Books & Magazines Discussions

I've read a lot of great books but one that I've never shaken was Forfeit by Dick Francis. A thriller/action/mystery/romance, the main character was a sports writer whose wife was so badly paralyzed that she had to use an iron lung to breathe. This caused all sorts of complications and relationship issues, all of which were woven into the story. It was so touching and powerful that the story still comes back to me after 10 years -- it's a real page-turner and I highly recommend it.

--Bob

Anything by Og Mandino

One of the best books I've read has been the Dream Giver.  Plain language story followed by an in-depth discussion on how to apply it to your life.

The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang.

 The book itself is okay, but it's the story behind it that really changed me. It didn't touch me in the sense that I saw myself in a character. I think what inspired me the most about the book was how easy it is for events and people to be completely forgotten. The event itself was disgusting and beyond any reasoning.

 I really wish I could explain it more. Maybe it's because my daughter is chewing on my leg as I type this, but it's just a book that has stuck with me through the years. I first read it 10 years ago and I STILL remember those images.

Aside from all the controversy, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. Amazing story, memoir, fiction, non-fiction... who cares? Not me.

 Anything written by Karen Kingsbury, LOVE her!!!!

Rick Bragg - All Over But the Shoutin'. Met him in person too. Great guy. Hot as well. Yeah. I know he got caught up in the NY Times mess. Oh well. He still rocks in my book (pun intended).

I saw this and just want to add I read the Bible. It introduced me to God to whom I am grateful for saving my life and health in my recent mishap. There must be a purpose for all of us. ;>

The Bible, for starters.  Other favorites are "The Stand", by Stephen King, and epic (and boy do I mean EPIC, coming in at over 1000 pages) story of the battle between good and evil.  "The Murder of Jesus", by Dr. John MacArthrur is a great insight to the illegal trial and crucifixion of Christ.

Tough one, Margaret Moore got me to read with her historical romance, but the book that I re-read every year is God on a Harley.  Ironically, one of the few books I haven't written a review of this year.  Guess I have to know, OK- time to read it again.

Well, The Skin Im In touched me in the most deepest way something can very touch you...in my soul!   When I was in middle school i dealt with low self esteem and I saw this book in the library.  So, I checked it out and started to read it.  It was a God given moment for me to see that book, because without reading that book I would not be who I am today.  It was verying i was dealing with and more and it helped me tremendously

The best books that have totally grabbed me include The Glass Castle, The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice, and Bridget Jones' Diary.  No one ever belives me that the books are great, but I persevere.   

I really loved famous books about time travel by Connie Willis -- "The Doomsday Book" and "Three Men and a Dog".  This lady, an American author, somehow manages to be interesting, amusing and moving all at the same time.  I also love non-fiction and have been recently blown away by "A Matter of Degree" which I just reviewed.

 

Do I have to pick one? :) East of Eden, Anna Karenina, Lamb, The Red Tent. Amazing books....

The scriptures have made the most profound impressions on my heart.  They have given me a blueprint for this life and provided purpose, meaning, direction and a compass to live by.

As a girl I loved Aesop's Fables, as a youth I learned to love C.S. Lewis' books as well as volumes of poetry.  As an adult  I have found many friends in the written pages of many books.  Erma Bombeck has given my many laughs and I've been known to stay up all night with a good Dean Koontz thriller.

The Shack

Very profound... My sister passed this to me and I couldn't put it down.  Definitely made me see a few things a little differently anyway.

Well, it wasn't my favorite book... but the other books I've read have been primarily for entertainment and this one actually touched my soul... "The Lost Boy". It was very sad and made me strive to be the best mother I can be. I read it in highschool and again during my pregnancy.  

Oh, which one to chose? I love so many. My favorite genre are "self-empowering, motivational" books. I really enjoy reading any books I can learn something from, even if it's a textbook on subjects such as archeology or art (like a fav of mine, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"). The Bible, including and especially supplements like the Lost Gospels and the Banned Gospels can be eye opening. "The Power of Focus" is a helpful read. "The Aladdin Factor" is awesome! "How to Win Friends and Influence People" helps those who have trouble or a fear (my former issue) of socializing. "The Secret" was a hopeful and enjoyably meaningful read for me. "A New Earth" helped me overcome my frequent anxiety attacks that are no longer, along with many other messages that improved my life!

