Yes, I understand that this is a travel website but in my opinion, books, reading, and vacation go hand-in-hand. There's nothing I love more than getting some quiet reading time in while on a trip. It clears the mind, feeds the brain, and can help you unwind with some peace and quiet.
With that said, here are the top five books I read this year and I highly recommend taking with you on your next trip. Most of these were read at some point during travel, some were read during some down time after surgery. They are ranked in descending order from five to one, all the way down to my top recommendation.
Sometimes you just need a good mystery thriller novel to relax and unwind. I actually found this one by James Patterson in an airport.
While the storyline is a little weak and at time predictable, James Paterson writes in an easy to read manner and the story was easy to follow while still having plenty of twists and turns.
I love learning and reading about politics and government and this book touches on all of those interests for me. Even if you are not a political person, I still think the book would be a good read.
For a quick summary, an unstable but very popular President is in the oval office and has set events in motion that will take all the skills of those not under his thumb to undo.
The book is a thinker of what could really happen in the United States if the wrong person came into power with the wrong intensions.
If you would like to purchase this book, you can do so at our CruiseNReview Amazon store by clicking here.
This one is for all my fellow Jesus followers out there with wandering minds and questions about the current state of the church.
It is by no means a light read and you better be ready before you dive off into this book. Still, it's an enlightening book that adds some conviction and prospective to the reader.
Jen Hatmaker talks about a transformation in her and her pastor husband's spiritual lives. Essentially, our comfortable Christianity and lives of excess are contrary to the life Jesus lived and the people he called us to be.
The book takes a look at Christianity when applied to a global test.
Just reading this book while on a vacation made me feel convicted but it also brought some validation and conviction to my thoughts on how travel can show us how fortunate we are and put your backyard views of spiritualism and faith to the test.
This book isn't for everyone, but if you are a follower of Jesus, I highly recommend this read. To purchase this book from our online store, click here.
This is another vacation read that is dripping with irony that I enjoyed it while on vacation, specifically on a cruise.
This is the book that the movie "The Perfect Storm" is based on. That being said, it has so many more stories from that storm and contains much more historically accurate information on the events of the storm than what is in the feature film.
While the Andrea Gail is the subject and the basis, it goes deep into the history of the Northeastern Atlantic fishing industry and the lives that were impacted during the intense meteorological events of October of 1991.
Reading a book about a terrible storm that sinks a boat at sea while you are actively on a cruise is probably not for everyone but if you are interested in maritime tales, history, and wild stories of tragedy and heroism, I recommend giving this book a read.
To buy a copy of this book from our online store, click here.
I had a real battle about which book I wanted to be my top read for 2024, so know that this one is really interchangeable with my winner.
This book is about the family of writer Charles Wheelan that takes a gap year as a family to travel the world
It's brilliantly written with a lighthearted feel that sends a great message about the virtues of travel and cultural experiences while simultaneously sharing the clunky experiences this family had during their travels.
There were times I was inspired and times I laughed out loud while reading this.
If you want something that features a great story while also getting your travel inspiration gears moving, give this book a try and I promise you'll walk away trying to figure out how to take a year off to travel the globe.
To buy this book from our online store, click here.
My favorite book I read this year was a classic. 1984 by George Orwell is one that is often revered as one of the great fictional literary works ever.
Honestly, I was kind of sad that I had never read it before and while discussing, discovered that many friends had read it in high school or college.
This book, written in 1949 by George Orwell, is about a dystopian world set in 1984. The people in the book are oppressed, controlled, and monitored by their government 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is even a thought police. This book is the source for the term, "Big Brother."
It is a thinker but also a thriller. While it has lessons to be learned from it, it also is a fascinating and exhilarating story that connects you well to the characters and keeps you hanging on the edge of your seat.
Of all the books I've put on this list, this is one that I think everyone needs to read. As I said, it's a classic. It's also brilliantly written and takes you on a journey through what has been and what could be.
To get a copy of George Orwell's 1984 form our online store, click here.
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