|
Celebrate
Christmas with LDS Authors
By Holly E. Newton
The Christmas
season is the season for celebrating Christ and gifts of love.
Here is a list of some of the best and newest books from LDS authors
that exemplify just that objective.
Let’s begin
with two novels that don't concern Christ or Christmas, but that
deserve to be read for sheer enjoyment. These are geared for ages
14 through adult:
Click
to Buy
Saboteur, by Dean
Hughes, is a thrilling spy novel with all of the adventure and excitement
you’d expect in this type of book. The exception to Hughes' story
is that you don’t have to worry about any inappropriate language
or sexual content. This only proves that once again, a great storyline
with quests into dangerous ventures doesn’t need swearwords or sexual
displays to warrant a great read! The story is set in 1943, and
22-year-old Andy is about to parachute into France to help convey
information from behind enemy lines.
Click
to Buy
 Yearbook
Allyson Braithwaite Condie, is a look inside the minds and hearts
of several high school students and a teacher. The story cleverly
jumps from each main character’s viewpoint at the beginning of every
chapter. You will have met just about all of these enlightening
and interesting characters by chapter 10. The story moves through
the school year with all ten protagonists returning to future chapters.
Not only will you be completely engaged with this well written story,
but you’ll also feel a close connection with each student and Mr.
Thomas (the teacher).
The following books are scripture based,
or inspirational, and are books for all ages:
Click
to Buy
 The
Ten Virgins, by Emily Freeman, is a beautiful picture book
that takes the well known scripture parable found in Matthew and
projects a possible storyline to go along with it. Freeman has
underscored ten influential virtues that she assigns to each virgin.
The incredible paintings, by the talented Simon Dewey, of each of
these ten women are so beautiful and breathtaking that you’ll ponder
and dwell before turning the page. Here is a picture book that
parents should give to every young woman in the Church!
Click
to Buy
 Isaiah
for Airheads, by John Bytheway, is truly a guide and helpmate
for "the rest of us." How many times do we all complain
about trying to sift through the chapters of Isaiah and not be able
to grasp their meaning? We know it must be important. Prophets
of old quoted from Isaiah and many parables, which might be hard
to understand, can be better understood with Bytheway’s new book.
He has broken Isaiah down into simple steps as you travel through
the “Isaiah National Forest.” The number “4” is important here
because his overview of the content is divided into 4 trees, 4 guides,
4 keys, 4 kingdoms and 4 major events. If you’ve read any of the
author’s many books, you’ll already know he’s a gifted, funny and
entertaining writer. This book is no exception. Yes, Bytheway can
extract humor from an eloquent and symbolic prophet, hence the title!
Once you sift through the poetic verses of this Bytheway “forest”
you’ll discover that you can tell the difference from the forest
and the trees with an understanding without trying to wrack your
brain for enlightenment! This book is definitely for the airhead
within all of us!
Click to Buy
 One
Bright Shining Hope, by Gordon B. Hinckley, is a beautiful
collection of thoughts and short essays affirming and celebrating
women. “Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do
great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that
you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you
cannot weather it.” The scenes of sunsets, ocean waves and
mountaintops are breathtaking and serve to increase inspiration.
Click
to Buy
 Come,
Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, by Lloyd D. Newell, is a perfect
gift because it has daily counsel and advice for every day of the
year. Every month begins with an appropriate quote followed by
daily guidance. For instance, July begins with a quote from David
O. McKay: “To live in a land in which each individual has the
right to life and liberty is a glorious privilege.” On the
day of April 20th, you’ll find Joseph Smith’s statement: “We
have nothing to fear if we are faithful.” And, below the quote
is an explanation by Newell about fear and doubt.
Click
to Buy
My
First Story of the First Christmas , retold by Deanna Draper
Buck and brightly illustrated by Jerry Harston, is a board book
that all youngsters should have in their home. It perfectly tells
the story of Christ’s birth and the wise men coming later in time.
It even relates stories about the coming of Christ in the Book of
Mormon!
Click
here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates
© 2006
Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
