Hardest to read but worth the effort: Island of the World by Michael D. O'Brien. An achingly sad and beautiful book. I appreciate the ability of Catholic authors to include suffering in their fiction without facile answers. But I struggled at times to identify with the more mystical elements of Obrien’s book. Still, this is some of the best storytelling you will ever read.
Not my favorite, but the one the made the biggest difference in my thinking: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield (reviewed here)
Another book that deeply affected my thinking: The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher (reviewed here)
Favorite non-fiction: The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller (reviewed here)
Favorite vintage novel: Fair Harbor by Joseph Crosby Lincoln (reviewed here)
Favorite re-read: The Damerosehay Trilogy by Elizabeth Goudge. "Loving well is true artistry."
Biggest surprise: Poetry as Means of Grace by Charles Grosvenor Osgood. The poets, in this case, are Dante, Milton, Spenser, and Johnson. Osgood wrote to men preparing for ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1940, and he asserts that the writings of these four men will "illustrate, reinforce, verify, and illuminate" the Bible.
Absolute favorite of the year: The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (reviewed here)
Honorable mention goes to the C.S. Lewis titles that I read along with blogging friend, Carol B: Miracles and The Great Divorce
What about you? What were your favorite books of the year?
Blessings,
5 comments:
Interesting mix, Hope. I love the sound of the poetry book & Island of the World was very memorable for me. Hard hitting at times!! I bought the first 2 books in Goudge's Damerosehay series. From what I've read the 3rd book isn't as popular as the first two & some even said it doesn't really need to be read to bring a satisfying close to the series. What do you think?
The Long Winter convicts me when I am disgruntled about my dislike of my much milder winter.
I loved Rosaria's first book, but something I read about this one was off-putting to me. Whatever I read seemed to indicate that her way of doing hospitality, having numbers of people at your table every night, was *the* only way to do hospitality, and I would disagree. But I suppose I should probably read the book to find out what she actually said.
I've not read those two of Lewis. All the rest of these are unfamiliar to me.
My top ten is here: https://barbarah.wordpress.com/2019/12/30/my-top-ten-books-of-2019/.
Fiction: Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira Lee; Peace Like a River by Leif Enger; Pachinko by Min Jin Lee; Warlight by Michael Ondaatje; Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison; Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan; The River by Peter Heller; The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Non-fiction: Educated by Tara Westover; The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton; Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun; I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
Carol, I did not like the third book in the trilogy as much because it didn't seem to flow together as naturally as the first two, but I appreciated Brenda's thoughts (at Coffee, Tea, Books, and Me). She wrote, "I know some people don't care as much for The Heart of the Family as they do the first two books but I love it. It speaks to growing older as well as family... and as all the trilogy does... the power of our homes to replenish the soul." (in a 2/5/19 post) She also thinks it would appeal to people who have experienced deep suffering.
Thank you for all these reviews and responses! I must delve deeper and follow links now....
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