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2016 Challies Reading Challenge — “Experiencing” it As I Go!
I feel a little silly calling this “my experience” already, but I wasn’t sure what else to call this! This post is going to be very full of words and not so full of pictures, and some of you might want to skip it, but I wanted to be able to put this all in one place. A friend let me know about Tim Challies’ 2016 reading challenge. (Read more about it and get a printable list here.) The idea is to read a variety. I don’t know whether I’ll finish the whole thing in a year or not; I’m not going to push myself to. I just want to work through the list eventually. But some categories are easier than others to find (and what’s easy for me might not be what’s easy for you)!
So…I wanted one single location to keep track of the books I’ve selected for this challenge, others that were recommended to me as possibilities, where I still need recommendations, etc. And I thought someone else might benefit, which is why I’m putting it “out there.” But I realize this might not be the most exciting post for those not doing the challenge, so don’t feel bad about skipping this post and waiting for the next “normal” one. 
I’ll try to keep this updated along the way for anyone using it as a resource. (I may also pack this with links. Also not typical, but it seems it may be easier for someone to not have to go find one of these books if it grabs his/her attention.) If you have favorites for any of these, I’d love to hear them (especially, but not only, if they fit one of the categories I’ve indicated I’m actively seeking suggestions for).
The following books are also on my to-read list, but I haven’t decided where to assign them yet: God’s Glory Alone; (tent.) The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts [Christian living?]; Waters of Creation (about baptism) [about theology?]; Word, Water, and Spirit (also about baptism) [about theology?]; Jeremiah’s New Covenant: An Augustinian Reading; Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (about postmillennialism, I think?) [theological perspective I disagree with?]; Introducing Covenant Theology
* means the book is the book I chose to satisfy that category for the challenge.
tent. means it’s a tentative choice
The Light Reader
A book about Christian living
?? This is so broad I haven’t narrowed it down at all yet.
A biography
tent. The Black Count (also a Pulitzer Prize winner)
A classic novel
tent. The Count of Monte Cristo — because it makes sense to read it now if I’m reading The Black Count. But I could also call it a “book I own but haven’t read,” or potentially some other category.
A book someone tells you “changed my life”
ACTIVELY SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS
A commentary on a book of the Bible
ACTIVELY SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS — I know of Bible commentaries, but if there’s one about one particular book that especially stands out to you, I’m all ears.
A book about theology
Obviously I have several options here, but I’m not sure what belongs here and what belongs in another category.
A book with the word “gospel” in the title or subtitle
*The Gospel for Real Life
A book your pastor recommends
—
A book more than 100 years old
—
A book for children
*The Hunger Games (Assuming these books count as “for children.” I’m sure I’ll be reading plenty of picture books!)
A mystery or detective novel
—
A book published in 2016
Not a problem, given that I review books regularly, but I don’t have a specific title selected for this category yet.
A book about a current issue
Allah: A Christian Response has been recommended. (I like that this isn’t an issue that’s already listed further down.)
The Avid Reader
A book written by a Puritan
Mortification of Sin (Owen) has been recommended. Another friend recommended “anything by Owen.”
A book recommended by a family member
I put out a call for recommendations to family members, and so far these are the options: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (I already read that one, though), Hands-Free Mama, Hands-Free Life, Hemlock Bay (also a mystery), The Mephisto Club (also a mystery)
A book by or about a missionary
I’ve read about Amy Carmichael, Nate Saint, and Jim Eliot. I’ll probably borrow one of books in the Sower series from my mom, unless someone has a stand-out recommendation in the meantime.
A novel that won the Pulitzer Prize
tent. The Killer Angels or The Color Purple. Slavery by Another Name looks really good, too, but it’s non-fiction.
A book written by an Anglican
“Anything by J.I. Packer” has been recommended. (He would also qualify as an author with initials.) Another friend specified Knowing God.
One friend says they Googled for Anglicans and settled on JC Ryle and TS Eliot.
A book with at least 400 pages
—
A book by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien
I’ve already read the Narnia Chronicles, the Space Trilogy, God in the Dock, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, some book of Lewis’s correspondence with young readers, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien’s biography, and Letters. Oh, and Surprised by Joy.
So I’m looking at Farmer Giles of Ham (a collection of short stories by Tolkien). And/or if I take this category as a “by or about” category, If I Had Lunch w/ C.S. Lewis by Alistair McGrath, which I have on my Kindle.
A book that has a fruit of the Spirit in the title
(That would be love, joy, peace, patience/longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith/faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control.) I have some of these in other categories but haven’t picked on for this one, specifically, yet.
A book with a great cover
ACTIVELY SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS
A book on the current New York Times list of bestsellers
—
A book about church history
—
A graphic novel
—
A book of poetry
—
The Committed Reader
A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with
—
A book written by an author with initials in their name
—
A book that won a ECPA Christian Book Award
tent. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus
A book about worldview
Bahnsen has been recommended.
A play by William Shakespeare
—
A humorous book
?? Mary, Mary, Quite is on my Kindle already, so that’s an option. All of Piers Anthony’s Xanth books are pretty silly/fun.
A book based on a true story
—
A book written by Jane Austen
I’ve read Pride & Prejudice (good), Sense & Sensibility (okay), and Emma (awful). Which one should I read next?
