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Hey friends! Here is my final Reading Roundup post for 2019! In December, I only read three books because despite my wedding season finally slowing down, I was actually super busy creating the website and preparing for the launch of a new women’s ministry (Arise, Beloved). But I did get to read a little bit and I read the following three books: Left to Tell, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Left to Tell

This was one of the most incredible books I read all year. Written in her own words, it is the true story of Immaculee Ilibagiza who grew up in Rwanda and lost everything and everyone she loved in the horrific 1994 Rwandan genocide. She survived by hiding in a 3×4 foot bathroom with seven other women for 91 days. While her story of suffering and desperate survival is moving enough, what is truly incredible about Immaculee (and her story) is that it was in the midst of the terrifying three months she spent hiding in a bathroom that she developed an incredible relationship with God and came to understand the true power of prayer. Armed only with her faith, her father’s rosary, and her absolute assurance that she was intimately known and loved by God, Immaculee not only survived the ninety-one days but came out a completely changed person who was able to seek out and forgive her family’s killers. She has since spent her life as an instrument of peace and healing both in Rwanda, but also worldwide through sharing her story and her testimony of hope, forgiveness and unconditional love.

Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

At the beginning of last year, I picked up The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and read it because the Abiding Together Podcast was doing a book series on it. I realized that it was the first time that I was reading the Narnia classic for myself. My mom read all the Narnia books to us when we were kids and we would listen to the Radio Dramas every single car trip so I have been well versed in the Narnia stories my whole life. However, I never had actually picked up the books and read them for myself. I have been meaning to read the rest of the series all year and I finally got back into it this month. I started with Prince Caspian and read it in a day or two (I didn’t realize how short these stories are) and then I moved on to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Side note: After reading Prince Caspian I decided to watch the movie with my 14-year-old sister because I hadn’t seen the film in probably 10 years or longer. I had completely forgotten how ridiculous that movie is (it is literally filled with so much unnecessary teenage male angst which is very much NOT present in the book).

All that to say, I highly encourage anyone to go back and re-read the Narnia books as an adult because there is so much depth and beauty that you most likely missed as a child!

Xoxo,

Mary Kate