Six Books I Recommend – September 2016
Below are three non-fiction and three fiction books I read this month that I can recommend to you.
Nonfiction
1. Essential Enneagram
The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide
by David N. Daniels
Do you know about the Enneagram? It’s a personality typing system and then some. This book isn’t my favorite (The Wisdom of the Enneagram is, so far), but it’s shorter and it’s still helpful. It offers specific practices for spiritual growth for each of the nine types.
2. Without You, There Is No Us
My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite
by Suki Kim
Excellent book by a journalist who went undercover to teach English at a boys’ college in North Korea. Kim’s stories are haunting and sad, but also endearing. I count this an important read to understand more about North Koreans.
3. The Jesus Creed
Loving God, Loving Others
by Scot McKnight
I recommend this re-read because it gets back to the basics: love God, love others. It’s what our Christianity is all about. We too often forget and get distracted.
Fiction
4. The Age of Miracles
by Karen Thompson Walker
A little disturbing, this novel is a coming of age story when the earth’s rotation suddenly begins slowing down, more each day. I have mixed feelings about it, but it’s definitely a book that will get you thinking about how you would react if catastrophe struck, albeit in a gradual way like this.
5. The War that Saved My Life
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
In another coming of age story (this won the WSJ’s Best Children’s Book of 2015), nine-year-old Ada and her brother get moved out of London during World War II to escape the bombings. But the move is interesting when you compare what they leave behind to what they move to.
6. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
by Karen Joy Fowler
Rosemary Cooke tells the story of her life, alluding to some mysterious event that occurred early on. It takes awhile for her to reveal it, and I never would have figured it out on my own. A very unusual but interesting plot.
Reading Now
- The One-in-a-Million Boy
by Monica Wood - The Underground Railroad
by Colson Whitehead - The Road Back to You
An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery
by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
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What are you reading this month? Please share here.
My books on Goodreads
Previous reading lists
- 26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z
- Links, Books, and Other Things I Love – October 2016 Edition
Dear Lisa
“The Jesus Creed” looks good. I have read that “Open Mind Open Heart” twice now, and made plenty of margin notes (in pencil!). Reading these books is only the start though.
I am currently reading Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin. I think it is really really really fantastic. It has a deeply religious feel to it. Have you heard about it? If not, here’s a recent American review (which I haven’t read yet): http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/laurus-sacramental-alan-jacobs/
If we were friends IRL I would buy you a copy for your birthday — though I imagine your “to read” pile is quite hierarchitectitiptitoploftical already.
David
Thanks for telling me about Laurus. I haven’t heard of it until now. I scanned the link and it sounds interesting! But I also bookmarked it so I can return to it later and read it closer when I have time.
I confess I had to look up hierarchitectitiptitoploftical. 🙂 And it very aptly fits my reading list!
Interesting list! I have never heard of the Enneagram, but may need to look into it as personality stuff fascinates me. I remember reading Age of Miracles a couple of years ago and yes, it was kind of disturbing! I woke up for a while afterwards kind of scared about the earth slowing before remembering it was “just a book”!! I’ve heard about “Without You …” I should read it as I know embarrassingly little about either Korea.
If you like personality stuff, you’ll like the Enneagram. Let me know if you check into it! Without You is a gentle read to learn more about North Korea, but for a broader view, check into “Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea” by Barbara Demick. I read it 3 years ago and it was eye-opening.
Interesting list, though I confess that after many years of therapy I don’t really read much about personality.
Most of what I’m reading right now is geared to remaining motivated to keep on living. I’m slipping, in that regard, and need to plug some holes.
Read what helps you, Andrew. I pray you’ll find words that inspire you to stay strong in spirit.
I just finished Warriors don’t Cry and Paperboy recently. Loved both of them. I started reading A Case of Bad Taste yesterday. So far, it is a pretty hilarious book. I also picked up a few other books from the library books that we are sorting through here in Arapal (a fun task because there are sooo many books!). The first edition of Spurgeon’s sermons and The Second Coming of Sodom. I haven’t started those yet.
I’m glad you loved both Warriors Don’t Cry and Paperboy too! I haven’t heard of A Case of Bad Taste but it does sound funny. Those kinds of books are good to have on our nightstands too. 🙂 What fun to sort through so many books even in Arapal! Blessings to you, Ashley.
