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This year I read 54 books. Not a record, but actually pretty close. I read some good books this year and actually had a really hard time narrowing it down to ten. But no one wants to read about the 25 books I really enjoyed (I have no idea how many would actually be on the list, just making up a number), so we are going with ten.
And here they are, in no particular order, except the first...
The Book of Mormon
Now, you may call me a cheater for naming this book as my very favorite again, when I didn't actually finish it all the way through this year, but I am going with it anyway. Because I have read it more times than any other book on earth and this year, my heart told me that delving deeper into it would be a better choice. So I read a good part of it, plus read hundreds of pages of a study guide discussing it and took dozens and dozens of pages of notes. It helped me to love The Book of Mormon even more than I already did. But I missed reading it all the way through and have a way this year to do just that, as well as continue my study. Oh, I love this book.
41: A Portrait of My Father
When Jacob interviewed President George Bush a year ago last December, President Bush actually asked Jacob if he had read the book he had written about his father. And Jacob had to say no. Yikes. So I bought it for him for Christmas and he read and loved it. Then passed it on to me to read. Oh man, I wasn't sure how much I would love it (I knew I would like it), because it would be a difficult task to write about your own father without looking too biased, but it was just brilliantly done and I loved it a whole lot. And seriously, comments he shared by Barbara Bush still make me laugh these months later.
The Blue Castle
Anything that Lucy Maud Montgomery writes makes me happy, but I had never heard of this book until this past year. It did not disappoint. I don't even know what to say about it except I wish there were five sequels following it. It just made me happy. And the writing was just wonderful.
Chateau of Secrets
This book was so different and so unusual and I really loved it a lot. I learned a lot about World War II and just enjoyed this book so much.
Kisses from Katie
I've read this book before. And will be reading it again. It touched my heart deeper than most any book I have ever read and has changed me as a person each time I have turned its pages. It is absolutely incredible and written in a way that makes me want to be a better person with every day that passes.
Lady Maybe
Julie Klassen makes me happy. And oh man I hope she keeps writing books. Because I will read every single one she writes. Love, love, love them.
The Rose Garden
This. Book. I have read enough books now that it takes something quite different to make me stop in my tracks and this book did exactly that. It was so, so unusual and I literally could not put it down. Warning, it does have a few swears. There are only a few, but man, it kills me when people use them and they aren't necessary. Just wanted you to know so no one comes yelling at me that I didn't warn them.
The Waiting
Okay, apparently I read several books that were different from my usual reading and this was one. It was a hard subject, but never graphic. And the story was just plain beautiful. I thought about it for weeks afterwards.
An Arrangement of Sorts
When I was making the collage below, Matt walked in and noted that I sure do "read a lot of books with girls on the front cover facing sideways or backwards." And he has never been more correct. Here is one of those books. But it was clever and fun and clean and apparently I just happen to really like books with girls on the front cover facing sideways or backwards. Regency books are definitely some of my favorites.
All Fall Down
I seldom, seldom buy books, so when I picked this one up at a book fair at the kids' school, I wondered what I was doing. But after reading it, I knew it was a good pick. Jacob and some of the kids read it and liked it a lot. I really did think it was a good book, but mostly, the ending has me dying for the next one. Which I have put on hold at the library. Just 50 more people and it is mine. Because it makes perfect sense that I haven't purchased the sequel. I'm so weird.
There you go fine people. Thanks for being kind and thanks for caring.
Until next year...
