Books That Changed Our Lives in 2013

My sweet friend Michele White urged me to write about our favorite books for 2013, but I thought she could write the post instead! Michele is a reader, and I think you'll appreciate hearing about what we read and loved in our homes this year.

From Michele:

I love to read. Kendra loves to read. Our husbands love to read. Our children love to read. Books are important to us. We read on planes, on trains, in cars, in the bathtub, on tricycles, and, of course, in bed. We read paper books. We use our Kindles. We read on our phones. We read on our computers. We know our local librarians well and pay our share of late fees. Well, my family does but I won't speak for The Fletchers :)

There are always one or two books that we read throughout the year that really make us think. Or make us laugh. Or teach us something valuable. Or are just a good book. Here is a list of books that our families recommend, without hesitation. 

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Michele's Favorites:

Orphan Justice by Johnny Carr – I heard Johnny speak at a orphan care conference in May. I walked away with a whole bunch more questions than answers. His book challenged me and continues to challenge my thoughts on the orphan care movement among Christians.

Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn – I think I first read this last year, but have since reread it a couple times. I was fascinated first by the introduction, when the author writes about following around a total stranger in the supermarket, just to see what she put in her shopping cart! The voyeur in me is tempted to do this any time I'm at the store. The book is a story/cookbook/how-to manual, telling the story of nine people who's culinary lives were transformed by being taught simple things, like which knife to use and how to roast a whole chicken. My mom bought the book after I raved about it and she said “I've been cooking for 50 years and I've learned so much!” It's entertaining and informative.

From Dust And Ashes by Tricia Goyer – This is the first of four books in a series set during WWII. I bought it on someone's recommendation so I would have something to read on a trip from West Coast to the East Coast. By the time I got to Tennessee, it was finished! Great characters, good story, not too heavy, other than the subject matter. This is a great fiction book when you just want a story to read.

Jeremy's Favorites:

The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon – Being a good neighbor is a ministry that the whole family can do.

Fletch's Favorites:

Prodigal God by Tim Keller - A reminder to me of how much I'm like an older brother.

Kendra's Favorites:

The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue -  The best Christian fiction I've read in a long time. Well written, fast-paced, engaging with a story line that challenged me and keeps me thinking months after I finished the series.  

Connecting Church and Home by Tim Kimmel - I read this one last spring and thought it was an important enough read to review it here.

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin - I have watched and loved Jacques Pepin since I was a little girl, and this autobiography lived up to all my expectations. Like the Jacques of the cooking shows I loved, the book is warm and interesting.  

What did you read in 2013 that you absolutely loved?