L i b r a r y

These are the books I’ve been reading

2024

2023

 
 

2022

2021

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2020

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The Glass Castle by Jeannette WallsA childhood memoir of a loyal family, held together and held apart by two radically nonconformist parents. Walls and her siblings were moved around and raised in and out of schools, learning instead from their bril…
East of Eden by John SteinbeckIn what some consider to be Steinbeck’s greatest novel, the story of Genesis is retold throughout an unravelling family saga based in California’s Salinas Valley. Over time, characters are developed as you follow ageing…
Educated by Tara WestoverTara Westover received a PhD in history from Cambridge University after several preceding accolades, yet was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her father’s extreme beliefs forbade public education and hos…
The Help by Kathryn StockettNow a major motion picture, The Help is a historical fiction addressing themes of racism, privilege and prejudice. Two black maids are persuaded to tell their story anonymously by a young white women seeking to become a w…
Lord of the Flies by William GoldingThis short fictitious classic is read in many schools’ English Literature classes. It tells the story of a group of children stranded on an island after a plane crash. Without adult supervision, the boys’ novel li…
Little Women by Louisa May AlcottAfter reading Little Women I now proudly join an ocean of others who treasure the March sisters. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March devote to each other as they struggle to survive without their father in New England during…
 
A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions For Lent by Walter BrueggemannA Lenten daily devotional of reflections that explore the alternative path that Christ followers are called to walk.Recommend? Yes
Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by Tom WrightI thoroughly appreciated this clear explanation of what exactly it is that Christians hope for, and what exactly has been told to us about life after …
Slow Church by C. Christopher Smith and John PattisonInspired by the slow food movement, Smith and Pattison explore how the Church is influenced by our fast food culture. Speed, efficiency, predictability and busyness all creep into our Church pract…
Celebrating Abundance by Walter BrueggemannAn advent daily devotional and twelve prayers for the twelve days of Christmas, all celebrating the abundance of God. For the last three years I’ve deliberately read devotionals throughout Lent and Advent. …
 

2019

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt VonnegutThis modern American classic is famous for its antiwar message and satirical undertones, telling the story of the Dresden firebombing of World War II. It is short, punchy and provocative. I was moved by the simpli…
Persuasion by Jane AustenThis romantic fictitious classic was Jane Austen’s shortest and final finished piece. The heroine, Anne Elliot, is reunited with the man she was persuaded against marrying, many years ago. Will they be reunited in their love…
To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? by Lucy SiegleI heartily enjoyed the entirety of this book, constantly wishing I’d have written it myself. This non-fiction, written by British journalist Lucy Siegle, focuses on the ethical and environm…
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya AngelouMaya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, actress and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. She is known for her series of six autobiographies, of which I Know Why The Caged Bir…
The Final Days of Jesus by Mark D. SmithA classical historian’s insight into the trial and death of Jesus. I was born into a Christian family and the details of the Passion story have been dulled by familiarity. I appreciated viewing Jesus’ final da…
The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar CaponWhat I can only describe as a recipe book and novel combined, this has been one of my favourite reads for a long time. Capon, a priest and chef, instils passion for food and its enjoyment. In me it create…
 
Lent For Everyone, Mark by N.T. WrightI often find that the Christina calendar rotates without me pausing to feel a sense of sacredness, gladness or connection - Easter is one of those times. This year, thanks to this book, Lent felt a little differ…
The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. WrightN.T. Wright (‘the heir to C.S. Lewis’) here contemplates Jesus’ crucifixion with the view that our modern-day understanding of this event may be diluted and reduced. I found this book thought-provoking, pro…
In Europe by Geert MakThis historical non-fiction was truly a joy to read. I often find myself embarrassed by how little I know of history, within which Europe in the 20th century would be included. Thanks to Geert Mak, I journeyed through the vario…
Milk And Honey by Rupi KaurMilk and Honey is a collection of poetry and prose documenting themes of love, loss, femininity, violence and abuse. Rupi Kaur illustrated and self-published this collection whilst she was still in University, where it wen…
 

