Wednesday 30 November 2016

Best Books 2016

This is an idiosyncratic list of the books that I have enjoyed most or found most useful, this year. The complete list is here. This post concerns the personal reading list. At a later date, I may post about the best read alouds.  Books which have not reached this post are generally still a worthwhile read. Books where I gave up, and there were a few, didn't reach my personal list. 


Links are to my reviews.

Christian Books
  • JC Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. This are helpful, clear and applied. Each section is short and so it isn't too difficult to fit in a section per day.

  • Fitting in with this, I have recently read Iain Murray's biography of Ryle: Prepared to stand alone. This is thought provoking. Ryle's life wasn't easy in many ways. It is interesting to contrast the views of Ryle on separation with those of his contemporary, CH Spurgeon.

  • His love endures for ever is a much more modern book, recommended by my co-leader in the home education group. This book is about God's love and has some awe-inspiring thoughts about how love is defined by God's love rather than by our definitions.
Education

  • Teaching from Rest is a book that I was reluctant to read. It is written by Sarah Mackenzie whose Read Aloud Revival podcasts I enjoy but she is a Roman Catholic and I wasn't sure how this would affect her views on home education. Yes, she does quote RC theologians but the nitty-gritty of the home education advice is excellent and there is plenty for me to implement. An 80% full rather than a 120% full timetable would be a start!

  • Mathematical Mindsets gave me plenty of food for thought although how to implement the ideas is more challenging. It has certainly made me think more about the way that my children learn maths.
Children's Books

These mainly been books that I have preread for the book club.
  • Number the stars is historical fiction about how the Jews escaped from Denmark in the Second World War. 

  • The family with two front doors is another book about Jewish people, this time in prewar Poland.

Fiction
  • Bleak House was a reread and I appreciated the extensive foreshadowing, in this book, on a reread and was, again, left puzzled by John Jarndyce.

Over the next month, I hope to post about my lack of success with reading lists and some vague plans for reading next year. Please let me know about books that you would recommend for me to read, next year.

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11 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah, thank you for this post. Is 'His Love Endures For Ever' by Garry Williams? I've found a couple of books with that name.

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    1. Hi Helen,Yes, the author is Garry Williams. Sorry, I should have written that in the post.

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  2. I am reading The Lifegiving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson at the moment, which I would recommend. It has lots of good ideas for Christ-centred family traditions.

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    1. Gwen, that is funny. I was thinking that The Lifegiving Home is a book which I should read. Thank you for the encouragement to read it.

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  3. Hi Sarah that's quite a list! I am sure you are aware that Banner of Truth have re-released "daily Prayer and Praise" a devotional commentary in the style of JC Ryle but on the Psalms. A delight to read aloud in family worship as well as to read quietly. Don't miss it!

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    1. Thank you, Heather. I wasn't aware of this book before but it sounds interesting. I have just seen a devotional book from John Newton's works which is also tempting!

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  4. What is the title of the John Newton book it would make a good Christmas present for someone!

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    1. It is called Jewels from John Newton. I think it is published by Banner of Truth.

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  5. I've never read Mathematical Mindsets. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  6. I read Bleak House for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. I don't know much about Ryle except a few quotes I have seen from him but I should probably read more.

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