A book by or about Martin Luther
*On the Bondage of the Will. (I’m open to reading an excellent book about Luther, too, but this has been on my mental “to read” list for a while.)
A book with 100 pages or
less
fewer
—
A book with a one-word title
—
A book about money or finance
—
A novel set in a country that is not your own
Well, this is not hard. I’m going to make it a little harder, though, and rule out all those Regency novels and the like by saying a novel set outside the U.S. or UK.
A book about music
—
A memoir
*Between Black and White (I’ll be reviewing this later this year.)
A book about joy or happiness
*Expanded Joy
A book by a female author
Not sure. So many books could fit this category!
A book whose title comes from a Bible verse
—
A book you have started but never finished
*Moby Dick
A self-improvement book
There are also a ton of options here! I think I’m going to go with The 11 Laws of Likability, which I’ve actually just started.
A book by David McCullough
tent. 1776. Maybe John Adams. Because we have those. (I think. I know we have the former. I think we have the latter.)
A book you own but have never read
So many options!
A book about abortion
Tilly is good if you want fiction. Unplanned is sort of documentary-style — it’s something of an “expose” from a former Planned Parenthood employee. I haven’t read it, but I’ve read some magazine articles by the same author on the subject — sort of the “mini” version. Then there’s Gianna: Aborted…and Lived to Tell About It (which I, likewise, have read “mini versions” of). But then there are books about the issue as an issue, too. Decisions, decisions…
A book targeted at the other gender
tent. The Exemplary Husband
A book by a speaker at a conference you have attended
I don’t attend many conferences (and haven’t attended any for years), so there are relatively limited options here. Sarah Mae (of Allume), as well as Ann Voskamp (but I’m not a fan of her writing style), Angie Smith, Sally Clarkson. Those are the primary speakers I remember at Allume (then Relevant — it’s been that long!). It’s been even longer since Women of Faith that I don’t even remember who spoke.
Had to look it up. I think it was this one: “Irrepressible Hope.” So Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Nicole Johnson, Marilyn Meberg, Sheila Walsh. Most of those seem better suited to the “humor” category. (And I know Sheila Walsh as a children’s author.)
Any suggestions here? ‘Cause nothing’s really jumping out at me as, YES, Read THAT!
A book written by someone of a different ethnicity than you
Really? Now I have to check the author bio images, too? Seriously, though, there are several books already on the list that are from authors I know offhand are of a different ethnicity, but I’m going to have a hard time choosing a book this way!
The Obsessed Reader
A book published by The Banner of Truth
—
A book about the Reformation
A friend recommended Christianity’s Dangerous Idea.
A book written by a first-time author
ACTIVELY SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS
A biography of a world leader
tent. Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography, because it’s on my Kindle. (The Real Lincoln is also excellent, and Ben Franklin’s autobiography is considered a classic. I don’t know if you’d call Ben Franklin a “world leader,” but he was certainly influential!)
A book used as a seminary textbook
—
A book about food
I have plenty of options here. I particularly want to read up on fermented foods this year.
A book about productivity
I’ve read several of the “big-name” options already, like Getting Things Done, Master Your Workday Now!, The Four-Hour Workweek, and Steven Covey’s book (it’s been a while; can’t remember the title). (Plus a lot of off-the-wall indie books and the like.) Any other favorites?
A book about relationships or friendship
I’ll be posting a review about this soon, but either in the marriage category or here, Stop the Fight! is pretty good. I already finished it, though, so that won’t work for the challenge for me.
A book about parenting
There are actually four of these in my “to read” stack: The Entitlement Trap, Raising Godly Tomatoes, Making Brothers & Sisters Best Friends, and Raising Real Men
A book about philosophy
ACTIVELY SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS
A book about art
tent. Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids, which is on my wish list. (Does graphic design count as art?) If you’re new to art, Isms: Understanding Art is well done.
A book with magic
tent. considering something by Robin Hobb
A book about prayer
Is it cheating to include my own book here? It’s on my list to work my way through 90 Days to Pray. (Praying for Your Elephant is a great recent book on prayer, too. Of course there are classics, too, and every prayer book has its own unique angle.)
A book about marriage
tent. When Sinners Say ‘I Do’. I’ve been hearing people talk about this. I’m on the fence about it, though.
A book about a hobby
But which hobby to choose?! Do herbalism books count as “a hobby” if that’s what I’m going to school for?
A book of comics
—
A book about the Second World War
tent. Unsung Hero. This is a biopic, but I’m not certain if it’s WWII. The subtitle is Coming of Age in the Dust Bowl (which, obviously, precedes WWII, but I’m not sure how much time it covers.)
A book about sports
—
A book by or about a pastor’s wife
—
A book about suffering
—
A book by your favorite author
That would be Michael Phillips. But I don’t have a title selected yet.
A book you have read before
tent. Grace-Based Parenting
A book about homosexuality
What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? has been recommended
A Christian novel
I have lots of favorites here. Michael Phillips, Lyn Austin, and the Thoenes are my favorite Christian authors, overall. Frank Peretti has some good stuff, too, although it varies from book to book. And I’ve read some really good indie-authored books on Kindle in this genre, too. I’ll have to go find titles in case anyone else is looking. (Indie authors should be a category in this challenge!)
A book about psychology
Psychology 101. ‘Cause I have to either take or test out of the class. <img src="http://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72x72/1f61b.png" alt="