I had so much fun recording the books I read (and refused to finish) in 2010 and 2009 that I thought I'd keep at it. I think that last year's count was somewhere around 72 books. Looking forward to the coming year of reading.
January
Here Come the Brides - Bernard Glemser (I remembered reading this one out of one of my grandmother's Readers' Digest Condensed Books volumes and loving it. It was much funnier that I recalled. I don't think I was able to pick up all the little digs at personalities that he throws in. I was chortling so much that my dh picked it up and read it after me. He thought it was hilarious too.)
The Hunger Games - Susan Collins (Another book that I read and handed straight to dh. It is really quite good and left me eager to find the sequels.)
A Carribean Mystery - Agatha Christie
The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie (I have enjoyed all the Christie that I've read, but this one was especially interesting. It was the first work published and introduces Poirot as a Belgian refugee during World War I.)
Catching Fire - Susan Collins
Mockingjay - Susan Collins (I enjoyed the rest of the Hunger Games series as much as the first, although the pacing in the end of the first book did throw me a bit. Looking forward to having the older kids read it so we can talk about it. It manages to pull off a distopian situation that still provides a right path for individuals to tread. In an evil situation, one can choose well.)
Village Centenary - Miss Read (More of a chronicle of life in a village than a story with plot. But the most spot on character sketches.)
Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things - Frandy O. Frost & Gail Steketee (I think even if hoarding doesn't directly effect your family, it is worth considering the emotional entanglements we have with our possessions.)
January total: 9
February
Betsy - Tacy - Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy - Tacy and Tib - Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill - Maud Hart Lovelace (I read these a few years ago, back when I was indulging in a lot of childrens' lit that I'd missed in my own childhood. Reading that three of the related books were going to be re-released reminded me of how much I'd enjoyed these. So I'm working through the books about Betsy and Tacy in order to better enjoy the new to me stories of their friends Winona and Emily. Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown has one of my favorite descriptions of a reader's feelings toward a library. Betsy and the Great World is a lovely description of Europe just before the darkness of World War One descends on the continent. And I was intrigued to learn that Heavens to Betsy was often not available in libraries because the topic of Betsy and her sister Julia changing churches was too controversial.)
Borders of Infinity - Lois McMaster Bujold (Two of the stories in this collection were in Young Miles, but the third was new to me. I think these are great stories for considering the meaning and responsibilities of leadership.)
Brothers in Arms - Lois McMaster Bujold
Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Bujold
Cryoburn - Lois McMaster Bujold (This series has been some good comfort reading during our unpacking and settling in time.)
Year's Best SF 15 - ed. David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer (Not the best of the best in my mind, but several were entertaining. Probably constrained by the short story requirement.)
Thrush Green - Miss Read
Methuselah's Children - Robert Heinlein
Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe - Todd Wilson (There were some good lessons in this book about the lies whispered in our ears about not measuring up to other homeschoolers. But I also think that he's too quick to dismiss possible shortcomings and failures as myth. It is possible to live in a way that offers our children a stone or a snake in place of the bread or fish that they are asking for and need. I'll try to write more on this one later.)
February total: 11
Year to date: 20
March
Neuromancer - William Gibson
March total: 1
Year to date: 21
April
Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
The Evolution of Calpernia Tate - Jacqueline Kelly (I was a little hesitant to read this book when it came out last year. I've learned to be cynical about young adult books that are being pushed as the latest great thing. And I'll confess that I feared the book would have a plot pitting a plucky girl held back by her superstitious and stupid family. But this was a charming read. Calpernia is best described as curious and wondering, not bad traits to want to encourage in young readers. I thought the family was depicted gently. Not everyone holds Calpernia's interests in high esteem, but I never got the sense that the parents were being made fun of. If her mom is putting a higher priority on sewing and cooking, it is because she sees that the reality of life is that Calpernia's future family will have to depend on these skills. I enjoyed the story and hope there will be more Callie Vee stories to come.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling
April total: 3
Year to date: 24
May
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner from Azkeban - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J. K. Rowling (I could say that I'm rereading these book to get ready for my writing class. And that was part of why I picked up the first one. But I have to confess that I also very much enjoy reading these books and love the special little touches she throws into the stories.)
Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly - Gail Carson Levine (This is a nice writing book suitable for adults or for children. Chapters include some good authorship encouragement as well as some nice writing exercises. I like that she is a sucessful author, who remembers what it is to struggle with getting words onto paper.)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling (My reading this prompted my older kids to reread it too. Now we're ready for the last movie.)
May Total: 7
Year to Date: 31
June
Shop Class as Soulcraft - Matthew B. Crawford (An interesting book about the emotional and mental satisfaction that comes from working with one's hands. The book is an expanded version of an article on the same topic. Definitely worth a look.
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor - Stephanie Barron (I'm fast coming to the conclusion that some of the best writing is contained within mysteries. They weren't much to my liking when I was young - except for Dick Francis. But a well crafted mystery very much satisfies now. This series has Jane Austin as a sometimes sleuth. I thought it was well done.)
Hannah's List - Debbie Macomber (I have enjoyed this author and even the series this was from. But this wasn't her best. I forced myself to finish it and then forgot to add it to the list when I updated it.)
Jane and the Wandering Eye - Stephanie Barron
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan (First book in the new series that follows the Percy Jackson series.)
The New Rules of College Admissions - ed by Stephen Kramer & Michael London
Acceptance - Dave Marcus (Exceptional book about the college admissions game.)
June Total: 7
Year to Date 38
July
The Homeschool Liberation League - Lucy Frank (Affectionate YA novel about school and homeschooling.)
A Presumption of Death - Dorothy Sayers
Murder Must Advertise - Dorothy Sayers
Animal Farm - George Orwell
The Attenbury Emeralds - Dorothy Sayers
The Tripods Attack - John McNichol (Steampunk YA fan fiction with H. G. Wells, G. K. Chesterton and Father Brown. Quite entertaining. Looking forward to the sequel.)
July Total: 6
Year to Date: 44
August
The Language of Science and Faith - Francis Collins (Really excellent book.)
Her Mother's Hope - Francine Rivers
Nine Tailors - Dorothy Sayers
August Total: 3
Year to Date: 47
September
Jane and the Stillroom Maid - Stephanie Barron
Jane and the Prisoner in the Wool House - Stephanie Barron
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" - Washington Irving
Fairacre Festival - Miss Read
Shadow of the Moon - M. M. Kaye
September Total: 5
Year to Date: 52
October
A Little Princess - Frances Burnett
Crazy U - Andrew Ferguson
