Reading at least a few chapters of a book is a worthy goal for each day. One app I have recommends a half hour of reading. Seems doable to me!
Since I have at least a thousand books in my collection begging to be read, I’m attempting to be discerning as to where I spend my reading time. To wit, I went to a public library book sale over the weekend and confess I was tempted by Kitty Kelley’s old biography of Nancy Reagan.
I know, from reading a few, that the biographies Kelley wrote are gossipy and thorough. She will find and interview the boy who hated you in first grade. You do not, I repeat not, want to be one of her subjects.
I thought, Do I need to learn about every sin Nancy Reagan ever committed and what every enemy thought of her? She’s passed away; and her era is history, however nostalgic we may be for the Reagan Years. I instead purchased 10 Things Jesus Never Said and Why You Should Stop Believing Them by Will Davis, Jr.
This choice doesn’t make me a good person. Buying any book at this point confirms that I am a severe book addict adding to my collection faster than I can read it. But at least I chose a short and intriguing volume.
My name is Tamela, and I am a book addict. Therefore, I refuse to discuss my trip to another bookstore and the four books I bought there later that same afternoon.
Your Turn
What book are you currently reading? Are you in the process of reading more than one book at any given time?
Other than the Bible, what book has inspired you the most in your personal life? What about your writing journey?
Other than the Bible, what is your favorite book of all time and why?
First Lines Are Kinda Important
I’m surprised that I’ve already read a dozen books this year! Reviewed most of them on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub. Just published my first book, “Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II” in November! Have two more to go, and I’m 75! One of my favorite recent books is “Things Unseen: Living in the Light of Forever” by Mark Buchanan, but mostly read historical fiction and history, especially WWII. Favorite book of all time? How do you choose?
What lovely questions for books addicts (no plan forever here). I’m just finishing Dark Prophecy by Lynette Eason. I often have a physical book, a Kindle book and an audio book on the go. My audio is Lonestar Sanctuary by Colleen Coble and I’m about to start The Major’s Daughter by Regina Jennings.
As a writer I was completely inspired by Karen Kingsbury’s early Baxter family novels and the way they communicated the gospel without overly preaching.
And besides the Bible, 12 Ordinary Men has inspired me, along with The Divine Conspiracy.
For fiction, I return to Becky Wade’s Porter Family series and David Eddings Belgarion over and over.
Just finished an ARC of Mesu Andrews’ Isaiah’s Legacy.
The one that comes to mind for last year that the Lord used to unearth places I needed to change and heal was And The Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers
The book that influenced me more than any outside of the Bible, was Elisabeth Elliot’s Through Gates of Splendor.
Right now I’m reading Killing LIncoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. My daughter downsized her book collection and sent that one my way.
Yesterday someone sent me an older book called My Dream of Heaven by Rebecca Ruter Springer. So yes, I sometimes read several books simultaneously.
I’m reading The Power of Habit for a writing a course, but I’m really enjoying it. Also one of the Zion Chronicles books by Boede Thoene.
I used to be a voracious reader, consuming all sorts of books at a breakneck speed. As a young child, we had the library’s book-mobile come every Saturday morning and I would check out 10 books at a time! I’ve slowed down somewhat. I have two books I’m currently reading (other than my Bible): “These Truths” by Jill Lepore. 900+ pages of American history. Fascinating. Troubling. Eye-opening. She is fair (mostly) to Christians. The second is a book swap with a Humanist my husband encountered at the gym. Phil talks Jesus a lot and wanted to engage the man, so he offered him “Letters to a Skeptic.” Gym-man said, ok, if you read my book: “Creating Change Through Humanism.” But Phil didn’t want to read it; let Wife read it and give him the bullet points! Some of it makes me squirm. Also troubling. But it is worth knowing what an atheist believes so that I can “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks, yet with gentleness and reverence.” And the favorite book of all time? At first thought, Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God daily devotional. Keeps my soul from going off the edge most days, even though I filled it (the journal) up 15 years ago.