I think I’ve only heard of Enneagrams here. I should probably see what it is all about some time. The War that Saved My Life and Underground Railroad have piqued my interest.
I was just looking at the comments on my post and saw that we both used the word “piqued” in our comments today. Ha!
Ha. You can tell we’re both word people! That’s funny. 🙂
Both The War that Saved My Life and The Underground Railroad have been enjoyable (albeit painful) reads. The plots are good even though the atrocities can make you cry. The saddest part is that both stories are grounded in real life.
Looks interesting – as i am only picking one book at a time right now i think it would have to be…We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – looks a good one.
Yes, We Are All Completely… is a good one. And a strange one. It kept me engaged from beginning to end!
I shall let you know.
I’ve just posted about one of my recent ones “The Grace Effect.” I’m also reading “The Imperfect Pastor” by Eswine. I am also immersing myself in several books on sex trafficking. And I’m reading “The Reason” by Lacey Sturm.
I saw your review of The Grace Effect on your blog and marked it as a to-read book for myself too. I so appreciate your passion for learning more and doing more to help those being sex trafficked. It’s an area I haven’t stepped a toe into at all yet except for prayers, so I’m all the more appreciative of those of you who are pushing forward.
I really enjoyed The War that Saved my Life but had a hard time with the PC that was put into it.
Without You There Is No Us looks interesting. Off to add it to my TBR list.
It’s funny that after reading The War that Saved My Life, the book I’m reading now is Everyone Brave Is Forgiven. Have you read that one? It’s also a WW2 story from a British perspective (so far, anyway). Usually most WW2 stuff I’ve read in the past has mainly been from the American perspective, so this is broadening my viewpoint. 🙂
I have not read it, but I just put it on hold.
You’re a machine… One of these days, Alice…
Still waiting on your book, Floyd… 🙂
Hi there! I found you on the 5 Minutes for Books, and was interested in your opinion of “The War That Saved My Life”. I *loved* the book – for me as an adult, and my grown daughter loved it too, but she teaches 4th grade and was looking for a good read-aloud for them, and we both agreed that the abuse in this book really makes it NOT the right book for 4th-graders. What age do you think this is really good for? The part at the end was really hard for me to take – no spoilers, but I think you get what I mean. I found it fascinating how the kids didn’t know what sheets were (the bedsheets), and didn’t know how a church might be different from a bank. Have you read Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo? Another great read, but the main character’s dad ran off with the dental hygenist! Another kids’ book I *adored* was “Counting by 7’s”. I continue to look for books appropriate for a 4th grade read-aloud! I also have 7 and 8 year old granddaughters and am looking for wholesome books for them – they read above grade level, but the subject matter of so many books is just not what their parents want them to be reading!!
I totally agree with you and your daughter—I wouldn’t recommend The War that Saved My Life until high school. That might be too conservative for some, but I’d rather err on the safe side where young minds are concerned. My only exception might be for children who have experienced similar abuse and who need to see they are not alone. But that would have to be on a case-by-case basis. It was eye-opening to me, too, to read of the things that they would never have heard of, like sheets! Crazy and sad. 🙁 I have not read Ramie Nightingale nor Counting by 7’s but they sound good. Yes, it is a challenge to find age-appropriate yet engaging material for pre-teen readers. I remember that dilemma when my daughters were around that age. Hope you find some good material!
Hi Lisa! Always love these posts and your current and recent reads! This month I read God Attachment by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Josh Straub, Wholeheartedness by Chuck DeGroat, Catching Heat by Janice Cantore (fiction), If You Can Keep It by Eric Metaxas, and Crossing the Waters by Leslie Leyland Fields. I am currently reading Red Dragonflies by Chris Rossbach and Choose and Choose Again by J. Kevin Butcher.
Ooh, lots of good titles here, Pam! Thanks for sharing your list! I’m never familiar with all of the books but several of the authors I’ve heard of.
I think the one about North Korea sounds fascinating. What an odd country – at least in our news. Thanks for always sharing your list!
Yes, North Korea seems like it’s in a different world altogether. 🙁 It’s very unusual to me, too.