I don’t know what got into me, but I’ve gone book crazy. I’d already pulled Bryan Davis’s second book in the Echoes from the Edge series, Eternity’s Edge, off the shelf at my church library. Then I made a stop at my local Christian bookstore.
I went because I wanted to do a little research connected to a book idea I have—a non-fiction project. But then I went and bought five books. Five! True, some I’m giving away, but still.
One was Stepping into Sunlight (Bethany) by Sharon Hinck. Somehow or other I must have gotten bumped off the reviewer list for Sharon’s books. I keep hearing great things about this one, and I really like Sharon’s writing, so I just couldn’t resist.
Then I stumbled on Randy Ingermanson’s Premonition (Zondervan). I’m not a particular fan of time travel, but I like Randy’s writing, too, so I decided to take advantage of a discount and picked that one up as well.
But I wasn’t finished. I also saw a book I figured a Christian fantasy writer should have, just to understand the discussion about fantasy among Christians. Until I got online, I had no idea there were believers who thought there was something spiritually wrong with the fantasy genre. Anyway, the book I found is Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings: What you need to know about fantasy books and movies by Richard Abanes (Harvest House). I’ve only dipped into it, but I’ll undoubtedly be reporting back on this one.
What else am I reading? Well our April CSFF Blog Tour book arrived: Blaggard’s Moon by (newly nominated Christy Award author) George Bryan Polivka (Harvest House), so I’ve started that one. Bryan’s writing is so good. He has a wonderful voice for his pirate protagonist and another delightful one for the entertaining storyteller. I have a feeling this upcoming tour will be a good one.
Then Sunday I was at our church library again, and I saw Wayne Thomas Batson’s Isle of Fire. I’ve read the Door Within trilogy and the Isle of Swords, so it just seemed right that I pick up this one too. I’ve liked each of Wayne’s books better than the one before it, so it will be fun to discover what goods this story holds.
Well, there was another one I saw in the library—one I don’t actually want to read, but one I think I should. I’m talking about The Shack. I’ve read so many reviews, commented, discussed, listened to just about everyone I know give their views, and I figured I needed to stop giving a second-hand opinion, and read the book for myself.
I’m also reading about three other non-fiction works—a couple history-of-the-church books and Gracia Burnham’s second book To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life Those I nibble at as time allows. Good stuff, but not meant to be devoured.
So what about you? What’s on the top of your to be read pile these days?
My TBR pile is outrageous. Just finished Deadlock and BoneMan’s Daughters for upcoming CFBA Tours. Now reading Harry Kraus’s Salty Like Blood. Then maybe James Scott Bell’s Deceived, Brandt Dodson’s Daniel’s Den, Davis Bunn’s My Soul to Keep, Odom’s Blood Evidence, and so many more plus more CFBA Tour books.
On the non-fiction side (not my favorite) I will eventually gear up for the weeping involved in reading Jeanne Damoff’s Parting the Waters.
My pile is more of a stack … if you exclude the bag on the bottom shelf, but I’m right there with you. I’m currently reading Brandilyn Collins’ “Getting Into Character” and loving it!
I think I flipped through a copy of “Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings: What you need to know about fantasy books and movies” by Richard Abanes so I’d be interested in hearing your take.
***POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW***
IF it’s the same book then I didn’t get it because I found the claims made by the author to be too outlandish. There were, I think, some good arguments and good intentions. They were not, however, backed up by credible interpretations of Christianity. I just had issues with it. A friend of mine has pointed out on more than one occasion that just saying all magic in books is bad while ignoring books like LOTR and Narnia is arrogant and unfair. That is the impression that I recall from flipping through it. I await your review.
Becky, this is such wonderful fun, finding books that I can’t wait to read and adding them to the TBR stack, which for me is really like a shelf of books. I have so many shelves in my house, that I could probably fill one with all the books I want and hope to read. Right now, I am reading Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Mistborn: The Final Empire’ (Tor), which is a very interesting read so far. I recently read ‘A Walk Through the Woods’, by Bill Bryson, and next on my stack is ‘Blaggard’s Moon’, which you mention above. I already read the first bit of the book and was very pleasantly surprised – it’s great! However, I also have my eye on the following month, so I hope to dive into ‘Scarlett’ next, by Stephen Lawhead (in preparation for ‘Tuck’, as I have already read and enjoyed ‘Hood’). Then, at some point, I hope to attempt a massive new book from Neal Stephenson called ‘Anathem’. And that’s just scratching the surface… : )
Just finished: The Book of Names and Gatekeepers.
Currently reading: The Divine Conspiracy (non-fic).
Um, my pile is actually too long to list here. It’s a bit embarrassing, really. And I keep adding more.
I feel the same way that you do. I do love Christian fiction, but I’ve read the bulk of them. That’s when I turned my writing skills to Christian fiction. We’re writing a series of books for each age generation. The first in the youth series was published in February. The site is above. I’d sure like to get your opinion. Godspeed.
To borrow a line from a friend: my TBR pile threatens low-flying aircraft.
Let’s see: just read Elisha’s Bones for CFBA. Started BoneMan’s Daughters for same. Blaggard’s Moon is next.
When I have time: Starfire (need to order it from Marcher Lord Press), Mere Christianity, and I promised my boys I’d read the 2nd in the “Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy” series.
I wanted to thank you for pointing me to the Herrick, Scientific Mythologies. I bought a copy a couple of days ago. I wanted to mention it then, but you seemed to wander off writing about fiction and it didn’t seem appropriate. While I was in the shop I picked up a sale copy of Blue Like Jazz. I look forward to your comments on the Abanes.
My Bookshelf of the Unread contains 248 books. Which is good. At the beginning of 2008 it contained 257, so I’m winning. Currently I’m reading supporting background material for writing. The Penguin Book of the Road/Delia Falconer (place), Trickster Makes This World/Lewis Hyde (critters), As They Say in Zanzibar/David Crystal (proverbs), Getting into Character/Brandilyn Collins.
I wanted to read Wolfchild by Rosanne Hawke, but its out of the library at present. So I got a copy of Across the Creek. I’m hoping to find out what a dragaroo is.
I find myself lately reading a lot of books where I know the author, or at least know someone who knows the author.
Thanks to each of you who shared your list of books you’re reading. Once upon a time, before I became a writer, I would start one book and stick with it until I finished. Rarely did I start something before finishing another, though there are a number of non-fiction books I have on my shelf with book marks in them, indicating I started the book, set it down, and never went back to it. With fiction, I’d plow ahead, even starting a book over and over again until I got into it.
Things certainly have changed, and I see I’m not alone.
Becky