Books Read in 2017

Another year is over and many more books have been read!  This year I read quite a few chapter books with Harrison so I decided to create a separate list of those.  I included that list and the list of books Samuel read this year at the end.  I read 74 books on my own, read 27 chapter books with Harrison, and Samuel read 6 books this year.  I have many books I didn't get to this year that I want to read in 2018 plus a lot of new books being released in 2018 that I am excited for.  My list of books I want to read is never going to get any shorter!

As always, I don't necessarily recommend all the books on the list.   

I put an asterisk next to my favorite books that I read for the first time this year and also included a couple sentences about why I really enjoyed each book.

Books Read in 2017:

January     

-Drops of Gold by Sarah M Eden

-A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink (read parts of it and skimmed others) (for book club)

*-Behold the Man by Gerald Lund (Historical fiction based on true stories is my favorite genre because I love being able to understand what the time felt like through a very personal view while still learning facts.  This trilogy really helped me understood the context of Christ's life and teachings and how it might have felt to be an early follower.)

-As You Are by Sarah M Eden

February  

-The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (reread to prepare for a YW activity)

-The Storm Descends by Gerald Lund

*-The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (audiobook) (This was a really long book- the audiobook was 4 times as long as the average audiobook I listen to!  But it was such a complex, dynamic story that I don't think would be fully captured in an abridged version.  I was very interested in the clever and complex story.)

-The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark (for book club)

-The Shadow Falls by Gerald Lund

-By Your Side by Kasie West

-The Vicar's Daughter by Josi Kilpack

March  

-The Orphan Keeper by Camron Wright (audiobook) (ended up being a book club pick in November)

-The Lady of the Lakes: The True Love Story of Sir Walter Scott by Josi Kilpack

-On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

-The Fall of Lord Drayson by Rachael Anderson

-When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (audiobook) (for book club)

-A Place for Miss Snow by Jennifer Moore

*-Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller  (I read books for many different reasons and this one was just plain for entertainment.  Harrison comes by his love of pirates rightly- I've always found pirate stories pretty fascinating!  This was a fun swashbuckling story!)

April 

-Green Rider by Kristen Britain (audiobook)

-The Quincy Miracle edited by Susan Easton Black

-A Fine Gentleman by Sarah M Eden (audiobook)

-To Win a Lady's Heart by Sian Ann Bessey (audiobook)

-The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines (audiobook) (for book club)

May  

-Maud by Melanie J Fishbane

-Willowkeep by Julie Daines (audiobook)

-The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon (audiobook)

-Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (reread) (audiobook)

-Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell by John W Rockwell and Jerry Borrowman (read with Samuel)

-The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye (audiobook)

-By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

June   

-Star Wars: Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston (audiobook listened to with Samuel)

-Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (audiobook)

-The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

-Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (audiobook)

-In the Hands of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce (audiobook)

-A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman (audiobook)

July   

-Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

-The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce (audiobook)

-Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

*-These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)  (It was really fun to finish this series this year and this book just seemed like the culmination of the story.  Almanzo is a great character (and real life person) and I loved seeing his story and Laura's finally join together.)

-The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder  (audiobook)

-Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)

*-Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (audiobook)  (This book tells the story of a World War II maritime tragedy I had never heard of and although it is a heart breaking story, the author does a great job of not making it overly gruesome and finding meaning and hope throughout the experience.  I liked the different point of views the story was told in and how they converged)

-Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce (audiobook)

-The Princess Bride by William Goldman

August  

-Lucky in Love by Kasie West

-Camino Island by John Grisham (audiobook) (read a good portion of it and then skimmed the rest since I didn't care for it)

-Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (audiobook)

September  

-Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton (audiobook)

-Secret of the India Orchid by Nancy Campbell Allen

-The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (reread) (for book club)

-Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (audiobook)

-21 Days Closer to Christ by Emily Belle Freeman (reread)

*-All That Makes Life Bright: The Life and Love of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Josi Kilpack (audiobook) (The marriage therapist student in me was really interested in this story and seeing how this historical figure had to work through differences and trials to make her marriage work and get to the place where she could write such a famous and influential book.)