2018

Advent For Everyone - A Journey Through Matthew by Tom WrightTom Wright, a British theologian, journeys through the Gospel of Matthew exploring the themes of watching, repenting, healing and loving. This daily devotional steers you through the adven…
Remember Us by Lindsay Blake & Layne JamesThe characters, emotions and depths of this novel are both familiar and gripping. Through the mind of a mother and daughter, the reader is welcomed into a family with complicated dynamics who find themse…
Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisThis influential Christian non-fiction has been a revered contribution to 20th century Christian thought. Believers and non-believers alike are welcomed into this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith. I enjoy th…
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth GoudgeThis fantasy children’s classic was a childhood favourite of J.K. Rowling. It’s a story about a young heroine determined to right the mysterious wrongs subtly at play in her beloved Moonacre Manor and its to…
Beatrix Potter by Linda LearBeatrix Potter is fondly remembered for her contribution of children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit or The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. Most do not know that this was a fragment of her career. She was too a passionat…
The Trouble With Women by Jacky Fleming‘In the Olden Days there were no women which is why you don’t come across them in history lessons at school. There were men and quite a few of them were geniuses.’This brilliantly witty book of cartoons reveals…
Women and Men After Christendom by Fran PorterThis book explores the way that gender relationships changed under Christendom and then after Christendom, challenging us to rethink gender relations in both church and society.Recommend? If you're Chris…
The Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThis fictitious classic captures the tragedy of America's Great Depression through the story of one family, the Joads. With themes of injustice, powerlessness and poverty comes a supplementing picture of strength…
Of Mice & Men by John SteinbeckI heartily enjoyed this short fictitious classic. Two drifters in search of work settle on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley. George and his simple-minded friend Lennie have a dream to one day own land togethe…
Lent For Everyone by N.T. WrightN.T. Wright is a British theologian and the former Bishop of Durham, treasured for his scholarly contribution today. He has written three Lenten devotionals to guide through daily thoughts on Gospel scriptures (themed…
I Am Malala by Malala YousafzaiThis memoir tells the story of Malala, a young Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban for standing up for girl's education. Actually, that's the ending of the biography. Rather, much of the story is dedicated to describing…
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Earnest HemingwayThis historical fictitious classic was inspired by Hemingway's personal travels to Spain as a journalist covering the civil war. His novel, published three years later, follows the story of Robert Jordan, …
 
Just Living by Ruth ValerioRuth Valerio is an environmentalist and theologian and those twin passions create a message well worth hearing. Every Christian in every generation throughout the history of the Church has had to work out what it means to …
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimimanda Ngozi AdichieI was first introduced to Adichie through a TED talk about the danger of stereotypes, though now know her to also be an award-winning Nigerian author, and feminist. This short (very short) book i…
Theopolitical Imagination by William T. CavanaughThis short religious/political non-fiction packs a punch. Cavanaugh offers a critique of modern Western civilisation, including contemporary concerns of consumerism, capitalism, globalisation, and pov…
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy KalingThis humorous memoir made a lighthearted start to my 2018 reading. Kaling (co-writer of The Office US and star of The Mindy Project) describes how she became a comedy writer in …
 

2017

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyI wholeheartedly recommend this theological non-fiction. Bailey is an American professor who lived in the Middle East for 40 years. In this book he topically covers Gospel stories whilst adding h…
Good News For Women by Rebecca Merrill GroothuisTo quote Groothuis, a 'myopic fixation on a handful of controversial biblical texts will not ultimately resolve the gender debate'. This Christian non-fiction seeks to overview the various Biblical pas…
Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyThis 19th century horror fiction has well earned its title of being a classic. It tells the story of an ambitious doctor who experiments with imparting life into lifeless body parts, eventually creating a human. The rest …
The Epic Of Eden by Sandra L. RichterAn explanation of the Old Testament intended to aid Christians who find themselves lost when it comes to the Biblical history before Jesus and the gospels. Because the Bible was written over 2000 years ago by mor…
A Tale of Three Kings by Gene EdwardAn allegory aimed at Christians describing leadership through references to three Biblical kings: Saul, David and Absalom. Edwards writes words that would comfort Christians that have faced pain and loss at the ha…
The Seven Laws Of The Learner by Bruce WilkinsonWritten for teachers (specifically teachers of the Bible), this educational non-fiction outlines techniques and principles for the classroom. The teacher's job is defined as ensuring that their student…
An Other Kingdom by Block, Brueggemann and McKnightA short Christian non-fiction challenging our assumption that the free market is the only means of progressing. This book is for innocents, rebels, idealists and the sick at heart, outlining a journ…
Are Women Human? by Dorothy L. SayersThe title's question made me laugh dryly as it sounds so obvious, though in reading I realised that actually this is a very important question for all to consider. Are women human (in their own right), or are the…
Start Something by Mathu ThomasonThis book challenges you to begin and reinvent yourself in spite of your age or missed opportunities or lack of resources. Start something! I know Mathu from a few years back when he and his wife supported a team I w…
The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienTolkien wrote this story for his children and it is truly a masterpiece, eventually leading him on to writing the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This short novel tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit unprone to adventure…
Women Caught In The Conflict by Rebecca Merrill GroothuisWritten to those 'caught in the conflict' between traditionalist and feminist views of women, Groothuis seeks to shed light on each belief system by placing it into its historical and cultural…
Kidnapped by Robert Louis StevensonFrom the author of Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll comes this classic. It tells the story of David Balfour, a young orphan who gets kidnapped and journeys through Scotland's dangerous highlands in an escape and attem…
 
