Top Ten Favorite Books- Pt. 1

My Top Ten- Pt. 1

Certain books stick with you. Some books resonate with your soul in a special way and become a part of who you are. The reasons for this vary—some books remind you of your childhood or spark a particularly memorable moment in your life. Some change your view on a subject and force you to think in a way that you have never thought before. Whatever the reason may be, some books never leave our hearts.

This week I'll be highlighting my top ten all-time favorite books. Here are books 1-5:

The Lord of the Rings

By: J.R.R Tolkien

There will probably be a day where I write a complete post on how The Lord of the Rings has impacted my life, but for now I'll just give you an overview. This was the first time I can remember getting lost in a story. The language, poetry, characters, and plot completely captivated me as a teen and for the first time fanned into flame my desire for books. While this is separated into three books, I include it as one since it tells a single story. 

If you have not picked up The Lord of the Rings in a while, I encourage you to rediscover the magic of Middle Earth. You can pick up a copy on Amazon here.

East of Eden

By: John Steinbeck

East of Eden is hands down one of the most powerful books I have ever read. In brilliant fashion, Steinbeck reenacts the story of Adam and Eve and their two sons, Cain and Abel as he follows the tragic history of the Trasks and the Hamiltons. 

Set in Salinas California, Steinbeck gives a vivid picture of life out West at the turn of the twentieth century. As you read, you begin to feel the struggle for survival, the heartbreak of betrayal, and the love between brothers and friends. You see the depravity of the human condition, but also the potential for goodness and love. It is a story to contemplate, remember, and learn. 

If you've never read this classic, I encourage you to pick it up here.

The Princess Bride

By: William Goldman

This is relatively new to my top ten list. Having loved the movie forever, I decided to pick up the book and was not disappointed. All of the wit, humor, and adventure that makes the movie brilliant is directly from the book. 

This one does have a post of its own on this blog and if you want to read more, check it out here.

The King Raven Trilogy

By: Stephen Lawhead

This one might not be well known to most of you, but it is what first inspired my Ph.D. research in Celtic Theology. It re-imagines the story of Robin Hood gives an alternate history for how the legend began. Set in 1093 as the Normans where advancing into Wales, a young prince is forced to fight for his homeland after the murder of his father. With all the memorable characters such as Friar Tuck, Little John, and Maid Marian, this one will spark your imagination and put a different spin on a classic.

This is a trilogy I would love to see made into a movie, just as long as Kevin Costner isn't given the lead role as Bran ap Brychan. Check it out on Amazon here.

Holiness for Ordinary People

By: Keith Drury

Holiness for Ordinary People is the only non-fiction book on this list. In thinking through all the books I have read which have had a significant impact on my life, this is the only non-fiction one that truly stood out. In college, we affectionally referred to Dr. Drury as "Coach" and he lived up to that title. His down to earth demeanor and accessible brilliance made him a favorite at Indiana Wesleyan University.

This was the first time the doctrine of Christian holiness was made accessible to me. Coach writes in practical terms and makes seemingly abstract ideas tangible and applicable to life. He outlines what biblical holiness is and in so doing dispels myths that some Christian traditions hold against the holiness movement. If you are struggling with the idea of living a holy life and thinking that it is impossible or out of reach, I encourage you to pick up this book. It will change your perspective and make Jesus' call to live holy practical and doable in this life.

Pick it up on Amazon here.

Have a good suggestion for what I should be reading? What is your all-time favorite book? Comment below and if you want to get The Writings I Read blog in your inbox, you can subscribe.