top seven books of ele7en

this year marked the exploration of alternative media consumption of books.  i listened to multiple audio books and even read a couple of books on my iPhone (yeah, it was almost as bad as you think it would be-but, i could read in bed at night while em was sleeping, so that was advantageous).  these are the top seven books i read this year.

se7en | Ghost Story_Peter Straub

all the motivation i needed to read this was found in danse macabre by stephen king.  he declared this book one of the greatest horror novels of the 20th century.  i don’t read much horror any more (sans mister king), but i picked up this book and couldn’t put it down.  great, classic story telling.  believable characters.  a great opening scene that hangs with you through the entire novel.

 

six | the girl with the dragon tattoo_stieg larsson

its rare that you find characters that you shouldn’t really like, but you do.  this trilogy (of which i’ve only read the first two) is fast paced and well written.  the layers peel away quickly enough to move you through the book, but there are so many that one wonders if they can continue infinitely.  there is some pretty graphic sexual violence, so be warned.

 

five | harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban_ jk rowling (audiobook)

could cooler stories have any lamer book covers? i digress…i’m sure everyone in the world has read these or seen these, but emily and i are the last.  this summer we decided to start listening to them while we travelled around czech and managed to listen to four and a half books before the summer ended.  we’re still half-way through the fifth book and will pick it up again when we get back.  i’m sure i can’t write anything that hasn’t already been written, so, i’ll just say i really loved them and they are amazing to listen to on audio!

 

four | intimate allies_dan allender & tremper longman III

i’m not a huge fan of marriage books, but this is one of the best.  many christian books i read seem to sugar-coat life and give “perfect” answers that don’t seem to really match reality.  in intimate allies, allender and longman give examples that are shockingly true to life and provide biblical wisdom for those examples that can actually help and lead to greater glory in our marriages.

 

three | made to stick_chip & dan heath (audiobook)

i’ve realized that audiobooks help stimulate thought for me in ways that traditional books do not.  those thoughts aren’t necessarily needed for fiction novels, but i found myself thinking more and differently as i listened to made to stick.  it made me think a lot about how to present ideas, how to write sermons and our evening programs for english camps, and how to share ideas so that people will remember them.  now i just need to find a book called “made to do” where people will do all the ideas i that i come up with…

 

two | the hunger games_suzanne collins

i’m pretty positive that i haven’t read three books this fast since i was devouring hardy boys books at age 10.  brilliant characters, fascinating concept, and a world that could be our future with a few wrong moves.  this book is the antithesis to the twilight saga.  believable characters, a likable female lead, two young men deserving of this likable girl, and excellent writing.  its really everything that twilight isn’t and hopefully the movies prove it!

 

one | the count of monte cristo_alexandre dumas

i love classic literature.  i have a goal to read the top 100 classics of all time.  my theory is that these books are classics for a reason and none of them are a waste of time to read.  currently literature is hit or miss.  you never know if what you are picking up is worth the read.  there is only some much time to read, so i want to read the best when i do.

the count of monte cristo is one of the few books that i would give a ten out of ten.  often in classic literature you have to persevere through meandering prose and character development.  it often pays off (the brothers karamazov is a classic example), but can be difficult to get into.  within pages of the count of monte cristo the book is in full-swing and the plot thickens and develops.  as i said about the girl with the dragon tattoo, its rare to find characters that you shouldn’t like, but do, its even rarer to find characters that you love and cheer for the entire book that towards the end become so self-absorbed that you begin to dislike them.  this novel takes you to real places with real responses to what we would all do if we were put in the same circumstances, but finishes with redemption.  the move is great too, but loses much of the drama and beauty of the novel.  don’t skip this novel.  it is absolutely worth your time.