"It is books that are a key to the wide world; if you can't do anything else, read all that you can."

The title is a quote by an author called Jane Hamilton. (please note i haven't read any of her books, i just like the quote!) or how about this quote from Sir John Harrington "Books give not wisdome where none was before, but where some is, there reading makes it more."

I thought i would recommend some books for you all to read, they are all books that i have read within the past couple of years.

A couple of 'girly' ones first, not that guys can't read them, but it probably doesnt interest many guys!

"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. This book is based on the book of Hosea in the Bible and is the story of a girl who had a trouble childhood and was sold into prostitution at a very young age. When Michael Hosea meets 'Angel', God tells him that she is to be his wife. The story then continues with Michael loving Angel no matter what she does, or how hard her heart is. It is a remarkable love story not only about the love that Michael has for Angel, but the neverending, incomprehendable love that God has for each one of us!

"The Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers. This is the fictional story of a girl called Dynah, who has a great life - she's a Christian with a Christian Fiance who loves her, she's doing well at university, has great friends, family and job. One night she gets raped, the rest of the story goes on to look at how Dynah and everyone around her copes with what has happened. I thouroughly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down, my mum read it within 24 hours (she didn't get out of bed until she had finished it!)

Now a couple of books for guys and gals!

"Boy meets Girl" by Joshua Harris. This is one of those Christian life books. I can take or leave Christian life books, (and more often than not leave them, especially ones like this! lol!) but this book was being passed round our youth group a few years ago. "Its an honest, romantic and refreshingly biblical look at relationships" (taken from the back cover). It was an easy enjoyable read, not too 'lovey dovey'. A lot of stuff i agreed with, other stuff i didnt and just laughed at (his rules on 'conduct during a relationship' were quite amusing!). a good book nonetheless.

"Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose" by Janet & Geoff Benge. This was another of those 'really hard to put down books!' It told the story of the Missionary Jim Elliot and his work in Ecuador. In the blurb about the book on YWAMs (the publishers!) website it said the book was for ages 10 and up! which explains why it didn't go into too much detail about his last days and what his wife and the other missionaries wives went through.

I'm now beginning to read "The Screwtape Letters" by C. S. Lewis, i don't think it looks particularly interesting, but it's meant to be a really good book, so here's hoping! I'm also going to order "Through Gates of Splendour" by Elisabeth Elliot, which goes into more detail about her and her husband's lives. (Her husband being Jim Elliot). I have own the last 3 books that i mentioned, so if you want to borrow one, then let me know!

I shall end on an extract from the Boy Meets Girl book:
"In his commentry on Genesis, Matthew Henry explained it [the story Eve] beautifully: 'Eve was not taken out of Adams' head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him and near his heart to be loved by him".