2019 Reading List

Every year one of my goals is to read as many books as I will have candles on my cake that year.  I do pretty good.  Most years I go over, some years I have barely made it, and I can only think of one year I didn't make it.  I have been doing this goal for many, many years.  I try to read at least 5 non-fiction books a year.  They are normally not my favorite.  I just love fiction, but I did get the 5 non-fiction in this year.  These are not in any certain order, just in the order I read them through the year.

1.  Seasons of Salvation by Dennis L Mangrum
2.  As You Are by Sarah M Eden
3.  The Spy by Clive Cussler
4.  Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen
5.  Saving Mona Lisa--the Battle to Protect the Louve and its Treasurers from the Nazi by Gerri Chanel--non-fiction
6.  The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews
7.  The Race by Clive Cussler
8.  Glimmer of Hope by Sarah M Eden
9.  The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
10.  Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
11.  The Book of Mormon--non-fiction
12.  A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
13.  The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
14.  Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
15.  A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen
16.  The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
17.  The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley
18.  The Lost Airman:  A true story of escape from Nazi-occupied France by Seth Meyerowitz--non-fiction
19.  The Book of Mormon--non-fiction
20.  Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
21.  Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
22.  Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
23.  Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
24.  Audrey Hepburn:  A Biography by Warren G Harris--non-fiction
25.  Ranger's Apprentice:  The Red Fox Clan by John Flanagan
26.  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
27.  The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
28.  Ranger Apprentice:  Duel at Araleun by John Flanagan
29.  The House I loved by Tatiana De Rosnay
30.  The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman
31.  The Blue Bottle Club by Penelope J Stokes
32.  The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
33.  The Things we Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
34.  The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
35.  Palisades Park by Alan Brennert
36.  A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller--non-fiction
37.  The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley
38.  Lies Jane Austen told Me by Julie Wright
39.  The Art of Healing Heardbeats by Jan Philipp Sendker
40.  Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
41.  Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle--non-fiction
42.  The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen
43.  The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber
44.  Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber
45.  Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
46.  Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber
47.  The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
48.  The New Testament--non-fiction

Can't say that I had an absolute favorite this year.  Lots of good ones.  Lots of good World War II historical novels.  Looking forward to more good reads in 2020!

Jen's 2014 Reading list

For the past several years I have had the goal of reading as many books as I will have candles on my birthday cake.  Some years I go way over, and some years I barely make it.  This year I barely made it.  Since August I have really been behind on all the "normal stuff" I do because of the school bond campaign that I was in charge of, and then as soon as that was over, it was time for Christmas, so I feel lucky I actually got as many as I was supposed to this year.  I made the goal of reading 10 non-fiction books for 2014, but that didn't happen.  I think I read 4.  My goal is to try to read 10 this year. I don't know that I could pick one favorite book that I read.  There were several that I really liked.  I will star them in the list.  I don't think there were any that I didn't like because if I start reading a book and don't like it, then I don't finish it, but I must admit, and don't hate me for it, The Fault in our Stars was really not a favorite.  I know a lot of people loved that one.  Me, not so much. But we can still be friends, right??? :) So, without further adieu, my 2014 reading list--not in any particular order, just by when I read them. . .

1.  Wonder by R.J. Palacio ***this was one of my favorites, if you haven't read this yet, it is a must-read
2.  First in Their Hearts:  A biography of George Washington by Thomas J. Fleming
3.  Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson***loved this one.  Can't wait for the sequel that just came out!
4.  Carry On, Warrior:  Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton
5.  The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery*** love anything she writes.  Great classics!
6.  The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson*** another great book by him
7.  Hattie Ever After by Kirk Larson***Sequel to Hattie's Big Sky.  Both are great!
8.  The Apprentices by Maik Meloy***Sequel to The Apothecary
9.  The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
10.  The Silver Bowl by Diane Stanley
11.  The Cup and the Crown by Diane Stanley**Silver Bowl trilogy Book 2
12.  The Princess of Cortova by Diane Stanley**Silver Bowl trilogy Book 3
13.  The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen**Book 1 in the Ascendance Trilogy**A favorite
14.  The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen**Book 2 in the Ascendance Trilogy
15.  The Shadow Throne by Jennifer  Nielsen**Book 3 in the Ascendance Trilogy
16.  Trice Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris**3rd book in Once Upon a Marigold series
17.  The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
18.  What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
19.  Legend by Marie Lu
20.  Prodigy by Marie Lu **Legend trilogy Book 2
21.  Champion by Marie Lu **Legend trilogy Book 3
22.  The Fault in our Stars by John Green
23.  The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
24.  Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George
25.  Dark Canyon by Louis L'Amour
26.  Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour**another favorite, our whole family read and loved
27.  Dangerous by Shannon Hale**another favorite
28.  Evertrue by Aston Brodi
29.  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo**Grisha Trilogy Book 1
30.  Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo**Grisha Trilogy Book 2
31.  Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo**Grisha Trilogy Book 3
32.  On Little Wings by Regina Sirois
33.  The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen**a favorite
34.  The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
35.  Maggie Vaults over the Moon by Grant Overstake
36.  All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
37.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova**book about a women who gets Alzheimer's**a favorite
38.  Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card**one of my favorites for the year