The Brontësaurus by John SutherlandJohn Sutherland, a classic literature critic, confronts speculations about the Brontë family in a concise, quick-paced manner. Specifically, he goes through letters of the alphabet to address popular questions like…
On Looking by Alexandra HorowitzSee New York city through twelve sets of eyes as psychologist Horowitz joins professionals to walks its blocks. Her quest is to better understand inattention and I enjoyed the points she raised. Some of my favourite c…
The Day Boy and The Night Girl by George MacDonaldA short children's fantasy/fiction classic by the beloved George MacDonald, the inspirer of greats like C.S. Lewis, J.J.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton. In this story a witch named Watho raises two ch…
Northanger Abbey by Jane AustenI read this because it is Austen's shortest novel and though my motives were unambitious, I enjoyed this book. It's known as a gothic parody where the heroine, Catherine Morland, is invited to Northanger Abbey where sh…
 

2016

Hinds' Feet On High Places by Hannah HurnardA Christian fictitious allegory about Much-Afraid's journey to the high places with the help of the Shepherd. She travails through the valley of humiliation and such places with the discouragement of enemi…
Three Cups of Tea by Greg MortensonAn autobiographical non-fiction journalling a mountaineer's quest to build a school for the village that hosted him after his failed attempt climbing K2. Despite obstacles, Mortenson went on to build many schools i…
The Moon Is Down by John SteinbeckThis fictitious classic was secretly printed and illegally distributed across occupied Europe in the Second World War, accepted as resistance propaganda. The short novel speaks of an unnamed town (thought to be in N…
Half The Sky... by Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl Wudunn'More girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they are girls, than men were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century combined.' This social justice non-fictio…
The Pilgrim's Progress by John BunyanThis 17th Century fiction is a famous allegory of a Christian's spiritual journey. The main character progresses through life, carrying a burden upon his shoulders, searching for salvation. Along the way he meets…
Dark Quartet: The Story of the Brontës by Lynne R. BanksA biographical novel telling the story of the Brontë siblings of the 19th Century. They were forced by their family's poverty to emerge from their privacy and creative fancies in order to earn …
Goddesses, Whores, Wives, & Slaves by Sarah B. PomeroyThis historical feminist non-fiction had me at the title. With ancient records biased towards political and military history, this book sought to focus on the lesser referred to women of the …
In America by Geert MakI read this book as a deal with my dad so that he'd read Jane Eyre - it was a good trade. Based on Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck, Mak retraces his roadtrip fifty years down the line. He sought to learn how America has…
Villette by Charlotte BrontëA fictitious classic about Lucy Snowe, an English woman who teaches at a French school in Villette. I enjoyed the various characters in the story and reading about Lucy succeed despite being a wallflower.Recommend? If If …
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie KondōKondō explains to KonMari Method, her own developed technique of decluttering and organising your home. One of her main principles is to only keep possessions which spark joy in you.Recommend? Yes
A Tale of Three Kings by Gene EdwardAn allegory aimed at Christians describing leadership through references to three Biblical kings: Saul, David and Absalom. Edwards writes words that would comfort Christians that have faced pain and loss at the ha…
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisIn seven books Lewis tells stories of children entering a fictitious world (Narnia being a region) where they have adventures and often save the day. For Christians these books serve too as fascinating allegorie…
 
Go Set A Watchman by Harper LeeHarper Lee is most famous for her award winning modern-day classic To Kill A Mockingbird. I'd say that this book serves as a great companion to that rather as a stand alone book. Jean Louise Finch, now aged 26, experie…
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne BrontëOne of Anne Bronte's two fictitious classics, this story tells of a man who becomes intrigued by a beautiful and secretive widow who has moved into the nearby hall. Partway through the book you read the jour…
 

