1) The first of this group is Michael Ende’s thoughtful fantasy, The Neverending Story. This is a favorite of mine in this genre and I read it every few years for fresh delights, insight, and inspiration. If you’d like, you can read a previous post about The Neverending Story right here.
2) Heaven: Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada is another favorite which I usually read every 2 or 3 years. The times in between I read Heaven by Randy Alcorn. Randy’s book is more of a Bible study and it’s longer, more detailed, and a bit more work to move through. This book of Joni’s has excellent biblical content but is more in the devotional style.
3) The Apostate by Dr. Mark Christian is the first in what will eventually be two books describing his conversion from Islam. Here’s what I wrote about it in an Amazon review: “I found Dr. Christian’s book a fascinating and enlightening read. It relates his early life as an intensely dedicated Muslim, gives an inside look at Middle East politics in our era, takes the reader on a fascinating adventure through Islamic history, and tells the riveting story of his intellectual/spiritual journey out of Islam and into Christianity. It has been one of the most interesting, relevant, and well-written books of the year for me.”
By the way, The Apostate will be the subject of a special Vital Signs Ministries Book Brunch on Saturday morning June 11 from 9-11 in Room 201 of Community Bible Church (9001 Q Street, south doors). And the author himself will be on hand for the event. Get in touch with us if you're interested in reading The Apostate and coming along for the event.
4) Another re-read was Owen Wester’s The Virginian. Published in 1902, this is considered the first book in the now celebrated genre of Western novels. Wister is an excellent writer and storyteller – not always a combination found together – and this story of the old West is realistic, adventurous, romantic, and fun.
5) At 593 pages, Samuel Eliot Morison’s The Two-Ocean War: A Short History of the United States Navy in the Second World War is an ambitious undertaking but not even close to the task of tackling the 10-volume history of the naval operations of World War II that Morison wrote for the U.S. Navy. However, let me emphasize that history buffs will find The Two-Ocean War an easy read with tremendous insight into the strategy, weapons, and battles of the war. This was also a re-read for it is truly an excellent work.
6) And finally, there’s the collection of brief essays written by C.S. Lewis for newspapers and journals, Present Concerns. It is a brief, but terrific collection compiled by Walter Hooper and published in 1986.
Next up? Well, there’s this month’s selection of the Notting Hill Napoleons, Show Boat by Edna Ferber which both Claire and I need to finish by Friday’s meeting. Also, I’ve started The Admirals, Walter R. Borneman’s detailed compilation of America’s 4-star admirals of World War II (Leahy, King, Nimitz, and Halsey). And a few others are on the “next to read” shelf that I hope to get to pretty soon.
Happy reading to you!
