5 Books to Read this Autumn — Micaelyn Chedrawee

Summer is coming to a close, and with school starting up again, I'm already making mental calculations about how I will incorporate reading into my busy schedule. Autumn is such a perfect time to start or restart your reading habit as we enter into a season of coziness, traditions, and celebrations. Here are five books to get you started!

1. Liturgy of the Ordinary, by Tish Harrison Warren

This may be my favorite book of all time, actually. I think I've read it between four and five times. What I love about this book is how beautifully the author depicts the Anglican liturgy (I'm not Anglican, but I'm fascinated by liturgical worship), and how she connects the liturgy to our daily lives. Reading this book has taught me to find beauty in the ordinary, to express gratitude and worship at all times, even if things seem mundane, such as the daily task of bedmaking. If you're looking for inspiration for intentional living this fall, I highly, highly recommend this book!

2. The Chiveis Trilogy, by Bryan Litfin

My kindred spirit recommended this series to me shortly after we met. It took me about two years before I actually read the first book, and once I started, I couldn't stop until I'd devoured the whole series. This series combines so many of my favorite genres into one story. The story tells of a world that has collapsed due to wars and global plagues, but this post-dystopian age does not reflect the worlds found in the pages of Young Adult post-dystopian novels (which I unashamedly love to read). Instead, those living in this new world have reverted to a culture that best reflects the world of King Arthur. The two main characters discover pages of an ancient text that discredits the magic practiced by the religious leaders in their kingdom called Chiveis. These pages actually belong to a Bible owned by a man who died during the plagues. The two then go on an epic journey to rediscover Christianity and bring it to their kingdom. If you're looking for a tale of adventure, romance, historical drama, and post-dystopian fantasy, this series is definitely for you!

3. Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers

I cannot recommend this book enough! I first read this book in February 2016 for a ladies' Valentine's Day event at my church. It's become an annual tradition for me to read this book every February to remind me of the truth about love. Francine Rivers retells the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer in this Christian romance set in the 1850s. I love that this story is told in such a clean way, yet you can feel the tension between the two characters, Michael Hosea and Sarah. This book is sure to make you laugh and cry and is the perfect read for a rainy fall day!

4. Take the Stairs, by Rory Vaden

I can't make a list of books to read without including Rory Vaden's Take the Stairs. This is another book I've read at least three or four times. In this book, Rory takes a new perspective on motivation and self-help that is similar to the one found in the pages of Do Hard Things by Brett and Alex Harris. Rather than fleshing out a list of tips to stay motivated and productive, Rory encourages people to reject the mediocrity of taking the escalator in favor of putting in the hard work of taking the stairs. If you're looking for a good kick in the pants to get started on a new project or to push yourself hard this fall semester, Take the Stairs is a must-read!

5. The Lifegiving Home, by Sally Clarkson

Confession: I'm a major fangirl of the entire Clarkson family. I've listened to both albums from the Two Benedictions, follow the Speaking with Joy and the At Home with Sally podcasts, and have read The Lifegiving Home two or three times. This book explains homemaking from a solid biblical perspective in such a beautiful way as Sally and her daughter Sarah share about some of their family's traditions. Twelve chapters are each dedicated to each month of the year providing ideas to build community within your family and peace within your home. Whether you are a parent, a newlywed, or even still living at home, this book will inspire you to create home wherever you are.