Now this problem wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that we live in seminary housing where there are only so many bookshelves you can cram in an apartment. So, we have books boxed in storage that will hopefully one day make an appearance again and we have books spilling forth from our numerous book shelves. So, in honor of my love for books I am going to list my 10 favorite authors (at least at this point in my life) and some of their books I truly love (these are in no particular order...except the first one is truly first). Let's keep in mind that the Bible is forever and always the greatest book of all. So please don't be offended when you don't see it below. Just know that I think it is the best and this list is all the authors/books after that :-)
There is a quote from Pride and Prejudice that defines our problem so beautifully. While this quote is being said with sarcasm by the character in the book, it is quite true for the Dickerson household. I have listed it below as well. I hope you enjoy the list and find something to add to your reading list as well. And please remember. This list isn't comprehensive. It is just some of my favorites. Love from WF, NC!
“I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
~ Said by Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice
1. Jane Austen - She is by far my favorite author, probably because she is the author of my favorite book which happens to be Pride and Prejudice. But also because she wrote with such hope in the human race. She didn't believe that those people who were pigeon holed into certain categories of society had to stay there and she had a sincere optimism despite her own trials. Jane (I call her that because I feel we would have been kindred spirits :-)) has many other books to her credit which I have read but will admit that I do not recall them as readily as I do Pride and Prejudice :-) I have read this book many times and I must admit I also have it in multiple copies and editions. My favorite being the 1895 Peacock edition my husband tracked down in England for me.(Love him!) It has the old book smell I love so much. Please read this marvelous book. If you don't love it you will at least be glad you can say you read it. Then go and watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. You won't be sorry! I could write a whole blog just about that...don't worry, I will refrain....maybe :-)
2. Francine Rivers - I absolutely love her! She is so methodical and thorough in her research and she writes from all different eras. But most importantly she writes through the lens of Christ. Each of her works are centered on the redemptive work of Christ in our lives. My favorite books from her are The Atonement Child, Redeeming Love and the Mark of Lion Series. Read them all!! No joke, start today. You will be blessed.
3. Margaret Mitchell - 4 Words...Gone With the Wind. Everybody has heard of it and many people have seen the whole movie or at least parts of it. This book is rather daunting as it stands at over 900 pages no matter what edition you purchase. I have actually read this book two times....yep, I said two. What possessed me? Well, the first time was in high school for an assignment. The second time was about 2 years ago because I was old enough to really understand what a fantastic book it was. By the way, if you have seen the movie you think that Scarlett had 1 child and she miscarried her second....read the book and you will find out that has two kids alive and well before little Bonnie Blue came along....maybe that will wet your appetite a little and get you to read it. It is a challenge, but a worthwhile one. Please note it took me 6 months to finish it. But I am so glad I did.
4. Harper Lee - I hope you have at least heard the names Atticus, Scout and Jem Finch and let's not forget Boo Radley. To Kill a Mockingbird is truly a classic and one of my favorites as well. You will find yourself identifying with one or more of these characters and you will want to come back to visit them time and again...I know I have!
5. Charlotte Bronte - The Bronte sisters are known as one of the most famous literary families there are. There was Charlotte who wrote Jane Eyre, Emily who wrote Wuthering Heights and Anne who wrote Agnes Grey. I have read 2 of the 3. Agnes Grey is on my long "to be read" list. I will be honest and tell you I wasn't a huge fan of Wuthering Heights but I can appreciate the intriguing way Emily Bronte wrote. I do love Jane Eyre though! It is another long one....what can I say, I like a challenge :-) I think it is such a haunting love story that makes the reader realize how different each of us define a "happy ending."6. Elizabeth George Speare - I am going back to my childhood for this one. Elizabeth George Speare is one of the authors that helped create my love of reading. She is the winner of several Newberry Medals for her work. I highly recommend The Bronze Bow, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Calico Captive. And I recommend them for any age. I recently re-read them and they are just as wonderful at age 30 as they were at age 12 & 13.
7. Corrie ten Boom - I hope this woman doesn't need an introduction. Her book The Hiding Place is a must read for everyone. Her faith in the Lord through the years of the Holocaust makes any of the "problems" I face pale in comparison. Her optimism through adversity and her hope that Christ would fulfill his plan for her life be it life or death are a blessing and model for how Christians should live. Plainly put....read it!!8. Eric Metaxas - Metaxas is a fairly well known author in our present day and age. Most would know his work from the movie Amazing Grace. He wrote the biography of William Wilberforce also entitled Amazing Grace which the movie was based on. I recommend the book and the movie :-) I also recommend his other works which include 7 Men and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. I am still working my way through Bonhoeffer as it is another long one, but what I have read is great!!
9. Laura Hillenbrand - I first read a book by Hillenbrand while I was studying abroad during college. We were headed out on travel break and I needed a book to read while we were gone. Our little library at the house we lived in London was quite small. I noticed a book entitled Seabiscuit: An American Legend. It was the most intriguing book to choose from so off it went on a tour of Europe with me. I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was so well written and engaging. And of course it became a movie. As always though, the book was much better! I highly recommend this book. So, I was quite happy when Unbroken came out. It is an equally great read and will be made into a movie in the next year. Hillenbrand is the kind of writer that makes a story in history come alive and make you feel as though you are there living it with the characters. Hope you enjoy these books!
10. Suzanne Collins - If you haven't heard of the Hunger Games Trilogy you might have been living under a rock the past couple of years. There isn't much I can say about these books that hasn't already been said. They are well written, well thought out and have a most intriguing message. Movies have been and will be made of these but nothing surpasses the books themselves. If you haven't read them for any number of reasons I recommend you give the first one a try....bet ya can't read just one :-)
Honorable mentions go to J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. I could have easily included them but I told myself I could only pick ten. And apparently I didn't want to pick anyone who wrote under a name using just their initials :-) Happy Reading!!
*The information found on this blog is opinion only. I am not paid to advertise for any of these authors in any way.
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