2015 Book Reading Review

Well, for anyone who has been tracking my reading progress the last few years, it is time again to assess and compile my completed reading list! It is always so fun to review all that I have managed to soak up through literature. So let's get on with the drill.

Here is my reading goals for 2015:

Non-Fiction 6 to 12

Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators – David Chilton

Political book (The Real Lincoln - Thomas DiLorenzo)

Rushdoony Book (Sovereignty)

R.C. Sproul book (The Holiness of God)

Pierre Viret book 

The Hospitality Commands

Gary North book (Tithing and the Church)

Pregnancy book (Real Food for Mother and Baby - Nina Planck)

Sophie Scholl book (Sophoe Scholl and the White Rose)

Fiction – 6 to 12

Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

The War for Mansoul – Bunyan

The Giver – Lois Lowry

The Return of the King – Tolkien

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

The Book Thief – Markis Zusak

As per usual, not all the books on my list were read, you win some and you lose some. I see it more of an aim to keep me focused. I read much more than those listed above, but it is still nice to "cross off" books I actually intended to read. The Chilton book I had every intention of reading, but when talking to my father in law, his brief synopsis left me not really caring to pour my precious time into it. I probably won't try to read it. The Hospitality commands I do want to read, it just got lost in the shuffle. If I borrow it from a friend that's motivation enough to return it. As for The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, I find myself less enchanted with it, as I saw it more of a watered down morally questionable version of Pride and Prejudice, *sigh*. It's fun to think of a modern day P&P, and I did enjoy watching the youtube vlog series, but too many cringe moments and too many times the Lord's name was taken in vain, that I decided reading the book was not worth my time, nor worth overlooking such a HUGE deal as my Holy God's name being used in such sinful way. And so I let it go. I did check out The Book Thief from the library, and I did enjoy the movie, but for some reason the style of writing just did not draw me in, and after a couple chapters I set it down and returned it. I am deciding with fiction if it doesn't capture my attention and draw my imagination in, then it's not really worth my precious reading time to plug along and try to "get into it". It's just not worth it to me, I have an extremely long list of books I want to read, and many more on my bookshelves begging for my hands to open and jump into. There, those are my exc- err, reasons for why I didn't finish my list again.

My long standing rating system as follows:

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.

And so THE LIST. The List of what did get read. Broken up into three sections, Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Children's. I haven't even kept my good reads up to date on all the children's books we have read together (2nd Samuel and I). Eeek! So much to do.

NON-FICTION

1. The Fruit of Her Hands - Nancy Wilson 4 Stars
2. Feminine Appeal - Carolyn Mahaney 4 Stars
3. God's Mandate for Biblical Education - Robert E. Fugate 5 Stars
4. Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History - Richard M. Hannula 5 Stars
5. Healthy 4 Life - Weston A. Price Foundation 4 Stars
6. The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul 5 Stars
7. Leading Little Ones to God - Marian Schoolland 4 Stars
8. The Real Lincoln - Thomas DiLorenzo 4 Stars 
9. Tithing and the Church - Gary North 4 Stars
10. Pierre Viret: Angel of the Reformation - R.A. Sheets 5 Stars
11. Potty Training in Less Than A Day - Grace Goldenbloom 
12. Toilet Training in Less Than A Day - Nathan Azrin
13. Toilet Learning: The Picture Book... - Alison Mack
14. Toilet Training - Vicki Lansky
15. Peacemaker - Ken Sande 4 Stars
16. Sovereignty - R.J. Rushdoony 5 Stars
17. Real Food for Mother and Baby - Nina Planck 4 Stars
18. Effective Prayer - Charles H. Spurgeon 5 Stars
19. Praying Successfully - Charles H. Spurgeon 5 Stars
20. Sophie Scholl and the White Rose - Jud Newborn  4 Stars
21. The St. Andrews Seven - Stuart Piggin 5 Stars

FICTION

1. The Return of the King -  J.R.R. Tolkien 5 Stars
2. The Giver -  Lois Lowry 4 Stars
3. Gathering Blue - "" 3 Stars
4. Son - "" 3 Stars
5. Messenger - "" 3 Stars
6. The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau 4 Stars
7. The Prophet of Yonwood - "" 2 Stars
8. The Diamond of Darkhold - "" 4 Stars
9. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley  2 1/2 Stars
10. The War for Mansoul - Ethel Barrett (Based on Bunyan's Story) 5 Stars
11. The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin - Douglas Bond 5 Stars
12. Persuasion - Jane Austen  3 1/2 Stars

