosseini books. Of all the things I've loved, reading seems to be the hobby that never gets old. There's always a new book or new characters to discover. There are old favorites to read and reread every year or so, wrapped up in a blanket on your couch. Books are our comfort, our escape, our teachers, and somehow, our friends. For many of us, we feel forever tied to the characters and words of our favorite books.

I began a new book for class today, and while the other four required texts were decent reading material, this one was something incredible. I opened the book of a familiar author, and was almost immediately in tears at the recognition of what I needed to read. This book was speaking words I'd been desperate to put together. I felt affirmed and challenged all at once. And once again, I realized the power of words and the impact books have on us.

Books have literally changed my life. I've learned to trust God more deeply because of books. I've grown in my understanding of compassion through books. I've been comforted and healed through books. I have no doubt that God is a Creator that enjoys the art of writing. His story is the most significant and beautiful one yet. Writing, in its depth and vulnerability, often seems like a direct connection to God. This idea is put so well in Marilynne Robinson's book Gilead: "For me writing has always felt like praying, even when I wasn't writing prayers, as I was often enough. You feel that you are with someone..."

A book makes you feel like you are with someone. In my short life, I've learned that the best books challenge us and point out our personal need for growth. At the same time, the best books should open our eyes to life beyond ourselves - to a bigger, broader world and to the God who created it all.

I love reading, but I'm not great at it. I'm often in the middle of two or three, or four or five, books at a time. Presently, I have three books I'm steadily moving through. Sometimes I go in spurts of ravenous reading. I find a book, hide out in my back room and read for hours. Others times, I read in between meetings and laundry loads. I have no great method, no list of classics in my repertoire, no plans for my own novel. But I always have a book on me. And I'm always in the middle of something.

As I've been thinking about books and the impact they've had in my life, I thought of five truly significant ones. These are five of the most powerful, challenging, beautiful works I've every read. I will never be the same again because of these books (and many others).

This book brought healing in a dark, sorrow-filled season. It brought life and challenge and joy. Shauna Niequist fills the pages with essays and anecdotes about what it means to truly be "around the table" with people. Plus, you want to eat everything in here. I've made so many dishes from the recipes in this amazing little book.

I experienced this book late in life, and I am sad for that. But when I read it last year, I was so excited to finally get my hands on this classic. This is a whimsical, smart book that highlights the mystery and majesty of God. The characters are endearing and funny, and you just want to crawl into this magical world. This will be a reread for sure.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. There is adventure and mystery, nostalgia and warmth all wrapped up in this one. It's one of those books you yearn for in fall and winter because it feels like home. It's a story of faith and redemption, and I was overwhelmed by the way God used these words in my life. Read it.

Bird by Bird is a funny, practical book about writing and life. For writers, there is such great encouragement in here. At the same time, she gets real with you and tells you that writing is hard work. It's genuine, raw, and insanely enjoyable.

Next to my Bible, this is the book I keep close at hand. I've given this book away to friends and family because I find it that significant. Nouwen is one of my favorite writers, and this book emphasizes his journey through prayer. The humility in his words is inspiring, and I can't learn enough from this book. I pick it up once or twice a week to revisit bookmarked pages and marked up paragraphs. I've grown in prayer and character because of these words.

Today, I'm thankful for books and for the gift of written word. It will never get old, and it will always draw me in. I need to go read something now.