In fact, I had to refresh myself on what my reading goals even were for the year!
They are:
1. Read 60 books in 2015. Dude, I will be lucky if I get to that number. Seriously. Pregnancy and newborn babies make it hard to read books quickly.
2. Participate in Modern Mrs. Darcy's 2015 Reading Challenge. I have been kind of keeping track of that and need to see which categories I've completed and what's left.
3. No purchasing books in 2015. The one goal I have faithfully stuck to! And, my word, it is hard. I'd really been thinking about making this a goal a few months before 2015 came around. Did I have the willpower as a book obsessed bibliophile to NOT buy books for an entire year?! Not even one little dime?!?! So far, the answer is, Yes I can! I have only borrowed books from the library or friends. Now, this has been frustrating when the books I need to read for book club are not available. Oh man, it was sooooo tempting to just buy them off amazon. But, it's really only happened twice and, guess what?!, I survived! I still plan on reading the books, especially after hearing the ladies from book club rant and rave and have a great discussion about them, but I did not self implode because I didn't get the book in time.
Now that I've refreshed you all about my reading goals (you are welcome), here's what I have read so far this year:
JANUARY:
1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
Usually, I am not a huge murder mystery book fan, but I could not put this book down. I truly was not 100% sure who the murderer was and kept going back and forth between a few characters, which I attribute entirely to Rowling's writing. I loved the main character, Coromon Strike, flaws and all! I'll be definitely seeking out the other books in this series. (Also, J.K. Rowling fan FOR LIFE, peoples!)
2. A Dance with Dragons: Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Man, talking about authors I love, I just can not get enough of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. In fact, I had been putting off reading this book because he is not done writing book six and I hated the idea of waiting forever to read another book from this series. But, Evan finished it and needed someone to talk about it with, so I caved. Now I'm one of the many Martin junkies waiting for my next fix.
3. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I had never read a book by Kidd and this was a great book to be my first introduction to her writing. I had no clue until I was reading the author's notes at the end of the book that the main character, Sarah Grimke, was a real person! Made the book even better! An amazing story of breaking cultural norms we often grow up with, I found this book spellbinding and could not put it down. I loved discussing it at our book club!
4. The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey From Hollywood to Holy Vows by Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B. and Richard DeNeut
This book is written in a back and forth narrative between Mother Dolores and DeNeut on Mother Dolores' journey from being an actress to following a calling she couldn't ignore of becoming a nun. I love hearing stories about how people lived in the 1940s and 50s because it reminds me of how my Grandma tells stories from her life at that time--more freedom to roam, neighbors being like family. This book was well written and I loved not only hearing about how being an actress in Hollywood was during this time, but also what living a life in a monastery is like as well. A great book!
FEBRUARY
5. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Dude, I am a die hard Gaiman fan now. Elisabeth and I both read this book and were completely captivated. A children's book, it is not one I would read to very young children, but would be pushing on older elementary students for sure. Gaiman's storytelling is so compelling with enough of a dark side to give you chills but not keep you up all night. Ugh, I just love his writing!
6. The World's First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton Sheen
This was one of the books I read during Lent. I love Fulton Sheen's writing style. He has a way of taking complex ideas and concepts and putting them in terms where you find yourself saying, "Oh! That makes a lot of sense!". I learned a lot about Mary and had a ton of my questions as a Catholic convert answered. It's a book I put on my To Buy list (you know, since I had to borrow this one from the library).
MARCH
7. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was well written, quick paced, but so negative and depressing. There were no redeeming characters, no one to relate or connect with in the story. The people were so toxic that I didn't find it entertaining and it felt too fabricated. I'm not sure if the movie would be better, but I do love me some Tina Fey, so maybe I'll try watching the movie.
8. The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
Another book I wanted to read for Lent, this book has been on my shelf for ages. This'll probably be a book I pick up again and again over the years because I know it is full of things about the Catholic faith that I won't absorb with just one (or ever three or four!) readings. To be honest, I had a hard time relating to St. Therese. Despite not being able to connect with her seemingly unfaltering faith (I would probably relate better to those saints who struggled with their faith for a while), I still found her writings fruitful.