My favorite book? Is there such a thing?? How do you choose your favorite child??
Most impactful? C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce.”
As to reading multiple books at once… I usually read a book in one sitting so no. Reading now? Waiting to read Patrick Carr’s newest!
Just began reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Gallahan before I finished reading Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure. The latter is a powerful testimony of God’s work in the life of a popular actress, and I’m really enjoying the start of Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Probably my favorite book of all time is No Graven Image by Elisabeth Elliot. It speaks to my Christian life and my writing life in that it reminds me the outcome of whatever I attempt in life is in God’s hands. No matter what success I have or fail to have, God is in control.
I’m always reading 30+ books at any given time, and hardly finish any of them. Andrew Murray’s “Abiding in Christ” devotional changed my life. And The Lord of the Rings is my favorite set of books, because they’re just always enjoyable to read, no matter how many times I read them.
Oh Tamela, Tamela, Tamela . . .
You’ve poked, squeezed, and pinched a nerve with me here. I’m a book addict. My stack is high and dusty. I’ll buy a book just because it looks cool, even though I know there’s little chance I’ll actually get around to reading it.
Just finished “First, Break All the Rules,” a book on management style, and Anne Lamott’s “Plan B – Further Thoughts on Faith.”
Next up, I’m toying with the idea of tackling Douglass’ “The Robe.” But yikes! That thing is about seventeen inches thick.
Oh my goodness, yes! This year I am feeling my book addiction, especially since I’ve been in a reading rut for the past few years. My hubby’s like “That’s all you have on your wish list?” Ha!
I just finished Plot Gardening by Chris Fox, Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, and Daughter of Shades by Sylvia Mercedes. This month alone! I don’t normally read more than one book at a time, maybe two if one is nonfiction and the other fiction.
I am currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to my kiddos at night, Save The Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, and 52 Little Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life by Bob Welch. I’m also rereading The Mental Game of Writing by James Scott Bell, and I am about to start James L. Rubart’s The Pages of Her Life or Illusionary by Desiree Williams.
A book that has inspired me…. there’s been different ones for different reasons. But Christy by Catherine Marshall was a turning point for me, pointing me to Christ and beginning my walk with the Lord. For my writing journey….oh that is so hard…I’ve read so many books, each building upon the next. I remember reading Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy years ago and wishing it had been available when I first started writing.
Favorite book of all time? I can’t…I just can’t…BUT The Tales of Goldstone Wood Series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl are at the top of my favorites. 😀
Thanks, Jennette! I somehow missed “52 Little Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life.” I read Bob Welch’s “52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol” and loved it. Going to have to find that book! Thanks again. 🙂
You’re welcome, Joey! We received the book for Christmas along with a little bell ornament that had an angel wing charm. It was a perfect Christmas gift, and I’m enjoying the book thus far. I had no idea there were similar books. I’ll have to check it out for next Christmas. 🙂
😉
Shall we discuss the roughly twenty old books I picked up last week from a college library sale — for $1 total?!
Since I’m held in brutal thrall
to cancer’s dark and raging need
to tear my life, then take it all,
I fight back with what I read.
Not so much the tales of those
who’ve walked the road I’m on;
I have enough with my own woes,
my waiting for a blood-dimmed dawn.
I gain, instead, my strength from fun,
from a world that may still live
beneath a distant smiling sun,
to which I may fain give
the way in which I yet take part,
all my love, and all my heart.
Favourites:
‘Airborne’ by Neil Williams, his memoir of airshow flying
‘Head in the Clouds’ by Gron Edwards, memoir of learing to fly in the prewar RAF
‘Luck of the Devil’ by Tony Dudgeon, memoir of prewar flying on the Northwet Frontier
‘All Creatures Great and Small’ by James Herriot, which needs no introuction
My name is Joyce and I’m also a bookaholic. I usually am reading three or four books at the same time. Right now I’m just finishing A Life on the Road by Charles Kuralt. I love the Botswana series by Alexander McCall Smith, and I need to get the latest one that just came out. Cozy mysteries are my fun reading, but I also like to get my teeth into whatever Timothy Keller writes having just finished his book on prayer. I guess you might say my reading habits are quite eclectic.
