I am a huge fan of reading! It keeps your mind thinking and learning and allows you to see things from other’s perspectives.
I set a reading goal for myself last year and didn’t come close to making it.
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But that’s okay . Because after several off years, reading again became a habit and I made it through many good books. So that is a success.
This next year I hope to read at least double and am currently making good progress.
As you are choosing books to read, I suggest selecting a variety of genres. I’m reintroducing children’s literature into my rotation and so enjoying it. It’s been so great to re-read some of my childhood favorites.
This list does include a lot of non-fiction but I’m hoping that this year I can increase the number of biographies I read.
I’ve divided my reads in these categories:
Children’s Literature (GREAT read aloud options for your kids)
Marriage
Biographies
Diversity
Other (Primarily: spiritual, self help, and parenting )
After the list, I’ll share a few of my favorites from the the past year. Most all of these books are worth reading, but I have a few that come to mind I enjoy talking about.
Children’s Literature
Sarah Plain and Tall
Skylark
Caleb’s Story
More Perfect Than the Moon
The Hundred Dresses
All of a Kind Family
Understood Betsy
The War That Saved My Life
Bud, Not Buddy
Shiloh
Marriage
What Did you Expect Paul David Tripp
The Meaning of Marriage Timothy Keller
When Sinners Say “I Do” Dave Harvey
Diversity
Under Our Skin
Just Mercy
I’m Still Here
Foreign to Familiar
Biography
Other (Spiritual, Self Help, Parenting)
Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
Different
Your Best Year Ever
Book Girl
Hands Free Life
In Bloom
Seeing Yourself through God’s Eyes
Life Together
Nothing to Prove
Own Your Life
Raising World Changers in a Changing World
Just Open the Door
You Can Stay Home With Your Kids
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
Sun Stand Still
Made to Crave
Let’s get to a few favorites. I loved, loved, loved Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus and Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes. My eyes were completely opened to how I have been reading the Bible with my own limited Western view. There is so much there that we miss out on when doing that! I learned so many things and I want to learn more. I highly recommend every believer read these books.
I also very much enjoyed Lady of Arlington. Yes, it was the only biography I read, but it was so interesting. I knew nothing about Mary Lee and basically nothing about Robert E Lee so it was like meeting and getting to know someone for the first time. Mary was a pretty amazing woman.
Paul David Tripp’s What Did You Expect was excellent! So convicting. I have his book Parenting on my list for 2019.
Different was an encouraging read as you parent kids who have their differences. It’s an especially important read for parents with kids who have a lot of different diagnoses – OCD, ADD, ADHD, etc. It’s written by Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan who grew up struggling with being different.
I also discovered that I have a soft spot for children’s novels and rereading them and adult classics I read as a child. They are such a good comfort read. They made me feel at home and happy. Most of my childhood/teen rereads were better than I remembered!
Just Mercy was a hard, good read about inequality and unfairness in our justice system. It is one of those reads that makes you sad and angry.
If hospitality is something that you are wanting to pursue this year, Just Open the Door is a great book! Hospitality doesn’t have to be flashy and impressive, just open your door where you are at.
What were your favorite reads of 2018? For some other great books, check out this list of my favorite reads from a few years ago!
