I can hardly believe it either! 44 books in one year, and over 10,000 pages, that's crazy. It used to be I could barely read one book in a year. Crank was too long and my longest. I did mention it yesterday. The shortest book, Civil War Heroes was actually a coloring book. On one page they would describe the hero and on the opposite you could color the hero. I am not the biggest history fan, so a short US History book was a wise choice. I did enjoy The Light Between Oceans. Great story line and I could feel like I was on an abandoned island while reading this tale about a lighthouse keeper who gets himself and his family in a bit of a drama by not being 100% honest. I can see how it is the most popular on my list. I also loved reading my friend, Morgan's, book. I am the only person I know on Goodreads who has read it. It reminded me that perfection isn't possible, but we can strive to become more perfect through the grace of Christ.
Below are the pictures of all the books I have read. The ones without pictures are:
The Set Up Man by Nick Taylor
Wisconsin: The Story of the Badger State by Norman K. Risjord
Rocks and Minerals by DK Publishing
Thunder Mountain by Zane Grey
Here are my Top Five Books Read in 2019:
1. Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella- The way Kinsella packed in so many baseball stats and history stories just kept me wanting to read on. I also love the whole idea of building a field in a cornfield. Did you know MLB is actually doing it this next season? Feel free to buy me a ticket for my birthday.
2. A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa- This book was both eye opening and heart breaking. I had read another book about N. Korea's propaganda and was intrigued to know more about a country that keeps its people under-educated and cut off from the rest of the world. This is a tale of a man who gets trapped in North Korea through the choices of his father who is blinded by the promises of a better life back in his homeland and moves back from China. The author struggles to feed his family and then eventually decides that getting to China is a better choice than remaining in North Korea. His journey takes him miles through the wilderness and then through the Yalu River. I will not give away the ending, but really it is a heart breaking but wonderful read.
3. Big Dead Dawg by Victoria Houston- Houston novels take place near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. My parents lived there for about eight years and my summers spent there were rich in fishing memories and made me love the area. While reading these wonderfully written mysteries, I am taken back to that land and even to the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin(the three main characters are avid fishermen.). What a wonderful escape and mini-vacation to my homeland.
4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I am a fan of anything that intertwines the story of September 11th and journeys to healing and this novel doesn't disappoint. A young boy loses his father but solves a mystery that he finds in his father's closet that takes him on a journey through the city and toward healing.
5. All I Really Needed to Know I learned in Kindergarden by Robert Fulghum-This collection of mini memoir stories had me laughing and crying. My heart was warmed by the life lessons Fulghum shares and I was often laughing out loud by his great humor. I am excited to read It Was on Fire When I lay Down on It, which I got for free from our school's library purging.
And Here are My Bottom Five Reads from 2019:
1. It's How You Play the Game by Brian Kilmeade- I thought I would love a book filled with sport stories from all sorts of well known people, both athletes and famous people, but I think it was just a bit too much and a little too long. It felt like it took me the longest to get through.
2. The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt- I did love all of the patriotism here, but again history isn't always my favorite thing to read about. Cool story and it actually was an illustrated book so it had amazing pictures. But you really shouldn't read things for the pictures.
3. Think Like a Freak: by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner- I actually loved Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics by the same authors, but this one was a dud. It could be because they just mainly answered questions from their readers and, of course, the third in a trilogy is often sub-par.
4. I Never Had It Made by Jackie Robinson- I love his story and April 15th, Jackie Robinson Day in baseball, where every professional player wears #42, makes me cry. This book though toward the end becomes too much of a political statement and a little too whiny. I think the editors could have helped by chopping the last few chapters.
5. The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson. Sanderson is a local hero here in Utah. He is a good writer but I just am not the biggest sci-fi fan. It is rare that this type of book gets me. I do like the ideas and storyline, but maybe I just re-read it one too many times.
So, what books did you love last year? Which ones did you hate? Feel free to comment with your favs and not so favs either here or on social media.
I bet you want to know what I am currently reading too:
1. Kind is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure
2. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
What you reading? What is your next book?
I won't stop reading, I just am not pushing for 40 books this year!
