What are you reading these days?
By Elisa Morgan
The stacks of books in my home office and beside my bed are eclectic. From great novels to devotional works, scriptural studies to leadership tomes. While some of you might set a goal for a certain number of books to read in a month or a year, that isn’t my habit. I read for inspiration, information, escape and entertainment, or a combination of all.
These are a few of my favorites from 2024:
The Women by Kristin Hannah - Like just about everyone else, I enjoyed this novel set in Vietnam about a woman finding herself.
Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks – It starts off kinda slow and the romance part was pretty predictable, but I truly enjoyed the backstory and the elderly character’s journey.
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst – I read this with my adult daughter, and we learned a lot!
Discerning God’s Will Together by Ruth Haley Barton – As I served on the search committee for a new president of Denver Seminary, we read this together and gleaned oh so much!
And because I’m also an author and connected in a circle of relationships with other authors, I receive a lot of new releases. It’s great to review these books and see all the creative and insightful ways that authors are pointing people toward Jesus and equipping the body of Christ through the written word.
As the books are stacking up around the house, it’s time for a BOOK GIVEAWAY! I have enough in my piles to give away 5 bundles of books. So you can have a fresh stack on your desk or bedside table to brighten up the winter months!
To enter the giveaway, head over to Instagram (@elisamorganauthor) – and comment about the favorite book(s) you read in 2024. I’d love to know what you’re reading!
Since I’m thinking about reading, I was interested in a report about the value of reading in print versus digital. When I’m traveling, digital books are certainly convenient. But holding a printed book in my hands is a special pleasure. And it turns out we remember more from print reading.
Researchers at the University of Valencia analyzed more than two dozen studies on reading comprehension published between 2000 and 2022. Their findings suggest that print reading over a long period of time could boost comprehension skills by six to eight times more than digital reading does.
Without even knowing this, I renewed my visits to my local library and have enjoyed their “Lucky Day” stickers where bestsellers, seemingly with long waiting lists for checkout, are unexpectedly available. Surprise!
So happy reading in 2025 – whether for inspiration, information, or relaxation. And be sure to head over to Instagram to mention your favs from 2024 to be entered in the drawing for a bundle of books in print.
Book Drawing Specs: Like and comment on the Book Drawing post on Instagram starting on December 31 through January 5. Winners will be notified by an Instagram message and will need to respond with their mailing address (U.S. mailing addresses only).
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