Books of the Year

Hi everyone!  Because of my love for books, I thought I would tell you a little bit about some of my favorite books of 2010.  The year is almost over, so now is the perfect time!  I've never been one to read constantly and all the time, but when I do read, I often find books that I really love, and such was the case this year.  These books cover different topics, from classics, to design and other hobbies, to books that have helped me know God better. 

I've created an image map below that allows you to click on each book and head straight to a web page where you can purchase the book.  Following the image map are short reviews of each book, going from left to right, top to bottom on the image map.








The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett | I still haven't finished this book, but I love it so far.  Every single prayer is so rich and so encouraging.  I love reading the prayers of Puritans from a few hundred years ago - it's so encouraging to know what Christians back then were praying!  I read with a pencil and mark up my copy a lot because there is so much to benefit from and something in particular sticks out to me almost every day.  I highly recommend this book to you all.  I think you will be very edified by reading it.

The Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington | This was also a very encouraging book.  I blogged about it a couple months back when I was reading it.  I love the way it constantly pointed me back to the gospel, and to the two "bookends" of the Christian life: the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.  These truly are the two most essential truths of our daily lives as Christians, and it is so wonderful to have a clear, well-written reminder of them.  This book is also highly recommended.

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok | I think this may very well be the most influential piece of classic literature I've read to date.  It's definitely one of my favorite books.  It's not a happy, lighthearted read by any means, but it has such depth and I was fascinated by its depiction of art and how art interacts with the rest of life.  It's extremely interesting, and I think those of you who enjoy creative things would really like it.  It does have some themes and sections that aren't appropriate for a younger audience, so I'd recommend that you only check it out if you're, say, 15 or 16 at the youngest.

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams | This is actually not technically a book - it's a play.  But I thought I would include it all the same.  Again, it's not a happy book, but its commentary on the futility of dreams is fascinating.  I'd recommend it for high school students and older.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee | I read this over the summer, and found it very interesting.  I liked the way the story was depicted through the eyes of a child, and how well Harper Lee accomplished that viewpoint.  The commentary on Southern culture and social issues was well done and very interesting.  It does have some themes that wouldn't be appropriate for younger students, though, so I'd say that I'd recommend it for high school students or older.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy | Yet again, not a happy book, but this book's commentary on death and the feelings and questions faced at death was truly poignant.  Another reason I liked it was because it's Russian literature - Russian literature and history fascinate me!  I'd recommend it for high school students or older, because of a few parts that are not appropriate for younger teens.

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn | This book was great.  It was another summer read, and I really enjoyed the information and compelling story about persecuted Christians in China.  It was really neat to see how the main character, Ben, changed over the course of the story.  I definitely recommend it, but if you read it, beware that it is very intense and real, and also has some themes that might be hard for younger teens to read.  So, I would recommend it, but call you to consider it first!

Logo Design Love by David Airey | My favorite graphic design book.  It's a great guide to creating logo design, and it's especially helpful because some of the concepts apply to all types of graphic design, not just logos.  It was so helpful to me!

The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby | A great, hands-on guide to SLR photography.  I really like all the tips this book gives, and how practical it is.  Highly recommended to all you photography enthusiasts out there!

52 More Scrapbooking Challenges by Elizabeth Kartchner | I don't think I've read this book cover to cover, but I've come very close as I've thumbed through it time after time after time.  The ideas are great, and so many of the pages and scrapbookers featured in this book are totally beautiful.  Definitely recommended for any scrapbookers out there.

Now, what have been your favorite book(s) of 2010?  I'd also love to know if you've heard of or read any of these books.  It's always fun to find out that other people like the same books I do.

P.S. If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog, I've added some lists of things I'm enjoying!  These will (hopefully) be updated from time to time with what I'm currently liking, listening to, and reading.