Here, in no particular order, are the books themselves:

1. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale – Frederick Buechner. This slim volume holds more wisdom and beauty than some entire systematic theologies. (I won’t be calling out any theologians at this point, in case you’re wondering.) If I had to name someone as successor to C.S. Lewis, Buechner would be high in the running. I was so impressed after I read Telling the Truth that I couldn’t find the words for a review.
2. All the Pretty Horses – Cormac McCarthy. A haunting Western novel that transcends the genre. John Grady is one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve encountered in the last decade, and I am hoping he will reappear in McCarthy’s later books.
3. The Pilgrim’s Regress - C.S. Lewis. This elaborate allegory is Lewis’s first book as a Christian, and one of his lesser-known works, but your efforts will be more than rewarded in this richly-imagined journey toward “the island” - a place we are all looking for.
4. Gap Creek – Robert Morgan. This gritty, turn-of-the-century novel leaves a clean, sweet aftertaste and Robert Morgan showcases a knack for sustained surprise. Think you know what’s going to happen? You’re wrong.
5. As I Lay Dying – William Faulkner. The first full-length Faulkner novel I read, this death & burial saga is lurid, frightening, and haunting in turn. But as you’d expect, it’s all exceptional writing (previously unreviewed).
6. The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway. Who would think that a book so bluntly written could be so piercing? This is the Ecclesiastes-like novel that made Hemingway famous.
7. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek – Annie Dillard. Dillard takes a concerted, vehement wonder at the created world, and fastens it over a gritty network of empirical facts. The result is part poetry, part fire, and completely masterful.
8. Peace Like a River – Leif Enger. Perfectly paced narrative, tough but endearing characters, and convincing dialogue make this spiritually-charged adventure story work in a spectacular fashion. Enger’s book made me laugh out loud, agonize over the outcome, and, yes, even shed a few tears. (As in the case of Buechner’s Telling the Truth, I was too unhinged at the finale to write a review.)
9. A Certain Justice – P.D. James. I read quite a few of James’s mysteries in 2006, but Justice stands out as a favorite: the narrative is seamless, woven with supreme pacing, and James’ villain is the darkest antagonist I’ve encountered in recent years.
10. Confessions of a Reformission Rev. - Mark Driscoll. Maybe I should have saved the lone “theology” book on this list for another time, but Driscoll deserves mention because of his book’s impact. In this autobiographical account of how Mars Hill Church got started, Driscoll merges a theology of church and missions with a compellingly gritty vision of what it means to plant a church in postmodern America, and does so while eschewing all churchy platitudes. Driscoll is a good (and very funny) writer, not a great one - but the content of Confessions is excellent and, for me, very timely.

And now, a bonus. Don’t say I never gave you anything for free.

11. The Pacific - Mark Helprin. This brilliant collection of short stories is an ideal antidote to the depression and murky ambiguity that characterizes much short fiction today. Helprin’s stories are crowded with real heroes, humor, and beautiful women. They shine with life.

So, did anyone else read anything good in 2006? Answer that question after you grab a few of these titles.

Ariel blogs at Bitter Sweet Life.