“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”
― Anna Quindlen
At the beginning of each year, I loosely set a goal of how many books I’d like to read. For me, reading is one way I press pause on this fast-paced world and breathe a little slower, a little deeper. When I open a book, I surrender to the story and allow it to take me wherever it wishes. I’m simply along for the ride, letting the author guide me through every turn of the page.
Naturally then, at the end of the year, I reflect on the books I’ve read and choose my favorite fiction and nonfiction reads so that I can share them with you! Because, as Stephen King says, “Books are a uniquely portable magic”, and I want you to be able to partake in the magic of a book.
With that said, today’s letter is going to be a bit different than most as I share with you my list of favorite fiction and nonfiction reads from 2023. I hope you can find one or two that unlock something sacred in you.
My Favorite Nonfiction Reads from 2023
Each nonfiction book I mention below will be linked to Amazon if you want to order it for yourself or a loved one. Just click on the title of the book and it’ll take you right to it.
Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren
This was my favorite nonfiction read from 2023 for several different reasons! Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest who centers her book around a nighttime Compline prayer. In her book, she unpacks grief, suffering, joy, vulnerability, and those lonely seasons in life when God feels absent. Prayer in the Night reminds us how powerful words of prayer — either from others or our own — are in times of doubt and darkness. I found this book to be incredibly raw and honest and I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to talk about the often hard reality of living out our faith in a fallen world and how finding God amidst pain can sometimes feel impossible.
Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church by Vicki K. Black
This year, I became very interested in following the liturgical, also known as the church, calendar. Most of us follow the calendar year, beginning on January 1st and ending on December 31st. The liturgical year consists of seven seasons, beginning with Advent, moving through Christmas (or Christmastide), Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and ending with Ordinary Time. The liturgical calendar is the story of God and God’s people, and we are given the gift of turning toward each new season with fresh anticipation; leaning in close with open hands to see what God might do in us, through us, and all around us. This book was incredibly helpful to me in learning about the different church seasons as well as offering new rhythms to engage with God through each season. It’s great for those who are just beginning to follow the church year and is a very short, simple read!
Enjoying Intimacy with God by J. Oswald Sanders
This past June, I wrapped up my 10-month spiritual formation certificate program called Abide through Leadership Transformations INC., and this was my favorite book on the required reading list. It’s a very short, easy read but packed full of so much wisdom. Sanders unpacks the journey of letting ourselves be open to a true, intimate connection with God. He outlines the different ‘circles of intimacy’ with God, sharing how we can experience the deep inner circle of sweet connection with Him. This book melted my heart and reminded me that abiding in the Lord’s love is what my soul craves most.
The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by Dr. David G. Benner
I think sometimes we’re afraid to know ourselves because we fear that if we focus on ourselves too long, we’ll become vain, conceited, or prideful. But as Benner explains in his book, knowing our true selves as God created us to be aids us in discovering God’s true purposes for us. As we begin to explore who we are and how God made us, as well as the false selves we sometimes hide behind, we come to know God and ourselves on an even deeper level. I enjoyed this book very much and it reminded me that God cares deeply about who I am and wants to partner with me in uncovering my true self so that I can glorify Him with the way I live into the world around me.
God Soaked Life: Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality by Chris Webb
Per the name of this newsletter, I thoroughly enjoy any good book that encourages me to behold more of God’s presence in my everyday life, and that is precisely what this book did! Chris Webb, Anglican priest and retreat house director, reminds readers that God’s kingdom is already among us, we only have to receive it by living with a heightened awareness of God’s presence with us. This book is a gentle invitation into the community of God’s people as well as being honest with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses so that we can begin to pay attention to how God is speaking and moving among us. Chris puts a huge emphasis on the practices of silence, reading Scripture, and prayer as a way to behold more of God’s kingdom amongst the mundane. This was such a sweet and helpful read!
