{Another installment of reads to savor from Tina. Read a couple of her other posts: Savoring the Slow Read ~ Summer Edition & Books for Fall and Winter Reading}
The American Heritage Dictionary defines savor as: To taste or enjoy with zest; relish. For those of you who are looking for books to savor, to read slowly and let sink deep, we blog every few months with a list of books to savor. Some may be seasonal, some may be books from certain seasons of our lives, others may be what we’ve savored with our kids. Regardless, we trust that they will whet your appetite for a cozy blanket, a cup of tea and a good read.
Hinds’ Feet on High Places: An Engaging Visual Journey by Hannah Hurnard, illustrated by Jill DeHaan and Rachel McNaughton
This is one of those books I return to in hard seasons of life when I need a deep dose of both truth and beauty. The allegorical journey of Much-Afraid as she journeys to the High Places always does my soul good, reminding me that journeys are never easy but always worthwhile. And this illustrated edition is absolutely stunning. Beautiful watercolors, calligraphy, photos, simple line drawings and beautifully written songs of the Shepherd adorn Much-Afraid’s journey. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who is struggling with their current situation in life, even as they feel called to step out in faith and follow the Shepherd. {Illustrated Edition}
Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad Study Guide by John Eldredge
This workbook is a quick read but the questions it asks its readers to consider take you deep. Eldredge has an explanatory section at the beginning of each of his six sessions to help you engage with the overall concept he is writing about. Then there are short readings for each day of the week with a few questions to consider. I found myself resonating with much of what he wrote about but answering the questions in my journal helped me actually decide what I wanted to implement into my life from what he wrote. (There is a DVD and an actual book that you can purchase to go along with this study guide, but you don’t need to have them to fully engage with the material in the study guide). And I absolutely love Eldredge’s Pause app which he references in this book. It helped me immensely to reengage with prayer during a hard season in my life. {Paperback}
Every Moment Holy Volume I by Douglas Mckelvey
A resource I wish I’d had during that dark season is this simple but lovely book of prayers. It is filled with beautiful liturgies centered around celebrations, the hours of the day, everyday chores, the weather, needs of the body and soul, of lament, and so much more. When we struggle to come up with the words to pray this book has them for us, beautifully crafted to read on your own or with others. This book encouraged me through its reminders that there is nothing too small or too great for prayer, from the washing of windows and folding of laundry to the grieving of a loved one or the starting of a new adventure. It all matters to God. {We recommend the Pocket Edition.}
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen by Chris Morphew
This recommendation comes from my eleven year old. I haven’t read the book but he highly recommends it! He’d just finished reading a sports devotional that he felt didn’t really cause him to learn or grow in any way. Then he picked this book up and raced through it. Every morning he wanted to talk about it with either me or my husband. My boy found it to be a great mix of deep truths in very accessible language and writing. Morphew took familiar stories from the Bible and used them to show God’s heart to my son and help him engage with the hard question of evil in the world. I call that a win! {Paperback & Kindle}
Even if Not: Living, Loving, and Learning in the in Between by Kaitlyn E. Bouchillon
This is my favorite read of the summer. I took this book on our family vacation and couldn’t wait to pick it up each morning. The heart of Kaitlyn’s message is that …God doesn’t waste a hurt. There is a purpose in the broken places. Kaitlyn shares her own journey through the broken places in her life in a way that is both vulnerable and hopeful. This is not a book of platitudes but rather a book about honestly sharing our heart with God in the hard so that we can learn to rest in who He is and who we are in Him. While it is written more towards younger women I (a 40-something Mom) loved it and felt it spoke directly to my life. {Paperback & Kindle}
Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish
Looking for a solid fiction novel that might be a bit of a hard read but leave you feeling like you learned alongside the characters? Then this might be your book to savor. I love Christa Parrish’s writing because it is atypical Christian fiction: flawed characters, struggles that are sometimes hard to read about, characters who don’t always make the right decisions, some loose ends at the end of her books, but a strong thread of hope woven throughout. And you can’t read this book without wanting to bake a loaf of homemade bread or go out and buy some artisan bread. {Paperback & Kindle}
A Few Extra Threads
- All Amazon links are affiliate links. If you like our suggestion and purchase a copy, we get a small commission at no cost to you. We don’t take our recommendations likely, so you can be assured that if we recommend it we love it and most likely own it already. Thanks!
- If you would like {infrequent} e-mails with new Literature Kits, Literary Evenings, Hosting Menus and our favorite books, sign up at the bottom with your e-mail. This helps our small business. Thanks for considering!
- I show up on Instagram most often. Follow @literaturethreads. Thanks!