October  

-Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo (audiobook)

-The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (reread) (audiobook)

-The Proud Shall Stumble by Gerald Lund

November  

-Where the Light Falls by Allison Pataki and Owen Pataki (audiobook)

-Caraval by Stephanie Garber (audiobook)

-The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

-From Cairo, With Love by Nancy Campbell Allen

*-Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan (audiobook) (It was very interesting to read a World War II book from the perspective of Italy and this one was very closely based on a true story.  It was a very emotional story and at times disturbing, but there were a lot of inspiring aspects as well.)

December  

-The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans (reread for book club)

-Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audiobook)

-Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (listened to most of the audiobook with Samuel earlier in the year- which was a reread for him- and then finished it on my own at the end of the year)

-Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)

-A Country Christmas anthology by Josi Kilpack, Carla Kelly, and Jennifer Moore

-The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean

-The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (ended up skimming some of it because the old language style was hard to read)

-Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gordon B Hinckley

-The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (audiobook)

*-Wonder by R.J. Palacio (I've been meaning to read this one forever and finally did.  A powerful and emotional story that made me think about what depth of kindness I show to other people and how I want my kids to treat others.  Definitely one I'll reread with my kids when they're old enough.)

-Summer Holiday: Timeless Victorian Anthology by Nancy Campbell Allen, Sarah Eden, and Annette Lyon

-Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill (audiobook)

Chapter Books Read With Harrison:

I marked the ones that Harrison said were his favorites with (*H) and the ones that were my favorites with (*S).

-Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

-Sidekicks by Dan Santat (a graphic novel)

-Scurvy Dogs by Kevin Frank

-The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (reread for me, first time for Harrison)  

-Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osbourne

(*H)-The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osbourne

(*H)-Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osbourne

(*H) (*S)-Hey Jack!  The Crazy Cousins by Sally Rippin (this is the first of a series of short chapter books and we went through the rest of the 12 book series throughout the year.  They are shorter than the rest of the chapter books so I didn't include all of them on the list)

(*H)(*S)-Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osbourne

-Night of the Ninjas by Mary Pope Osbourne

-Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (reread for me, first time for Harrison)

-Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osbourne

(*S)-The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Williams

(*H)(*S)-The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate by Shannon Hale

-All Paws on Deck by Jessica Young

(*S)-The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Lost Stone by Jordan Quinn

(*H)-Kung Pow Chicken: Let's Get Cracking! by Cindi Marko

-The Scarlet Dragon by Jordan Quinn

(*H)-Kung Pow Chicken: Bok! Bok! Boom! by Cindi Marko

(*H)-Kung Pow Chicken: The Birdy Snatchers by Cindi Marko

(*H)-Kung Pow Chicken: Heroes on the Side by Cindi Marko

-Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package by Kate DiCamillo

-Stinky Spike the Pirate Dog by Peter Meisel

-The Adventures of Caveboy by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

-Wallace and Grace Take the Case by Heather Alexander

(*H)-Caveboy is Bored! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

-Wallace and Grace and the Cupcake Caper by Heather Alexander

Books Samuel Read in 2017:

-Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell by John W Rockwell and Jerry Borrowman (read together)

-Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story by Patrick O'Donnell

-Star Wars: Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston (audiobook listened to together)

-Practicing Excellence: A Physican's Manual to Exceptional Health Care by Stephen C Beeson

-The Quincy Miracle edited by Susan Easton Black

-Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (reread) (listened to audiobook together)

Books Read in 2016

Another year has passed and my list of books I have read has increased, but my list of books I want to read hasn't got any shorter!

My most read genre this year was historical fiction.

I've read countless picture books to Harrison and Lydia throughout the year and didn't keep track of those, but I did include chapter books I read with Harrison.  I think that will be a fun thing to keep track of through the years as well.

As always, I didn't necessarily like or would recommend all the books on the list, but these are all the books I finished this year.

