The last few years I have shared my “focused” reading list with you all. I love the suggestions you all have made via Facebook and commenting (some great suggestions!) and the accountability it has given me. There’s something about putting your goals out there for everyone to see that helps you kick into overdrive when it comes to meeting those goals. 

Each year I’ve tried to push myself a little bit more in what I am reading for non-fiction, and try to cover several different topics: parenting, personal growth, marriage, spiritual, and then there are those things that just catch my eye. 

I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. And texture – how it feels when I hold it in my hand makes a difference. I know it sounds odd. Call me crazy. :) 

While I only have fifteen books listed specifically for 2018, keep in mind this doesn’t list all of the fiction that somehow manages to make it to my list. My overall goal is to finish the 15 “growth” books and leave a little wiggle-room for new books that catch my eye over the course of the year.

One of the easiest ways I’ve found to track my reading over the last few years has been via the GoodReads app.   Following friends, seeing what others are reading, and being able to quickly rate a book I’m reading – love that (because my memory isn’t what it used to be!). Join me there and let’s read along together!

The Main Reading Pile

• You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life by Eleanor Roosevelt  √
• Reading People by Anne Bogel  √
• Love Unending: Rediscovering Your Marriage in the Midst of Motherhood by Becky Thompson √
• Comfort Detox: Finding Freedom from Habits that Bind You by Erin Straza √
• I Want God: Forever Changed by the Revival of Your Soul by Lisa Whittle √
• Fiercehearted: Live Fully, Love Bravely by Holly Gerth √
• Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not about You by Sharon Hodde Miller √
• Blessed Are the Misfits by Brant Hansen √
• Wait and See: Finding Peace in God’s Pauses and Plans by Wendy Pope √
• Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage by Gary Thomas √
• A Family Shaped by Grace by Gary Moreland √
• With All Due Respect: 40 Days to a More Fulfilling Relationship with Your Teens and Tweens by Nina Roesner and Debbie Hitchcock
• The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers by Larry Kreider
• Shine by Allison Allen
• Godspeed by Britt Merrick √

Fiction Books/Series to Look At

So, a lot of my books do tend to gravitate to historical fiction, but at times I pepper in teen lit (to stay on top of things before the kids read them) and lately more contemporary fiction. I personally have been a bit picky about much of the stuff I read, because for me too much language or other graphic stuff is a ‘trigger’ for me – so I tend to err on the side of books that aren’t raunchy or full of whatever.

Last year there were a few that I read (Lianne Moriarty, for starters) that were out of my comfort zone in some ways, but overall not bad (language mainly) – but generated conversation on topics in the books with friends for sure. All that said, I haven’t vetted all of the below series, so they may be complete busts! 

• Giver of Wonders by Roseanna White √
• A Name Unknown √  and A Song Unheard √ by Roseanna White
• The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel Rosenberg √
• Ruby Red series by Kerstin Gier (teen lit) √
• Seven Sisters series (as released) by Lucinda Riley √
• Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans (young adult)
• The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson √
• Death in St. Petersburg by Tasha Alexander √

“If There is Time Pile”

• The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• Rethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer
• Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman
• The Read Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie
• Parenting Teens with Love and Logic by Foster Kline

If you’re interested, here are my 10 favorite books I read last year (a mix of fiction and non-fiction). I’d love to hear what books you have on your shelf for the 2018 year and and recommendations for me to add to my list! 

Happy reading!

Overall my reading goal for 2017 was 70 books, specifically 12 non-fiction (since those are hardest for me) and then a whole lot of fiction (because that’s my favorite). 

All of you that read non-fiction without a problem – I’m jealous. 

For me, it’s been a work-in-progress over the years to step back from the “I can only read one chapter a day and need to thoughtfully contemplate all that I have read and take it to heart,” to reading through as I would any other book and marking areas that I would like to review in the future. I’ve also started a quotes book where I can note any things that really impacted me (and why). 

My book total for 2017 was 88: non-fiction – 21 and fiction – 67. You can see the full list of books I read here on Good Reads. 

Many of you have asked how I manage to read so much. My goal is one non-fiction a month and I try to set aside 20-30 minutes each afternoon to rest and read. At night, I literally fall asleep with a book (or Kindle) in hand. I’ve been like that since I was a little girl and don’t see it changing anytime soon. :) 

Top 10 Favorite Books from 2017

That said, there are ten books that I especially enjoyed reading this past year and would highly recommend. The list is a mix of both non-fiction, fun reading, and even a book I found very helpful in homeschooling. 

1. Come and Eat

Come and Eat was written by a lady I know (and love to death) in real life, Bri McCoy. While I know her from Compassion International, her personality and humor SHINE through in this book. 

Mixed in with her rich storytelling and humor, Bri challenges us to open our homes and tables to develop relationships with friends, strangers, and more. Rick and I will be leading a small group, and one of the things I really wanted to add in was a meal with one family each time we meet – because so much happens around the table (food is a fabulous neutral ground). 

2. Crazy Love

This book has been recommended to me multiple times over the years and it took me a bit to get moving on it. Crazy Love is both easy-to-read and one that will make you think/contemplate at the same time. There were quite a few spots of personal challenge for me (which I definitely need to happen). The book has been added to my shelf to read again in upcoming years – and pass along to my hubby as well. 

3. A Fall of Marigolds

Absolutely LOVED this book. The lives of two women, nearly 100 years apart, are paralleled through the journey of one colorful marigold-patterned scarf. Though living in different times, both have experienced deep losses and learn valuable lessons on life and love. 

Another thing I loved (because it is rare to find in current fiction) – no language or other content that is inappropriate, and still and amazing story was woven. Cannot recommend highly enough.

4. Finish

Finish is written in Acuff’s typical style – a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor and really something I needed to read in this moment because it focused a lot on how we set unrealistic/unattainable goals for ourselves and then don’t end up finishing things because our goals can’t be met, then drop the ball on that and more. For people who are perfectionists (hello, me), this ends up being a huge issue. Just read it! :) 

5. Growing Up Social

Some sobering information, but the book is also packed with practical tips and advice on maneuvering technology with kids, provides alternative ideas to get off technology, and also some great parenting helps overall. 

6. The Nightingale

This was probably my FAVORITE fiction read of the year. It focuses on the time period of WW2 and the lives of women left behind as their husbands go off to war and they are left to fend for their families in a country occupied by the Germans. There is some mature content, but sadly appropriate for the topic and storyline.  Overall it’s real, raw at times, and incredibly moving.

7. How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare

if you have ever doubted your ability to form a way to work on Shakespeare with your kids, you need to check out this book. Yes, you will have to read the actual book itself, but it has a plethora of information inside (I promise, it’s worth it). Technically, there are a few chapters you really want to read first and the remainder you could skim through unless you are studying those plays (definitely read the intro and chapters 1 – 6, 10, 14, 21, 31, and the epilogue), but I would recommend reading the entire book.

Ludwig believes the younger you start kids learning and memorizing the better. While memorizing seems daunting, he breaks down the process, making it manageable and even something young children can work on. In addition to memorization techniques, Ludwig talks about Shakespeare’s life and history, components of Shakespeare’s plays (imagery, humor, poetry/prose, metaphors), and so much more.

8. Never Unfriended

Even though it wasn’t on my 2017 reading list, this book was one of those that I definitely wanted to add the moment I saw it, and I loved it enough to order copies for a few friends who I knew could use the encouragement and words as much as I did. This mom thing is hard, homeschooling adds another layer to that, and protecting the friendships I have is very important to me – I want to BE the best friend I can and also foster healthy relationships along the way.   

9. The Auschwitz Escape

Joel Rosenberg is one of my favorite thriller/suspense authors to read. They can sometimes take a bit to get into, but once you are pulled in, they are hard to put down. The Auschwitz Escape tells the story of a man who assumes the identity of another man as he is sent to Auschwitz and then works toward escaping the camp. It is a very sobering story, but extremely well-written. 

10. The Magnolia Story

While this isn’t a super in-depth read, it’s a great peek into Chip and Joanna Gaines’ life and how they built their business and incorporate family-life into their busy days. I loved this quote from the book, because it’s something I’ve repeated to myself frequently over the last few years: 

“It all came down to a mind shift in which I asked myself, “What am I going for in life?” Was it to achieve somebody else’s idea of what a perfect home should look like? Or was it to live fully in the perfection of the home and family I have?”

