I decided it was again time for a
book related post mainly for the benefit of those who follow me on Goodreads.
My Goodreads 2016 Challenge lists 164 books surpassing my goal of 150 (actually
my original goal was 100 but I increased that when I realised it had become
irrelevant…)
In compiling my list, I have
tried to cover a wide range of genres and sub-genres which is quite tricky as I
read a lot more biographies, (especially by or about missionaries,) than anything else. I prefer books with a clear
Gospel message and Christian purpose in writing. The best books are those where
the message does not feel “tagged on” but is a central focus of the book
without it necessarily being immediately obvious to the reader—it doesn’t feel
awkward but is woven into the narrative.
The majority of the books I
recommend here are clean—no bad language or sexual content and limited graphic violence. The books appear in
the order I read them in 2016.
1. Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage,and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis. I don’t read a lot of war stories
but this looked unusual. The title summarises the book. I was surprised by how
much I enjoyed the book. I was inspired by the author’s reliance on and trust
in God in terrible circumstances. There is some graphic violence which may upset some readers.
2. The Hidden Altar. This
gets my vote for best fiction by a self-published/indie author. The book actually
tells two stories in alternating chapters. One story is set in the modern
church and the other several centuries ago. They describe the persecution of
Christians in different eras. There
are some violence and torture scenes that may bother some readers.
3. Counter Culture: A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World ofPoverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion,Persecution, Orphans and Pornography. Again the title gives the game away
here. This book was my introduction to the author David Platt. I have since
read his books Radical and Follow Me and can also recommend them. In my view
Platt is a better author than speaker—I tried to listen to his sermons a few times
but didn’t get on with the style. Although at times tending to extremes, Platt
is a necessary voice in an age of apathy about serious biblical issues.
5. Edges of Truth: The Mary Weaver Story. This biography appealed to me
due to my interest in criminal justice/police/prisons and the court system due
to my former profession. In this case it was a miscarriage of justice. It is
rare to find a book like this written by a Christian and the author has done a
fantastic job in keeping the focus where it should be.
6. Peace Child. Somehow, I had missed this missionary biography
despite it being on all of the best seller lists in Christian circles--I only
got around to reading it last year. Richardson has a gift for taking the reader
with him, I’m sure he adds a certain amount of creative detail but it works albeit with some graphic violence. I
also enjoyed Lords of the Earth but Peace Child was my favourite.
7. Father of Faith Missions: The Life and Times of Anthony Norris Groves(1795-1853.) This lesser known missionary biography may turn out to be my
all-time favourite. It could be listed in the history genre being jam-packed
with stories from the field and lessons in life—well, at over 600 pages it
would have to be! The author provides an interesting overview of early Brethren
circles and the well-known Christian figures of the day. Indeed, on the front
cover there is a tree showing how Groves is connected to all of these people in
one way or another.
Missionary biographies that I
also read in 2016 and can recommend include; Behind the Ranges: The Life Changing Story of J.O. Fraser, John G.Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, My Heart in His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma, Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman, J. Hudson Taylor: A Man in Christ and When Iron Gates Yield (I had
to put them somewhere!)
8. Worship: The Ultimate Priority. Those who follow my reviews won’t
be surprised to see a John MacArthur book amongst my favourites for 2016. He
provides an overview of biblical worship emphasising that it is a way of life
for a Christian and not just about music. This book reminded me of the
greatness and majesty of God.
9. The Sparrow Found a House (Sparrow Stories #1.) Outside my usual reading
genre but nevertheless enjoyable, the author has written a wholesome family
series dealing with a lot of issues that Christian teens and young adults will
face in this generation. I read this because a friend asked me for a
recommendation for her teenagers—there is a gap in the market for this type of
literature.
10. Chase Away Cancer. I read a fair number of Christian biographies
last year. Some authors seem to tag God on to their stories and don’t seem to
be trusting Him completely. Others take a single event and try to fill the
pages of a book resulting in a monotonous reading experience. Still others have
theological issues that trouble me or too much charismatic experience as the
focus. This book avoids all of my pet peeves and tells the compelling story of
a young boy suffering from cancer and his family’s attempts to help him whilst trusting God.
I hope my list provides you with some
new recommendations, feel free to comment on my selection. Let’s
keep our reading choices focused on God—how we can be inspired, grow spiritually
and benefit from the life lessons of others.