2015

A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensA famous fictitious classic that is rather bitesize for a Dickens. Scrooge, a commonly referred to character, is a miserable and bitter man who is shown the true meaning of Christmas by various ghostly visitors th…
Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontëEmily Brontë's only novel, Wuthering Heights is a dark, gothic classic. It tells of an intense and almost demonic love story between two characters, one of whom is bent on avenging the wrongs inflicted on him during …
The Professor by Charlotte BrontëThe Professor was Charlotte Brontë's first written novel though it was refused by publishers until after the success of Jane Eyre. This short classic is thought to be based on Charlotte's own adoration of her former …
Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëMy all time favourite book by my all time favourite author. Jane Eyre is an orphan unsheltered from cruelty who grows into a heroine full of integrity, ambition and yearning. This novel tells Jane's life and comes with a…
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneAn American classic of historical fiction based in 17th Century Boston. The story tells of adultery and an illegitimate birth resulting in the public disgrace of Hester Prynne who is made to wear the letter '…
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan SwiftA relatively short classic telling tales of Gulliver as he adventures to four different fictitious worlds. On one trip he goes to Lilliput and finds himself to be a giant amidst a colony of people who are six inch…
Amazing Grace by Eric MetaxasA biography of William Wilberforce's life, specifically focused on his efforts towards abolishing the transatlantic slave trade. Many years, many minds and many appeals were invested, with Wilberforce committing his life…
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis StevensonThis very short fictitious classic is widely referred to, and for that it's worth a read. Two characters represent the harrowing contrast of good and evil in a bizarre tale of secret…
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyA self-help nonfiction focused on leadership and productivity. The book describes principles aimed at solving personal and professional problems, championing integrity, fairness, service and…
Bonhoeffer by Eric MetaxasA biography of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who was involved in (failed) plans to assassinate Hitler. In a time when Germany was being won over by Hitler's party and their promises to restore their c…
Redeeming Love by Francine RiversA Christian fiction telling of the attempted rescue of a prostitute. Based in California's gold country in the 19th Century, Angel is exposed to poverty, exploitation and abuse. A kind man resolves to marry her and t…
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Great Gatsby is considered one of the great classics of the 20th Century. It is a story of love, lust, wealth and debauchery. Jay Gatsby is in love with Daisy Buchanan and throws lavish parties on Long Isla…
The Last Battle by C.S. LewisThe seventh and final book in Lewis' Narnia series. We see the fictitious world that Lewis created come to an end with eschatological scenes and themes. In terms of my faith, I found this story to be a beautiful, imagina…
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar WildeA much loved play by Oscar Wilde that tells of eccentric characters, secret engagements and mistaken identities. I found this short play to be witty, easygoing and enjoyable.Recommend? Yes
Night by Elie WieselNight is a short nonfiction/modern-day classic told by a survivor of the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel won a nobel peace prize and his story of entering concentration camps during the end of the Second World War is harrowing and powerfu…
Sense And Sensibility by Jane AustenA celebrated classic by Jane Austen. Two sisters both fall in love, though their expressions and experiences are drastically different thanks to their drastically different characters. One represents sense and the…
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeA fantasy/horror fiction by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray is a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. His life is one of envy, vanity, riches, lust and excess. I really enjoyed this…
Treasure Island by Robert Louis StevensonThis loved fictitious classic is the most popular pirate story ever to be written in English. It famously tells of a boy finding a map of Treasure Island - all inclusive of pirate's booty. Long John Silver is…
 
Orthodoxy by G. K. ChestertonA short (but weighty) Christian nonfiction interested in doctrine and accepted theory. Chesterton sought to describe his own conversion in an effort show that one can arrive at accepting God through rational decision and…
Pride And Prejudice by Jane AustenAusten's most famous fictitious novel bearing her telltale witty comedy of manners. The story, based in 18th Century England, tells of the spirited sparring and courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Arguably,…
 

2014

 
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John TownsendA self help book written by two Christian psychologists who champion clear personal boundaries as being essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Their book explores how we can exercise mental, em…
A Tale of Three Kings by Gene EdwardAn allegory aimed at Christians describing leadership through references to three Biblical kings: Saul, David and Absalom. Edwards writes words that would comfort Christians that have faced pain and loss at the ha…
Humility by Andrew MurrayIn this (very) short Christian nonfiction Andrew Murray describes the 'distinguishing feature of discipleship': humility. His book is celebrated as the best published thoughts on humility as he implores readers to empty them…