Highland Reads...

​Summer is here and with it, for me at least, comes sitting at the beach (or deck, or backyard, or park) and reading a good book.  The following are a few book reviews and recommendations from Highlanders to help you choose your next good read.

​Sensible Shoes: A Story About the Spiritual Journey
--Sharon Garlough Brown (pub.2013)

This is the first in a four-book series, a fictional story of four women of different ages and stations in life who are strangers to each other and end up at a table together at a spiritual retreat.  They become friends and companions supporting each other along their collective journey of spiritual practice and deeper spiritual formation.  I found their everyday stories and struggles very relatable and they totally drew me in.  At the end of each chapter, there are exercises to lead one in spiritual practice, and there are study guides available.   Each of the four book titles in the series has some reference to feet or walking, the meaning of which become clear as you read.  – Marg Neufeld

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Ranger’s Apprentice
-- John Flanagan
 
This is by far my favourite book series, in total there are 12 books. The book series follows an orphaned boy named Will, who is the apprentice to the famed Ranger Halt. Each novel follows Will around the Kingdom of Araluen battling rogue barons, bands of misfits, and vikings. The story is full of action and adventure. There even is a more than one love story that takes place. All the books are very well written and easy to read. I love this series because of the relatable characters, the humour, the love stories and the adventure that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.  The genre is Medieval Fantasy. 
​– Chevelle Chapman

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When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions
-- Sue Monk Kidd (pub. 1999)

​This is the author’s autobiographical account of her own spiritual crisis and awakening.  It leads us through the spiritual practice of ‘active waiting’.  I read this book several years ago when I was myself going through a time of questioning and wondering and not knowing what next.  I read it voraciously underlining so much that resonated with me or that was a new concept to me.  It’s an easy read but so chockful of insight and challenge you want to go slow and reread.  And by the way, it’s been lauded by Richard Rohr and Eugene Peterson, and recently recommended by Cathy Hardy at a Highland women’s retreat.  It would work well for a group study;  there is a guide available in the back of 2016 edition.  This author also writes very good fiction.
– Marg Neufeld

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Recommendations from the Rempel family...

• Brother Cadfael Series - Ellis Peters - Medieval Mysteries
• Eragon (and following books) - Christopher Paolini - Fantasy
• Redwall (series) - Brian Jacques - Fantasy
• The Highlander's Last Song - George MacDonald - Historical Fiction
• Sir Gibbie - George MacDonald - Historical Fiction
• Belgariad Series - David Eddings - Fantasy
• The Berenstain Bears - Stan and Jan Berenstain - Childrens (have been popular with all of our kids)
• Searching for Dragons (and following books) - Patricia C. Wrede - Fantasy

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Keep your eye out for future posts with more reviews and some recommendations.

What are some of your favourite books?  Please share your recommendations in the comments.