Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
When the U.S. president decides that drug smuggling has become a “clear and present danger” to national security, a covert military operation is launched against one of the chief cartels. This is the second book I’ve read by Clancy (the first being The Hunt for Red October), and so far, it’s simply fantastic. If you have any suggestions regarding other Clancy novels I should check out, leave a comment down below.
Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
To quote an Amazon reviewer, “This book is a sobering reminder of how we have watered down the language of hell to appeal to our own comfort, when in reality the words that Jesus and others used in the Bible are both intimidating and clear: Hell is a real place and many people will go there.” I picked this one up for free in Kindle format, and it’s been a great read.
Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
My first taste of Mieville was bitter in the extreme, but this book is fast restoring him to good favor. It’s clever, funny, and very bizarre – think Norton Juster meets Lewis Carroll. And as Mieville himself observed, “Part of the appeal of the fantastic is taking ridiculous ideas very seriously and pretending they’re not absurd.”
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Profound, simply written, and challenging. Tim Challies dubbed it “a modern classic,” and though I’m not finished with it yet, I cannot help but agree. Get yourself of copy of this book – you won’t regret it.
The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
Father Brown is a priest… who also happens to be an amateur detective with a keen understanding of human nature. Fascinating? You bet. The only thing I can’t understand is why I haven’t picked these mysteries up before. They’re clever, well-written, and riddled with gems like this: “The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.”
The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
What would happen if you crossed the humor of Monty Python with the fantasy world-building of J.R.R. Tolkien? You’d get Terry Pratchett, of course! This is second book in the Discworld series, and as much as I loved the first, this one is even better. Sorry, but I can’t resist sharing an excerpt: “He moved in a way that suggested he was attempting the world speed record for the nonchalant walk.”
Note to Self by Joe Thorn
I haven’t started this one yet, but it’s been recommended to me by multiple bibliophiles in the blogosphere (hey, that sounds like the name of a special club or something). You can get the Kindle version for just $3, and if you’re still undecided, read some excerpts here.
What’s on your bookshelf right now?
THE INK SLINGER 