Great Books to Read 2019 Edition

Hello there, dear reader and welcome to my latest edition of GREAT BOOKS TO READ. You can see all of the past posts like this one by clicking HERE. Over the years these book recommendation posts have been some of my favorite posts to write. I love reading all of the comments you leave below with your own book recommendations. So, thank you for your participation these many years. 🙂

This past year I have to admit to only reading a couple of novels. My focus seems to have been more on memoir style books and other non-fiction reads. I’m surprised to say that only one of the books recommended below is Historical Fiction, which is typically my favorite genre. I suppose I was in need of a little change. 😉 Hoping to read more historical fiction in the coming months and would love to hear of any you would like to recommend.

To enter the $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY leave me a comment recommending one or two (or ten!) books you have enjoyed reading. All genre suggestions welcome. The giveaway will be open from today (September 12th) until Thursday September 19th. Winner will be announced on Friday September 20th. Good luck everyone and thanks again for your participation. Looking forward to your comments.

Now, on to the list…

Daring To Hope: Finding Gods Goodness in the Broken and Beautiful
by Katie Davis Majors
5 STARS

This is the best book I’ve read in many years. I absolutely loved it. It’s a compilation of the thoughts and experiences of Katie Davis Majors who moved to Uganda as an 18 year old young girl, started a ministry and adopted 13 daughters. The writing style is so honest and vulnerable. I appreciated Katie’s generous heart, and her struggle in understanding how God can allow sadness and suffering to happen, even when we are faithful and obedient. I so admire the trust she comes to have in God. Her ability to highlight scripture stories and relate them to modern day life is exceptional. I found myself underlining passages on almost every page. This is a beautiful, important book. I highly recommend it.

 

A Girl Named Zippy
by Haven Kimmel
4 STARS

After reading a string of emotionally heavy books, this was just what I needed. This hilarious memoir is laugh out loud funny and I couldn’t help but be charmed by the author. She seems to be a “real-life” Junie B. Jones, or Ramona Quimby. Quirky, curious, un-ashamed, and totally endearing. Loved it. A great end of the summer book for sure. I ended up listening to the audio-recording while traveling on a long road trip…which was fun, the author is the reader. Highly recommend.

 

The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brene Brown
5 STARS

I loved everything about this book. It really spoke to me on so many levels. Brown’s ideas on letting go of perfectionism, understanding our personal worth and training ourselves to enjoy life more are so refreshing. Loved her references to “the hustle for worthiness” that so many of us struggle with. I think I may have underlined more than 50% of the book as I read. 🙂 Such great thoughts to go back to and reference. I highly recommend it, especially for busy ladies trying to “do it all”.

 

Rising Strong
by Brene Brown
5 STARS

This is just as good as The Gifts of Imperfection (listed above). Some great insights into how to deal with difficult situations in our own lives and with the relationships we have with others. Everything I have ever listened to, watched or read by Brene Brown has been tremendously inspirational. Her cutting edge research into human behavior is so thought-provoking and ultimately life changing. If you haven’t read anything by her, give it a go.

 

Anne Frank Remembered: The story of the woman who helped to hide the Frank Family
by Miep Gies
3.5 STARS

I was so impressed with the courage, strength and willingness Miep Gies exhibited during the time she cared for Anne Frank and her family while they were in hiding. Her story was very interesting, her compassion truly inspirational.

 

My Dear Hamilton: A novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
3.5 STARS

This was a fascinating read about the wife of Alexander Hamilton. I loved her strong, brave character. I was especially touched by the charity work she did in her later years. A very interesting read.

 

 

The Soul of Money and it’s companion audio book Unleashing the Soul of Money
by Lynne Twist
5 STARS

These books are absolutely LIFE CHANGING. They have helped me dig into my finances and make some much-needed changes. They aren’t your typical Money Management books, rather the author focuses on our relationship with money and how we can use the flow of it in our lives for good. It’s part story- telling, part philosophy and part self-help, which I found to be very empowering. If you end up reading them, I’d love to hear what your thoughts are. 😉

 

Life after Darkness: Finding Healing and Happiness after the Cleveland Kidnappings
by Michelle Night
4 STARS

Michelle Night was kidnapped and held hostage for 11 years and suffered more than I can imagine. This book doesn’t focus on those years (at great length), rather she candidly talks about what life has been like for her since her rescue. It’s full of hope and love. To say I admire her strength and courage is a grand understatement. Well worth the read.

 

Send Down the Rain
by Charles Martin
3 STARS

I love Charles Martin and while this wasn’t my favorite of his books I ended up liking it quite a lot, especially the ending. It reminded my a lot of watching the popular TV series 24 (any fellow fans out there?) where you can hardly believe the number of traumatic/life-changing/awe-inspiring events taking place hour after hour when the hero of the story can solve any problem with his cunning mind and exceptionally strong muscles and even though is seems far-fetched, you can’t help but watch. This book is a lot like that. Fast paced, intense, with a hero that can do it all. I loved the plot twists and satisfying ending.

What if It’s True? A Storyteller’s Journey with Jesus
by Charles Martin
4 STARS

This book, also by Charles Martin is part story telling, part personal testimony and conviction of Jesus Christ. In the first part of each chapter he tells one of the New Testament Stories. These familiar stories of the bible really come to life as he imagines what the characters might have been feeling and experiencing as they meet and come to know Jesus Christ. After the story telling sections he goes on very candidly describing how the principles learned in the bible have become personal to him and how he sees his relationship with Christ. It’s a fascinating read and one I felt very drawn to.

 

An Invisible Thread: The true story of an 11-year old panhandler, a busy sales executive and an unlikely meeting with destiny
by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
4 STARS

I loved this book. I listened to the audio version, which means my teenage sons heard a lot of the book while we were driving around in the car. They loved it as well. Here’s what my boy Aaron (age 13) had to say about it. “I love hearing these kind of stories, it makes you appreciate everything you have.”
Is that not worth having your kids read or listen to it, truly? It is. 🙂

This is the true story about an 11-year-old boy living in New York City who panhandles for money to fund his meals. One day he meets a woman walking down the street who offers to buy him dinner. It’s such a wonderful story, truly. Highly recommend for all ages.