I would have to say my King James Bible.  I have had the same one for 22 years and there are notes throughout.  I was involved in a car accident while in college and my Adonai was killed.  His blood is covering the passage Jn 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  How bizaar is that?  The Bible tells me of my past, helps me live in the present and gives me hope for the future. 

My faith is grounded in the scriptures.  When answers aren't enough there IS Jesus--He is more than just an answer to your prayers.  Many a man has been won to the Lord just by being introduced to John 3:16.  When you read the Bible you get in touch with the Creator, Redeemer, Savior and hope for all eternity.  Heaven and Earth may pass away but God's word will stand forever.

The contemporary Christian group Avalon sums it up best: Everything to me.  He's more than a story.  More than words on a page of history.  He's the air that I breathe.  The water I thirst for.  And the ground beneath my feet.  He's everything, everything to me.

That's what my Bible is to me--everything that brings me closer in fellowship with my Heavenly Father.  

  

The only book that has touched me the most is The Bible. I have three different Bibles and each one has its specific purpose.

• King James Bible ~ I've had it since I graduated from High School. I use it every Sunday in Church. It is still in very good condition.
  
• NIV-The Daily Bible ~ It is may newest Bible. It is in chronological order with 365 daily readings. I try my best to read it each day. They say you can read it in a year. I am trying to do that, but if I forget one day I just pick up where I left off.
    
• NIV-Women of Faith Study Bible ~ This is my study Bible. I enjoy reading and studying this Bible. It has helped me understood and deal with some pretty emotionally things in my life. I am closer to God today because of it.

My favorite passage is Psalms 139:1-4 ~ O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

I am also very fond of Psalms 139:14-18 ~ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

I also have the NIV Women's Devotional Bible (might be the same you are talking about) and my brother and his wife gave me the NKJV Woman Thou Art Loosed Holy Bible by T.D. Jakes.  I come from a background and church that is KJV only so that is where my scripture memory comes from and that is the only Bible I would take to church.  But I use the other 2 as study aids. 

My life verse as a teenager was Isaiah 40:31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

Now I claim Jeremiah 29:11-13: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,  saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And you shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

And a lot of my friends claim Proverbs 3:5&6

Your verses sound like Sandi Patty.  Those are verses that she uses as preludes to many of her songs.  

I have a list of my favorite passages and Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of them. I really love all your favorite passages you quoted in this thread. I am not sure how long ago it happened, but I am truly sorry about Adonai.

You are a blessing! May God bless you!

I've never been much for touchy books. d;-) Gimme a good western or a Stephen King novel or some good sci-fi and I'm happy. A couple of books that I enjoy, and find myself re-reading every few years, are the LOtR trilogy, The Stand and The Shining by SK, and some Robert Ludlum spy books.

As I pre-teen/teen, I really enjoyed those novels where you coud chose from 2 or 3 situations in a scene and it would give you a different reading adventure every time. Does anyone remember the names of that book series? I'd love to start collecting those for my child!

I had some too and they were called the "twist-a-plots."  Do you remember the Mad Libs?  I used to love doing those and still enjoy them with younger children.

I loved Mad Libs, too! I even used to make up my own "Mad Lib" type storys. I think I may still have a few of mine, somewhere. . .

They still sell the Mad Libs at bookstores and sometimes you will find them at Wal-Mart or K-Mart.  Yeah, we made up stories too and had our friends fill in the blanks.  Do you remember the secret book of answers?  Everyone used a special sign in code and answered a variety of questions and you had to figure out who the icon belonged to so that you could know who posted the answers.  I still have the book and it has a front page of stickers and after every answer you place your sticker beside it.  

No, I've not heard of that one. It sounds like something I would have had fun with, though.

When I was younger I read a lot of George MacDonald books. I still read a lot of inspirational fiction, and most encourage me in a lot of ways...primarly because they make me think about my actions. I know review a lot of inspirational and Christian fiction, so I still read a lot.

When I was younger I read a lot of George MacDonald books. I still read a lot of inspirational fiction, and most encourage me in a lot of ways...primarly because they make me think about my actions. I know review a lot of inspirational and Christian fiction, so I still read a lot.