Tuesday, January 8, 2013

What to read this year?

Here is the big list of books I read last year!  I tracked them all on Goodreads, a great place to find "what to read next" and be kinda social with your reading.  You can see what your friends are reading and read reviews and everything.  Go ahead and "friend" me if you want to; I always like to see what everyone else is reading!

My rather lofty goal for last year was 36; I read 32.  Not too shabby.   I went from being an occasional reader, to an every-day reader.  And DH started reading every day, too.  We're both still resisting getting Kindles/Nooks, but I can see the day is coming...maybe next Christmas.  :) 

 Anyway...my 2012 reading list! 

NONFICTION
Quitter, Jon Acuff
90 Minutes in Heaven: A true story of death & life, Don Piper
48 Days to the work you love, Dan Miller
Radical: Taking back your faith from the American Dream, David Platt
Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl, Lysa Teurkeurst
The Bishop of Rwanda: Finding Forgiveness amidst a pile of bones, John Rucyahana
The New Hide or Seek, James Dobson
Stormie: A story of forgiveness and healing, Stormie Omartian
In Harm's Way, Doug Stanton
Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
Another Man's War, Sam Childers
Happy Accidents, Jane Lynch

FICTION
Family Tree, Barbara Delinsky
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis
The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis
The Giver, Lois Lowry
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
Gentlemen and Players, Joanne Harris
The Last Town on Earth, Thomas Mullen
The Parting, Beverly Lewis
A Voice in the Wind, Francine Rivers
An Echo in the Darkness, Francine Rivers
As Sure as the Dawn, Francine Rivers
Fire by Night, Lynn Austin
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

THE AWARDS!
Best Fiction: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers.  Actually, the whole 3-book series.  It is not put-downable.  Seriously.  And when I finished the series, I actually felt lonely because my characters were gone! 
Runner-up: The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

Best Nonfiction: Radical by David Platt.  Whether you agree or disagree with the guy, everyone should read this book.  It is SO thought-provoking and really made me change the way I view my life.
Runner-up:  Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand

Worst Fiction: The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen.  What a snooze-fest! 
Runner-up: The Parting, Beverly Lewis.  Amish fiction is not for me.  zzzzzzzz.......

Worst Nonfiction: Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch.  I picked it up because I think she's hilarious and I thought it would be a funny & entertaining read.  WRONG.  Just a big lot of "who-cares!"
Runner-up: Another Man's War, Sam Childers.  Interesting note: 1. Sam Childers lives about a town over from me.  DH has met him a few times.  2. The movie "Machine Gun Preacher" is about that guy.  3. This book could have been amazing, but I don't know if the author actually had an editor or not.  I'm guessing "not."  BUT, the subject matter covers up for the horrendous writing style & lack of organization. 

***

In 2013, my goal again is to shoot for 36 books.  Among those, I want to read:
- The Harry Potter series, or at least the first one.  If I like it, I'll read more.  Nothing like jumping on a bandwagon about 10 years later, right?

- The second series in the Baxter family saga by Karen Kingsbury.  I think they're the ones that start with F.  I love KK; every single book I've ever read of hers makes me cry like a baby!  I have already read the first series (Redepmtion), I want to pick it up again this year. 

I don't really know what else...I want to get some current books on my list, too.  Suggestions?

Currently I'm reading a self-help book; I can't resist a good self-help book every once in a while.  But I should be done in a day or two and then...what do I start with?

5 comments:

  1. I am going to try to read Hunger Games soon... love your list here and i have not heard of the website. I want to get my hands on Radical as well!

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  2. Oh...sorry... the Anonymous was me- Cara

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  3. I like that you read (and mentioned) that you read Beezus and Ramona!!! Loved those when I was younger! My list looks a lot like yours... quite a hodge-podge of titles, authors, and topics. I need to do that to keep my interest! I have "Sherlock Holmes" sitting here waiting to be read (my son's left-over college materials!) and now I am reading "M ad Mary" from Liz Curtis Higgs... not bad so far. I acquired it with "Bad Girls of the Bible" and "REALLY Bad Girls of the Bible" so I thought I would give it a go. I love reading your blog. It always makes me feel like I'm not crazy!!! LOL Thanks for your help!!!! :-)

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    1. Well I'm glad I can make you feel sane in comparison. :) Yes I read Beezus & Ramona because Abby read it and wanted me to, too! I've never gotten into mystery novels, not sure why not. Maybe this year!

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