Oh Why Not?! TMLG’s Top Ten Reads of 2014

I’m not a routine person. There are some people who can do the same thing, in the same way, at the same time every day. That isn’t me. At all. I’ve tried all the tricks and read all the books, but for whatever reason, I tend to work and live organically. I don’t even eat at the same time everyday.

I think I’m finally beginning to accept this about myself.

Now I still get stuff done. A bunch of stuff. Too much stuff, for some. And I can be actually kind of anal and organized when it comes to specific projects. But doing something hyper-routinely? Nah. Not going to happen.

Yet there are at least two things I do pretty regularly, if not every day (just not at the same time).

I read.

I write.

I know, I know. There’s some uber-saved folks reading this and asking, “What?! You don’t pray everyday, Chile’?”

Hmmm… I do. Do I always pray in the traditional manner? Nope.  I suspect my kind of prayer and worship would not fit any of the boxes we Christians love to stick people in. I pray while I garden. I worship when I’m writing or painting or building something. There’s something about creating that seems to open me up to hearing what God has to say to me. Or clears my head so that I just revel in His glory.

But that’s another blog for another day.

I say all this to say that reading and writing is probably two of the most consistent, non-essential activities in my life. Wait…the word “non-essential” is totally debatable but whatevs. Soooo…catching a ride on the bandwagon…I thought I’d put together a couple of those lovely end of the year/beginning of the year lists for you. First up?

*insert booming, echo-like, movie trailer voice*

THE TOP 10 BOOKS I READ OR RE-READ IN 2014 (no particular order…that was waaay too hard)

AMERICANAH by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A must read for every U.S. citizen. For real.

NOWHERE IS A PLACE by Bernice McFadden

Bernice McFadden is truly a writer crush for me. Everything she writes makes me want to throw my Macbook out the window. Then buy a new one and get back to work.

ROOMS by James Rubart

There are so many books out there about faith and forgiveness and transformation. I’ve even written a couple. But it’s the ones who tell the story in unique ways that get my attention. This book definitely challenged me!

40 ACRES by Dwayne Alexander Smith

Welp. In light of current events, this one will blow your mind. Go read the synopsis. I’ll wait… Did you go? Told ya.

IMAGINARY JESUS by Matt Mikalotos

Not only a profound statement on how many of us conform Jesus to our own image, a hilarious ride as well.

CLAIRE OF THE SEA LIGHT by Edwidge Danticat

Another one of my writer boos (in my head). I just floated on the words in this book. Brilliantly written and a captivating story.

THE CUTTING SEASON by Attica Locke 

Another wonderfully written book with a story that was so layered that I didn’t want to miss a word while reading.

THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion

Yes, an oldie but goodie. The way Didion writes about grief in a way that exposes her own process, her own “digging her way out”? Mind-blowing.

DAILY RITUALS: HOW ARTISTS WORK by Mason Currey

I’m always fascinated by the gyrations that writers go through in order to..well…write. This listing of hundreds of creatives from thousands of years ago to the present day kept me enthralled.

CREATIVITY, INC. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace

I actually read this because it was the text I’d selected for my Writing II: Design students. The story of Pixar Animation and the way creativity was allowed to flourish there is a must-read for anyone in creative fields or trying to build a business or organization.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
• The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Things I Should Have Told My Daughter by Pearl Cleage
• Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Next Post? THE TOP 5 ARTICLES/ESSAYS/BLOGS I WROTE THIS YEAR (based on views/comments stats)