I set a goal this year to read 52 books, an average of one per week. While I didn't quite get there (I completed 38 and have about a dozen unfinished!) I'm confident I would not have read that many without pursuing any sort of reading goal.
Here are a few of my favorites from 2017: Biography: Troublemaker, Leah Remini I've been watching Leah's documentary on Scientology on A&E (also highly recommend!) and have been so intrigued by the way the church of Scientology has been impacting its members over decades. Easy and quick read. Fiction: The Good Daughter, Karin Slaughter I read a TON of fiction this year, so it was hard to pick one favorite, but this book kept me guessing the. whole. time. I am a sucker for murder mysteries and psychological thrillers, especially regarding lawyers / courtroom drama. This book is not for the faint of heart; if you read the summary you'll get the gist. Nonfiction: American Fire, Monica Hesse This book is about serial arsonists in rural Virginia. Fascinating to read about local history and how the decline of the economy of the county lead to so many abandoned structures being lit up in flames. The author does a great job of detailing the facts of the crimes and the investigation in an interesting way that kept my attention. Racism / Discrimination: Between the World and Me, Ta-nahisi Coates Picked up this one at a conference bookstore without knowing much about it, but WOW. Wow. This book is a collection of letters that Coates writes to his teenager son and covers experiences of racism and discrimination he has faced, as well as tackling issues like slavery, police brutality and mass incarceration. Also, Coates is an incredible writer and before I even finished the book I found myself googling him to read some of his articles. Spiritual Formation: The Soul of Shame, Curt Thompson If you've enjoyed books on shame from Brene Brown and others, but also enjoy learning about the medical info behind it, you would love this book. This was the toughest read for me; I didn't understand some of the terms or concepts, but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It is an "intersection between interpersonal neurobiology and Christian spiritual formation" so if you happen to like those topics, you'll like this read. -> Bonus book on Spiritual Formation: The Gift of Being Yourself, David G Benner If fiction was my most-read genre, spiritual formation was my second. Excellent read about spiritual transformation and discovery of your true self. Most of the books I read are listed below...looking forward to the same 52 book challenge again in 2018!
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Amy WellnerEncouraging others to intentionally live out their God-given identity. Archives
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