What are YOU Reading? 9 Lazy Day Reading Recommendations

Lazy days are few and far between in my life. But when I can enjoy one, my favorite thing to do is wrap up with a good book. If that describes you, then you might enjoy some of my recent favorites.

Some of these books you may have read, some maybe not. But hopefully you can find one (or more) that will introduce you to people and events that are worth knowing.

1. Bruchko by Bruce Olson

This memoir tells the story of Bruce Olson, a missionary who lived among the Motilone people of Colombia for more than 40 years. During his ministry, he was captured, faced disease, struggled with loneliness, and was even tortured. This book is a powerful testament to the transformative power of Christian faith.

2. Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo - Jinger Duggar Vuolo grew up on TLC's reality shows 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On, following strict codes of obedience, modesty, and courtship---and constantly fearing she wasn't measuring up. Then she faced an earth-shaking realization: her life was built on rules, not God's Word. Discover how she reclaimed a relationship with Jesus that set her free!

3. The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected by Nik Ripken - Nik Ripken is a missionary who has spent decades serving in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. In this book, he shares stories of Christians around the world who have faced persecution and yet have found hope in their faith.

4. Do This for Love: Free Burma Rangers in the Battle of Mosul by David Eubank - I'm going to cheat with this recommendation and also include the movie, Free Burma Rangers.

It's not reading, but it is definitely worth watching. But back to the book - it is a memoir by David Eubank, the founder of the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organization that provides aid to people affected by conflict in Myanmar and other countries. The book focuses on Eubank's experiences leading the Free Burma Rangers in the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS in 2017. Eubank recounts the challenges and dangers of working on the front lines of a war zone, and he emphasizes the importance of putting love and compassion into action. The book is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of those who work to provide aid and support to those affected by conflict.

5. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot - Amy Carmichael was a missionary to India who founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, which rescued and cared for children who were victims of temple prostitution. This biography tells the story of her life and her dedication to serving the most vulnerable members of society.

The next three books come from different corners of World War II, but they are linked by the same quiet power: ordinary people living faithfully, courageously, and compassionately in the middle of unimaginable loss. These stories are tender and painful all at once—reminders that even in humanity’s darkest hours, love, sacrifice, and hope still found a way to endure.

6. Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose - This has long been a favorite missionary story of mine. I had the privilege of meeting Darlene Rose many years ago. The Roses lived and worked for many years in a very similar part of the world that my family did. Newlywed American missionary Darlene Deibler Rose survived four years in a notorious Japanese prison camp set deep in the jungles of New Guinea. Thinking she was never to see her husband again, Darlene Rose was forced to sign a false confession and face the executioner's sword, only to be miraculously spared.

7. The Watchmaker's Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom by Larry Loftis. This is a brand new release and I look forward to reading this much deeper look into Corrie ten Boom's life. Loftis provides a remarkable and compelling history of the ten Boom family and the great sacrifices they made. This captivating book will introduce Corrie ten Boom to younger generations and provide previously unknown but highly relevant details of her life. The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis honors the life of Corrie Ten Boom and teaches the power of an individual to love, provide hope and positively affect the world around them. Her life showed the path of forgiveness through the darkest evil. It is a life worthy of honor.

8. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian. This is honestly one of the best books I have read in years. It’s gentle and heartbreaking in the best way, telling a story about quiet kindness, unexpected healing, and the kind of love that grows slowly but lasts forever. This is a book that stays with you long after the last page—one that reminds you how deeply a single, steady presence can change a life.

9. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. I normally wouldn’t include an entire series on a favorites list, but I fell in love with the The Penderwicks from the very first book and couldn’t stop at just one. As a mom of three girls—and the youngest of seven daughters myself—I recognized so many familiar personality traits in the Penderwick sisters. Jeanne Birdsall captures sibling relationships with such warmth and honesty that they feel deeply personal and wonderfully universal, reminding me why stories about sisters, squabbles and all, feel so much like home.

   

Perhaps you have a suggestion the rest of us would enjoy! Leave it in the comments!

---

Note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.