Lauren's Booklist- Favorites So Far

Well, here it is: I’ve finally composed a list of books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed! I had to do this while I had a break from school- its hard to find any time to read between classes and the loads of homework I have during the semester. I’ll be making another booklist in the future I’m sure, after I’ve had time to read even more good books (very likely, many listed from the rest of the Harrelson family!), but for now, maybe this will give everyone a lead on the next book they want to read, if indeed you haven’t read these already.

Love y’all!

~Lauren

Redeeming Love

This is one of my all-time favorites! It’s a novel that is analogous to the story of Hosea in the Bible, but the author Francine Rivers adds a bit of her own flare of fiction to the account. It tells the story of a prostitute named Angel during the time of the Gold Rush, and how she is swept away by a man named Michael- a man whom God has told that he must marry Angel and take her away from this life of prostitution. Naturally, she resists- she doesn’t understand unconditional love. But this novel is a journey that Michael and Angel take (separately and together) to discover what true, redeeming love really is. I loved this one so much I read it twice. 

Water for Elephants

I read this book on my flight back from Thailand in January of this year. I found that once I started I couldn’t put it down! Its always fun to read about something as exciting as the circus, especially when its got a love story tied into the plot. I just adored Rosie the elephant and all her mischief, and although the movie tried to measure up, it just couldn’t completely capture how charming she was, and how captivating the romance between Marlena and Jacob was. I’d definitely recommend reading if you haven’t done so yet.

Black, Red & White

These 3 books are a series by Ted Dekker. Its an enthralling story about a man named Thomas who is living in 2 worlds- our modern world, with which he is familiar, and another intriguing world, where he has lost his memory and struggles to recollect the details of his life in this beautiful, perfect place. When he falls asleep in one world, he wakes up in the other. However, as the three books progress, both worlds are threatened. Our world faces a deadly virus that could wipe out the human race. The other world faces a great war between the humans and the evil forces that once dwelled in the black forest. Its allegorical fiction, and again was a series I could hardly put down.

Harry Potter series

Of course- how could this not make the list?! What started as a children’s book became one of the most imaginative and epic book series I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I started listening to the series on tape/cd during the long car rides I had between Dothan and Oxford. The narrator, Jim Dale, did the many voices for all the different characters, and the way he read made it impossible to get bored on the 7-hour drive! I LOVED getting to know the characters more and more through each book, and I’m just astounded at the imagination and genius of J.K. Rowling throughout the series. The movies are fun to watch as well, but they leave out so many fun, great details from the books that just shouldn’t be lost! If you still haven’t jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon, drop your pride and jump on now- you won’t regret it! (And if you aren’t afraid of being a little extra nerdy, Pottermore.com is a fun way to relive the books and get extra details about characters’ background stories and even where Rowling got some of her inspiration from. You can even get sorted into your House at Hogwarts J  Only the first book is currently up on the website, but the 2^nd is soon to follow.)

Hunger Games

I’m already halfway through Catching Fire even though I just started it this morning. I listened to the first book on CD, even though I had a hard copy I had purchased, intending to read it on my journey to Thailand. Since I finished the Harry Potter series and had nothing to listen to on my way home this time from Oxford, I purchased The Hunger Games on Amazon and enjoyed the audiobook the whole ride home! Can’t report on the rest of the 2^nd book or the 3^rd, but I can tell you I’m enjoying it so far! The characters and the plot are wonderfully crafted, and again I find a book series I can hardly stop reading to eat or sleep.

Tom Robbins books

Chris, you may be right- reading Tom Robbins might make me into a hippie. But it’s a risk I’ll have to take. Couldn’t pass up his books on Amazon, some for only one cent each! I plan to read Jitterbug Perfume first, as Meghan said this is one of her favorites. He’s quite a quirky writer, to say the least, but I think it’ll make the adventure through his books that much more fun. Maybe my next entry on the Harrelson Family Blog will be all Tom Robbins books once I’ve finished them! J

Fahrenheit 451

I’ve read this book twice- once in 9^th grade for my English class, and another time after I started college for my own pleasure. This story is set in the future, when firemen start fires instead of putting them out. The government doesn’t want people to think for themselves anymore, so the firemen ignite books to keep the authorities in complete control of the public. One fireman, however, begins to see that this world built of television screens, huge billboards, and people speeding by everywhere they go, is not quite the ideal world the nation’s leaders have tried to make it seem… Very thought-provoking, I really enjoyed it both times I read it.

Bears in Pairs

This was my favorite book as a child. Filled with fun illustrations, it shows a variety of bears making their way to a tea party. I HAD to put this on my booklist, because it’s sentimental for so may reasons. I swear my parents must have read this to me every night when I was a little girl. So often, in fact, that I had the words on the pages memorized based on what the bears looked like. Ganmama was astounded when I sat down with her and opened the book, and began to say what was on the page. “Silly bear, frilly bear!” I’d exclaim as the page turned and I saw the pictures. Ganmama thought I could read at age 2!