Reading is a love of mine. And over the last several years I’ve really tried to push myself to reading more books for personal growth, instead of glossing over that section and going straight for the “reading candy.” You know – the stuff that you can’t get enough of, but it really doesn’t fill you up quite like a book that makes you stop and think a bit. :)

Last year I almost made it through my 2016 Reading List – and even read several of the books on my “if there is time” pile, but overall I read a total of 84 books. At the bottom of this post, I’m sharing a few of my favorites from the year. 

Incidentally, I’m LOVING the GoodReads app to track what books I want to read, have read, and love see ing what others are reading.  

The Main Books of 2017

The first book on the list is one I started, but didn’t have time to finish last year (a few fiction books may have gotten in the way of that), but otherwise, this is the main pile I would like to tackle.As I did last year, I’ve mentally sorted the books into stacks of why I want to read them (for personal growth, parenting, marriage, or just for fun). I am infamous for having several books going at a time, because sometimes topics don’t overlap, or I’m in the mood for something different. 

• Fervent by Priscilla Shirer √
• Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequest √
• 5 Love Language of Children by Gary Chapman √
• Crazy Love by Francis Chan √
• Scary Close by Donald Miller √
• Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk √
• Different by Sally Clarkson and Nathan Clarkson √
• Lost & Found by Kendra Fletcher √
• How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig √
• Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley √
• Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller √
• Abba’s Child by Brendan Manning √
• Clutterfree with Kids by Joshua Becker √
• When God Seems Far Away by Joy Jacobs √
• Devotional: Wife After God by Jennifer Smith √

“If There is Time” Pile

• The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
• Parenting Teens with Love and Logic by Foster Kline
• Growing up Social by Gary Chapman √
• Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber √

Fiction Books/Series to Look At

One thing I’d like to note in this area: while a lot of my books typically tend to be Christian historical fiction, I have been branching out a bit into teen lit (to read before my girls) and some other 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 (JoJo Moyes) 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
• Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen √
• Lumby series by Gail Fraser
• Without Warning by Joel Rosenberg √
• A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay √
• Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley √
• What She Knew by Gilly Macmillian √
• Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson √
• Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Fenollera
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman √
• The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

 Favorite Books from Last Year

There were several books that I absolutely loved (and highly recommend), one of which wasn’t on my list, but I picked up after seeing it in a few various feeds. Below are my four favorite non-fiction picks for the year. 

Hands down, Unoffendable by Brendan Manning was one book that impacted me the most this past year. It’s one I will keep on my shelf to read again, but there are so many nuggets of truth and it’s one book that will have you walking away with a different viewpoint on all those “rights” you feel you have. :) 

Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie – if you homeschool, just put this book in your Amazon cart right now. Trust me.

The Life-Giving Home by Sally Clarkson – I’m so thankful for the wisdom and insight from Sally Clarkson. Her books are always such an encouragement to me, and this one did not disappoint! 

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch – You all – please just read this. Parenting is tough work and encouragement along the journey is such a breath of fresh air, especially when it is tied in with balancing giving our kids what they need versus what they think they need.

That’s all for now! I’ll be sharing any additions and thoughts throughout the year every now and then. What books do you have in your stack for the year? 

The last few months have flown by in the preparation of getting ready for school, and while I typically always carry books with me, my non-fiction pile didn’t receive quite the dent I had really hoped to put in it. However, I did manage to fit a few books in (finding one that shockingly wasn’t on my 2016 reading list – that happens more often than I’d care to admit. I’m more of an ADD reader and would rather read what appeals to me in the moment). 

Because of my wandering, a few of the books were moved to my current month’s reading list, along with some reading needed to fit in for lit classes I am teaching this year – let’s just say I’m trying to make my kids realize they aren’t the only ones yawning through a book (grins). Here’s a peek at what is on my pile for the remainder of the month. 

• Making it Home by Emily Wierenga
• Counter Culture by David Platt
• Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall
• Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (reading for American lit class)
• A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna White (released this week)
• Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell via Kindle
• The Green Ember by S.D. Smith (read aloud for all via Kindle)

The Kids are Reading…

• Laurianna – Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• McKenna – Around the World in Eighty Days (and soon Michael Vey book 6)
• Zachary – The Cricket in Times Square and The Trumpet of the Swan
• Kaleb – Mouse Soup (independently) and Problems in Plymouth
• Cat of Bubastes (audio drama from Heirloom Audio with kids)

What I Read in July and August…

Out of all the books I read during the past few months, I absolutely loved the first two on this list. One was a book read over a few months, the other – I laughed my head off through much of it envisioning vividly what Sophie was talking of. Love her books anytime. And Parenting is Heart Work – the last few chapters are ones I’m wanting to re-read to remind myself over and over (and have my hubby read). 

• Giddy-up, Eunice! by Sophie Hudson (about 1/2 way through this)
• Parenting is Heart Work by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller 
• Give Your Child the World by Jamie Martin
• The True Darcy Spirit by Elizabeth Ashton (really didn’t like this one…)
• A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber (loving this author and wanting to read more books by her) 
• Lord Fenton’s Folly by Josie Kilpack
• A Spy’s Devotion by Melanie Dickerson
• The Maiden of Mayfair by Lawana Blackwell
• A Heart Revealed by Josi Kilpack
• So Fair a Lady by Amber Lynn Perry
• The Mistress of Tall Acre by Lara Frantz
• Not by Sight by Kay Stockham
• The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

That’s it for this month! What are you reading for yourself or together with the kids? Leave a comment and share. :)