As I thought about the books that have most benefited me, I realized there were too many to condense into a single post. But there are books on certain issues that could be collected and categorized.
Which brings me to novels. Here are 5 that have very much benefited me.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee -- There are so many beautiful lessons about truth and virtue in this book, but it's so fun to read. The story shines, the characters become your best friends, and you're a little sad to get to the end. (Oh, and the 1962 movie with Gregory Peck is one of the few book-to-movie adaptions that actually rocks.) The novel is masterfully written.
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt -- This is a fantastic book. I read it for my children's lit class in college and remember laughing out loud as I read it the first time. Witty, funny, yet tender and deep, this book explores faith, family dynamics, and Shakespeare from the perspective of a seventh-grade boy. (I also love Schmidt's novels, Okay for Now and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis -- Come on, it's a classic. Most Christians have read it, and there's a reason. It really is that good. I remember hearing it first on audio, then reading it as a kid, and then reading it again as a teen when I read through the whole Chronicles of Narnia series. This book gave me a love for stories and imagination and virtues like courage and selflessness.
Safely Home by Randy Alcorn -- I was shocked by this book. I read it when I was a young teen and really didn't know much about the persecuted church. Then I read this novel and felt my eyes were opened in new ways. Alcorn tells the story of two college friends, one in America and one in China, and the terrifying and intense story within the story of the Chinese persecuted church.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -- As a Maritimer, I have to love this book. But my love for it goes back to before I lived in Nova Scotia, when I first read this book in third grade in British Columbia. I've read it at least three more times since then and it delights me every time. The whole series is a joy. Montgomery captures and conveys wonder, joy, curiosity, and imagination in spectacular ways. This is fun and whimsical.
What are the novels that have benefited you?