©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com
Every day is a booklovers day in our house. With overflowing bookcases in multiple rooms, and a stack waiting by the bed, books call me to explore different locations, experience unique adventures, and to escape into stories of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. But books also educate in life lessons, in understanding, and in hope.
I am a booklover. And I confess it’s addictive. The world of words has been a place of delight for me since I was a child. Summer reading programs at the libraries allowed us to travel in our minds and encouraged us to find entertainment in books.
Since August 9 is National Booklovers Day, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share just a few of the many books I’ve enjoyed reading this year.
But first a few book facts:
Women buy 80% of fiction books.
90 million members have been recorded on Goodreads, an international internet site for posting reviews and sharing recommendations.
11% of Americans read the Bible daily according to a 2021 survey.
How do we pick what we read? Mine is a combination – personal recommendations, go-to authors, series, giftings, group reads, and discovery. On the list I’m sharing with you, five I first considered based on previous works by the authors; two were passed on and recommended by friends; one I won at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference; one I discovered at a conference bookstore; one was a group read of a women’s Bible study group I’m in; and one delightful book of reflections, humor and wisdom (and recipes) I learned about from the friend who wrote it.
Here’s a short list of books (in alphabetical order) that I’ve read recently (mostly in 2022) that are worth the look of booklovers:
Burying Daisy Doe: A Star Cavanaugh Cold Case by Ramona Richards
Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard
Crossfire by Lynnette Eason
Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin
Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene Turner
Malicious Intent by Lynn Blackburn
Poisoned by Patricia Hartman
The Endling by Deborah Maxey
As for non-fiction, these are among those that hit the high mark in my home this year.
Life is Sweet Y’all: Wit and Wisdom with a Side of Sass by Maggie Wallem Rowe
Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands by Jen Wilken
Soul Strong: 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Of all the books though, one stands above. The Bible.
This ageless book combines history and mystery, heartache and redemption, sin and salvation, longing and love, anguish and adventure, battles and beauty, along with discovery and recovery. We find winning strategies and lots of wisdom in its pages.
In this book, we meet real people, flawed in their character and sometimes failing in their choices, but when they trust God, praise God, and follow His path, they – and we – see power and purpose and the pursuit of goodness.
Through these powerful words, we see the way to connection and community, peace and purpose, hope and healing.
Sharing timeless truth, the Bible is the ultimate “self-help” book where the Savior takes our place and leaves us a roadmap filled with ways to fill up on His love and live well.
On National Booklovers Day (or any day), why not pick it up?
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete. – Jesus – Luke 6:47-49 NIV
- What book have you read this year that you’ve enjoyed? (Send me your suggestions! I’d really like to hear them!)
- Which genre do you as a booklover most prefer to read?
- What do you not like to see in books?
- When was the last time you read a chapter in the Bible outside of church or a group?
- Which is a book of the Bible would you suggest someone read? What struggle or heartache resonates with you from the Bible? Which story stands out?
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25 NIV
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NIV
Remember…
Life is Better When It’s Full – Joy-full, Thank-full, Purpose-full and Friend-full! ™