Monday, December 20, 2010

Reading List 2010 and best book

For this blog, I decided to share my list of books read for the year 2010 and let you know my choices for "best book" of genre and "best book" I read this year. I call it the "Billiam Award." An "*" indicates that it was I book I reread and it wasn't eligible for the "Billiam." Here is the list...

Fiction (Juvenile)

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer—Grisham
The Outsiders-Hinton*
The Teacher’s Funeral- Peck
Stargirl- Spinelli
Tuck Everlasting-Babbitt
How Angel Peterson Got His Name-Paulsen
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days- Kinney
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone-Rowling*
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Rowling*
The Giver-Lowry
Bridge to Terabithia-Paterson
Son of Liberty- Massie

Fiction (General)

The Chamber-Grisham*
The Appeal-Grisham*
The Last Juror-Grisham*
Ford County-Grisham
The King of Torts-Grisham*
The Testament-Grisham*
Playing for Pizza-Grisham*
Bleachers- Grisham*
A Time to Kill-Grisham*
For One More Day-Albom*
The Fire Gospel-Faber
Elmer Gantry-Lewis
To Kill A Mockingbird-Lee
Anthem- Rand
Of Mice and Men-Steinbeck
The Lovely Bones-Sebold

Non Fiction (General)

The Innocent Man-Grisham*
Unlikely Disciple- Roose
My Personal Best- Wooden
Going Rogue- Palin
Worth Fighting For: The Education of a Maverick- McCain and Salter
Dutch- Morris*
A Matter of Character: Inside the Bush White House- Kessler
Game Change-Halperin and Heilemann

Bible Study/Devotional

Preacher, You’ve Got Friends- Hollis
90 Minutes in Heaven- Piper
Preaching- Miller
Biblical Preaching- Robinson
The Effective Invitation- Streett
Fearless- Lucado
God Came Near- Lucado*
Crazy Love- Chan
The Screwtape Letters- Lewis*
Game Plan for Life- Gibbs
Blue Like Jazz- Miller*
Living by the Book-Hendricks
Between Two Worlds- Stott
A Primer on Biblical Preaching- Sutton
Preaching that Changes Lives-Fabarez
When God Whispers Your Name-Lucado*

Christian Fiction

The Bride Collector- Dekker
Boneman’s Daughters- Dekker
Obesessed- Dekker
Thr3e- Dekker
Kiss- Dekker and Healy
House- Dekker and Peretti
Immanuel’s Veins- Dekker
The Dead Whisper On- Hines
The Unseen- Hines
Blink of an Eye- Dekker

"Billiam" Nominees

Juvenille Fiction: Bridge To Terabithia (Paterson)- A wonderful story of friendship and imagination. The recent movie is good, but not nearly as good as the book.

Fiction: To Kill A Mockingbird (Lee)- I think this is the best American novel of all time. Like "Bridge To Terabithia," it is a movie, but the book is far superior.

Non-Fiction (General): Game Change (Halperin and Heilemann)- The best political book I read this year. Wonderful behind the scenes insight into the 2008 Presidential Election. This book is not for the squeamish. It will shatter some of your preconceived notions.

Bible Study/Devotional: Living By The Book (Hendricks)- The most practical Christian book I've ever read. How do you begin to study the Bible? A great read.

Christian Fiction: Immanuel's Veins (Dekker) I did a review for this and it was very close to winning the "Billiam." I really like this book, a lot. It is a bit quirky (and so am I), so I thought my liking it might reflect that. Great story of sacrificial love. I've read none better.

"Billiam" Winner 2010: To Kill A Mockingbird (Lee)

I would challenge everyone to keep a reading list for 2011 and read at least a book a month. There is a lot of great literature and much to be gained by investing yourself and your time in a good book. Maybe you'll find a book on my list that will interest you. I have a few book reviews on this blog. Check them out, too. Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and may God bless you in 2011. Thanks for reading... and, by all means, read on!

2 comments:

  1. I think Palins book "Going Rogue" should be under the fiction section. :)
    Looks like you read some good stuff in 2010. What are your thoughts on Blue Like Jazz?

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  2. Mike,

    Thanks for stopping by and reading this. I am praying for all of you, especially Shara. I know it has been rough.

    I liked your comment on "Going Rogue." I am not a big Sarah Palin fan.

    "Blue Like Jazz" was an interesting read. He is a bit more liberal than many in our churches. His description of his spiritual journey was fascinating. I don't know if I thought it was a great book but I did think it was good enough to read again this year.

    You all have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

    bill thomas

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