My Top 5 Books of 2019

Do you know how I started doing this book-reading recording fad? My husband….

Matthew is the biggest nerd I know. Yet, he just notified me that he did NOT record his books in 2019. That he’s giving up on it.

And I can’t stand that. I mean… he MADE me do this and COMPETED and beat me at it EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. And now, (probably because I read more books than he did) he’s giving up. I mean… can someone be any more irritating?

Welcome to my married life. Thanks, husband! You leave food scraps in the sink AND NOW you leave me hanging with what I thought to be a marital obligation. See who will fill up your water cup at night from now on.

But I bought seeded grapes “that one time” so I guess we are even.

I digress….

I’m still going to share my five favorite books of 2019. Because… well, now it’s a habit.

My Top 5 books of 2019

1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
   • If you’ve ever suffered any kind of trauma, you need to read this book. If you know, relate to or cohabitate with anyone who’s suffered any kind of trauma, you need to read this book. It is life-changing and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
   • ’nuff said!
3. Generous Justice by Timothy Keller
   • If you don’t know who that is, just buy a book. Any book of his. Generous Justice is a great read for those of us struggling with social injustices in light of a loving God.
4. Becoming by Michelle Obama
   • Michelle is a great writer. I did this in audio and I was underwhelmed by her narrating. None the less, it made it into my Top 5 because I loved the story.
5. 7 by Jen Hatmaker
   • She is a hilarious writer. Great book on minimizing our footprint on the planet. It inspired me to fast from [will think and insert things here]

Other books I read:

• Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (good story but meh!)
• Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle (good read and amazing comeback from betrayal trauma)
• The Sabbath by Abraham Heschel (this was a re-read. Great every time)
• Unseen – Sara Hagerty (this book was great during my fourth trimester when was cooped up inside with a newborn a lot of the times. Great read for those of us who crave to be “seen”)
• The Bible (I read it chronologically this time through a Bible App plan by Nicky Gumbel. It was great; though, as one can imagine, some parts are dreadful)

I’m sharing because I’ve rekindled my love for reading about 7 years ago and I never want to go back to not reading. Now, posting about it is a way to hold myself accountable, rather than competing with my husband.

My plan is to read 24 books in 2020. January is always the easiest because I have books I started in December that carried over to the new year.

Let’s see if that happens. Pray for me. 😉