Practice of the Presence of God Review

 

The Practice of the Presence of God by brother Lawrence is a Christian non-fiction book on the topic of Christian living, specifically through living constantly in the presence of God. It is divided into 4 parts: conversations, letters, spiritual maxims and the life of brother Lawrence (as written by a close friend).

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Brother Lawrence led quite an inspiring life and had so much wisdom to pass on. This is something that I aspire to and have never read about in depth. I appreciate much of what is said here and the simple approach he presents. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, but the spirit and heart of what is said is good and true. This is one of those books that I think would be beneficial for all Christians to read at least once in their lives.

Science Fiction Recommendations

 Science fiction can be such a varied genre. Here I am including both traditional science fiction (both modern and classics) with allegory.

Christian :

            Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis

            Out of the Silent Planet by C S Lewis

            Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

            This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti

Secular : 

            Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

            The War of the Worlds by H G Wells

            The Underground City by Jules Verne

The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Buroughs

The Island of Dr Moreau by H G Wells

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

By Water and Blood by Melanie Rose Huff

The Blue Castle Review

 

The Blue Castle by L M Montgomery is a classic about 29 year old Valancy who finds out she is dying and the news changes her whole life.

 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I loved this book. Valancy is so fun and interesting to follow. It is wonderful to have an older female lead for once. The other characters are quirky, hilarious and varied. The way Valancy sees the world and allows herself to let go and live is so inspiring. There isn’t much action that takes place, just a little mystery; it is predominantly a character driven story. With such fantastic characters, I found it gripping and thrilling in spite of the slow pace of things. All I really have left to say is that I can’t believe I never read this sooner.

The Cross Review

 

The Cross: Crucified with Christ and Christ Alive in Me by J C Ryle is a Christian non-fiction short work on the topic of the cross and its value in our lives.

 

I gave this work 5 out of 5 stars. I loved Ryle’s approach to the topic of the cross. Not many people address the definition of the cross and its different uses in scripture, but Ryle does. Furthermore, he really gets to the heart of the topic all while staying very close to scripture. Not to mention how approachable his writing style is. It would be no exaggeration for me to say that I think every Christian should read this and perhaps read it again every year.

Classics for Kids

 Today I am focusing on books I would classify as "classics" (roughly early history to 1945). I am going to break it down into some subgenres to keep things from getting too overwhelming. So today it is books that are primarily written for children (roughly 5-15 years old). That being said, they are still excellent books for any age. I have also tried to make this list with lesser known or read children's classics, so if one of your favorites isn't on here, that doesn't mean I don't recommend it.

General:

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott

Jack & Jill by Louisa May Alcott

Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

A Garland for Girls by Louisa May Alcott

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

What Katy Did series by Susan Coolidge

White Fang by John London

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Fantasy:

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank Baum

Ozma of Oz by Frank Baum

The Fairy Caravan by Beatrix Potter

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Rose in Bloom Review

 

Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott is the sequel to Eight Cousins. We follow Rose as a young adult coming into her own along with her cousins.

 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I love this story. It is full of important topics and many neglected truths, especially around romance and marriage. The story is captivating and keeps one guessing at what will happen next in these young people’s lives, even though it is more a character driven story than plot driven.

The characters are all still wonderful, but perhaps even more so since we finally get to know some of the cousins much better. Rose has grown into a lovely young woman by the beginning of the book and thankfully we still get to see her continue to learn and grow here. I loved seeing her challenges and the way she came through them.

Simple Faith of Mr Rogers Review

 

The Simple Faith of Mr Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth is a Christian non-fiction biography/ autobiography of the friendship of Fred Rogers and the author with a particular look at the effect of Mr Rogers faith on Hollingsworth.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. It was a lovely book. Even though this didn’t turn out to be a biography of Mr Rogers with a focus on his faith as I initially thought it would be, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying it for what it is. I liked seeing Mr Rogers through the eyes of a friend and getting a look at the influence he had particularly in relation to his faith.

The writing style is comforting, open and friendly. I loved the anecdotes and powerful life lessons that Hollingsworth learned through her friendship with Mr Rogers. This was a quick and fascinating read that was unexpectedly powerful on a personal level.