Life Changing Books

Last night I finished reading Harry Bentley's Second Sight. Really I could have finished it a bit ago but I was making it last until I got the next book in the series which I'll also show in this post. I wanted to share a bit about why I love the "Yadda Yadda Series", the "House of Hope Series" and the two "Harry Bentley" books. 


I've been reading Christian fiction for my entire adult life. After years and years of it, I need something a little more intriguing than a predictable love story about the beautiful, the handsome, and the rich. Seriously? I can't relate to that. 


"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." James Bryce


All of the book series above were written by Neta Jackson, except for the "Harry" books which are parallel novels to the "House of Hope" series and are written my Neta's husband Dave. All of the books share characters with the original "Yadda Yadda" series.


These books are about real people with real problems. The people are beautiful to the eye of the beholder but not "Hollywood" beautiful. They are tall, short, fat, skinny, and racially diverse. Some have been Christians for a long time, some are new believers, some are trying to figure out what the Christian faith is. Some have happy endings, some endure permanent hardships. I can relate to these characters. They are real people that I have met in real life. 


"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." Paul Sweeney


Not only can I relate to the characters, but I feel these books have been an encouragement to my Christian walk. When I put these books down, I want to pick up my Bible. I want to pray more. I want to pray Scripture. I want to live a more real, vital life for God. I want to help people. I want to get involved in what God is doing in the world. This is because there are many characters working this out in their own life. It's messy and hard but they keep trying. I want to keep trying with them. Sound corny? Maybe, but I don't care!


"Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own." ~William Hazlett


With trepidation I have opened the last book in the "House of Hope" series called "Who is My Shelter." Why trepidation? Well, it's the last book!! 

I am in a dilemma on whether I let myself just take it all in or if I restrict how much I'll read each day. I do often only allow myself so many pages a day to make a book last. I think I'll let myself read it and enjoy it even if it only lasts a day or two...


"A good book has no ending." R. D. Cumming


(You can read about my daughter Rachel's latest good read on her blog post here: A Post including Movie Title and Fishes )