My 2013 Reading List

For 2013 I really wanted to read more than I had been in the previous years. Thankfully it was a better reading year for me and I hope to improve even more in 2014!

My Emily by Matt Patterson
Now I Walk on Death Row by Dale S. Recinella
Confessions of a Prayer Slacker by Diane Moody
Getting to No: How to Break a Stubborn Habit by Erwin Lutzer
Named by God: Overcoming Your Past, Transforming Your Present, and Embracing Your Future by Kasey Van Norman
Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist by Amanda Jenkins
I Fired God by Jocelyn Zichterman
Have a New Husband by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman
The Quilt by T. Davis Bunn
The 4 Seasons of Marriage by Gary Chapman
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman
Third Culture Kids by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken

All but one of these was on Kindle and with the exception of two of them, they were all free. I was really happy about the great books that were available for free through the year.

Probably the most eye opening book for me was Now I Walk on Death Row. I didn't really know what to expect, though I assumed it meant this man himself was on death row. What it was in fact, is that he ministers to men on death row. Although I wouldn't agree with everything he wrote in the book, it was very interesting, and at times disturbing, to learn what life is like inside the deepest recesses of our prison system.

The most controversial book from the list was I Fired God. We went to college with this author and I took a Math class with her. We also knew her husband since he came on staff at the college. Although I do not doubt that she was abused by both her father and her brothers (both of whom we also knew and one of whom later confessed it was true), I do doubt some of her claims about the situations at the college. Since I was a student there at the same time, I know, with certainty, that she is grossly exaggerating and at times even misrepresenting the truth. As a result, it is difficult to know if the rest of her claims are credible. It seems like she and her husband have thrown the baby out with the bath water and instead of just moving forward with their lives, feel bent upon discrediting everyone in their past. This also causes me to question her motives.

This year I read several books regarding marriage, which was really good for me. It has changed by thinking and perspective about several different areas and for this, I am thankful. I still have a long way to go, though!

It would be hard for me to choose the most convicting book, because I think quite a few of them would fit that category; namely the two "confessions" books. I hope to read more Christian living books in the coming year and years to come.

Some of the books I'm hoping to read in 2014 are Give Them Grace by Elise Fitzpatrick and four Beth Moore books I just got for free on Kindle this morning!

What was your favorite book from 2013? What are you hoping to read in 2014?