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Josiah DeGraaf

Top Ten Books Read in 2020

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Well, what a year this has been. I’ll spare you the obligatory comments about the craziness of 2020. Needless to say: despite everything else, I’ve managed to continue my standard reading pace I’ve kept up these past four years, including a lot more re-reading than I have for a while! Most of my re-reads were of classical works of literature, but there were a few non-classics as well. Because I generally keep re-reads off this list (unless it dramatically changed my view of the book), those won’t be represented on this list. But without any further commentary, let’s dig into my favorite new reads I’ve done this past year. (As always, titles are linked to my longer reviews.)

10. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseni

Khaled Hosseni was on my TBR list for a while before I finally got into him this year. I went back and forth on whether to include Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns in this slot, but ended up choosing Kite Runner since it was my first introduction to his beautiful prose and haunting themes.

9. Good & Angry by David Powlison

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this year about what it means to deal with injustice in biblical ways. I found this book quite helpful as I did so.

8. Breakwater by Catherine Jones Payne

An excellent example of the type of Christian-produced fantasy I’m ever searching to read: imaginative, thoughtful, surprising, relevant, and poignant.

7. Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian by Michelle Lee-Barnewall

Contrary to what some readers may expect, this book isn’t as tied to controversial issues as the title may suggest. But in the midst of a year in which my church’s denomination has gone through a lot of vicious debates about gender, I found this book to be a refreshing look at what it looks like for men & women to value the Kingdom of Heaven above all else.

6. Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson

One of the best memoirs I’ve read this year. This book challenged several beliefs I had before picking it up and led me to think more deeply about what true justice and mercy looks like in the midst of a fallen world. This was not an easy book to read because of the spotlight it shines on some of the horrific racist attitudes that still exist in the US, but I was glad to have read it.

5. Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

This is the fourth 1,000+ book in a projected series of ten (all of similar length), so the Stormlight Archive is quite the reading investment to get into at this point. But it’s a truly fine example of what strong character-based fantasy looks like, and I loved its various character arcs.

4. How to Be Unlucky by Joshua Gibbs

I almost considered making this my top book this year. Because it was the last book I read (finished yesterday), I may be biased due to its recency, so I’m not giving it the top slot. But as a reflection of what the good life looks like and what it means to find our happiness in virtue instead of the spinning wheels of fortune, this book was thought-provoking and truly excellent.

3. Children of Virtue & Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

There are some books you read that regularly shatter your expectations of what’s going to happen in the story. Children of Virtue & Vengeance is one of those books–and one that matches superb character twists with really powerful themes. The best new fictional work I read this year.

2. After Virtue by Alisdair MacIntyre

This is a more intense philosophical work than the others on this list. But after hearing so much about it from others, I finally got around to reading it this year, and while it took me a good six months to work my way through the book, it was rather excellent.

1. What Is a Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander

Denhollander is one of my personal heroes, so this book’s position as the top work I read this year may be somewhat influenced by my admiration for everything else she’s done over the past several years. But this is a powerful memoir about what it means to truly value the dignity and worth of human beings in the face of abuse, and on top of that, it’s just a beautiful picture about what true courage looks like. As a Christian, I want to see more people like Rachael Denhollander in our churches and communities today.

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Like stories with interesting themes and surprising character choices? My short story collection explores the nature of heroism when super-powered individuals need to choose between using their powers for themselves or others in a fantasy world. Get instant access to the collection by filling out the form below.

Top Ten Books Read in 2019

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With the turning of the year, it’s about time for my annual post on my favorite books I read over the course of this past year. I’m posting it a bit later into the new year this time around due to living pretty internet-free over a couple weeks I spent in Greece (which was amazing!) during the holiday season. But without any further ado, here’s my favorite works I read this past year (book titles are hyperlinked to longer Goodreads reviews for interested parties).

