This week, both Jason Konopinski and Jennifer Luitweiler listed some of their favorite books . . . or at least what they thought of as their favorite books. I thought I’d give that a go. After all, it’s summer, the season I habitually associate with reading because of those amazing summer reading programs at public libraries (high five to the librarians!).

1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Love the magic, the human fallibility, the talking animals, and most of all Aslan.

2. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. She’s able to take a simple story – an older father writing a letter as the legacy to his son – and make it a profoundly complex, powerfully emotional tale of the legacies we all leave.

3. Head Off and Split by Nikky Finney. I need to rest this book of poetry over and over just so I can begin to understand race, identity, sexuality, and love from her gorgeous language.

4. Barnheart by Jenna Woginrich. This woman is trail-blazing farm life for me. She’s single and strong . . . and she makes her own bread often.

5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Like Jennifer, I adore this book. I love heroes, even when they have crackly voices and messed up lives.

6. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. This book taught me what it is to be an artist even in the midst of those who do not understand or appreciate and might stand in our way.

7. Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott. I love Lamott’s humor, and I love how who she is as a person show through in her faith rather than her faith erasing all the edges that God gave her.

8. Paradise by Toni Morrison. Women living in community and trying to find what it is to love and be loved. That’s a story I’d like to live myself.

9. House by Tracy Kidder. This book taught me that there is a story in everything if we just look.

10. Amazing Grace by Kathleen Norris. Faith, honest and true.

My dad also added his favorite book to the list – Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

What books would you include? Post your list or share it here. I’d love to see.