Story Time

I spent last fall in Texas, working with some Texas Rangers to protect the border between Texas and Mexico. I also accompanied them on a cattle drive to Montana.

Okay, so I didn’t literally go to Texas or Montana. I actually spent last fall in bed, sick with the flu and pneumonia. But during that time, I read the “Lonesome Dove” series, and for those two months, I felt as though I really was a part of the group of Texas Rangers who went on raids into Mexico, fought the Comanches, and drove cattle clear up into Montana. The books were medicine to me—every day, no matter how sick I felt, I could immerse myself in the lives of the men and women brought so vividly to life by Larry McMurtry.

Books are my oldest and dearest friends. They are my comfort, my medicine, my escape, and my joy. When I hear someone talking about a situation they’re going through, I always think, There’s a book for that! And there is. No matter what you’re currently experiencing, I can guarantee you that there’s a book that will make you feel less alone, lift your spirits, delight your soul, or inspire you. Here’s a list of situations and moods, and my recommendations for books that go with them:

If the coronavirus pandemic has you feeling anxious or upset: “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This book, which is a true story, redefines hardship, showing you what it is to truly be isolated, seeing only your family for months on end. “Misery” by Stephen King is also an excellent read for these times we’re living in. Your life, compared to the one experienced by the main character as he’s held captive by a psychotic woman, will seem like a picnic. Even now, in the midst of quarantines, sickness, and lockdowns.

If you’re recovering from a long illness: “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. As the flowers in the secret garden begin to bloom, the children in the book start blooming, too—one after an illness, the other after personal tragedy. Every time I read this book, I’m inspired to focus on the beautiful things in my life, and that never fails to help me recover from illness.

If you’re in need of hope: “The Blue Castle” by L. M. Montgomery. The main character receives devastating news, but she uses it to create a new life for herself.

If you want to read simply for the joy of it: “Lucia, Lucia” by Adriana Trigiani, and “Joy in the Morning” by Betty Smith. You cannot read these books without being delighted by the characters, the plots, and the settings.

If you want a different perspective on the life of Jesus and His disciples: “The Big Fisherman” and “The Robe” by Lloyd Douglas. These books are fiction, but they make me see Jesus and Peter, especially, in a real, human light.

If you want to read about a culture that’s completely foreign to you: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. This book will educate you, enrapture you, and make you cry as you follow the journey of the characters. “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet Jacobs will shock you and educate you, especially because it’s a true story.

If you enjoy historical fiction: “Calico Palace” and “Jubilee Trail” by Gwen Bristow. The main characters are strong women, and the way they handle challenges will inspire you.

If you want to laugh: “Twenties Girl” by Sophie Kinsella and the Walsh family series by Marian Keyes. I read these books at a difficult time in my life, and they made me laugh out loud and forget the sadness I was dealing with.

If you want the comfort of a simpler time: The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This series follows a pair of best friends from the time they were five until they grow up and get married. The books take place in the early 1900s, and the music, fashions, and cultural mores of that time are fascinating.

If you need some inspiration: “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom. This true story will make you want to be a better person, a better Christian, and a better friend. “Love, Lucy” is the autobiography of Lucille Ball, and it will entertain you while inspiring you to overcome your own challenges. “Martha’s Vineyard: Isle of Dreams” by Susan Branch will help you escape to a beautiful place and inspire you to do everything you can to create the life of your dreams.

If you want to immerse yourself in someone else’s life: “The Shell Seekers” and “Coming Home” by Rosamunde Pilcher. Both of these are big, cozy books you can crawl into—you’ll find yourself thinking about the characters as you go about your day.

If you want to read a book that makes you sigh when you finish it: “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Duma Key” by Stephen King, and “Atonement” by Ian McEwan. Each of these books will capture you so much that you’ll be sorry when they’re over.

See? There’s a book for every mood and situation. If you have any book recommendations, please share them in the comments—there are few things I love more than finding books I haven’t read. I do have to add a disclaimer here: recommending books is a tricky business. If any of the books I recommended offend you because they contain violence, mature language, or what my mom calls “dirty parts,” I apologize in advance. Unless, of course, you enjoy the dirty parts. Happy reading, my friends.