Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office
For our last Favorite Five day, I thought we’d share our favorite “classic” writers. It begs the question, what makes one classic? I’m not sure I have an answer to that but I’ve taught a year-long class on Classic Christian Literature and another three month class on the devotional classics and I just added those whose work has stood the test of time. I’d put several twentieth century writers in this group as well and I think we could argue for some of our contemporaries but only time will tell.
Here are my five favorites. You can tell that I prefer spirituality for my nonfiction writing.
C. S. Lewis— I know he’s almost contemporary but it’s obvious that his work is in the classic category
G. K. Chesterton— No one comes at things the way he does. I’ve always considered him a good-natured spiritual uncle of sorts.
John Bunyan— I came to know him when I wrote a book, Tinker’s Daughter, about his ten-year-old daughter Mary. Pilgrim’s Progress has still been outsold by only one book– The Bible.
St. Julian of Norwich— this anonymous medieval nun’s writings about our longing for God would be enough to meditate on for years.
Charles Spurgeon— his writings always speak to me.
Your classic writers may not be in the category of spirituality– my favorite. There are wonderful memoir writers, self-help gurus, even cookbook writers (who could forget Julia Child?) who may be among your favorites. So, tell us, who would you choose for your Favorite Five?
Wow! The writers you list are true giants. Two others I enjoy are A. W. Tozer and Brother Lawrence, though I’m sure I’ll remember many more when I read others’ comments later.
1. C.S. Lewis–agreed!
2. Charles Spurgeon–agreed! (I have a priceless little book with some of his sermons on the love of God.)
3. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
4. Pilgrim’s Progress–we had the unabridged tapes and my son practically had it memorized. He’d go around spouting wisdom at random moments.
5. Opened Treasures–Frances Ridley Havergal (I mentioned it yesterday but it’s really more in the “classic” category.
Thanks for bringing all these good books back to mind.
Oh, and I totally should have mentioned on the day we talked about children’s books the unabridged House at Pooh Corner. We read it to the kids when they were little, but got it out one night when they were older and they split their sides laughing and saying “I know someone just like that.”
Wendy,
I sure did enjoy your series this week. I’ve found you can learn a world about someone merely by exploring what’s on their bookshelf. So now we’ve got you all figured out.
For me, I found Henry Blackaby’s Spiritual Leadership to be one of my most transformational reads. This is a must read for anyone in a leadership role.
I love non-fiction, especially when it’s superbly written. Through my research for my historical trilogy I’ve learned there is a huge difference in writing talent when it comes to non-fiction. Some authors merely dump information while others can tell a powerful story as exciting as any novel.
I love authors like David McCullough who can not only tell us what happened in history, but can actually seat us in a chair at John Adams’ kitchen table.
Horatius Bonar
CS Lewis
JI Packer
AW Pink
John Bunyan
I, too, love Brother Lawrence and C.S. Lewis, but I tend to favor (as in favorite) the more contemporary writers.
There is one book that I also really loved written by Pierre Barbet, M.D. in 1950 called A Doctor at Calvary. Fascinating perspective with an eye towards holy meditation during Lent season, I find myself exploring a deep appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice. It reminds me of St. Luke’s perspective. (a doctor, as well.)
I really love Corrie ten Boom’s writing, too, and return to things she’s written and said many times. She changed the way I view hardships and persecution.
I have a great appreciation for our historians in the Christian tradition. Even Josephus gives me a greater understanding of events and times that our Christian forefathers lived.