2018 Books

My reading goal for 2018 was to track the books I read.  I didn't track any that I read or listened to with the kids, but I did track YA books that I read separately from them as I like to at least read a book or two of an author I'm not familiar with that my kids are reading on their own.  It is hard to keep up with them as they like to read a lot also.

I not sure if I got them all, but from what I recorded I read (mostly listened to) 103 books. My favorites are Historical Fiction and Christian Fiction.  I like uplifting happy and sometimes fluffy :) books to listen to as I do housework or exercise. Here are a few that stood out this year.

Historical Fiction

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
I read this book before going on a trip to Virginia and to Monticello.  I loved that the authors took so much time to study the history that they were able to portray a likely accurate account of what happened. They obviously took some liberties in dramatizing, but I found it very engaging. I listened to the book and loved the audio version. I often paused to look up information and enjoyed this way of learning more about our nations founding fathers and those that influenced them.

Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor
I loved this exchange of letters. I listened to the book and the audio version was fabulous with different actors for each character that really brought them to life and helped keep everything straight with who was writing to who. I loved the personalities and humor and how the author was able to bring in so much backstory through different exchanges.

Young Adult/Middle Grade

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
I really enjoyed this book. I've seen it recommended and have gotten it a couple times for kids to read. I finally decided to listen to it and am glad I did. It is based on a sad premiss, but the characters are so interesting and it is filled with hope and growth. I like many of these same type of books that describe challenges that people go through. (Out of My Mind, Fish in a Tree, Wonder…)

Chickens in the Headlights by Matthew Buckley
My kids had this book recommended to them by cousins.  Ethan got it for Christmas (and its sequel) and both Brielle and Ethan have read them both multiple times.  I thought they were both pretty funny and a great read for middle grade boys especially.  Ethan was excited when he was home sick a couple weeks ago and we turned on a movie to find it was based on this book.

Memoir

My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary
I really liked her perspective of this time in history-depression era.  I could imagine my grandparents living a very similar life.  My kids love all of her books especially the Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins series so we’ve listened to many of them in the car as we drive.  It was fun to hear about the author’s experiences and how she came to publish her first book.  I read a few other children's author memoirs, but didn't love the others.

Religious Non-Fiction

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ by multiple authors
This is probably the most read book in my life as I typically don't re-read anything.  I've never thought to track how many times I've read this, but when I finish I go back and start again and it seems like a new book every time.  I did track this last time as I re-started when President Nelson challenged us in the Women's session of General Conference this past October to read it again before the end of the year. This time as I read it I focused on the Savior and His love and mercy stood out to me.

Religious Fiction

In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar
A good fictionalized version of the Bible story of Ruth that helped me better understand and think about what life would be like in that time period.  I read a few books by the same author and like them all.  We were studying the Old Testament in church, so as I read some of these fictionalized versions it helped solidify names of people and places in my head and make them more real.

Fiction

Daddy-Long Legs by Jean Webster
Apparently I like books that are letter exchange format because this was another one of that style.  I was impressed by how much personality could be shown in one person writing letters, and there were so many lines in the book I loved. “The world is full of happiness, and plenty to go round, if you are only willing to take the kind that comes your way.”