I love connection with other addicts. Mostly because we encourage the feeding of our book addiction instead of ridding ourselves of it! Great post. I am currently reading Ted Dekker’s The 49th Mystic. Totally out of my genre but I heard him speak on the craft of writing so I was a bit intrigued to explore his style. (Face it, if I don’t have a book to read I’ll read the cereal box.) That said, the book other than the Bible that continues to inspire me me is Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place. I love seeing God’s hand at work in the most unlikely places.
In my senior year of high school, 1997, I came across “The Four Pillars of Manhood” by Stu Weber. I don’t remember much from it but I know I kept its message with me as I went on. I found it important enough to give it to a friend who just had a son at the age of 15. He read it and it stuck with him too. I believe it helped us both
My name is Steven and I am a book addict . . .
If ebooks count, that is.
Reading has been a pleasure since I was a small boy in an abusive household. While the rest of the family watched TV I would slip away to the other room and read (and re-read if I didn’t have one I hadn’t read) the books that my Grandmother gave me. It started with the Happy Hollisters children’s mystery novels. The writer used the pseudonym Jerry West. Every kid in LA at the time knew Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers. I was disappointed to find that he didn’t write them, but it was nice to see a non-dysfunctional family and losing myself in them.
My wife and I share an account on Amazon, so our Kindle apps have the same books on them. She usually uses the Nook app, which is separate from mine.
The other day she looked at the Kindle app on her phone and her eyes bugged out at the number of ebooks on it. I was kind of glad she couldn’t see how many were on my Google Play Books and Nook apps.
Perhaps I need help . . .
Ahhh, forgot to mention favorites:
Fiction – Les Miserables
Non – The Body by Chuck Colson . . . the first Christian book I ever read.
The Bible, currently in my 30th time reading through it.
I love reading fiction, but every time I read biographical material, I learn something new.
My name is Cindy and I am an official member of the book addict group. At this time I see no way out. I have four books in progress at this point. A historical from the Mayflower series. Non-fiction – How to Keep Your Head on Straight in a World Gone Crazy by Rick Renner. One on writing by Janice Hardy and another fiction book by Michael Philips.
I have a library of unread books on Kindle and in print. And I put two more on my Kindle last night.
This confession would make my friends laugh and my daughter groan.
Favorite – I too cannot pick just one. Little Women still ranks very high for me.
Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer still haunts my thoughts and I hope it does for the rest of my life.
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson is on my reread list for this year.
Thank you, Tamela, for letting me know I am not alone.
A fun question, Tamela, and I’m enjoying everyone’s answers. Some new books here for me to check out!
What I’m reading today: Roseanna White’s The Number of Love. Her mathematician heroine really captures the passion for her work of a real woman working in scitech (I’m a scientist, so I resonate with her!), and the plot has already made me read instead of write. It’s dangerous to pick one of hers up on a day I want to write 2K words because I probably won’t pass 500.
My current devotional is Jesus Speaks by Steven Scott. It’s so profound that I just bought 2 hardcovers to give my son and son-in-law for Easter.
Favorites: Like Brennan, I love anything by Andrew Murray. Few can make me think more deeply about my relationship with God. John Stott is a fairly close second.
It’s too hard to pick one, but I’m going to assume the two I’ve read more than five times are good choices: Pride and Prejudice and C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters.
A novel that profoundly changed my spiritual outlook was Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness. I was raised in a denomination that never mentioned the possibility of contemporary spiritual warfare, even though it’s clearly present in the Bible. I’d never considered what it meant to be a prayer warrior before reading that book. I’ve given away several copies.
