Talon’s 2023 Top 5
Hello Ordinary Readers,
I will say 2023 has been a very busy and crazy year for me. It was the start of this journal and we made it a full year! Albeit inconsistently posting! The pastoral residency I was in is what sparked the idea of this journal and that residency ended in May. I then packed my bags and moved to Blacksburg, VA where I am working for a campus ministry! That slowed down my reading of books a little bit. As all the men I look up to, who read a lot, all write a year-end top 10 so of course I had to follow suit. But in true me fashion, even though I read more than ten books this year I will shorten my list to a top 5, for the sake of brevity and keeping my list tight! Also at the bottom of each book is a link to my post on that book that goes into more detail.
Happy Reading!
5. Revival and Revivalism
Iain H. Murray
This book is longer and if you have read Murray before you know it is very historical and a different kind of read.
Journal Link: Revival and Revivalism
4. The Compelling Community
Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop
What a great read for getting insights of how to foster community within the Church.
Journal Link: The Compelling Community
3. Timeline
Michael Crichton
I love Michael Crichton's books. This may be the absolute best, though I am partial to Jurassic Park only because I like dinos over medieval times.
Journal Link: Timeline
2. Strange New World
Carl R. Trueman
This book is a great peek at the different periods in history and how we got to where our individual feelings are the end all.
Journal Link: Strange New World
1. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
Frederick Douglass
Easily the best read this year. This should be read by everyone and required reading for all Americans. It is a difficult and heartbreaking read giving just a glimpse of the awful side of American history.
Journal Link: forthcoming