10. Demon in Democracy by Ryszard Legutko

I got the privilege of reading this book for a book club, so the discussion may have biased me a little on this book and I’m not sure how much I agree with all of its points. But as a book questioning the sustainability of Enlightenment-era liberal democracies, it sparked a lot of thoughts on my end and was quite good, nit-pickings aside.

9. The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

It was a toss-up between this book and the first in the trilogy, The Three-Body Problem. But there was a bunch to love about this series between its creative worldbuilding, thought-provoking themes, and superb plots. The characterization wasn’t phenomenal, but for idea-driven sci-fi, it was great!

8. Rhetoric of Love by Douglas Jones

This is a bit more textbook-y than the other works on the list and I probably wouldn’t have necessarily picked it up if I wasn’t a Rhetoric teacher (or a partial Rhetoric teacher at any rate). However, it fundamentally shifted several parts of my beliefs on how to best persuade others. Like with Demon in Democracy, even when I disagreed with the work, it made me think. It being written by an old high school teacher of mine was an added bonus.

7. The Burning White by Brent Weeks

You know when you’ve been following a long epic fantasy series for a while and when it finally wraps up, it does so phenomenally as a new high-point of the series? This was one of those books.

6. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

For the past five years, I’ve been telling myself that I should read more biographies than I otherwise do. I still don’t read as much of them as I want to. However, this was a very worthwhile choice for this year. I’d seen the movie before–but the book is far better!

5. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

The Red Rising series is definitely one that’s gotten better and better with each proceeding book. If you’re in the mood for fast-paced sci-fi  with increasingly-complex themes and some well-done characters, I’d definitely recommend this series.

4. Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins

This is one of the best books I’ve read about writing as a business and what the process of learning to write seriously and make a living off of it looks like. Highly recommended to the different writers that follow me here!

3. Experiment in Criticism by C.S. Lewis

I originally read this book for research purposes for an article I was writing for Story Embers. But I should have picked up this book earlier. Lewis lays down a number of fundamental mindset-altering ideas that I’m still mulling over months after reading it!

2. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

I originally picked up this book because I was intrigued by its premise (a nearby future where people develop a “cure” for autism and several autistic main characters need to decide if they should take it or not). I wasn’t expecting to be so captivated by the rich, authentic voice the author wrote the story in. Between powerful themes, memorable characters, and some heartbreaking moments, this was very close to being my favorite story I read this year if not for…

1. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I’d never heard of this book before this year (a bit surprising given its popularity, as I’ve later discovered), but it did a number on me, well-earning the status of being the fourth book that’s brought me to actual tears as I’ve read it. There is a painful rawness to its characters, an atmospheric vividness to its fantastical elements, a beautiful simplicity to its prose, and a quiet ingenuity in its plot. It’s up there not just as my favorite book for this year, but also probably one of my favorite books of all time. Suffice to say, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

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Like stories with interesting themes and surprising character choices? My short story collection explores the nature of heroism when super-powered individuals need to choose between using their powers for themselves or others in a fantasy world. Get instant access to the collection by filling out the form below.

Short Story: A Wish Fulfilled

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This story is part of the Chronicles of Morshan short story series.

The god-blessed was hunched in the corner of the tavern again, his body shrouded by a gray cloak. His breeches disappeared underneath tall boots, and his tunic’s sleeves extended to the fingers of his gloved hands. Perfect garb for winter.

Yet, outside, oppressive summer heat drove travelers to the tavern in search of a drink.

“Nothing good can come of him being there,” Erich muttered as he sized the god-blessed up. “You don’t linger in another god-blessed’s town unless you’re a troublemaker.”

“You could report him.” His daughter Erin cleaned off a glass. “Tanner would send men pronto.”

“And if this god-blessed retaliates and ransacks our tavern?”

She shrugged and filled the glass with ale. “Better than facing Tanner’s wrath if he learns you housed a god-blessed.”

“He’s not lodging here.”

“He slept in the stalls the last couple nights. I doubt the authorities will care for nuances.”

Erich dug his fingernails into his palm as Erin left to bring ales to the patrons. She was right, of course. If Tanner found out, their livelihood would be at risk.

