Super Summer Readers

I love reading, but I have a tendency to be a little obsessive when I pick out books.  I get engrossed in a subject, and when I read one book I like, I go back and read every book on that shelf.  My goal for this year was to be more well rounded in my reading choices and pick out books from all over the library.  
I made a list of 12 books covering a variety of subjects.  Currently I am on book #5 in the 6^th month so I am not too far behind.  If you are looking for a good book for your summer reading here are a few suggestions!

·         Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers-So many people told me to read this book that I finally gave in.  This book was waaaaay off the shelf for me, but that was part of my goal.  (Confession: I have only read one other fictional book since high school!  I read a lot but obviously not a lot of fiction.)  To my utter surprise I was captivated by this book.  This story is a parallel to the story of Hosea from the Bible: a woman bought out of prostitution and won over by love.  I realized that while I had been praying for months for a deeper understanding of the love of God, I never dreamed that a fictional book would bring me there.  Understanding God’s love humbles me. It causes me to be less judging of others and creates in me a heart of gratitude.

·         Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver-I have read many books about food, but this one was different.  Most of the food books I read are concerned with health and nutrition and are more along the lines of differentiating good fats from bad fats or an explanation of traditional diets and ways of cooking.  This food book had very little to do with nutrition and focused on ethical and economical food and agricultural choices.  It chronicles one family’s quest to eat locally for an entire year.   Their goal is to understand where their food comes from, reduce the gas miles on the food they eat, and support their local community.  Kingsolver writes in a more “flowery” language than I am accustomed to reading, but I did find the insights on personal responsibility and food politics very interesting.  Summer is the perfect time to read this book, because you just may find yourself wanting to visit a farmers market or roadside stand after you read it!

·         The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom-This book was not originally on my list, but a friend put up a quote from Corrie Ten Boom on Facebook a couple of months ago, and I knew I had to reread it.   I first read this book in Jr. high, so it is not a difficult book to read from a literary stand point, but that is not to say that it is not challenging from a spiritual stand point.  The Hiding Place is an amazing autobiography of a Dutch woman who hides Jews during World War II, is caught and is sent to a concentration camp with her sister. The choices that Ten Boom and her family had to make are unimaginable.  Their faith and courage are inspirational.  This is a book I want my kids to read some day.

 

Fiction, food and history…I think that is a variety of books!   If you have read any of these books I would love to know what you thought about them.  Any book suggestions for me?  I am always open to adding a great book to the list!

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