Bookish Year in Review 2014

Well, it has been a great year in books! Having a little one in the house has brought in more children's books to the mix. Somewhere along the way I realized I could rate them and give some reviews. So the ones I remembered to do that with I added in. I surpassed my goal of reading 12 books, as I did last year. Another repeat was not actually reading all the books on my goal list. I am ambivalent toward this minor detail. Ah, well, perhaps for my next year of book goals I will try and tailor it to my reading reality?

2014 Reading List

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ – John Owen

 Green This - Deirdre Imus

The Excellent Wife - Martha Peace

Last Days Madness - Gary Demar

       Leading Little Ones to God – Schoolland

       Always Ready – Greg Bahnsen

       Chosen by God – R.C. Sproul Sr.

     Rushdoony Book

     Nullification – Tom Woods

     End the Fed  or Freedom Under Siege  – Ron Paul

Well, John Owen was begun then forgotten about once again. I am doubting this book will show up on next years list. The Excellent wife also received the same treatment. Poor books! I was going to read through this with 2 friends in an informal bible study, but that fell through and I didn't read it to wait for them, then never picked it up after that. I am currently reading Leading Little Ones to God, it's a nighttime book I read with 2nd Samuel. However, Daddy has been tucking him into bed as of late so the book hasn't been finished. Maybe in a few months. Instead of reading Nullification, I took the either or approach as with the Ron Paul books... just read a Woods book. Done. I read The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History instead. I snatched that up really cheap at the local library book sale. Win! So there you have, my excuses, er, reasons for the partially completed list. Now, perhaps we can show my real accomplishments. I'll divide it into 3 categories rather than date read. Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Children's. Here is my rating guide:

A scale of 1-5 (Subject to change upon my own whim and will).

1) being, complete waste. Why did I finish it?
2) being, minimally thought provoking/entertaining. Won’t read it again.
3) being, borderline useful, mild usefulness in instruction about the faults in it/mildly entertaining; Enough good to be challenged, grow a little in thought. Might read it again.
4) being, a really great book, useful to instruct, thought provoking/good entertainment, very challenging, growth as a reader, way more good than bad, would recommend. Worth reading again.
5) being, found enjoyable, challenging, useful in many ways, would highly recommend with no holding back, over all EXCELLENT book. Need to read again!
A 3 1/2 star is not as harsh as a 3, but not quite deserving of a 4 (a really great book), but a good book none the less.

Non-Fiction

1. The Fearful Master, G. Edward Griffin  4 Stars
2. Woman of the House, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
3. Always Ready, Greg Bahnsen  5 Stars
4. Ever After, Vicki Courtney  2 Stars
5. Delight-full, Kate Collins  4 Stars
6. Praise Her in The Gates, Nancy Wilson  4 Stars
7. Chosen By God, R.C. Sproul 4 Stars
8. Green This, Imus Dierdre  3 Stars
9. Freedom Under Siege, Ron Paul  4 Stars
10. Shepherding a Child's Heart, Ted Tripp  4 Stars
11. The Pastor's Wife, Sabina Wurmbrand  4 Stars
12. Thriving the First days Becoming Mommy, Elaine Mingus  2 1/2 Stars
13. Upgrade: 10 Secrets to The Best Education For Your Child, Kevin Swanson  5 Stars
14. A House for God: Building A Kingdom Driven Family, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
15. Raising Godly Tomatoes, Elizabeth Krueger  4 Stars
16. Lessons Learned From Years of Homeschooling, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
17. Sketches From Church History, S.M. Houghton  5 Stars
18. The Homeschool Life, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
19. Samuel Rutherford: A New Biography of the Man and His Ministry, Kingsley Rendell 4 Stars
20. The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, Tom Woods  4 Stars
21. The Victims of Dick and Jane, Samuel Blumenfeld  5 Stars
22. The Biblical Trustee Family, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
23. A Word in Season Vol 1, R.J. Rushdoony  5 Stars
24. The Greatest Century Of Missions, Peter Hammond  5 Stars
25. Putting Feet to Your Faith, Peter Hammond  4 Stars
26. A Word in Season Vol 2, R.J. Rushdoony  5 Stars