But he couldn’t just evict a god-blessed.

A crowd flowed into the tavern, so he busied himself with taking orders, assigning rooms, and pleasing customers. But the presence of the god-blessed weighed on him. How could he remove someone who might be able to burn his eyes to a crisp?

Finally, the string of customers at the counter evaporated, leaving the tables packed—all except for the five surrounding the god-blessed.

Erich rubbed his forehead. Patrons would gossip about the man with the turquoise eyes, and word would reach Tanner. To avoid a fight in his tavern, he needed to tactfully kick out the god-blessed.

He picked up a mug and poured in a stout from the tankard before slipping into the main room. Five hunters yelled and banged their table as they recounted the details of a hunt. He edged past them and a few other tables to approach the god-blessed.

Erich set down the mug and pushed it over to the god-blessed. “Can I help you, sir?”

The god-blessed raised his head, revealing a youthful face with barely any stubble. Beneath furrowed eyebrows, dark rings lined his unfocused eyes. “Am I causing a problem?” he asked in a gentle tone.

Erich’s gaze drifted to the young man’s dagger; he knew better than to trust an apologetic god-blessed. He plastered on a smile. “Of course not, sir. I noticed you didn’t order anything today or yesterday and wanted to make sure your needs were met.”

The crease in the god-blessed’s forehead deepened. “So you brought me a beer.”

“I’m eager to accommodate you in other ways, sir.”

“So you can make me comfortable, or so you can bribe me to leave?” [Read more…] about Short Story: A Wish Fulfilled

Top Ten Books Read in 2018

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Didn’t quite hit 100 books this year (ended in the eighty-something range). I suppose the older you get, the harder it becomes to find time to read. Working two part-time jobs on top of a full-time job probably doesn’t help things either…

Anyways, since I’ve made a tradition of doing this the last several years, here are the top ten books I read over the course of this past year (book titles linked to my longer Goodreads reviews). Got to say, issues with finding time to read aside, I got to read some pretty fantastic works over the course of this year.

10. Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

Christian fantasy is a mixed bag, and modern Christian allegory even more so. But Fawkes did a marvelous job of rising above the top with the first modern allegory I’ve actually enjoyed reading—and a dang good story along with that.

9. The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath

I don’t normally put business/marketing books on my Top 10 List, but this work is really half psychology in its exploration of what creates memories and what causes people to change the way they live over a short period of time. This book not only gave me a lot of valuable tips for running websites and teaching, but it left me with a better understanding of how people work.

8. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Post-apocalyptic fantasy wasn’t something I realized I wanted until I read this book, and man was it good. This was the best work of speculative fiction I read this year and between some innovative plot twists and imaginative worldbuilding, it more than earned that spot.

7. Ars Rhetorica by Aristotle

Similar to business/marketing books, textbooks don’t normally make my top ten list. But Aristotle’s classic textbook on writing & rhetoric doesn’t only teach readers how to communicate more persuasively—it deepens the reader’s understandings of philosophy and psychology as well. I’ll be taking the lessons I learned from Aristotle with me for a while.

6. Wisdom & Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn and Charles Evans

I read a lot of books on classical education this year in my effort to better understand the type of education I received (and now teach) analytically as well as practically. Of the seven or so books I read, this one was the most practical and helpful for thinking through how to better grow myself as a teacher.

5. The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

Perhaps one of the best works of recent Christian fiction I’ve read (despite an ending that was a bit mediocre in my estimation). This book asks tough, penetrating questions about what really motivates “heroic” actions and what it truly means to live as Christ lived. I’ve thought about this book a fair bit since reading it at the beginning of this year and will continue to do so for a while.

4. How to Think by Alan Jacobs

While this didn’t take top place for this year, if I were able to choose one book to have every American read, this may be it. Truly thinking rationally is hard and this book taught me how hard it is to truly pursue the truth, how many fallacies all of us naturally live by in pursuit of comfort, and what it truly means to seek to live as an intellectual.

3. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque

I read this book for the third time this year, and I try to avoid putting re-reads on my top books lists. However, this year, I really “got” the story’s message that the more we dehumanize others, the more we’re really just dehumanizing ourselves—and this is a lesson that’s just as applicable to normal, everyday lives as it is in the field of war. I’ve thought about the message of this book a lot over the course of this year.

2. The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse

As someone who’s only transitioned into adulthood recently, this was a valuable book. As someone who’s also in the process of training others to transition into adulthood, this was doubly valuable. Sasse has an excellent understanding of the problems that plague twenty first century America and what steps ordinary people can practically take to recover the valuable things we’ve lost.

1. Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer

Out of all the books I read this year, this one had the most personal relevance to me. It’s easy for me to idolize doing great things for God, and as Vischer retells the outward “tragedy” of his life and the visions he saw crumble, he provides valuable insights and thoughts regarding Christ and success. He’s the sort of person with the sort of message I need to hear in my life more regularly. The hardest lessons are the ones learned through pain, and Vischer has valuable pain-learned lessons to impart to his readers.

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Like stories with interesting themes and surprising character choices? My short story collection explores the nature of heroism when super-powered individuals need to choose between using their powers for themselves or others in a fantasy world. Get instant access to the collection by filling out the form below.

Short Story: A Heretic’s Sacrifice

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This story is part of the Chronicles of Morshan short story series.

Emiel was twice a heretic.

When he rejected the Twelve Gods for Adolsin, the church labeled him a heretic. And when he held onto the Twelve Gods’ powers after pledging himself to Adolsin, even his fellow heretics called him a heretic.

The numerous enemies Emiel had gathered over the years caused many near-death experiences. But he didn’t mind. Enemies made escapades more fun.

Emiel landed softly on the cold stone floor, his rope dangling beside him. He scanned the area. No guards this time of night. He stretched. Kesean always said he stretched like a cat. He was never sure whether she meant it as a compliment or not.

His back cracked. He grimaced. Hiding above the chapel’s rafters for seven hours had stiffened all his joints. Orin had suggested that he disguise himself as part of the wall. Unfortunately, Emiel’s shapeshifting powers didn’t work that way.

Emiel padded along the stone floor toward the exit. A chill crept through his socks. He probably should have worn shoes. But shoes were so unnatural. How could he stay on his toes if he couldn’t feel the surface he was standing on?

He arrived at twin doors adorned with fancy carvings intended to honor the Twelve Gods. As if the Twelve Gods gave a rat’s tail for the happenings on earth. Emiel considered finding a knife to make some interesting changes to the carvings. But he wasn’t sure Adolsin approved of vandalism—even if he would be defacing false deities. And Emiel had a job to do. He pushed the doors open and tiptoed into the main hall of the manor. [Read more…] about Short Story: A Heretic’s Sacrifice

Should Christian Fiction Genres Exist?

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“The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature.” – C. S. Lewis

This quote, from one of the literary greats of the twentieth century, is one I’ve heard often in Christian circles. It’s a quote I generally agree with. Christian fiction has historically had quality problems and we need to emphasize the production of good literature rather than just literature with the Christian brand slapped on it.

However, some Christians take this quote in another direction. Not only should we de-emphasize the Christian fiction genre, but according to some, we shouldn’t even have a genre for Christian fiction in the first place. In the minds of some, “Christian fiction” is a retreat from the world where we insulate ourselves in closed communities with sub-par fiction.

Which leads to a question: should we really be avidly reading works of Christian fiction if the genre insulates us from the rest of the world?

Read the Rest of my Article for Speculative Faith Here.

Short Story: Visions of Grandeur

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This story is part of the Chronicles of Morshan short story series.

By tradition, the healer’s tents were located at the back of the army. When Sian passed through them to enter the playing field of war, screams of pain assailed her.

