The common cold knocked me for a loop last month. Only four titles made it to my “Books Read” notebook, but they were good ones. Here’s what has been on the bookshelf in February:

• Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis — I started this book a few years ago and stalled out so it went back on the shelf. Then I recently talked to someone who loved it, so I picked it back up. I yawned through the first 32 pages. Then I highlighted the daylights out of the rest of the book. Now I see why it’s a classic. Glad I gave it a second try and stuck with it.
• A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis — This short book (75 pages) was heartbreakingly honest about the death of Lewis’ wife. I didn’t underline one word because it felt too sacred to mark up a man’s journey through loss and grieving.
• All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir by Brennan Manning — I listened to the audio version of this book because it’s hard to read with a sinus headache. I retreated to a dark room, put in earphones and was mesmerized by Maurice England’s narration. Brennan looks back at his life as a priest, then not a priest; his marriage, then his divorce; his constant struggle with alcoholism, then sobriety, then alcoholism. He sums up his life with three words: all is grace.
• Unoffendable by Brant Hansen — I know it’s probably too early to call, but this may be my “book of the year”. I laughed at the humorous stories but cringed at how convicting this message was to my spirit. Mostly I felt like I had just been slapped up-side the head, in a good way. I obviously needed this book. Now I want to figure out how to give everyone I know a copy without offending them.

Happy reading!

“There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books.”  Irving Stone