Books I've Read in Season Two

I love to read! I have entered a new era of life in which I'll be reading a lot more than before. To keep my original list from growing to astronomical lengths, here is part two.

Learning the Virtues That Lead You to God by Romano Guardini

This is a great look at virtues, their implications, and how to grow in them.

Annunciation: A Call to Faith in a Broken World by Sally Read

Clearly written by a poet, this short epistle is really sticking with me. There are so many beautiful thoughts and moments in this one.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

This book is heart-wrenching but hopeful. It’s a quick read that’s chock-full of feels.

Hamlet by Shakespeare

It’s Hamlet. What can I say? It’s a classic. Go read it.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

I wrote a paper on this one. It’s heavy but incredibly beautiful in a strange and painful way. The power of grace is evident in every line.

On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius

This isn’t exactly a novel you’d read for fun, unless you enjoy dense theology from early Church Fathers. If you like that, it’s great.

The Divine Comedy by Dante

I’m sure most of it went over my head, but it’s a masterpiece. It makes me wish I could read Italian.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I actually didn’t like the writing style that much. You think it would be interesting because the premise is so cool, but maybe the message is that corruption is not exciting. He claims it’s too late and sins and falls apart, but instead of being enthralled, you’re repulsed and bored. That sounds harsh, but it’s really powerful that the author doesn’t make Dorian’s failure seem enticing. He’s caught in a haze of selfish hedonism, and nothing about that is beautiful.

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

So interesting! When I read C.S. Lewis, I find myself saying, “yes yes yes” to everything. He just presents things in a whole new way. I love how heaven is a place people can choose to go to; it isn’t closed to anyone. The only thing that keeps people from it is their tragic unwillingness to let go of themselves.