Hey Carol! Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are so good! They were the only two books I had read during a 6-7 year season of no reading at all. If you can imagine that!
The only book I’m reading currently is the Bible (other than my WIP).
I never read more than one novel at a time. Now that I’m an author myself and know all the hard work put into a story, I want to give that book my full attention.
As far as the book that inspired me the most in my personal life, I’d have to say too many to list here. As long as there’s a spiritual message or lesson to be learned from a story, I consider it inspiring. And it would be too hard to choose which was most inspiring to me. The same holds true for my writing journey. I learn something from every book I read, either how not to do something, or how to make my writing better.
My favorite book of all time is J.R.R. Tolkien’s story. I can’t separate The Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings. It’s all one continuing story. And I’ve never read anything better, nor like it. I’ve read it through numerous times, and each time loved it more. Is there any question why it’s my favorite. Good, clean entertainment at its best that I never get tired of.
Last year, I decided to read The Hobbit again and tried the audio version to listen to while I’m on the road. My selection was narrated by Rob Inglis. He is amazing. As you know, nearly every character sings and Inglis performed a unique voice for each one, even when they sang. It was a delight to hear the goblins’ song. If you ever want to try the hobbit/LOTR books in audio form, read the ones with him as narrator. I’ve found a good narrator can change my review of a book because presentation is a huge part of audio. Thanks for chiming in, Sharon.
Hi Paula!
Most audiobooks are difficult for me to follow, but I LOVED listening to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I took a summer and listened to LOTR while painting my daughter’s mural.
I agree completely, the narrator and presentation can make or break an audiobook. I’ve had to turn some off because of that.
Ahhh…books. The Crosswicks Journals by Madeleine L’Engle were like a paperback disciple to 25-year-old me, in my newfound faith in Christ. I loved reading about her love for her family and for God. That was 25 years ago. Maybe time for a reread!
I confess to more moves from one home to another than I care to count. Each time, as I packed, I discovered books in my library that I could live without. (“Paula, why do you still have your audio production text book from college?”) My boyfriend called it The Paula Geister Memorial Library. (“Hey, I’m not dead yet.”)
I usually have an audio book on my phone for listening to while I’m on the road. Even out running errands, I can read a couple chapters. I have a book on my Kindle, usually non-fiction, in the lineup for reading at church while I wait in the cafe during second service to end. Right now, I’m reading the biography (or memoir) I assign myself each year. There’s one novel on the nightstand too.
As for a favorite, I’d have to say it’s “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger. The author came here when our library chose it as our community-wide read that year. He’s a Christian and told us about trying to sell the book. In a phone call with an editor, she said, “There’s no violence, or sex, or swearing.” He said he didn’t know how to answer her because it was one of those “And your point would be…?” moments. I guess I like it for its narrator, the son whose perspective lends the same insights as Jem in “To Kill a Mockingbird. Enger included within the story messages about faith, loss, and family loyalty wrapped up in an adventure across the Badlands. Of all the books I own, I’ve read this one the most. (I think it’s four times now.)
If I count Christian non-fiction — and I’m going to — I most enjoy reading A.W. Tozer. I tend toward dead authors. The book that’s most inspired my writing is the Bible. But another one is William Zinsser’s “On Writing Well.”
Thanks for asking. I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments. We have a kinship and it’s nice to share that.
Paula, I agree that anything by Tozer is great. He is right there in my favorites list with Murray and Stott.
I’m a book addict too. Going into Mardel’s or Half Price Books is dangerous for me. I always add more to my towering to be read stacks. I admit it, there are several stacks.
I’m currently reading Linda Glaz’s, Blow Out the Candles and Say Goodbye.
As for my favorite book, it’s like choosing between flavors of chocolate-all are enjoyable.