I put an asterisk by my favorite books of the year (that were read for the first time this year).

Books Read in 2016

January

*1.  Faith of Our Fathers:  To Make Men Free by N.C. Allen

2.  The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (audiobook)

3.  Faith of Our Fathers: Through the Perilous Fight by N.C. Allen

4.  Christy by Catherine Marshall (audiobook)

February

5.  See How They Run by Ally Carter (audiobook)

6.  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (audiobook)

7.  Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (reread) (audiobook) (for book club)

8.  Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore

March

9.  Faith of Our Fathers: One Nation Under God by N.C. Allen

*10.  Winter by Marissa Meyer (audiobook)

11.  The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael Tougias  (audiobook)

12.  My Fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen

13.  Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (audiobook)

14.  Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter by Emily Belle Freeman

April

15.  Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life by Jason Hanson  (for book club)

16.  Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden (audiobook)

17.  Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett (audiobook)

18.  Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys M. Hunt

19.  Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (just read the stories in the compilation I was most interested in) (audiobook)

20.  Deliberate Motherhood by The Power of Moms (for book club)

May

21.  The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (audiobook)

22.  Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran (audiobook)

June

23.  The BFG by Roald Dahl (audiobook)

*24.  Kingdom and the Crown: Come Unto Me by Gerald Lund

July

25.  The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald (audiobook)

26.  The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (audiobook)

27.  The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)

August

28.  Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton by Josi Kilpack

29.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (reread who knows how many times) (audiobook) (for book club)

30.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, Jack Thorne, and J.K. Rowling

31.  The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (audiobook)

32.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

September

33.  Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

34.  A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (audiobook)

35.  How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen (audiobook) (for book club)

36.  The Three Little Pigs Go Camping by Tony Bradman (read with Harrison)

37.  1776 by David McCullough (audiobook)

38.  Meet Kaya by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

39.  Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (audiobook with Harrison)

40.  Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo (audiobook with Harrison)

October

41.  Kaya's Escape by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

42.  Kaya's Hero by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

43.  Mercy Watson Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo (audiobook with Harrison)

44.  Mercy Watson Fights Crime by  Kate DiCamillo (audiobook with Harrison)

45.  Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig by Kate DiCamillo (read with Harrison)

46.  Kaya and Lone Dog by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

47.  Kaya Shows the Way by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

48.  Changes for Kaya by Janet Beeler Shaw (audiobook)

49.  Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

50.  Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo (read with Harrison)

51.  Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo (read with Harrison)

52.  Where are You Going Baby Lincoln? by Kate DiCamillo (read with Harrison)

53.  The Fairest Poison by Lauren Skidmore

54.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (reread) (audiobook) (for book club)

55.  The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale (read with Harrison)

56.  The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale (read with Harrison)

57.  Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo (read with Harrison)

November

58.  P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

59.  The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale (read with Harrison)

60.  The Pirate Pig by Cornelia Funke (read with Harrison)

*61.  Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)

62.  Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale (read with Harrison)

63.  Lady Helen Finds Her Song by Jennifer Moore

64.  Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies

December

*65.  The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (audiobook)

66.  The Grift of the Magi by Ally Carter

67.  The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere  (audiobook)

68.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (reread from childhood)  (audiobook)

69.  A Christmas Dream by Louisa May Alcott (audiobook)

70.  Favorite Stories of Christmas Past by Tantor Media (audiobook)

71.  More Favorite Stories of Christmas by Tantor Media (audiobook)

72.  The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

*73.  The Sheriffs of Savage Wells by Sarah M. Eden

74.  The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

75.  The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation by Shannon Hale (read with Harrison)

76.  Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

77.  The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

78.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter

Samuel:

He read parts of a couple different  books and listened to "The Lonesome Gods" and several other books by  Louis L'Amour as audiobooks.

