Books are teach me, challenge my thoughts, give me a reality check, and provide another world to escape to find pure pleasure. Here are 5 must read books for your Christmas Break. I know some of you are laughing at the very thought that you will have down time during Christmas to read. However, I will and some of you may as you travel to other places or stay in during the cold.
I want to share 4 must read books that I have found to be wonderful and 1 must read that I haven’t read yet, but plan to read over Christmas.
The first book, The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, is a coming of age novel and drama. It is the story of a girl that has been orphaned. She is coming to the time when she will turn 18 and age out of the foster care system. The story takes you through her journey in learning who she is and what she wants out of life with so many twists and turns in between. For me, this novel was so many kinds of books rolled into one. It was a fast and fun read, but it also made me think and provoked deep compassion in me for what the girl was going through.
The second book, The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautful by Myquillyn Smith, is a non-fiction book. It’s a must read because it makes you think completely about your environment and how you craft it and shape it to be what you want. This book encompasses a philosophy behind your own individual art of decorating. She talks about decorating and making a home from a very small budget to a very big budget. I have read no other book quite like this one and I highly recommend it because provide you with thoughts and tools to make your environment what you want.
The 3rd book, Charis: God’s Scandalous Grace for Us by Preston Sprinkle, is a non-fiction book about God and the grace that is shown in character after character in the Bible. I had never heard of the book or author before I got it in a book deal either for free or a couple of dollars. It makes you think about how the characters in the stories you have heard your whole life were completely outside of the Christian box and how God showed his audacious grace to them and to us. It will leave you in awe of God and His grace.
The 4th book, When I Married My Mother: A Daughter’s Search for What Really Matters-and How She Found It Caring for Mama Jo by Jo Maeder, is an autobiography that I got in a deal. It is a wonderful story about a mother/daughter relationship. The true story outlines the ups and downs of that relationship and how the daughter becoming a caregiver for her mother changed their relationship completely in such a wonderful way. It’s a must read for mothers and daughters and those caring for a family member.
The 5th book, The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, is the must read that I haven’t read either, but that I have heard such great things about. It explores the idea that it is unrealistic for us to make New Years resolutions or goals in general that span the whole year. It’s too much. We lose interest and enthusiasm over time, and a goal made that far in advance isn’t likely to reflect how life is by the time you actually get there. They challenge you to make just a few goals for a 3 month period and set yourself up for success.
I love books. I can’t help it. The pleasure and learning that I get from reading a book no matter how long or short enrich my life. Check out my must reads!
