Top Ten Books I Read in 2015

I have read 77 books so far in 2015 and there are still 2 weeks left. I read so many GREAT books. It really was hard to pick just 10 and the list keeps changing. But for today, here is my list.

ONE. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.  I am not a naturally clutter-free person; so this book offered some good, although different from the norm, advice for me.

• My home is (or can be) a sacred space.Take care that it is a place of joy.
• Focus on what to keep – things that bring joy. Feel positive about every item in my home. Don’t keep things that have unhappy feelings attached to them.

TWO: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I also watched the movie and listened to an interview Louie Zamperini gave.

• Louie Zamperini had disaster after disaster after disaster happen and yet he continued living.
• His tenacity and inspiring outlook on life inspires me and makes me want to be more tenacious in the face of my own disasters.
• Shows the power of God’s healing and redemption.

THREE. MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche. This year i discovered some books where folks took on year-long projects and then wrote about them. That intrigues me as I see the power one project has for a year instead of trying to do many projects in a year. This is the first such book I read this year.

• As someone who lets a busy life interfere with making and developing deep friendships, I liked this book’s focus.
• I was informed and encouraged to do the same. Perhaps in 2016 I will make this my focus.

FOUR. Living Oprah by Robyn Okrant. This is the 2nd year-long project book I read.

• This was a novel twist on following self-help literature especially since sometimes the advice contradicta.
• This book points out how contradictory media messages are targeted to women. We need to be aware and CHOOSE for OURselves what it the best way to live. Don’t be a sheep.

FIVE. The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. This is a new author to me.

• mental illness . . . spiritual discipline
• love and renewal
• an unexpected find

 

SIX. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch. This is my 3rd yearlong project book to read.

• Reading a book a day is ambitious.
• Words impact me – a LOT. So using reading as therapy makes sense to me.
• I would have read all self-help books which might not have been as beneficial.

SEVEN. Last Light, Night Light, True Light, & Dawn’s Light (a Restoration Novel Series) by Terri Blackstock. Yes, yes, yes, this is really a trilogy which I have classified as one book. And I did read them one after another for a week.

• It is ONE story though about the world’s population living without electricity. Of course this impacts every area of life and the characters struggle with bare survival  – at first.
• I liked the faith component and figuring out how to have a good life with a community surrounding you and without conveniences.

EIGHT. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. I’ve only read 3 other Dickens books and every time I read one, I love it.

• Shoot me if you want, but I like and even need a HAPPY ending. This book delivers.
• Although I wasn’t sure that was where the book would end.
• I will read more Dickens in 2016.

 

NINE. The Hope Quotient by Ray Johnson. Hope is in short supply. But we are not left without resources.

• Hope is an option.
• Our foundation of hope is Christ.
• There are things I can do to bring more hope into my life, my church and my workplace.
• I would like to go through this book with a group of people.

TEN. Any book by Jane Austen. I read all her novels (for adults) this year for the Austen in August Reading Challenge. I recommend them ALL. Yes, here I am cheating because these are 6 different books with 6 different story lines.

• I enjoyed reading each book for a different reason.
• If I had to pick a fave it would be Emma. Going from haughty to humble is something I can relate to and hope where I end up in life (humble).

Your Turn . . . I wrote this post for Top Ten Tuesday. . . . Write your own list and link up at Top Ten Tuesday. . . . or share what books made your Top Ten list in the comments.

 

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