Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Books Roundup

This year I reread two past favorites: A Man In Full by Tom Wolfe and The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III. I was struck by how R-rated, but still worthwhile, the latter is and am looking forward to Wolfe's new novel slated for release in 2012.

I read several books that were spiritually nourishing this year and one of them is Sinclair Ferguson's By Grace Alone: How God's Grace Amazes Me. It is a fine volume and in it he answers why we need another book on grace: "Being amazed by God's grace is a sign of spiritual vitality...yet we frequently take the grace of God for granted." So true. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert's What Is The Mission Of The Church? (review) is worthwhile when considering the debate on what the church ought to be. Charles Spurgeon's All of Grace is a fine explanation of the doctrines of grace and one I will probably return to for its clarity of thought.

Reading Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains Of The Day (review) made me realize that I would like to read more of his work. It is subtle and beautiful and poignant. And, lastly, In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (review) is what we've come to expect from him: engaging historical accounts, this time covering Hitler's rise to power through the eyes of an American diplomat.

No comments: