In lieu of thoughtful and actually helpful reviews, I’m simply going to list the books I read in 2011. (This is an almost complete list, but I’m sure I may have forgotten a title or two). It was a pretty light reading year. I’m just finding there are only so many hours in the day and if I want to keep healthy with regular exercise and ensure our home is one step ahead of a health hazard, reading books (at least the adult kind; I still read plenty of books aloud to the children) falls by the wayside.
I do hope to be a more ambitious reader in 2012. I already know of one vacation we have planned for the summer that should afford me some time to insert my nose into a good book or two or five. I’m working on creating my “Must-Read List” for the coming year so if you have any good reads, please share!
Fiction
Short story selections from Downhome: An Anthology of Southern Women Writers
The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Spiritual
A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul by Lisa Hendey
Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life by Julie Davis
How Big Is Your God?: The Freedom to Experience the Divine by Paul Coutinho, SJ
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life by Julie Davis
The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur: The Woman Whose Goodness Changed Her Husband from Atheist to Priest
Welcome Baby Jesus by Sarah Reinhard
Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope (review copy) by Amy Welborn
(I also had the honor of reading an early manuscript of Karen Edmisten’s upcoming book on miscarriage. It was one of those books that made me smile and weep – a real treasure!)
Parenting
She’s Gonna Blow!: Real Help for Moms Dealing with Anger by Julie Ann Barnhill
Homeschooling
Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola
A Little Way of Homeschooling by Suzie Andres
Memoir
Chapter Read-Alouds with the Girls
Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lace
Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
We just started Anne of Green Gables. I remembered adoring the book as a little girl, but I’d forgotten how charming Anne is. I am so enjoying reading this with Madeline.
*Madeline, as a new independent reader, loves the Meg Mackintosh mysteries
Rachel is in to any book that has to do with horses. A new board book we discovered this year that we find silly and heartwarming is I Love You Stinky Face
Life is short. Read fast.
***Please note: Affiliate links included. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Good choices!
Jess recently posted…365: Second Week of January
Lots of fun choices-especially the little girl books! I actually read all the Anne books this year and it was so interestinh to read them as an adult. Most of my reading this year has been free e-books on my iPod touch, lol. It’s a good thing I review books for the Catholic Company or I basically wouldn’t have read anything on paper! (Actually, my library list begs to differ, but that was mainly cookbooks and craft books)
Crunchy Con Mommy recently posted…My Experiment in Homemade Bread
I forgot to include all the new cookbooks I poured over. I’m a cookbook junkie. I read a lot of magazines, too!
Wow! Your list far exceeds mine though I didn’t really keep track of what the kids and I read together. Your book was on my list of books I read! I am now going through it with a girlfriend and we’re thinking about doing it as part of our Mom’s Bible study at our parish. Yeah! (you can see my whole list at this post: http://carpeveritatem.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/booking-it-2011-wrap-up-and-2012-challenge/)
Currently I am reading Suzie Andres book A Little Way of Homeschooling. I have one of my four kids that I homeschool part time (he is a 2nd grader and attends a Montessori school’s homeschool enrichment 2 days per week). He’s struggling greatly with reading due to some visual/auditory processing issues so being at home is better than in a traditional school setting. But even my desire to stick to curriculum is making him hate school. So I am trying to take the leap to unschooling to allow him more freedom and to hopefully re-kindle his love for education. It’s just very hard for me who is constantly freaking out that he’s not learning enough (as in we only school for 2-3 hours per day and I am stuck in the “school has to be all day” mindset). It’s my first year. I am trying to let go of my perfection. :)
Kimberlie recently posted…Simple Woman’s Daybook for January
Oh my goodness, my reading list consists of 2 books: The Help (loved) and Weightless (loved also!). Aren’t you flattered that you made up 50% of my reading list for 2011? Seriously, how can I have only read two books this year? I do read magazines and lots of blogs – does that count?
Remember, I had 10 weeks of bed rest. I read more than half the books then!
Also, it’s funny because I used to read 1-2 books a week in my BC (“before children” days), so I think that I’m not reading much. However, when I made my list, I definitely saw that I read more than I think.
I am so flattered you read Weightless along with The Help (loved that book as well and am waiting to receive the movie on Netflix).
God bless!
Oh, and blogs definitely do count!
…and I’m thinking of taking a speed reading course at the local community college this year!!
Good book ideas! How did you do that!!!
Blessings!
Ebeth recently posted…Kissing and Bikinis
I got a Kindle for Christmas and I love it! I’ve loaded a whole bunch of free books on there and have read at least two fully and have a half dozen partly read. Now the problem is I have too many choices!
As for reading to the kids, I still can’t do very long books yet because Anthony just doesn’t tolerate it and he only naps maybe for a hour. However, since we live in the country and drive around for homeschooling activities, etc, we listen to a lot of books on tape. That makes me feel less guilty. :) Right now we’ve started the Chronicles of Narnia. So fun to share with the kids!
Janet recently posted…Christmas Eve Again
We love audio books, too, Janet. We just finished The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe on CD, in fact.