I read twenty-six fewer books in 2003 than in 2002. Guess that's what a new baby will do to you.
Among the notable reads:
1. Hieromonk Damascene Christenson, Not of This World and Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works. I actually began reading the original version of St. Seraphim's biography in the fall of 2002. But it was piece-meal at best, and I took it up with more fervor at the beginning of this year. The revised biography is light years better. If you want to see the process of the making of an American Orthodox saint, read Father Seraphim Rose.
2. St. Theophan the Recluse, Unseen Warfare. This book was the primary text for my Lenten reading. St. Theophan actually revised an earlier revision done by St. Nikodemos of Mt. Athos on an Italian Roman Catholic book. It is an amazing spiritual read. St. Theopan's insights into the inner struggle of faith is among the best. And the healthy introduction giving the history and theology of the book is similarly helpful.
3. George H. Nash, The Conservative Intellectual Movement since 1945. Though self-described liberals and other general cynics may scoff at the title, the book is incredibly interesting. It discusses the thoughts, ideas and impact of such men as Richard Weaver, Russell Kirk, William F. Buckley, Jr., Whitaker Chambers, et al. If you thought you knew what opponents call "the radical right," think again. (Note: Lee Edwards' The Conservative Revolution touches on some of the same luminaries, but focuses on the political sphere.)
4. Annie Dillard, Holy the Firm. I've actually read this book many times before. But earlier in the spring, I came across a first edition hardcover at a local used bookstore. It's a brief (about 80 pages) account of a weekend Ms. Dillard spent on an island in Puget Sound. If you ever want to see what good incarnational theology is about, read this book.
5. Christos Yannaros, Freedom of Morality. With Metropolitan Zizioulos' Being as Communion and Panayiotis Nellas' Deification in Christ, Yannaros' work highlights how human ethical behavior flows from the Trinitarian image in which we have been made. These three books alone have been fundamental in my shift of theological thinking toward the patristics and the Tradition.
6. Fr. Seraphim Rose, Genesis, Creation, and Early Man. This is a posthumous collection of St. Seraphim's writings (and transcribed talks) on Genesis, anthropology, cosmology and the relation between faith and science. The patristic commentary on Genesis 1-12 alone is worth the price of the book.
There were many more good books that I read, but these were among the most important.
There is one regretted read from 2003:
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, Armageddon. This is the penultimate book in the "Left Behind" series, and since I'd read all the others a couple of years ago, I couldn't help but slog through this one. (And by the way, my regretted read for this year will be the final book in the series.)