Images of raw agony, grotesque disfigurements, and gaping wounds flooded her mind and multiplied by the dozens. She pressed her hands against her ears, regretting her blessing from the gods. Some minds she hated seeing into. She crouched, shaking, as the muffled noise caused the images to fade.

“I’m sorry; I’m sorry,” Sian said to Cedric, her escort. “I didn’t expect this to happen.”

Cedric’s youthful golden curls hung in his face as he looked down at her. He gave a reply, but Sian couldn’t make it out with her ears covered.

“Can we move beyond these tents?” Sian gestured with her head. “I can’t be near them.”

Cedric’s lips moved again, then he gently took her elbow. Sian slowly stood and let herself be led away. Once she was far enough from the tents, she hesitantly removed her hands. She could still hear screams, but not enough to visualize the minds of the injured.

Sian exhaled and turned to Cedric. “I’m sorry. If I’d known I would be overwhelmed, I would have warned you.”

Cedric stared at her as if she had been possessed by a demon. “What in Thanax’s name was wrong with you?” She sensed confusion and a hint of terror emanating from him. He was a new recruit and not used to being with the god-blessed.

Sian rubbed her right ear self-consciously. “My memory impressions. The screams of the wounded triggered them, so I glimpsed their thoughts. Gods, it was awful.”

“Don’t you need to see someone to get impressions?” Curiosity floated through his mind.

“Normally I do. But, if someone is loud enough, I’ll get a vague impression anyways. Even vague impressions of those soldiers were unnerving.”

“If you say so,” Cedric said. More tension pervaded his memory impressions, as if he had raised a shield against her. Sian understood why. She hadn’t mentioned her ability much on their week-long trek, because it sometimes disconcerted people. Cedric’s increasingly romantic notions about her proved that he’d forgotten her blessing. She should probably discourage him eventually.

Sian cleared her throat. “You want to show me where the general is?”

“Oh—yes,” Cedric stammered. “I’ll show you right to him.” But his memory impressions revealed the way before he’d taken a step.

“Never mind.” Sian waved a hand. “I know where I’m going.”

Cedric coughed. “What?” Jumbled images wove through his mind.

“You pictured the route to the general’s tent when you spoke to me.”

Cedric narrowed his eyes. “How much can you see of my thoughts?” His mind immediately conjured up the romantic fantasy he’d been cultivating.

Sian debated about lying. But that generally didn’t work long term. “Not much. But enough. I’m afraid you’re not my type.”

Sian hurried away. If experience had taught her anything, he would shun her once he realized how much she perceived his thoughts. But, after the awkwardness of traveling with him while he was developing romantic feelings for her, she didn’t care.

This wasn’t the first relationship she’d killed with her powers. [Read more…] about Short Story: Visions of Grandeur

Top Ten Books Read in 2017

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After hitting a personal record of 154 books read in 2016, I decided to scale things back this past year. Apparently being a full-time English teacher leaves me with a lot less free time than being a college student teaching on the side. Who knew. I still got to 101 books, but the vast majority of those books were read before August when reading time went out the window.

It was easier to choose my top 10 this year since I was sorting through a lot less books, so here are the top 10 books I read in 2017 (yes; my list is pretty eclectic–I have a lot of varied tastes). I included a brief snippet about the book below, and the titles are linked to my Goodread reviews for the few of you foolish enough curious enough to want to read more of my thoughts on these books.

10. The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

This is an odd book in many ways. One of the best works of Christian speculative fiction I’ve read–and it was also written by an atheist. It markets itself as a sci-fi first-encounter-with-aliens book–but it’s really about the trials of a long-distance marriage. It doesn’t fit into many neat categories. But it was also a breathtakingly beautiful and profoundly tragic work. Really fascinating stuff.

9. A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

I had no idea Lewis published a book like this–a raw journal-like look at his personal struggles and thoughts following the death of his wife. Lewis is honest about his doubts, his anger, and his confusion. But while most of the book is depressing and somewhat-dark, the gleams of light present in the book are all-the-more powerful for that. [Read more…] about Top Ten Books Read in 2017