Books Read in 2015

It’s hard to believe another year has already passed!  It’s crazy to look back at what I’ve read this year and see how many different books I’ve read and also how many there are that I have been wanting to read but still haven’t got to yet!  I’ll never get to all the books I want to read since there are so many already released books I want to read and then there are constantly new books being published that I want to read as well!

Once again audiobooks were a huge help in allowing me to read so many books since I listen to audiobooks while I clean, cook, do laundry, etc.

I read a variety of genres this year but my most read genre was definitely historical fiction.

As always, I do not necessarily recommend all the books on this list.  It’s my list of all the books I read and while I really enjoyed most of them, there were some that I didn’t.

My favorite books that I read for the first time this year are marked with a star.

 

Books Read in 2015:

January:

1.  Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson (audiobook)

2.  Lady Emma's Campaign by Jennifer Moore

3.  The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern

4.  The Other Side of Heaven by John H. Groberg (audiobook)

5.  A Generation Rising by Gerald N. Lund

6.  Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (audiobook) (for book club)

7.  Paige by Annette Lyon

February

8.  The Undaunted: The Miracle of the Hole in the Rock Pioneers by Gerald N. Lund (audiobook) (reread/finished as I had read most of it several years ago)

9.  The Writing on the Wall by Dean Hughes

10.  When Books Went to War: the Stories that Helped us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning (audiobook)

11.  The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

12.  All Fall Down by Ally Carter

13.  Wedding Cake by Josi Kilpack

14.  Atlantia by Ally Condie (audiobook)

March

*15.  Troubled Waters by Dean Hughes

16.  George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade (audiobook)

17.  Esther the Queen by H.B. Moore (audiobook)

18.  Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (for book club)

19.  Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

20.  What is Lost by Lauren Skidmore

21.  Little Men by Lousia May Alcott (audiobook)

April

*22.  A Heart Revealed by Josi Kilpack

23.  The Survivor's Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood (audiobook) (for book club)

24.  How Many Roads? by Dean Hughes

25.  Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden

May

26.  Take Me Home by Dean Hughes

*27.  So Much of Life Ahead by Dean Hughes

28.  Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen (audiobook)

29.  An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (audiobook)

30.  Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince by Jennifer Moore

June

31.  Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (audiobook)

32.  The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

33.  Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (audiobook)

34.  Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ by Lew Wallace (audiobook)

July

35.  Only the Brave: the Continuing Saga of the San Juan Pioneers by Gerald N. Lund

36.  Promises to Keep: Diane's Story by Dean Hughes

August

37.  Life, Animated by Ron Suskind (audiobook)

38.  I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (audiobook)

39.  Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer Holm (audiobook) (reread)

40.  The Entitlement Trap by Richard and Linda Eyre (audiobook) (for book club)

41.  Matilda by Roald Dahl (audiobook)

*42.  A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (audiobook) (I ended up hosting this book for book club in October)

43.  The Book of Mormon (reread)

September

44.  Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abrahamson (audiobook)

45.  Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (audiobook)

46.  The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (audiobook)

47.  The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle

48.  The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis (audiobook) (reread) (for book club)

49.  The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle (audiobook)

50.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnnett (audiobook)

October

51.  Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (audiobook)

52.  Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (audiobook)

53.  Timepiece by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

54.  The Letter by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

*55.  Fishers of Men by Gerald N. Lund

56.  The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright (audiobook)

57.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

*58.  Lord Fenton's Folly by Josi Kilpack

November

59.  Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)

60.  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (audiobook)

61.  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (audiobook)

62.  Faith of Our Fathers: A House Divided by N.C. Allen

63.  My True Love Gave to Me: 12 Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins (audiobook) (just listened to the ones I was most interested in)

December

64.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson

65.  Autumn Masquerade anthology by Josi Kilpack, Donna Hatch, and Nancy Campbell Allen

66.  The Christmas Wish by Richard Siddoway

67.  When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (audiobook)

68.  The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

69.  Home and Away: a World War II Christmas Story by Dean Hughes

70.  The Christmas Quest by Richard Siddoway

71.  Firefight by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)

*72.  The New Testament: King James Version (first time reading it cover to cover)

 

I usually include Samuel's list of books read in the year as well.  He has been in the middle of about 6 different books, but hasn't finished any this year.  He has been doing lots of reading for med school though!