Fiction

1. Charity Envieth Not, Barbara Cornthwaite  4 Stars
2. King's Arrow, Douglas Bond  4 Stars
3. Lend Me Leave, Barbara Conrthwaite  4 Stars
4. The City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau  3 Stars
5. Divergent, Veronica Roth, 2 1/2 Stars
6. Insurgent, Veronica Roth 2 Stars
7. The Four Books Collective, Veronica Roth, 3 Stars
8. Allegient, Veronica Roth, 1 Star
9. Partials, Dan Wells 1 1/2 Stars
10. Fragments, Dan Wells 1 1/2 Stars
11. Ruins, Dan Wells 1 1/2 Stars
12. Uglies, Scott Westerfeld 2 Stars
13. Pretties, Scott Westerfeld 2 Stars
14. Specials, Scott Westerfeld  2 Stars
15. Extras, Scott Westerfeld  2 Stars
16. Unwind, Neal Shusterman  3 Stars
17. Unwholly, Neal Shusterman  2 Stars
18. Unsouled, Neal Shusterman 2 Stars
19. The Fellowship of The Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien  5 Stars
20. The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien  5 Stars

Children's

1. The Little Airplane, Lois Lenski  4 Stars
2. Baby's First Bible Stories 0 Stars
3. My First Book of Tractors, Kath Jewitt  4 Stars
4. I Love You Daddy, Jilian Harker  4 Stars
5. I Love My Grandpa,  4 Stars
6. I Love My Grandma, David Bedford  3 Stars
7. I Love My Mommy, David Bedford  4 Stars
8. Puss in Boots and Other Fairytales, Nursery Classics  4 Stars
9. Sammy and His Shepherd: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23, Susan Hunt  5 Stars
10. The Tailor of Gloucester, Beatrix Potter  4 Stars
11. The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck, Beatrix Potter  3 Stars
12. Classic Animal Tales,  3 Stars
13. The Legend Of Robin Hood (Barnes and Noble), Dami Editore  3 Stars
14. The Christian Mother Goose Book of Nursery Rhymes, Marjorie Decker  4 Stars
15. This is Texas, Miroslav Sasek  4 Stars
16. Lad: A Dog, Albert Terhune  4 Stars
17. Going to Sleep on the Farm, Wendy Lewison  4 Stars
18. Sam the Minuteman, Nathaniel Benchley  4 Stars
19. The Day the World Went Wacky, Janine Suter  4 Stars
20. Noah's Floating Animal Park, Janine Suter  5 Stars
21. The Not So Super Skyscraper, Janine Suter  4 Stars
22. Sea Story, Jill Barklem  5 Stars
23. The Reward of Childhood Truth, Dennis Gundersen  5 Stars
24. Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend, Julie Steigemeyer  3 Stars
25. Ox-Cart Man, Donald Hall  4 Stars
26. Joshua the Brave Leader, Carine MacKenzie  5 Stars
27. The Little Engine that Could, Watty Piper 3 Stars
28. Animals in Winter, Kids National Geographic  3 Stars
29. Winne The Pooh Nature's True Colors, Emily Hutta  3 Stars
30. Teach Me While My Heart Is Tender, Andrea Schwartz 5 Stars
31. Family Matters, Andrea Schwartz  5 Stars
32. Lion Cubs, Kids National Geographic3 Stars

Well, I could say a lot about the books I have read, and on my GoodReads Profile I have. I was disappointed by the Dystopian Genre, to say in the least.  But I enjoyed branching out and reading a lot more fiction than last year. I am in the midst of reading a few different books.  I am still reading The Institutes of Biblical Law by Rushdoony with my ladies bible study group.  And I am on the third book, The Return of the King by Tolkien to finish out the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I must say the series is now a favorite!  For morning devotions with the little one we are reading through Trial and Triumph, stories from church history, short and tailored more toward young readers/listeners. Although I am sure it was not intended for such young readers as my 13 month old. As I mentioned earlier, I am also reading Leading Little Ones to God with 2nd Samuel at night.   Maybe tomorrow I'll post my reading list goals for 2015. I thought about doing that today, but time has gotten away from me since I have been a busy little bee all day today.  Not to mention trying to make homemade pizza with a hungry toddler is quite a challenge (and rather time-consuming).

I am very pleased with far surpassing my reading expectations this year.  As you can tell, I generally have a better opinion on my non fiction spread than others. Part of my consuming so many books is because my thought is that while I have only one child to care for without the structured home educating, I have more free time to read books. I place a high value on reading and I hope that though the years may grow busier, I would never neglect to read good books that challenge me, as well as give me pleasure.