Roses in the Rubble

As many of you know, Virginia likes books and reads piles of them (as posted here previously Books! Reading! Books! Reading!)

This week a friend tagged me on Facebook to post covers of 10 favorite books, so here’s my response in one blog post (vs. one-a-day on FB.) I have way too many favorites to narrow down to ten, but here are a few that are reread often, shared with others, and have left indelible bookmarks of hope and hilarity in my life.

#1: “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien

I have read Tolkien’s LOTR and “The Hobbit” once a year every year since 8th grade (many times!) To read how Tolkien’s books help cure my tireditis, click here.

#2: “Daily Strength for Daily Needs” Mary W. Tileston

This is an inspirational collection of daily quotes from Scripture, hymns and spiritual people through the ages. My tattered edition is falling apart, but I also have it on Kindle (a big thank you to the “community of volunteers” who make these out-of-print treasures available electronically.)

#3: “Memory” et all, Lois McMaster Bujold

I am a huge groupie of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan’s books – brilliant, innovative, outer space fun. I have all of them on Kindle and have read most multiple times, especially the book Memory (re-read at least 10 times, including last week.)

#4: “Bread for the Journey” Henri Nouwen

I have read this daily devotional for many years. It was one of my first blogs here 8 years ago (click here to read about it.) Henri Nouwen’s other myriad books have also been a huge blessing in my life. (“The Return of the Prodigal Son” is another fav.)

#5: “How the Light Gets In” by Louise Penny

This is the first Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel I read, and it’s still my favorite. Louise Penny writes brilliant mysteries set in the fictional Canadian village of Three Pines that are much more than whodunits, especially this one that continued to inspire me long after turning the last page. For Louise Penny groupies out there, the new Armand Gamache mystery, “A Better Man,” is coming out 27 August 2019!

#6: “Who Moved My Cheese?” Spencer Johnson, MD

I have given this short book many times to friends going through change, and have reread it often when facing all sorts of change in my life.

#7: “Tales of Sector General” et all, James White

Irish author James White wrote tales of splendor, wonder and mayhem at Sector General, a multi-species hospital located at the edge of space. I am a huge groupie and have read his books multiple times, especially “Code Blue Emergency” and “The Galactic Gourmet,” both packed with major doses of hilarity. (Check out one of my earliest blogs from 8 years ago : Cosmic Hilarity & The Galactic Gourmet.)

#8: “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson

My tattered Calvin and Hobbes books toted to overseas postings continue to bring joy and lots of laughter no matter my whereabouts or older-age creep.

#9: “The Doomsday Book” by Connie Willis

I have read “The Doomsday Book” multiple times. It never gets old, although time travelers get stuck in the Middle Ages. 🙂 When it came out it won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, science fiction’s two highest honors. Connie Willis repeated that double honor with her books “Blackout/All Clear” wherein time travelers are stuck in England during World War II. I read them last year – instant favorites, absolutely brilliant!

#10: “Left to Tell” by Immaculée Ilibagiza

I have given away many copies of Immaculée’s courageous story of faith and forgiveness. (You can read my blog about it by clicking here: Left To Tell.)

#11: “The Moosewood Restaurant Favorites” The Moosewood Collective

Must include a cookbook! It’s hard to pick a favorite with hundreds of cookbooks stashed on shelves all over, but I have enjoyed my 10+ Moosewood cookbooks for more than 20+ years and use them all the time. My bucket list includes a trip one day to the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY.

#12: “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers

My list is now over 10, but have to include this book. The first time I read “Redeeming Love” years ago, I ended up reading it twice in one day! At home sick in bed I started reading it in the morning and finished it in the afternoon (with a box of well-used tissues), then turned right around and started again. It is a powerful book about redemption, faith, forgiveness and love.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Suess

Another favorite book packed with wisdom, a gift from my sister to me after graduate  school. Here’s to books taking us places we’ve never been, teaching us things we don’t know, inspiring us, strengthening our imagination muscles, making us dream bigger dreams, and laugh, hope and cope as we turn the pages of our lives.

grace, peace & favorite books

Virginia : )

p.s. If you have a favorite book (or two) that you’ve read more than once, or shared more than once, please add them to this list in the comments.