My Favorite Books of 2023

I will admit that I am a little late to the "Books I Read in 2023" party, but alas...

These are a few of my personal favorites that I read last year, judged by readability, thought provocation, and overall vibe. I rated these all as 4/5 stars or above.

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The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

In a Nutshell:

This allegorical novel takes you on a bus ride to hell and heaven to explore themes such as good and evil, virtue, sin and idolatry, etc. C.S. Lewis is one of my absolute favorite authors and theologians. His writing style has always been a hit for me and this was no exception. This particular book was very entertaining as a story, but it also gave me many concepts to think about as a Christian. This book was super digestible and I would highly recommend it for believers and nonbelievers alike.

My Favorite Quote: "...No natural feelings are high or low, holy or unholy, in themselves. They are all holy when God's hand is on the rein. They all go bad when they set up on their own and make themselves into false gods."

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A Little Book for New Theologians by Kelly M. Kapic

In a Nutshell:

A Little Book for New Theologians is a great book for anyone new to Christianity or new to thinking of themself as a theologian. There are two parts called "Why Study Theology?" and "Characteristics of Faithful Theology and Theologians". The former introduces the connection between knowledge of God and enjoyment/worship of Him. The latter outlines principles and practices for living as a theologian. My favorite part of this highly readable book was the breadth of quotations embedded in the pages from theologians of various traditions.

My Favorite Quote: "God freely created that which was not God, and among his reasons for creating was a desire to see his creation freely reflect his glory, and bask in his love."

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The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

In a Nutshell:

I had wanted to read something of Tolstoy for a while for obvious reasons. Rather than pick up the nearly 600,000-word War and Peace, I picked up this little novella. Set in 19th-century Russia, The Death of Ivan Ilyich moves through the final few months of a man, Ivan, and concludes with his death. You are not going to enjoy this book. Russian literature is not quite known for being a good, easy, beach read, so do not expect that. I was emotionally paralyzed for days after this story. However, it is a necessary read. Tolstoy wrestles with topics that are often shied away from, namely the imminent nature of death.

My Favorite Quote: "He searched for his old habitual fear of death and didn’t find it. Where was death? What death? There was no fear, because there was no death. Instead of death, there was light."

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On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius

In a Nutshell:

Saint Athanasius, who served as Bishop of Alexandria, was and is still a very important early patriarch and defender of Christ against the heresy of Arianism. In On the Incarnation, Athanasius writes about the nature of...wait for it...the incarnation (shocking!). I highly recommend reading the introduction to this book by C.S. Lewis. This short little work is thorough but understandable. Read it. Please.

I wish I could quote the whole book.

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Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

In a Nutshell:

I have a feeling I don't have to hype up this book too much, as it's already been recommended and praised by every other Christian on this planet. In Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund unpacks and reflects on Jesus' own words in Matthew 11; "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Ortlund beautifully explores the tender and humble disposition of our Lord Jesus towards sinners like us. This book has impacted me deeply and helped me to experience Jesus afresh, as a Lord who cares about my sorrows and actively meets me in my lowest moments.

My Favorite Quote: "The deeper into weakness and suffering and testing we go, the deeper Christ’s solidarity with us. As we go down into pain and anguish, we are descending ever deeper into Christ’s very heart, not away from it."

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Thank you so much for reading!

I hope you found this interesting or helpful! What are your favorites from last year?