Our Magnificent Seven Books of the Year

1) When We Were Orphans and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.



Joint top spot for the man who is probably our favourite modern novelist. He is an elegant writer, building complex stories that comment on the nature of memory. His books are always subtle, but that doesn't mean they don't have power.





2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling.



Read it in a week in July. Normally it takes us forever to read a book, but this one rollocks along with a plot that means you just want to keep going with it. It was a fun reading experience. Definitely one of the two best in the series. And Dobby dies!!!



3) The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson


The third in the Spiritual Theology series is just as much a masterpiece as the previous two. For those who haven't picked up on this yet, Eugene Peterson is writing a 5 volume, they will be studying this in 50-100 years, theological work of wonder and joy. It is hard to overstate just how good this series is.

4) The Final Solution by Michael Chabon


A quiet little English detective novella with a stunning twist at the end. This is a little gem.






5) Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation by Adrian Plass


We have been reading Adrian Plass for the last 20 years. His latest book is structured as an A-Z of modern Christianity. It's basically a very funny joke book with some thoughtful bits thrown in. This made us laugh lots and lots.




6) Selected Poems by George Herbert (Bloomsbury hardback)

Been looking for one of these in second hand shops for ages, finally got a copy for my birthday. The most beautifully put together book with great poems. George Herbert is by far and away the greatest ever Christian poet, because he takes risks with language in a way that most Christians today would never dream of.



7) Moneyball by Michael Lewis

A fascinating, highly entertaining but flawed business book about baseball. It is dripping with energy, ideas and power, but struggles with it's need to be right all of the time.


Honourable mentions too for Hard Times by Charles Dickens which we haven't finished yet, Q by Luther Blissett, Falling Man by Don DeLillo and Martin Luther and His World by Graham Tomlin