World Book Day 2017: What We’re Reading

If you haven't guessed already, here at Eden, we love books.

We think reading is hugely important, not only for growing in faith, but in learning about life in someone else’s shoes. Books can breathe whole universes into life, they can create powerful dramas with our imaginations that shatter us to our very cores, and plant within us a new love of life.

It is quite safe to say that we do not read to escape life; rather, we ‘read in order to live’.*

And so, in celebration of World Book Day 2017, here are the books we at Eden are reading at the moment:

Laura - Email Marketing Executive

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

It was a very thoughtful birthday present. Anna's relatable, dry humour has had me laughing out loud and thinking "oh, me too!".

Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian

World Book Day feels like a great opportunity to go back to a childhood favourite. As C.S. Lewis said a children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest. Thankfully, Goodnight Mr Tom is still as heartwarming as I remember.

Anna - Procurement and Merchandising Manager

Second Bride by Katharine Swartz

'I'm currently reading Katharine Swartz's 'Second Bride' it's a fascinating story that interweaves two stories of challenging family situations one set today and the other set in the 1800's. Both strands of the story keep you turning the pages and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to each of the characters and how the stories will eventually come together.'

Christine - Customer Service Advisor

Keeping On Keeping On by Alan Bennett

[I’m a] bit of an Alan Bennett geek so have pretty much read all his books. This is the latest installment of his diary entries, think it begins in 2005 and there is an earlier edition which predates it. Talking Heads is a good place to start especially Chip in the Sugar which he performed himself as a single play on TV years ago

Paula - Head of Customer Services

I've got 2 books on the go at the moment.... The Wisdom House by Rob Parsons & Hygge "The Danish Art of Happiness"

I was given the book on Hygge by my husband, and I must say, I do really like being all cosy and warm during winter. I even put the candles on in the morning before it gets light, just to be extra cosy!

Aaron - eCommerce Merchandising Executive

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers has been on my book rader for quite some time now, and so when I came across this billiantly playful title for his semi-fictional (some parts moreso than others) story of raising his younger bother after the death of his parents, I couldn't say no.

It even includes a picture of a stapler.

James - Customer Service Advisor

Making Sense of God by Tim Keller

I chose it becuase I feel like Tim Keller wrote this book for me. It's a book for people who are sceptics, and who have questions about Christianity.

-

Let us know what you're reading this year for world book day (and why) by tweeting us @edencouk, or on our Facebook!

*I have yet to find any task as daunting as picking a quote about books and reading. It would seem every author and their mums all have pithy and profound thoughts about books. And so, choosing to bypass your classic tea and reading quote from C.S. Lewis, as well as your typically laconic Hemingway quote of having a book as a friend, I decided to settle on the exquisite Gustave Flaubert; a man so in love with the idea of pure reading that his dream was to write a fine book about absolutely nothing.