At the beginning of 2017, I began what I like to call The Book Project. I challenged myself to reading a book a week for the entire year. You see, I’d grown pretty lazy when it came to reading. (Plopping down at the end of a long day to watch a Friend’s episode was so much easier…)
But I’m loving this challenge so much, and I thought that some of you would be interested in hearing some of the books I’ve been reading. Plus, I’d love your suggestions of additional books I should put on my list.
The Book Project
My list of books will be a jumble. There will be some writing and business books, and I’m leaning heavily on memoir at the moment. Some of the books I’m reading haven’t been released yet, and I’ve read those in order to offer endorsements for them. I’ll tell you more about those as the release dates get closer.
The ones in bold are the ones I’ve completed reading. Those not in bold I’m in the process of reading.
Just because the book is on the list, doesn’t mean that I recommend it. (I would love to get back the way too many hours I spend on The Cookbook Collector. Others loved it. Me? Not so much.) Rather, this is a list of what I’m reading and the challenge I am taking on.
Hillbilly Elegy is just stunning. An Invisible Thread was tremendous and touching, and Kitchen Confidential was a riot.
But the book I’m recommending right now is Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. This is possibly the best memoir I’ve read in my life. Trevor is the late-night host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Born in South Africa to a white dad and a black mom during the time of Apartheid, Trevor spends his formative years learning how to lie about who he was and who his parents were in order to stay on the right side of the law. An amazingly funny, touching and personal book. Loved it.
My current list of books
So here is where I’m at so far for my 2017 book challenge.
- Making Love Last: Divorce-Proofing Your Young Marriage Laura Taggart (Releasing July 4th, 2017)
- Hillbilly Elegy By J.D. Vance
- Doing Busy Better Glynnis Whitwer (Releasing July 4th, 2017)
- EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches Dave Ramsey
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- An Invisible Thread Laura Schroff and Alex Trusniowski
- Kitchen Confidential By Anthony Bourdain
- How to Listen So People Will Talk Becky Harling (Releasing August 1, 2017)
- The Cookbook Collector Allegra Goodman
- Loving My Actual Christmas Alex Kuykendal (Releases Sept 5th, 2017)
- The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
- Disrupted Dan Lyons
- Drinking: A Love Story Caroline Knapp
I’ll update you as I add more titles to the list on my year challenge, The Book Project.
So please, tell me what other books I should add to the list. Great memoirs, stunning fiction, helpful non-fiction? I want it all.3
Miracle on Voodoo Mountain: A Young Woman’s Remarkable Story of Pushing Back the Darkness for the Children of Haiti By: Megan Boudreaux
She Is Mine: A War Orphan’s Incredible Journey of Survival
By: Stephanie Fast
Bread & Wine, by Shauna Niequist
Toxic Charity, by Robert D. Lupton
How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird, by Amy Lively
Love Does, by Bob Goff
Ruthless Trust, by Brennan Manning
Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall, Denver Moore & Lynn Vincent
Anything by Dr. Caroline Leaf will challenge your brain! And how about a new-ish Bible translation called The Passion Translation? You can buy books from the Bible separately, e.g. “Mark: Miracles and Mercy,” or “The Psalms: Poetry on Fire.” I recommend “Song of Songs: Divine Romance.” It’s a fresh view of this romantic book of the Bible! This translation will stir up your love for Jesus!
Taking Flight (a super powerful memoir of a war orphan who dreams of being a professional ballerina)
Same Kind of Different as Me (true story of a modern day slave and a woman who had a passion for the homeless)
If you’re looking for a good memoir, try “When We Were the Kennedys” by Monica Wood. It’s sad, tragic, poignant, and hopeful–sometimes at the same time. And beautifully written. One of my favorite memoir reads ever.
Your Book Project sounds awesome! Looking forward to hearing how it’s going through the year!
Sharon GarloughBrown’s series Sensible Shoes. These books have rich stories and journeys of faith. When I finish her book I actually grieve because I have to wait for the next release. Here’s Sharon’s website: https://www.sensibleshoesclub.com/?utm_campaign=a4952206c0-Sensible_Shoes_News_34&utm_medium=email&utm_source=IVP%2BUpdates&utm_term=0_eb777a08ef-a4952206c0-86324361
Anything by Mitch Albom or Max Lucado or Karen Kingsbury.
The Shack by William Paul Young
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
Shaken by Tim Tebow
True Strength by Kevin Sorbo
Save Me From Myself by Brian “Head” Welch
Stronger: Forty Days of Rock, Jesus, and Salvation by Brian “Head” Welch
I also loved the Brian Welch books! And The Nightingale is A MUST MUST MUST! I listened to that on Audiobook, just hauntingly beautiful.
Chop Chop by LN Cronk and the rest of the books in the series.
What Alice Forgot. Liane Moriarty. I read this one in less that 24 hours it was that good.
Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis! Wonderful book.
Yes, Lilac Girls was Great. “We Were the Lucky Ones” by Georgia Hunter, “The Kitchen House” by Kathleen Grissom, “Yellow Crocus” by Laila Ibraham, “When the Moon is Low” by Nadia Hashimi are also great reads
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (the story of the Great Migration of free blacks from south to north in early 20th century America) was a revelation. Check it out if a hefty (500+) page count doesn’t scare you. It may take more than a week but it will be sooo worth it!
QBQ by John G Miller is one of my all-time faves. It’s a quick read with some great business/life advice. I used to buy a copy for all my employees.
“A.D. 30” and “A.D. 33” by Ted Dekker
“The Chiveis Triology (Book1-The Sword, Book 2-The Gift, Book3-The Kingdom)”
by Bryan M. Litfin
“The O’Malley Series” by Dee Henderson or anything else by Dee Henderson
These are some of my favorites to read over the past year. Glad you are challenging yourself to do this! Awesome idea!
Thanks so much for all you do for all of us, your readers and prayer warriors.
Love this idea. 🙂 Thanks!
I recently finished reading ‘Love Lives Here’ by Maria Goff, absolutely loved it! And ‘At Home in the World’ by Tsh Oxenrider makes me want to pack my bags and fill up my passport. My reading goal this year is to read books I already own, especially ones I have on my Kindle 😉
My husband is an avid reader. I’m trying to read books he has read so we can talk about them on our date nights. My daughters read a lot of books for college. They love to pass on their books to me to get my thoughts on them. A good way to connect with my family.
I recommend anything by Leslie Ludy! She is a grounded and mature woman of God. As I survey the landscape of our church I see women lacking in discernment and wisdom. Leslie’s books, “Set Apart Womanhood” and “Set Apart Motherhood” are excellent.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly was SO good! I’m not normally a historical fiction buff, but I couldn’t put this one down.
I agree that Lilac Girls was amazing!! This is a must read!!
I’m reading Made For More by Manna Ko right now and loving it!