Our Sunday school class plans to read together and discuss The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith, so I have started that book. I bought three books lately, but they are still on the shelf. I keep a list of all the books I read in a given year. So far for 2020, I’ve completed three books I started last year. I pick a devotional book to read each year. I’ve started Take Time to Be Holy, excerpts from Samuel Logan Brengle’s books, edited by Bob Hostetler. The Pilgrim’s Progress is my favorite book of all, and I’m currently reading a commentary on John Bunyan’s classic, written by Robert Maguire. Because of the influence of Pilgrim’s Progress on my life and many others, I’ve written a devotion/journal-style book and now looking for an agent or publisher.
Kindle sales for a dollar or two make it even easier to add to our collections. One advantage to having a lengthy to-read list: I’ll never run out of things to look forward to!
I am usually in four books at once. I was not exposed to many classics growing up, so I have made it a point to read them as an adult. I usually listen to them via audiobook. Older books meander or have more descriptive passages than we like today, but I don’t mind them so much if I am doing something with my hands while listening. I usually have either a non-fiction or fiction book in the bathroom and in my Kindle app. I usually read from the Kindle in the evening before bed. And I keep a Christian non-fiction book with my devotional materials to read a bit after my quiet time when I can. They all have to be different enough that I don’t get them mixed up–I couldn’t read four WWII books at once.
One of the biggest book influences on my life was Elisabeth Elliot’s Through Gates of Splendor, about her husband and four other men murdered in the attempt to reach a stone-age tribe. Not only did that book draw me into a deeper walk with God, but it started me on a path of reading missionary biographies and reading almost everything else Elisabeth wrote. She became my mentor from afar.
It’s hard to narrow down favorite books, but two of mine are Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I’m not all that interested in the French Revolution, but these books are beautiful stories with a thread of redemption running through them.
Thanks, Tamara! I’m not in bookish recovery, either. I just started a journal, recording the books I read. To appreciate the journey.
My all-time favorite book(s): Narnia, the first and last in the series, especially.
Fave book on writing: not sure yet.
Two days ago, I finished my 6th magical realism novel in 2 months, studying the genre I’m currently writing. Enjoyed them all. Also completed a friend’s military-ish suspense novel.
I’m starting another magical realism book, Caraval, reading Tozer’s Holy Spirit daily devotional and with itchy fingers, awaiting Sarah Sundin’s latest historical romance due here in a few days.
Oh, the joy of reading. It surpasses Netflix, Hulu, etc.
Happy, Non-Recovery Bookishness to all.
Sorry, Tamela! Oh, for fat-fingering and not spell checking!
My name is Joey Rudder and I too am a book addict. 🙂 Seriously. I won’t leave home without a book. I have them in practically every room in our house. And I prefer reading to watching most of the TV shows my husband chooses.
I’m currently reading three devotionals in the morning, along with a few nonfiction books, “The Three Heavens,” by John Hagee, “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn, “Simplify Your Christmas” by Elaine St. James, soon adding “If I Had Lunch with C.S. Lewis” by Alister McGrath. As for fiction, I just finished “The Noel Stranger” by Richard Paul Evans, and may start reading another of his works (“The Christmas Box” – have never read it!) or may completely switch it up and read “Beneath a Scarlet Sky” by Mark Sullivan or “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly. But really, I may stay on track with Christmas fiction…research! Decisions, decisions!
I believe every book I read inspires me in some way, to either be a better person or a better writer or else I wouldn’t read it.
Thanks for the great post, Tamela! It helps to know I’m not alone.
Currently reading: 1)”A Pilgrimage to Eternity” by Timothy Egan who travels the Via Francigena as a pilgrim exploring his “family’s complicated history” with Catholicism and the centuries of religious history on the route; except for the author’s occasional snarky political comment it is very enjoyable and well written
2) “When I Close My Eyes” by Elizabeth Musser; a riveting whodunit about family secrets, regret, and shame.