 

 

Books Read in 2014

2014 was another great year of books!  Audiobooks continued to be very helpful this year in allowing me to read more books, since I don’t have as much time to sit down and read a book with a little boy running around.  I continue to listen to audiobooks while I am cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and exercising. 

I am still trying to be a lifelong learner by reading more non-fiction and classics than I used to now that I am out of college.  I had a goal of reading a total of 20 non-fiction/classic books this year and actually far surpassed that by reading 24 non-fiction books and 7 classics.  Well written non-fiction has actually become one of my favorite genres now.  It was my most read genre of the year.  Historical fiction was second highest with 15 books.  March, August, and November tied for being the month I read the most books in with 9 books in each of those months.  

In addition to 79 books I read this year, I read 4 full cookbooks [Miss Kay’s Duck Commander Kitchen (in Jan), Picky Palate (in Feb), The Pioneer Woman Cooks: a Year of Holidays (in Feb), and Six Sisters Stuff (in April)] and well over a 1,000 picture books.  It would be really hard to count all the picture books I read to Harrison through the year, but there were about 20 library books a week plus all the books at home that we read many many times.  I have put a star by my favorite books that I read for the first time this year.  There were many more that I really enjoyed, but these were my top choices of the year.  Samuel’s list of the books read throughout the year is at the end of my list.  I hope you all read some great books this year as well!

 Books Read in 2014:

January:

1.  Double Crossed by Ally Carter

2.  The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

*3.  Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (audiobook)

4.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

5.  The Orchard by Krista Lynne Jensen

6.  The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (audiobook)

7.  Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

*8.  Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (audiobook)

February:

*9.  Longing for Home by Sarah Eden

10.  My Story by Elizabeth Smart (audiobook)

11.  Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely  (audiobook)

12.  The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards (for book club)

13.  The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

14.  The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom (audiobook)

March:

*15.  My Name Used to be Muhammad: the True Story of a Muslim Who Became a Christian by Tito Momen

*16.  Hope Springs by Sarah Eden

17.  Letters in a Jade Dragon Box by Gale Sears (audiobook)

18.  Emma: a Latter Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

*19.  David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)

20.  The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma (reread) (hosted this book for book club)

21.  It’s Just My Nature!  A Guide to Knowing and Living Your True Nature by Carol Tuttle (for book club)

22.  I am Malala: the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai (audiobook) (also ended up being a book club choice a couple months later)

April:

23.  The Shadow Throne by Jennifer Nielsen

24.  These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine by Nancy E Turner (audiobook)

25.  The Women of Duck Commander: Surprising Insights from the Women behind the Beards about What Makes This Family Work by the Robertson Women

26.  Split Second by Kasie West

27.  Glimmer of Hope by Sarah Eden

28.  Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)

29.  The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

May:

30.  Cress by Marissa Meyer (audiobook)

31.  The Silence of God by Gale Sears

32.  Beauty by Robin McKinley (audiobook)

33.  What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore (read an earlier draft before it was published, this was my first time reading the finished book)

June:

34.  Running for my Life: One Lost Boy’s Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games by Lopez Lomong

35.  A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

36.  Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (reread from childhood)

37.  The Alloy of the Law by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)

July:

38.  Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

39.  Paperboy by Vince Vawter (audiobook)

40.  Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (audiobook)

41.  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (reread)

42.  Edward Partridge by Hartt Wixom

August:

43.  Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick (audiobook)

44.  Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (reread)

45.  How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (audiobook)

*46.  Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

47.  Four: a Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth (audiobook)

48.  Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans (audiobook)

49.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (for book club)

*50.  On the Fence by Kasie West

51.  Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wildler (audiobook)

September

52.  Olivia by Julie Wright (audiobook)

53.  Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (audiobook)

