A Taste of Reading

So growing up, in the summer my Mom would take us to the library, and I'd get AS MANY books as my Mom would allow me to get and the SECOND I got into the car, would start reading. I'd even read under my blankets with a flashlight after it was time to go to bed. I was such a book worm and couldn't get enough of reading. So along came high school and college with all of it's busyness and my passion for reading got forgotten. Well folks, I've rediscovered it! I think it started back sometime when I was in Nashville and had finished my Masters. I actually, now that I think of it, think that my passion was sparked by becoming a part of a book club which went by the name of SKOOBS (books spelled backwards!) A mutual friend, Leslie Jones, asked me if I wanted to be a part of a book club with her and a few of her friends. I decided that would be something fun and different to do, so I invited my roommate and we joined a group of four other girls. The group evolved and changed, but we kept meeting for about 2 years. The friendships, times, and discussions with those ladies was precious and such a great experience. In the midst of our book club, we also shared life together-joys, sorrows, challenges, and so much more. To this day I really value each of those lady's friendships-they are each such beautiful and unique women of God-they each have so much to offer the world. AND I realized just how many INCREDIBLE stories there are out there-fiction and non-fiction. Now I can't get enough of reading!

I even actually, don't have a TV in my house right now because I feel like I have the potential of wasting a lot of time watching stuff that really doesn't add value to my life. I'd rather be reading, spending time with people, working out, etc. I'm loving it so far! I got a Nook for this last birthday and although I definitely read paper books still, love the ease and convenience of the Nook.

Some books and authors I've read lately that I'd highly recommend:
Anything by Francine Rivers-especially the Mark of the Lion Trilogy & Redeeming Love. The Mark of the Lion series made me look at the New Testament in a completely different light as the stories are written during the time right after Jesus' death and talk about life in Corinth, Galatia, and many other cities. Redeeming Love is a book that once someone starts reading, they literally can not put it down-this is a great book even for those who typically aren't readers.

The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker-he's a new author I just discovered and this trilogy is one of the BEST I've ever read. So creative and well written and so many underlying connections with Christianity-similar to C.S. Lewis books. I want to read more of his stuff. I think he has another five or so books that are connected to this trilogy. (The Lost Books & The Paradise Novels)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is also a trilogy-I see a pattern here for me. I'm actually on the third book right now. So many twists and turns to these stories. Thus far, I've read for mostly pleasure but know that the stories bring up a lot of social issues and injustices that would be interesting to talk about with people. Very well written and can't put it down.

And then I've also been interested in books that talk about what's going on around the world and some of the injustices that people are facing as well as what people are doing about them. "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin was pretty incredible as was "Sold" by Patricia McCormick and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Each of these stories are pretty heart wrenching at times but also very inspiring. It's hard to know where to start in how I can be involved because I do believe that the Lord calls us to "preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, and release prisoners from darkness." (Isaiah 61:1) I'm praying about that and trying to see what the Lord has for me. In the meantime, I'm going to keep praying and keep reading about what others are doing because I know that sometimes the Lord can speak through others and can ignite a passion in our hearts for the broken through this.

If you've got any book suggestions for me-bring it on! I've got QUITE the list already but always happy to add on a few more!