Book Friends: Tried and True

I once read an old volume that urged young ladies to “make friends of books.” That’s never been hard for me, at least of storybooks—since little girl days when I fell in love with Little House in the Big Woods and Little Women, books have been treasured companions to me.

Much as I love my old favorites, it’s always a thrill to find new wonderful authors as well. So I thought I’d share some of my favorite writers and series, old and new, over the next couple of posts for you readers who might enjoy the same. Comment and share your favorite books and authors, if you please!

When I was a teenager, a “bookmobile” library-on-wheels came once a month to our rural valley in northwest New Mexico. There we congregated with our homeschooling friends to stock up on books for the month, and there I discovered, on the “inspirational fiction” shelves, authors who remain among my favorites today. One of the first I remember finding was Lauraine Snelling. 

I love Lauraine’s characters from her “Blessing” books perhaps more than those in any other recent series—I feel like I know them. Focusing on a Norwegian immigrant family to North Dakota in the late 19^thand early 20^th century, the Red River of the North, Return to Red River, Daughters of Blessing, and Home to Blessing books—four series within a series—follow the Bjorklunds over twenty years and to the third generation. When I had the privilege of being in Lauraine’s mentoring group at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference two springs ago, she told us she’d had a woman tell her Ingeborg Bjorklund was so real to her that she found herself praying for her. I can almost understand!

Now that I know Lauraine in real life, I love her books all the more for the woman behind them. And her godly wisdom, gentle humor, and open arms shine through Ingeborg and all her stories.

After the above-mentioned “Blessing” books, my favorite series of hers would probably be the Dakota Treasures. Historical fiction is Lauraine’s first love, as it is mine, but she also has some good contemporary novels, and even one—The Brushstroke Legacy—that weaves historical and contemporary together.

Perhaps one reason I love Lauraine’s books is my own Scandinavian ancestry—and even great-great-grandparents who immigrated to the Dakotas, just as the Bjorklunds did. Family heritage might also play into my love for B. J. Hoff’s books. 

What Norwegian is to Lauraine, Irish is to B. J. Hoff. And with hearty Celtic blood in my veins from both sides, reading the Emerald Ballad series about the tragedy of the potato famine and subsequent mass immigration to America felt like reading my own family history. But no one needs to be Irish to be swept away by the poetic beauty of Hoff’s writing and the powerful, often heartwrenching depth of her stories, which often plumb the darkness of life in a fallen world while pointing to the light of hope in Christ. I loved her American Anthem and Mountain Song books too.

In contrast to the cultural themes these first two authors weave through nearly all their books, Lynn Austin is a writer who seems to defy being put in a box—except that she writes almost exclusively historical fiction. But her settings range from the 1860s East Coast to Depression Era Kentucky to World War II Michigan to ancient—and modern—Israel. One thing she does consistently deliver is a gripping, unpredictable, and satisfying story. The first book of hers I read, Candle in the Darkness, about the awakening of conscience in a southern belle during the Civil War, remains one of the most powerful works of historical fiction I’ve come across. The Refiner’s Firesequels delivered well also, and I loved the three intertwining storylines—and Israeli historical eras—in Wings of Refuge. Her newest release, Wonderland Creek, proved a most charming and unusual read too. My fellow historical writer and critique partner Marilyn and I discovered we were enjoying it at the same time!

That’s just a few “tried and true” beloved authors, but I’ve run on long enough for now. Next time I’ll introduce you to some of my newer favorite writers and their books!