54.  Surviving Hitler: the Unlikely True Story of a SS Soldier and a Jewish Woman by O. Hakan Palm

55.  Baked Alaska by Josi Kilpack

*56.  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (audiobook)

57.  Rocky Road by Josi Kilpack

58.  Rumors of War by Dean Hughes (audiobook)

59.  Since You Went Away (audiobook)

October

*60.  Gifted Hands by Ben Carson

61.  Fortune Cookie by Josi Kilpack

62.  Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (audiobook)

63.  The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

64.  The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (audiobook)

November

65.  The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit

66.  The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (audiobook)

67.  Far From Home by Dean Hughes

68.  Five Languages of Apology by Gary Chapman (I hosted this book for book club)

69.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith

70.  When We Meet Again by Dean Hughes

71.  For Elise by Sarah Eden

72.  The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (audiobook)

*73.  As Long As I Have You by Dean Hughes (I loved the whole Children of the Promise series, but this was my favorite book in the series)

December

74.  The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J Stanley (audiobook)

75.  The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton M Christensen

76.  Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore

77.  Food: a Love Story by Jim Gaffigan (audiobook)

78.  A Christ Centered Christmas: Seven Traditions that lead us Closer to the Savior by Emily Freeman

79.  Standing By and Making Do: Women of War Time Los Alamos by Jane S. Wilson and Charlotte Serber

Samuel’s List:

-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

- Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

-Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell by John W. Rockwell and Jerry Borrowman

Read partway through and he is still currently reading:

-Agent Bishop: True Stories from a FBI Agent Moonlighting as a Bishop by Mike McPheters

-The Lincoln Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard

Books Read in 2013

Another year has passed already!  This year was one of the biggest in my life yet with a ton of big changes.  It also happened to be my year with the most books read- 100 exactly!  The much higher number is due largely to the fact that I started listening to audiobooks regularly.  I got through a ton of audiobooks while working at the library for the first half of the year, because I was allowed to listen to them while I worked.  I also started listening to audiobooks whenever I was cooking, cleaning, or other similar things.  So throughout this year I usually always had one audiobook and one physical book that I was reading at any given time, and I usually got through audiobooks much faster since I listened to them while doing other things. 

Harrison was born at the end of August and so I thought that might slow down my reading quite a bit.  It did slow it down some, but I still find ways to fit it in- mostly by reading while I am feeding him or reading to him from whatever book I am reading at the time.  I also still listen to audiobooks while I am doing housework while he is sleeping.

I made a goal at the end of last year to read at least one classic or non-fiction book per month (for a total of 12), because I want to be a "life-long learner" and keep reading to learn things and challenge myself, in addition to reading for fun, now that I am out of school and won't be reading textbooks.  I ended up far surpassing that goal (mostly because of audiobooks, which is a good way for me to do many of those books).  I read 11 classics and 14 non-fiction books this year.  I have many more classics and non-fiction books on my list to read and I am going to keep up that goal for future years.

I kept track of which genres I was reading this year as well.  My most read genre was fantasy (15), with non-fiction (14) coming in as a close second place.  The other most read genres were dystopian (12), classics (11), and historical fiction (10).  I read many other genres as well including: suspense, fairy-tale retellings, spy novels, realistic fiction, culinary mystery, romance, science fiction, and inspirational.

As always, the fact that these books were on my list of being read this year does not necessarily mean I recommend them.  I didn't like every book that I read this year, and I can't vouch for all of them.  If you want to find out more about what I thought of certain books on the list you can ask me and I would be happy to share :).