APRIL
9. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Oh my goodness, I loved loved loved this book! It's been on my shelf for over a year now and I could kick myself for not picking it up ages ago! It was book that I had to have a break after because the characters and story were still hanging around in my brain and I didn't have room for new characters and books until I had mulled over this book for a day or so. I just really loved how full Moriarty's characters were and how well she pieced back Alice's life for us (and for Alice) with humor and raw emotions. Definitely one I recommend!
10. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This book was a simple, fun, amusing read. Not one I'll be keeping on my forever bookshelf, but one that would be good for summer beach reading or for those suffering from pregnancy brain (like yours truly).
11. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This book was superb--I couldn't put it down! Rowell tapped into that first love experience perfectly. I was smitten by both main characters equally and loved getting both of their perspectives on their relationship. Rowell's writing is inviting and engaging. I will be seeking out more of her books!
12. The Temperament God Gave Your Kids by Art & Laraine Bennett
13. The Temperament God Gave You by Art & Laraine Bennett
Oh my word, I could talk about these books and the four temperaments until your ears bled! I borrowed these books from a friend (Hi, Kara!) who was so passionately enthusiastic about the power of understanding your temperament and the temperament of those around you that I had to see for myself what she was talking about. Obviously these books have a lot about how your temperament can shape your faith life (they do have God in the titles), but I ended up seeking out the sources they cited and looking deeper into the temperaments. Seriously, totally life changing and such a great tool in not only learning about yourself but your loved ones and what makes them tick/react to the world around them. The Bennetts have another book, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse, and I'm totally going to read that one too.
14. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
My friend Rachel recommended this book to me and she rarely steers me wrong. This was no exception. A non fiction book about how to help change women's lives all over the world who are being oppressed, this book was hard to read. I often had to put it down and walk away because a lot of what they talk about and the stories of women that they share are heavy. Kristof and WuDunn have been actively participating in grassroot groups to help women globally for years now and you can tell in their writing that this is not just a job or a story for them. A powerful read and one I would recommend.
15. Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
Wonderful children's book! Written in 1902, Nesbit was a contemporary to JM Barrie, Beatrice Potter, Lewis Carroll, and others from that time period. I can not wait to share this book with my kids, especially Julia who loves classic children's literature. I'll be seeking out more of Nesbit's work to add to my library.
MAY
16. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds by Robin Olds (with Christine Olds and Ed Rasimus)
Evan read this book last year and told me I would really like it. When he found it at a thrift store he grabbed it for me. (Honestly, how freaking awesome is it to have your husband buy you books to read because he liked the book so much?) I only knew of Robin Olds from bits and pieces Evan had told me over the years (ex: he's why there is a Mustache March). This book was fantastic. Olds voice is conversational and easy to follow, even with all the technical Air Force pilot jabber. What an amazing man! I would love to read/see more about him (he did lots of History Channel stuff about being a pilot in WWII and Vietnam). The ending of the book had me sobbing. A great memoir!
17. Revolution by Deborah Wiles
This is a YA book we read for book club and I really enjoyed it. It's technically the second in a series about the 1960s, but it can totally be read as a stand alone book. Based on the Freedom Summer in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964, it's told from 3 different points of view of kids living in that town. I really liked how Wiles incorporated real pictures, facts, quotes, news stories and testimonies of things from that summer, both political and personal. An excellent read for middle schoolers and one I'm encouraging Elisabeth to read.
18. Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman
I told you I love him! I usually am not a fan of a book of short stories, but this one was wonderful. How Gaiman can make your hair stand up from one short story that is maybe four pages long is why I love his writing. I'd say out of the dozen stories there were maybe 2 or 3 that I only felt "meh" about. I also appreciated that he had a small summary for the what and why of each story in his introduction. So, I would read a story and then go back to the front and find out why he had written it. I finished it Sunday and then peer pressured Evan to start reading it before the library demands it back.
You all are so sweet to have read this all! I promise to not do 5 months worth of books in one post again. Scouts honor.
Now it's your turn. Whatcha been reading? Let me know so I can put it on hold from the library!!!