CHILDREN'S

1. Three Best-Loved Tales: My First Counting Book; The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse; Home for a Bunny - Garth Williams  3 Stars
2. The Boy Who Listened: The Story of Samuel - Carine Mckenzie 5 Stars
3. The Happy Man and His Dump Truck - Golden Books 3 Stars
4. The House That Jack Built - Golden Books 3 Stars
5. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny - Beatrix Potter 3 Stars
6. A Bargain For Frances - Russell Hoban 3 Stars
7. Bread is For Eating - David Gershator  3 Stars
8. Little Lamb Bakes a Cake  - Michaela Muntean 3 Stars
9. Sergeant Murphy's Busy Day - Richard Scarry  3 Stars
10. The Firefighter's Busy Day - Richard Scarry 3 Stars
11. A Fox Lives Here - Pearson School 3 Stars
12. Bugs and Butterflies - DandiMackall 3 Stars
13. Five True Dog Stories - Margaret Davidson 4 Stars
14. Dangerous Animals - Melvin Berger  3 Stars
15. The Little Red Hen - Justine Ciovacco 4 Stars
16. Goodnight Sleep Tight Little Bunnies - Dawn Apperley 3 Stars
17. My Book of Birds - Tibor Gergely  3 Stars
18. On The Farm - Richard Scarry 4 Stars
19. Arthur's Tractor: A Fairy Tale with Mechanical Parts - Pippa Goodhart 2 Stars
20. The Boats on the River - Marjorie Flack  3 Stars
21. Farmer John's Tractor - Sally Sutton 4 Stars
22. Building With Dad - Carol Nevius 3 Stars
23. The Old Red Tractor - Andreas Dierssen 1 Star
24. 101 Dalmations - Walt Disney Company 3 Stars
25. Two Happy Dalmations: Pongo and Perdy - "" 3 Stars
26. Lady and the Tramp - "" 3 Stars
27. The Rescuers Down Under - "" 1 Star
28. 102 Dalmations - "" 1 Star
29. Pooh Goes Visiting - A.A. Milne 4 Stars
30. Eyore Has A Birthday - A.A. Milne 4 Stars
31. The Picture Story of Wyatt Earp - Felix Sutton 3 1/2 Stars
32. Sheep in a Jeep - Nancy Shaw - 4 Stars
33. Sheep Take a Hike -  "" 4 Stars
34. Sheep Blast Off - "" 3 Stars
35. The Tree House that Jack Built - Bonnie Verburg 3 Stars
36. Dan Yaccarino's Mother Goose Book - Dan Yaccarino 2 Stars
37. Holly Hobbie's Nursery Rhymes - Holly Hobbie 4 Stars
38. Jame's Heriot's Treasury for Children - James Heriot 5 Stars
39. Sheep on a Ship - Nancy Shaw 4 Stars
40. Sheep Go To Sleep - "" 4 Stars
41. Sheep in a Shop - "" 4 Stars
42. Sheep Out to Eat - "" 4 Stars
43. The Tuttle Twins and the Creature From Jekyll Island - Connor Boyack 5 Stars
44. The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil - "" 4 1/2 Stars
45. Caps For Sale - Esphyr Slobodkina 3 1/2 Stars

Well, I surpassed my non-fiction goal of reading at least 12, and met the goal with fiction. That is always a happy moment to reflect upon my reading progress. As expected, my time for reading has fallen by the way side after the first weeks of David's life. It's like this influx of time to read during recovery, then after that barely any time at all. It will get better in the coming months, I know. It's already getting better with him going to bed around the same time every night. Did you know you could put your baby and toddler to bed at the same time each night?! Yes, it's totally possible. Also, you can make them nap at the same time. It just takes work, patience, and more patience. Did I mention patience? Yes, definitely patience. Also a lot of determination. But such is mom life. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! Oh, and pop on over to my Goodreads Profile to see my scattered thoughts of the aforementioned books.
A few currently reading books is the long standing Institutes of Biblical Law by Rushdoony, as I am still in the ladies bible study from two years ago. We've surpassed the half way mark, woohoo! I am determined to read Calvin's Institutes one day, but I don't think that will be this year. I am skimming over Month by Month Gardening in Texas, mostly just about herbs, veggies, and trees, skipping the landscaping, flowers, etc. It's a bit overwhelming, but I want to get a handle on this whole gardening thing and be able to produce a thriving garden to help feed my family delicious and nutritious food. I have started The Baby Whisperer but part of me doubts I will finish, I got what I needed out of it, but I really do like it a lot. Also The Cure is in the Cupboard a book about the many uses of oregano. And can't forget Nourishment from the Word by Ken Gentry, a book our church is reading together. The boys and I are continuing to read from Come Ye Children, although since David has been born, I've had to change up our morning devotion routine, since he is not able to sit as long as his big brother yet. We're working on it, so in the meantime the bible story book is hit and miss. Hopefully we can finish it this year.

I am feeling hopefully and ambitious this year in terms of reading. I want to continue to branch out in my reading endeavors, to span the breadth of knowledge or learning I can attain. I want it to be practical and useful to my life, but also stretch me and cause me to go outside my comfort zone. So here's to a new year and starting to compile a new reading goals list!