Lent to me by a friend. I've been wanting to read this classic for a long time.

Finished this one. It's always interesting to read very old writings like this, because they come out of such a different time and place. This book constantly came back to the themes of humility and obedience. There was nothing of the 'personal spiritual journey' stuff that fills contemporary Christian literature. There was also a great emphasis on the simple life and rejection of worldly pleasures. Clearly the religious life at that time was seen as incompatible with secular entertainments and pastimes. Here are two quotes that give a taste of the book:

“It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men even though we do well and mean well. These things help us to be humble and shield us from vainglory. When to all outward appearances men give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God Who sees our hearts. Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.”
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“My child, I am the Lord Who gives strength in the day of trouble. Come to Me when all is not well with you. Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the greatest obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray earnestly to Me you first seek many comforts and take pleasure in outward things. Thus, all things are of little profit to you until you realize that I am the one Who saves those who trust in Me, and that outside of Me there is no worth-while help, or any useful counsel or lasting remedy.”
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Next, I will embark on Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee