These are a few of my favorite things...

September 26, 2012

Books have always been a huge part of my life: a place to learn, grow and sometimes just escape from reality. I could spend hours in a bookstore. I get excited when you first walk through the door; the smell of new books and fresh coffee never fails to uplift me, no matter my mood.



So it's no surprise when I've had a particularly challenging day at home that my husband will suggest I get out of the house, head to a bookstore, even for an hour, just to browse and be inspired by others.

Kyle loves to tease me about the stack of books by our end table that I read each morning during my devotional time and the stack of fictional books that sits on my nightstand for reading right before bed. I've actually hidden books before so he wouldn't see how many I was reading (or had recently purchased). I have a problem, I know, it borders slightly on addiction.

But, even so, I've decided that for this post, I would list some of my favorite books over the past few years. I'll start with books that have educated, challenged and made me desire something different in my life. They are (in no particular order):

"The Uncommon Woman" by Susie Larson
"Lioness Arising" by Lisa Bevere
"TrueFaced: Trust God and Others with Who You Really Are" by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and John Lynch
"The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical" by Shane Claiborne
"Seven: An experimental mutiny against excess" by Jen Hatmaker
"The Bondage Breaker" by Neil T. Anderson
"Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer
"Fresh Brewed Life" by Nicole Johnson
"Barefoot Church" by Brandon Hatmaker

The next list is mainly books that are fictional, fun reads:

Absolutely anything by Francine Rivers
Anything by Cathy Marie Hake
Anything by Laura Frantz
"Baby Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy. Unlikely choice I know, but her slighlty irreverent humor was just what I needed when my son Abe was first born.
"Cape Refuge" series by Terri Blackstock
"The Daughters of Boston" series by Julie Lessman

Most of these fictional books have been recommended to me by my sister Kristin, who may be one of the only people more obsessed with books and reading than I am. But at least she's an English major, so she has a good excuse to be a bookworm. We're co-dependent book groupies (she likes the smell of new books, too) and she told me this morning that she actually has a monthly budget for purchasing books...and I'm totally jealous, but that's an issue best left for another day.

Okay, now that I've shared some of my favorite, and in some cases, life-changing reads, it's your turn. What books have you read that changed your perspective, life or were simply wildly entertaining to read?

I'd love to hear some good suggestions I could add to my collection...


2 comments

  1. Kendra, books are amazing. I have expressed to my husband that I wish I had more time to read. The series of books that Lee and I both read are the Left Behind series. By Tim Lahaye. Both of our hearts changed after reading the series.
    Also, I went through a Bible Study called "Healed and Set Free" Amazing!!! If interested I can get the book from our church. It turned my life upset down. I go back to that book when I find myself drifting from my faith.
    I enjoy reading your blogs. My heart goes out to you ladies on doing this. Praying for the woman that read your blogs and they feel encouraged and blessed by each of them. Trish

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    1. Trish,

      I too have read the Left Behind Series, and I agree, wonderful books! I haven't read the other bible study you mentioned, healed and set free, I will check it out. Thank you so much for your feedback and prayers.
      LOVE, Kendra

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