Honorable Mention: Seven Sisters

I feel I should at least give an honorable mention to The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. However, I will give a bit of a warning: if you struggle mild sexual content, you will either need to skip (like I did) brief sections, or not read these books. The plot of the books kept me reading into the week hours of the morning with both books I’ve read so far. None of the added content is necessary for any plot issues in the book (which irritates me that it even needs to be included), but they have definitely been page turners. 

That’s it for 2017! What have you read this year that you would recommend for others to read? I’d love to hear from you and add a few more books to my 2018 pile! 

Hello, October!! This is about the point in the year when I go back to my original reading list to see how I’m keeping up with what my goals for the year were. Overall, I’m doing great – only one book remains on my “must read” list, but several have managed to sneak there way into my pile over the year as well. 

Each afternoon I have been trying to set aside at least 15 minutes to read. It doesn’t always happen, but it is a quiet time goal when the day has a bit of a lull (or needs one). With fall weather now turning cooler here, that encourages me to curl up with a cup of tea and enjoy a few moments of reading. 

Here’s the list I want to tackle during October. Yes, there are a few that have been carrying over from month to month, but I keep finding additional books I want to read that weren’t originally on my list! 

• Moral Revolution by Kris & Jason Vallotton (our youth group is working through the video series based on this book)
• Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber (been working on this for months)
• Loving Our Kids on Purpose (re-reading this one)
• An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter
• Awaken (devotional) by Priscilla Shirer
• Cherish by Gary Thomas
• random Kindle books (bedtime reading)

The Kids are Reading…

• Laurianna – a whole lot of her college texts :)
• McKenna – Walden and Count of Monte Cristo
• Zachary – Treasure Island
• Kaleb – Boxcar Children book
• Family read-aloud – Gregor the Overlander

What I Finished in September

Here’s a peek at what I finished in the month of September. The last few days I really tried to  buckle down and complete one of the non-fiction books. 

I have to say, both Finish and Come and Eat were two of my favorites so far this year. Finish is written in Acuff’s typical style – a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor and really something I needed to read in this moment because it focused a lot on how we set unrealistic/unattainable goals for ourselves and then don’t end up finishing things because our goals can’t be met, then drop the ball on that and more. For people who are perfectionists (hello, me), this ends up being a huge issue. Just read it! :) 

Another one to love – Come and Eat by Bri McKoy. Mixed in with her rich storytelling and humor, Bri challenges us to open our homes and tables to develop relationships with friends, strangers, and more. Rick and I have been in training to lead a small group, and one of the things I really wanted to add in was a meal with one family each time we meet – because so much happens around the table (food is a fabulous neutral ground). 

• Finish by Jon Acuff
• Come and Eat by Bri McKoy
• Grave Matter by Anne Lee Huber (love this series!)
• A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah Ladd
• The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
• a few other random Kindle books that I forgot to track…

That’s it for this month – what is on YOUR reading list??

August slipped by without my sharing a reading post, but several of the books have carried over the last few months. Time to sit and read hasn’t been something I have prioritized (at least when it comes to books with a little more meat between the pages). 

Now that we are getting back into a school routine, we’ll be adding our daily quiet time and read aloud time back into our daily loop, as well as audiobooks. The hard thing with summer for us is we have been in so many different directions with swim team, the pool, Laurianna working, and other things happening. I’d honestly rather be at home, so I’m looking forward to the fall and relaxing a bit more in that aspect. 

Here’s the list I want to tackle during September, especially since several have been in my pile for a bit (that may be bothering me a bit!!): 

• Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber (been working on this for months)
• Come and Eat by Bri McKoy
• All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth (I’ve read one chapter!!)
• Awaken (devotional) by Priscilla Shirer
• Cherish by Gary Thomas
• Grave Matter by Anne Lee Huber (love this series!)
• random Kindle books (bedtime reading)

The Kids are Reading…

• Laurianna – a whole lot of her college texts :)
• McKenna – Robinson Crusoe
• Zachary – Treasure Island
• Kaleb – Zoey and Sassafras series
• Family read-aloud – Ember Falls by S.D. Smith (with boys)

What I Finished in July and August

Reading has been a bit slow over the last bit – at least during the day, but here’s the 

• Crazy Love by Francis Chan
• The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller
• The Captivating Lady Charlotte by Carolyn Miller
• An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter
• Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
• a few other random Kindle books that I forgot to track…

That’s it for this month – what is on YOUR reading list??