Here are the books I read in 2017. These are in no certain order because I had to go back halfway through the year and try to remember. I decided to include all books this year. Usually I leave off the fiction from my records but it represents how I spent my time so I kept them on the list.

My memories from this list:

The Heart of God’s Story by Guthrie was a surprising win for learning about Scripture. I watched the video sessions that go with it and learned so much that I didn’t previously know. It was a last-minute fill in when books for our ladies Bible study didn’t arrive. I won the set at a conference and once I listened to session one, I was hooked. If you lead a group and are looking for a study, give it a try. Second place for new biblical knowledge was Forgotten Jesus by Gallaty.

Best fun read was Magnolia Story. It was refreshing to read a book that just told a story honestly and there was no bad language and parts that I’m embarrassed that you know I read.

Best inspirational book was How to Share Your Faith Without Freaking Out. This is the most engaging book on witnessing that I have ever read. You should read it if you want to be a better witness for Jesus. And, it is short. Thanks, Alvin, for writing it. You done good.

I got on a Cymbala kick and his books were all helpful and motivating. They are good reminders on how we rely on God’s power rather than our own skill. Storm was the best one.

Hillbilly Elegy’s first half was a good modern history on folks moving from an agricultural life into the manufacturing realm in the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s, but the second half was hard to finish because he included stuff I had no interest in reading. And the Good News Is was interesting and Perrino writes a lot about how she was raised and I found a lot of good parenting examples in it. Constructing Grounded Theory was the most boring but the most necessary. I needed it to help me structure and write my dissertation findings. Thankful for people who take the time to write difficult books.

Some of these were audio books and were better because they were. You have to listen to Reese Witherspoon read Go Set a Watchman--almost as good as listening to Fannie Flagg read her own books. I decided to go back and listen to To Kill a Mockingbird first. The downside of an audio read is that I have no notes and cannot find quotes easily later, but I wouldn’t have read 35 without being able to listen in the car and on some quiet evenings on my ipad.

Books impact me more than shows I watch on television. That is why I read. Recommend a book to me if you have read a good one. I have a public library, hoopla, cloud library, & kindle apps, attended some conferences and got some giveaways. Out of the list, I only purchased seven. So, money is no deterrent to reading.

What I read in 2017
1.     Fervent by Shirer
2.     The Heart of God’s Story by Guthrie
3.     Magnolia Story by Gaines
4.     What Happens When God’s People Pray by Cymbala
5.     Storm by Cymbala
6.     Growing Up by Gallaty
7.     Rediscovering Discipleship by Gallaty
8.     How to Share Your Faith Without Freaking Out by Reid
9.     Pelican Brides by White
10.  Constructing Grounded Theory by Chamaz
11.  Courting Cate by Gould
12.  Grace is Greater by Idleman
13.  Elmo Jenkins Red Boxed Set by McMillan
14.  Tongue Pierced by Searcy
15.  The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus by Harvey
16.  Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success by Morgan & Lynch
17.  Hillbilly Elegy by Vance
18.  The Witness Wore Red by Musser
19.  My Story by Elizabeth Smart
20.  The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan by Perlmutter
21.  Talking with God by Weber
22.  Confessions of an Unlikely Convert by Butterfield
23.  Made to Crave by TerKeurst
24.  Forgotten God by Gallaty
25.  Tell Someone by Lauria
26.  Put Your Heart on the Page by Perry
27.  Ten Minutes to Powerful Prayer by Omartian
28.  The Church God Blesses by Cymbala
29.  Living with the Clintons by Brock
30.  And the Good News is by Perino
31.  Hope Under Mistletoe by Patch
32.  The Dream Giver by Wilkinson
33.  To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee
34.  Go Set a Watchman by Lee
35.  The Time of Our Lives by Noonan

36. Books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Esther, Matthew & Mark

Start reading now and next week I’ll outline the yearly challenge. I guarantee any book you start reading now will help you meet the challenge.