Silence, Shusaku Endo.
Regarded by many as his masterpiece, Endo’s novel tells the story of a Portuguese missionary in early 17th century Japan who
becomes an apostate. The theme of the book centres around the agony and mystery of the silence of God, made more resounding with the death
of His martyrs. I have never been so hammered and anguished by a book. What is apostasy, the book asks and, can apostasy,
like faith go only skin deep? From my personal curriculum’s Reading List at Scribing. Read Phillip Yancey’s article about Endo’s book here.
Goodbye Chunky Rice, Craig Thompson.
I ventured again into the world of graphic novels, of course playing it safe by reading further into Thompson’s work. A fun,
quick read about love, relationships, and needing to find home. Not a personal autobiography.
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Hmm. Okay, let be upfront: I didn’t read every word. What happened? I know it’s on almost every one’s top 10-100
list and I know I’m supposed to hail it as sheer genius. I don’t deny that. It was beautifully written, I just wasn’t prepared and so I feel like I need Cole’s
notes.
Monday After the Miracle, William Gibson.
A continuation of the story of Annie Sullivan and her student and ‘life work’ Helen Keller. A play that examines the
inseparability of the two heroines lives, Annie’s awakening to romantic love, and a life ruled by work, fame, and the public’s
interest. Fiery, sad, and lively. This guy is good!
Lost in a Good Book, Jasper Fforde.
The adventures of Thursday Next continue in Fforde’s second chronicle about the humble heroine. The plot is at play with truth,0f reality, time, space, and literature. It’s amazing what Fforde gets away with and how innovative is his imagination. Enjoyable to the last page and laugh-out-loud fun.
The Well of Lost Plots, Jasper Fforde.
He does it again. More enjoyment, sass, slapstick and fun.
Something Rotten. Jasper Fforde.
The fourth and what I thought would be the final book in the Thursday Next series. I was wrong about the number, right about the book.
Suite Francaise, Irene Nemirovsky.
The story of this book’s journey to publication, if you have not yet heard, is incredible. An unfinished novel by a Russian
novelist who lived in France and was sent by the Germans to Auschwitz where she died. A very compelling read. The appendices leave you
breathless and sweet with bitterness.
The Power of Blessing, Terry and Melissa Bone.
I love this book. I heard Terry speak the first time I attended Streams Church. Everyone should read it (especially before havingchildren!)
Adventures in Prayer, Catherine Marshall.
A powerful book, and classic I had never heard about. I was visiting my Grandmother on the coast, and perused my late Grandfather’s bookshelf and found Marshall’s work among the many treasures. Her chapters on Persistence and the Secrecy of Prayer were especially challenging to me. I’d sneak away during lunch hour at college and read this noteworthy book that will stand as an encouragement for those who want to grow in prayer for years to come.
Christ the Lord, Anne Rice.
I cracked open the book once again, and enjoyed it immensely. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Amazing Grace, Eric Metaxas.
Such a sobering and enlightening book in many ways. I can’t believe I didn’t even know about this giant of a man until this year! Who teaches history anyway? The world can thank Wilberforce for the many great strides he took to address injustice in the world (ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE) and many other reforms. The movie of which the book inspires is equally fantastic. Oh that I may live a humble, generous, and effective life as Wilberforce!
The Last Disciple, Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer.
What it lacks in style it makes up for in story. Brouwer knows how to spin a yarn. An enjoyable adventure that takes place during Nero’s persecution of Rome.
The Last Sacrifice, Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer.
More or less a page turner, I enjoyed the book but was sad that the story was not yet finished. I hope there is a third and that it remains the foil to Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins’ books in EVERY way, ending with a third and final book! Please Sigmund, finish ‘er off!
See No Evil, Robert Baer.
The book that inspired the movie Syriana, which was one of my top pics of 2006, was interesting, eye opening, and engaging. I need to brush up on my Mid-East history. Baer examines the demise of the CIA as it turns from agents to bureaucrats. Baer makes a good argument about the need for eyes and ears on the ‘enemy’s’ ground. However, if you talk to Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul….
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho.
Everyone and their desert donkey has read this book, including a number of my close friends and family. Everyone raves about it. Everyone has near out of body experiences with this book. I’m not one of them. I enjoyed the story, but wasn’t knocked into the stratosphere. And I’ve gotta say, a few red flags were waving when I read the author’s notes at the book’s end. Enjoyed the Valkyries much more.
Wisdom for Everyday Living, Andrew Kooman.
Well, I read this booklet over and over and over again. Because I wrote it. The project was commissioned by CrossRoads Church in Red Deer as a study guide to go along with an 8-week series on the Proverbs. It’s filled with creative stories, quotes, and discussion points. You can read the online version here. It was a good experience to go deeper with the Proverbs and to marry graphic design with creative writing.
In the Name of Jesus. Henri Nouwen.
“The leader of the future will be the one who dares to claim his irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation that allows him or her to enter into a deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success and to bring the light of Jesus there.” Need I say more. My copy is covered in green pencil crayon. Nouwen unpacks a Christian leadership model by examining Christ’s Temptation in the desert and his words to Peter: do you love me?
Infidel. Ayan Hirsi Ali.
An important book. Terrible, eye-opening, honest, heart-breaking, informative. Women will change the world.
I had an interesting conversation with my friend Shailoh (an intelligent, world-changing woman in her own right) about the importance, ir/relevance, and fidelity of the book. Is its advent 50 years ahead of its time? When I traveled to Holland soon after, Hirsi Ali was in the news in that country once again seeking protection from the men who name her an Infidel.
What is the What. Dave Eggers.
The novelized autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, a so-called Lost Boy from Sudan displaced for years by war and transplanted in the USA. The last paragraph of the book was probably the most incredible paragraph I’ve read in any book for a long time. Deeply affecting as the critics say, Valentino’s story, and the story of the other people he introduces us to make it impossible to pretend they do not exist.
Walking on Water. Madeleine L’Engle.
My friend Cara passed me the book while I was in Colorado. I enjoyed it. L’Engle tries to unpack the unfortunate question What is Christian Children’s Writing, a question she was asked most of her career. She answers the question, by suggesting, like the title, it is full of faith, risk, impulse, and failure. She offers fantastic insight along the way, damning stereotypes and championing artists, children, and readers while trying to work at the appleskin riddles of death, incarnation, sin, and glory caught in her teeth.