*= Favorite books I read for the first time this year (I didn't star the favorites that I reread)

Janurary:
1.  What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro
2.  The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachel Renee Anderson
3.  Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
4.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (audiobook)
5.  Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
6.  The Host by Stephanie Meyer (reread) (audiobook)

February:
7.  The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (audiobook)
8.  Delirium by Lauren Oliver (reread) (audiobook)
9.  Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (reread) (audiobook)
10.  I Don't Have to Make Everything All Better by Gary and Joy Lundberg
11.  Legend by Marie Lu (reread) (audiobook)
12.  The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (audiobook)
13.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (audiobook)
14.  Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
15.  Princess Acadamy by Shannon Hale (reread) (audiobook)
16.  I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter (reread) (audiobook)
17.  Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter (audiobook)
*18.  Prodigy by Marie Lu
19.  Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter (audiobook)

March
*20.  The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (audiobook)
*21.  Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
22.  Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (reread- don't know how many times it's been I've reread it...many!) (audiobook)
23.  Requiem by Lauren Oliver
24.  Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (audiobook)
25.  Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven by Lauren Oliver
26.  Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter (audiobook)
27.  Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter (audiobook)
28.  Heist Society by Ally Carter (audiobook)
29.  Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter (audiobook)
*30.  The Rent Collector by  Camron Wright
31.  Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (audiobook) 
32.  Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (audiobook)

April
33.  The Runaway Jury by John Grisham (audiobook)
34.  Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (audiobook)
35.  The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom
36.  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (audiobook)
37.  Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (reread for the third time) (read first half with Samuel and listened to audiobook for second half)
*38.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
39.  Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen by Richard Paul Evans
40.  The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen
41.  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (reread) (audiobook)

May
42.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (audiobook)
43.  Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter
44.  Crown of Embers by Rae Carson (audiobook)
45.  Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (audiobook)
46.  Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
47.  A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine (audiobook)
48.  Mind Games by Kiersten White
49.  Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)
50.  Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans

June
*51.  Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)
52.  The Elite by Kiera Cass 
53. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (audiobook)
54.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (audiobook)
55.  Cross My Heart by Julie Wright (audiobook)
*56.  Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
57.  Pumpkin Roll by Josi Kilpack
58.  For One More Day by Mitch Albom (audiobook)

July
59.  Banana Split by Josi Kilpack
60.  Tres Leches Cupcakes by Josi Kilpack
61.  The Witch of Balckbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
62.  The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell (audiobook)
*63.  Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
64.  The Guardian by Gerald Lund (audiobook)

August
65.  The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
*66.  Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy (read throughout the year)
67.  The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (audiobook)
68.  Fahrenheit 451 (audiobook)
69.  Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (audiobook)
70.  Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)
71.  The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell
*72.  Pivot Point by Kasie West
73.  On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep By Gary Ezzo

September
*74.  The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)
75.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (audiobook)
76.  The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
*77.  Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson
78.  Chance Encounter by Jennie Hansen
79.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

October
80.  Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
81.  United We Spy by Ally Carter
82.  The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)
83.  Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
84.  Insurgent by Veronica Roth (reread) (audiobook)
*85.  Allegiant by Veronica Roth

November
86.  North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (audiobook)
87.  Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool (audiobook)
88.  Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
89.  The Romney Family Table: Sharing Home-Cooked Recipes and Favorite Traditions by Ann Romney
90.  Twitterpated by Melanie Jacobson
91.  A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (audiobook)
92.  Do Over by Shannon Guymon
93.  The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty by Willie and Korie Robertson (audiobook)

December
94.  The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books we Shared by Alice Ozma (audiobook)
95.  The 13th Day of Christmas by Jason F. Wright
96.  The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (audiobook)
97.  Champion by Marie Lu
*98.  Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)
99.  Reality Check by Karen Tuft
100.  Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (read throughout the year)


The last couple years I have started including Samuel's list of books read as well, so here it is:

Samuel's Books Read in 2013:
1.  Calvin and Hobbes: Something Under the Bed is Drooling by Bill Watterson
2.  End of Empire: Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome by Christopher Kelley (He had to choose a book to read for a history class and then do a project on it and this is the one he chose)
3.  Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
4.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
5.  Calvin and Hobbes: Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons by Bill Watterson
6.  The Spies Who Never Were by Hervie Haufler (started until Med School got in the way- will finish later)
7.  Saints at War: Experiences of Latter-Day Saints in World War II by Robert C. Freeman (started)