I used to be a bookworm. I never thought I’d write those words, but when you throw together growing up, chronic health issues, a global pandemic, new hobbies, and a couple of humanities degrees, changes happen. But I was determined that 2023 would be the year of more books. So, I tried to read books that were recommended, or read with a deadline in mind (like a conference), and I also tried to deliberately set aside some time to read. I didn’t read as much as I hoped, but still fell in love with reading again. Here are some of my favourites that I think are worth adding to your 2024 list.
1. How to Train Your Dragon (Cowell, narrated by Tennant)
When the How to Train Your Dragon movie was first released, I didn’t realise it was based on a book series. I later read one but couldn’t get into it (though maybe that’s what happens when you start with the sequel…). Earlier this year someone recommended the audiobooks, so I made my way through the series as they came available on BorrowBox. Enhanced by an engaging narrator, How to Train Your Dragon includes a surprising amount of wit (that made me laugh out loud) and forethought (that meant my jaw was on the ground as the series progressed). The last two books in particular are filled with some surprising twists and turns.
2. Gaudy Night (Sayers)
When Dr Amy Orr-Ewing recommended this as one of her favourites on the Dorothy Sayers Undeceptions episode, I had to read it. It’s a mystery about blackmail and puzzling problems in the women’s college at Oxford. I finished the book convinced that old books take time to get to the action but are worth persevering with. I also wish I could go back in time and get an English lit degree at Oxford in the 40s.
3. Beowulf (translated by Heaney)
To sate my desire of getting an English lit degree, and with the belief that studying books helps you appreciate them, I’ve been following along with Karen Swallow Prior’s Substack. She’s slowly posting insights into the books she’d teach in an introductory course to English literature. The first book she chose was Beowulf. It’s a 3,182-line poem about battles, monsters, death, growing old, and what God and the gods have to do with it. It was a delight to read, hear Prior’s insights, and then listen via audiobook, noticing different things each time.
4. 10 Dead Guys You Should Know (Maddock, Ciano and Coulton) and 10 Dead Gals You Should Know (Ciano and Maddock)
As the titles suggest, both explore the lives of ten Christian men or women, what it looked like for them to serve God, and some of the challenges they faced. They are engaging and approachable for a beginner, but with a handful of footnotes that kept this history buff engaged.
5. An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens (Carey) and China’s Spiritual Needs and Claim (Taylor)
Auditing a church history course at SMBC this semester was the highlight of my week. I loved the chance to read primary sources like these. Some parts haven’t aged well—every generation has its blind spots. However, both books challenged me to think about the need for people of all nations to hear the gospel and reminded me of how God provides for his people in their needs.
6. Seed of the Woman (Dolce)
Nana Dolce pens a series of thirty reflections on women in the Bible and how their lives point us to Jesus and our need for him. Beautifully written.
7. Jesus Through the Eyes of Women (McLaughlin)
This is my favourite book of the year. As always, Rebecca McLaughlin writes clearly and thought-provokingly (and if you haven’t read any of her books yet, you should). Here she thematically explores the women in the gospels, whether named or unnamed, and what they teach us about Jesus, his character, and what he came to do. I finished eager to read it again.
8. Born Again This Way (Gilson)
Part memoir, part explanation of the Christian view on marriage and why it matters. I appreciated the way in which Gilson wove together stories from her life and others to show what it can look like to serve God faithfully as a same-sex attracted Christian. It is easy to read and has clear explanations of biblical passages accompanied by helpful metaphors. It also has one of the more helpful explanations of how singleness fits into the big picture of eternity.
9. The Meaning of Singleness (Treweek)
This was the book I was most keen for this year—in fact I managed to access a copy before the release date. It’s got culture, history, theology, and footnotes. What more could you want in a book? It’s an academic work, but approachable if you know what eschatology means and can take a few hours to sit and read it. I appreciated that Treweek started with church history and how singleness has been understood through the ages, explored key passages, and finished with the implications for today.