My Favorite Fiction Reads from 2023
Each fiction book I mention below will be linked to Amazon if you want to order it for yourself or a loved one. Just click on the title of the book and it’ll take you right to it.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
If you love a good thriller mystery, then you're going to love this book! This was one of the first fiction books I read in 2023 and I was absolutely blown away by the ending. In my opinion, the book begins with a slow start, but give it time and I promise you, the story will pick up and you’ll be so happy you stuck with it. The book centers around Alicia Berenson, a famous painter living in London who’s married to an equally famous fashion photographer. From the outside, their lives seem perfect, until one night Alicia’s husband returns home late from a photoshoot only to be shot five times by Alicia herself. No one knows what happened, because after the incident, Alicia never speaks another word and spends the rest of her days in a psychiatric hospital completely mute. Everyone has given up on solving the mystery until Theo Faber, a young criminal psychotherapist, jumps at the chance to work with Alicia. Soon, everything begins to unravel.
The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline
I picked this book up at the cutest little bookshop cafe in Camden, Maine this past summer when my mom and I took our very first girls’ trip together, so of course, it had to make the list. The story’s about a single woman named Angela who comes from an Italian family and is working at a job she doesn’t want in New York City. She knows the clock is ticking and longs to find love and a life she can fall in love with. So, after a hilarious but tragic mishap at work, Angela is fired from her job and decides to take a chance, pack up everything she owns in her busted-up car, and move to the coast of Maine. There, she rekindles her love for Italian cooking, meets some interesting characters along the way, and realizes that there really isn’t such a thing as ‘the way life should be’. This would be a great beach read because it’s light and funny with a touch of romance and some yummy Italian recipes!
The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas
2023 was the year of me becoming obsessed with all things Sarah J. Maas! This author has helped me reunite with my love for fantasy reads and each of her books instantly made me feel like a kid again (although, most of her books are not for kids, just FYI). The Throne of Glass series is by far my favorite fantasy series at the moment and follows a young assassin by the name of Celaena Sardothien. She lives in a land that has been stripped of its magic by the evil king of Adarlan. In the first book, we find Celaena being held prisoner in a slave camp called Endovier only to be freed by the prince of Adarlan to compete in a warrior’s competition where she hopes to win and earn the honorary title of the King’s Champion. This series consists of 8 books and is filled with so much action, mystery, love, heartbreak, and magic that I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it for those who love fantasy or want to dip their toes into the fantasy genre!
The Sensible Shoes Club Series by Sharon Garlough Brown
I know I mentioned this book in my 2022 favorites, but I wanted to mention it here again because I actually finished the series in 2023, and it’s honestly one of my favorite fiction series! The series consists of 4 books and follows the lives of 4 women who are brought together by a spiritual formation program being offered locally in their community. Each woman carries her own hurts, flaws, and imperfections but together we get to watch them grow in God and in relationship with one another throughout the series. I found each book to be incredibly honest, heartwarming, and full of wisdom. Sharon Garlough Brown is a licensed spiritual director, so throughout the series, she writes about different spiritual practices and allows readers to draw nearer to God by engaging with them. I truly felt like I was a part of the Sensible Shoes Club myself, each of the women becoming my dear friends as well!
A Blessing for Reading a Book
As the year comes to an end, I hope books, words, and stories can be one way in which God forms you and speaks to you. Because even fiction reads sometimes reflect the childlike joy of the kingdom of heaven. God can speak through anything, even a half-goat man wearing a red scarf in a strangely large and mysterious wardrobe filled with evil Queens and fierce, talking lions.
So, may your eyes be open to the stories that call to you and to how God’s writing your own story.
May your cups of tea be hot, your blankets cozy, and your socks fuzzy.
And may wonder, wisdom, awe, and new worlds meet and surprise you with every turn of the page.
With you on the journey, and happy reading,
Celia
Thank you for sharing your book list. I’m especially interested in Sensible Shoes and the God Soaked Life along with Enjoying Intimacy With God.
Thank you for sharing your revelation-filled insights this past year and for all your encouragement!
Wishing you a year filled with incredible hope, joy and rest.
So many of these books sound like a great next read. I am especially drawn to the ones by Webb and Benner.
And I've also been hearing about Sensible shoes in multiple places so I'm wondering if that might make a good next additions to our Audible list. We love to listen to fiction when we're on the road.
I do already have one from Benner I need to start, but I will at least be adding these to my wish list for the coming year. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year.