Thursday, January 8, 2009

Heather's Best of '08

I also was wondering how I was going to pick my best read of 08. As I type this, I still can't figure it out.



I am terrible at picking books out. I am not a literary or grammar person. I just like a good story and don't even care how well it's written as long as I am entertained. I always go for the same type of book. If left on my own I will get a Christian Romance based prior to the 1900s. The other books that I love are anything based in Ireland or Scotland. I want a book that is going to leave me very happy.



I love it when Reese hands me a book, because I would NEVER pick it unless she told me too. Some of my favorite books are because she just happened to hand them to me. This year Reese recommended The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, Saving Grace by Denise Hunter, The Happy Room by Catherine Palmer and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. I loved each of these books but A Thousand Splendid Suns was a very difficult emotional read.



I also did something a little bit different this year and read books about lives of real people. I Am Proud of You was a wonderful story about Mr. Rogers and his influence on one persons' life. Steve and Me was written by Terri Irwin and told about life with The Crocodile Hunter. The Last Lecture was a good read by Randy Pautsch, he died in 08 of cancer. Missing Identity is a must read! There is too much to say about that book and I can't break it down in one sentence. Those families were put through fire and now because of their faithfulness have amazing testimonies of God's goodness even in terrible circumstances.



I can tell you one thing, there was only one book out of my 29 that I didn't like and that was Happiness Sold Separately. I truly did not get the point.



I am rambling now because I can't pick which one was my favorite. I learned the most from The Shack and it truly changed by life, but I don't know that it was my favorite. I also broke my "No Oprah Books" rule and read Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Those were both extremely long, but great books (although they did have some sex and violence so if that bothers you, don't read them.)



I wish I could pick the book I finished this week - Safely Home by Randy Alcorn because that would be my favorite!

Okay, so I'm looking over my list and I have decided that Sabrina by Lori Wick is my favorite of '08.

In general I know that when I read a Lori Wick book I will be happy at the end. People in her books tend to have good lives where good things happen and everything is good. In this book she touches on the subject of prostitution and everything is not good. I loved the forgiveness and redemption in this book.

So there you have it. It wasn't my most exciting read of '08 but because none of them stand out as an ultimate favorite, I am picking an old standby author.

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9 comments:

  1. You have Mistaken Identity listed as Missing Identity... just so you know.

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  2. Great recommendations. I also read The Shack this year and it was extremely eye-opening. I'm hoping to post a review on it soon (finished it just before Christmas).

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  3. I'm glad I can help broaden your literary horizons now and then.

    I've never read a Lori Wick book! Probably never will, but I'm glad that you like them.

    ;)

    ~Reese

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  4. Let me know how The Secret Life of Bees is. I need to go get that one from the library. I've been meaning to read it for months.

    If you're interested, I'll save Cane River for you. I loved it.

    ~Reese

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  5. I would definately love to read Cane River, especially since it was an Oprah book...we may have to keep breaking that rule once in awhile.

    Heather

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  6. I think my least favorite agrees with your least favorite...but we already had that discussion through email a while back!

    Reese should read a Lori Wick book sometime! Let's recommend one of the stand-alones so she doesn't feel like she has to read a series. How about "Bamboo & Lace"? Probably one of my favorites, tied with "The Princess", but I think she'd like the first one better.

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  7. Kayren - My all time favorite Lori Wick book is The Princess. I liked Bamboo and Lace too, but when I really don't feel like reading, I always pick up The Princess :)

    Hope you are having a great day! Is your house all organized?

    Heather

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  8. Kayren and Heather,

    If you want me to read one, you'll have to pray I find it at one of my sources for free/cheap books. You might be mad when I tell you that I've passed up quite a few over the years. Not sure which ones.

    Heather, You read the same book over and over?! Maybe I should read a Lori Wick book if they're that good! LOL!

    :)

    ~Reese

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  9. I swore I would never read a book over and over but there are a few Lori Wick books that feel like a chat with an old friend, and sometimes I go back and read them again :)

    Heather

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