Notable Reads of 2010

Significant things I read in 2010 (a few more to be added):

1. Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
I really enjoyed this book. In the midst of postmodern dissatisfaction with church and organized religion, these two authors make a really good case for these things, and make an attempt to stir up affections for organized religion. Very encouraging read, and revived my excitement for church on Sundays, Monday night Shepherding Group etc.

2. The Pleasures of God by John Piper
Piper is becoming like an old friend to me as I read more and more of his books. I love the way he thinks through things, and it's really exciting for me to sit down with a Piper book and try to think along with him through Scripture and theology, and life. This book is another deep one by him, that leads you to think about very profound aspects of the person of God. Great stuff. Read the appendices too!

3. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
It's my goal to eventually read a lot of Hemingway's books. This goal has been slow in the reaching, but every so often I get back to a Hemingway book. This was the first time I ever read this one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
I love Swift's essay "A Modest Proposal," so I thought I'd love a novel by him. But I didn't. It really got on my nerves after a while, for reasons I can't completely explain. There were laughs to be had along the way, but overall I thought the story got pretty redundant among other things. Maybe I don't have the constitution for long, drawn-out satire...

5. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
Collection of short stories, that influenced Ray Bradbury a ton. So I had to pick it up. Tones of sadness throughout, but a really unique treatment of human beings and their personal struggles. My dad was born and raised in a small Ohio town also, and I grew up listening to his stories; I suppose I have extra fondness for stories set in Ohio. I really liked this one, and I'm sure another reading would yield more goodness.

6. The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
This one threw me for a loop. I don't know if I completely get all of what Chesterton is up to in this book, but I'd really like to get back to it again for at least one more read. It's a cool allegory for the problem of evil, among other things.