3)”Golden Son” book 2 of Red Rising, a fantastic dystopian science fiction novel set in and around Mars
Sigh, I resonate with this post. I promise myself that I will NOT buy another. book, but actually need to remove that from my list of any year resolutions!
Hi Tamela –
I have to agree with Karen Sweet. My all-time favorite is the series of the Chronicles of Narnia. Perhaps because these books softened my heart to hear the words of God about a year after I first read them. I have read them so often I know them quite well, and perhaps my favorite of all is ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.’ I go to this when I know I need God to strip away the scales of my cynical heart.
And awesome news! I signed a contract with Elk Lake Publishing for my first novel, How to Steal a Romance! Okay… that’s all for now!
😀
My name is Megan and I can’t go to the library without checking out at least five books…then proceeding to probably not read at least three of those because being a working mom doesn’t give a lot of time for reading!
I’ve been listening to the Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews, and I’m really enjoying them! I also just started Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys. I’ve heard good things about it, so I hope I enjoy it.
Thanks for your post, Tamela. I’m currently reading Janine Rosche’s debut novel, “This Wandering Heart,” as a member of her launch team. Loving it so far! I’m also reading “Long Way Gone,” by Charles Martin. I’ve always been a “one book at a time” person but more recently, I’ve been reading one on my Kindle at night and a paperback during the day.
I too am a book addict and have more titles on my TBR list than I’ll probably ever finish and I keep adding more.
One of my all time favorite books is “Voice in the Wind,” by Francine Rivers. Hadassah’s faith is so inspiring. I want to be like her when I grow up. 🙂
I’m reading Eudora Welty’s “Delta Wedding.” I love the fact that she did not write for a target audience, but for herself. I may need to copy her style.
Good thoughts and great advice.
I always have several books going at one time.
I am reading two Bible studies, Trustworthy by Lysa TerKerust with my Proverbs31 online small group, and Psalms 23 by Jennifer Rothschild for my church class.
I also like to have at least one ebook and one print (for when my phone is out of charge or my eyes have been on screens too much). I just finished Iscariot by Tosca Lee, and I’ve started the Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd for my print books. For ebooks, I’m starting Buying Love by Toni Shiloh.
As for favorite books, how can I choose?? When I wrote a blog about my favorites, I had to whittle it down to 20, and even that was hard–though several items were complete series! 😀 It’s here if you’re interested: https://www.liladiller.com/blog/top-20-favorite-novels-of-all-time.
It hit me as I read the question that “Emily of New Moon” by LM Montgomery, of “Ann of Green Gables” fame influenced me in my writer’s journey by age 10. In it , Emily got up the courage to show her writings to her mentor, who read them and said in all of it, there was one good sentence. Emily began crying and he told her. “ you misunderstand. One good sentence is a rare thing” I’m not quoting word for word from a book I haven’t read in 30 years, but you get the idea.
As for what I’m reading now, I’m on a cozy mystery phase and have been reading about two a week. I also have one Women’s lit and one Dee Henderson romantic suspense. And I’m eagerly awaiting the upcoming Erik Larson book about Churchill, I believe it’s called “The Sacred and the Vile.”
I listen more than I read, BUT my husband and I just read, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. Excellent! It was so interesting. Crazy thing is that I don’t know anyone who is Muslum. (He wrote to help Christians understand Muslims as a first step to being a better witness.) Maybe the Lord is preparing us for something or someone down the road! Thanks for the reminder to read!
Well, since I am fifteen I can’t really go to the library without my mum’s permission. And usually she would be way more pleased to see me reading my school books than a cozy love mystery or a nice and sweet romantic suspense novel. So, whenever I do get the opportunity to go to the library, I can very well spend close to five hours just to look for The Book.
Currently I’m a Debbie Macomber fan, but my absolute favorite books would be: Meant To Be Mine, by Becky Wade and Bookends by Liz Curtis Higgs.