As in recent years, I chose to read fewer books in favor of longer books. Very few of those were fiction. The majority were theological in nature. With that said, here are my favorite books of 2024:
Best Christian Ministry/Theology – The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine by Jaroslav Pelikan. Regarded by scholars as Pelikan’s magnum opus, this five-volume study traces the progression of Christian theology from the first century to the twentieth. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had purchased the set years earlier because of a recommendation from one of my dearest friends who I respect both theologically and academically, but its length kept me at bay. That was until I read the initial volume in 2023 and finished the other four volumes this year. Though it was a long journey, The Christian Tradition has been the most enriching, challenging, and thought-provoking read in decades. Indeed, my meager five blog articles of 20241 all flowed from my interactions with Pelikan’s work. Frankly, I’m still processing what I learned. I can say up to this point that this series of books has left me more irenic, grateful, and dogmatic (about some doctrines), as well as less critical, assuming, and dogmatic (about other doctrines), while being profoundly inquisitive about all things church. I can’t imagine any one sincere believer not being immensely enriched by this series. One scholar concluded, “I submit that this church-centered history is of surpassing importance for the contemporary Christian churches, especially in North America, where an antihistorical (or, at least, ahistorical) spirit has long prevailed and is today, I think, even more acute…Professor Pelikan’s magnum opus may be seen as nothing less than what once was called ministerium verbi: a service to and of the Word.” I couldn’t agree more.
Best Christian Life – The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I decided to spend the fall of 2024 on a C.S. Lewis kick. Of the books I read, The Great Divorce stood out as noteworthy. The story is told as a vision/dream of Heaven and Hell where a bus takes those from Hell into Heaven and why most all of them reject the latter and return to the former. The meaningfulness of Lewis’ work is how he presents heaven not as some disembodied, ethereal realm but a world increasingly more solid and weighty than all others. Indeed, those from Hell exist as ghostly shadow beings who are less than human, while those in heaven are as human as human can be. Lewis’ tale also reinforces his belief that those who dwell in hell do so by their own choosing. In short, they prefer hell because they don’t believe any better and cannot be persuaded otherwise. The Great Divorce is a wonderful work for those who want to discuss what it means to exist as eternal creatures and how eternity should be experienced.
Best Fiction – Island of the World by Michael O’Brien. Though I read very little fiction in 2024, O’Brien’s book would’ve been a top read even in a novel-heavy year. Written by a Catholic author and published by a Catholic press, one quickly understands this story about Josip Lasta in Bosnia/Croatia from the 1920’s to modern day is heavy in Catholicism – a feature which only enriches the tale. While modern novels mostly avoid religious themes, Island of the World leverages them in genuine ways that give its characters a greater ring of authenticity. I was taken by O’Brien’s narrative using the history of the former Yugoslavia as a backdrop. That alone was eye-opening and sobering with its ethnic cleansing violence, but the beauty of an earnest life lived for God in its midst of such a horrific background made for riveting reading. Because of this, for the Christian reader, Island of the World is a sublime gift of a novel. Thanks to Adam Ramsey for the recommendation.
Best Science Fiction – A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. I don’t read much science fiction. However, when I was gifted this book by a friend who said it was his favorite book ever, I couldn’t resist reading it. This story is based in a post-apocalyptic future where the Catholic church not only survives but has great power over what’s left of the world (namely, the Southwestern United States). Yet, the narrative, which spans centuries, is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of power, hubris, and the relationship of the church to the state. Discerning readers will see Miller’s tale as a commentary on the nuclear fears fanned in 1960’s. As I read, I was taken by the author’s creativity in both his characters and world-making, in addition to unabashed broaching of religious themes. Nothing is expected. There are quirky turns and thought-provoking developments which made for page-turning reading. The book felt less like science-fiction and more like literature, which I assume is why A Canticle for Leibowitz, the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel, is considered a classic by critics and has never been out of print.
