Reading Anytime, Anywhere

Both Andy and Nancy love to read, tho their interests in reading vary a great deal. I (Nancy) read anytime, anywhere ~ on the boat, in the car, waiting in airports, flying in airplanes, late at night when I cannot sleep, down by the lake on a sunny day...you get the idea. I keep a list of the books I read ~ I cannot trust my mind to remember what I have read anymore. I have LOTS of favorite authors: Francine Rivers, John Ortberg, Catherine Palmer, Ruth Haley Barton, John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Ted Dekker, Bret Lott, Lynn Austin, Nancy Moser, Mary Alice Monroe, Anne Perry, Nicolas Sparks, Kristin Hannah, Rosamunde Pilcher, Penelope J. Stokes...to name a few. Can that many ALL be favorites? I love the way I can go on line, put books on hold and have the library e-mail me when they are available. The Delafield library has a VERY small, crowded space and I don't enjoy going there, so stopping by to pick up books set aside just for me has been great.

One of my all time favorites is WISDOM HUNTER by Randall Arthur. I read it when it first came out in 1991 and have re-read it a couple of times. It's a gripping story about a pastor who faces his own legalistic tendencies after great loss in his personal life ~ his search for who he truly wants to be and who God is takes him on a 18 year journey.

Some years ago, Andy's mother introduced me to Eugenia Price and I've read all of her books a couple of times over the years. I'm partial to historical novels and these are some of the best.

A couple of years ago I came across Liz Curtis Higgs series THORN IN MY HEART, FAIR IS A ROSE, and WHENCE CAME A PRINCE. Two brothers fight to claim one father's blessing. Two sisters seek to claim one man's heart. Sound familiar? The series is set in the late 1700's in the Scottish lowlands. Lies, deception, jealousy, family secrets, broken promises...redemption. This series is fascinating.

This time of the year, I enjoy reading a few heartwarming Christmas stories about family, love, hardship, and overcoming. There seem to be several authors who write a short book each year that fills the bill. Donna Van Liere is one that I enjoy.

Earlier in 2007 I read Paul Hattaway's book about a pastor in China called THE HEAVENLY MAN. Since then I've come across a couple of other books with stories about women married to men in ministry in the persecuted church around the world. It's a challenging and somehow encouraging part of the Christian life I have experienced in very small doses.

ROOM OF MARVELS is a small book by James Bryan Smith that a friend recommended recently. Take a look ~ it's an unusual look at Heaven through the eyes of a man whose faith has been deeply tested.

This fall I took a new look at prayer with Larry Crabb in his book THE PAPA PRAYER. It has been very helpful to me in strengthening my relationship with God through honest conversation with Him as I walk in the morning.

Just today I finished John Ortberg's new book, WHEN THE GAME IS OVER IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX. John is a master storyteller and I have enjoyed several of his other books. He is open and honest ~ and he communicates well to men and women. In this book he speaks to the real object of this game of life ~ being rich toward God ~ by playing for the right prize.

I'm open to suggestions...what are you reading these days?