2014 family favorite books

We are big readers in our house.  Always have been.  Being the daughter of a elementary school librarian and an English major, it goes goes with the territory.  Normally each Christmas I write a newsletter and have everyone put down their favorite book for the year.  I did a different type of Christmas card this which didn't work with a newsletter, so I never got those favorite books recorded.  A dear friend wrote me and asked me what our favorites were since she is a book lover and says she always looks forward to seeing what we read, so in honor of her I asked everyone what their favorte books where this past year and am recording them here.  I am going to list my 2014 reading list next week, but until then, here is a look at my family's favorites. . .

Ben—Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive book 2 Words of Radiance  ***be warned, these are huge, huge books, but Ben loves them.  He insists I put them on my to-read list for 2015

 

Jen—man, it was hard to choose a favorite. . . so here are few I really liked this year

    -Wonder by R.J. Palacio

    -Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

    -The False Prince series by Jennifer Nielsen

    -Dangerous by Shannon Hale

    -Still Alice by Lisa Genova

    -Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

    -The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

 

Abigail--The Princess Bride by William Goldman

 

Olivia—45 pounds (more or less) by Kelly Barson

 

Ella—Legend series by Marie Lu

 

Jesse—Tuesdays at the Castle, Wednesdays in the Tower, Thursdays with the Crown books by Jessica Day George

 

Happy reading in 2015!

2012 Reading List

I love to read.  Being an English/Humanities major and having a mother who is a librarian might have something to do with that.  I love it.  Several years ago I decided that I was going to read as many books a  year as I would have candles on my birthday cake.  Some years I go way over.  Some years I barely make it.  This year I went over a little bit.  I don't put any qualifications on my books--adult or juvenile, fiction or non,  I just read.  This year I wanted to read more non-fiction, so I made my goal to read 10 non-fiction, and the rest whatever caught my fancy.  Sometimes I have huge "to-read" lists, and others I just find randomly and check out.  I love my library.  Libraries are great things.  So, here is my list from last year.  I think I can safely recommend all of them except one which I noted.  As to favorites, hum, that is hard.  I had several and will highlight them in the list.  These are not in any particular order, just the order I read them in during the year.  Enjoy and happy reading!

1.  Halt's Peril:  Ranger's Apprentice series #9 by John Flanagan **this series is one of my all-time favorites, and all my family's too, love it!
2.  The Amaranth Enchangement by Julie Berry
3.  Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card
4.  Secret of the Sea by Richard Peck
5.  Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore *non-fiction
6.  The Emperor of Nijon-La:  Ranger's Apprentice series #10 by John Flanagan
7.  Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale * love Shannon Hales stuff!
8.  A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz * non-fiction
9.  Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua * non-fiction, very interesting
10.  Jane Austen:  A Life by Claire Tomalin * non-fiction, biography
11.  The Shoemaker's Wife by Adrianna Trigiani
12.  Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruba * loved this adult mystery, there is a whole series I need to get to with this one, set in Afria in the 1920's
13.  Clockwork Prince  by Cassandra Clare
14.  The Forgotten Tales of The Ranger's Apprentice Series by John Flanagan * after loving this series sooooo much it was fun to find this collection of short stories about the series
15.  The Grey Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
16.  A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson * not my favorite of hers, the one I would least likely recommend
17.  The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
18.  Inheritance by Christopher Paolini * loved this series, but did not think it ended well.
19.  A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson
20.  Candy Bomber:  The story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot" by Michael O. Tunnell * non-fiction, this was one of my absolute favorites of the year, a kids non-fiction, and the true story was amazing!  I had all my kids read it too, and they were very impressed!
21.  A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
22.  When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Orsuka
23.  The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
24.  The Confession by Beverly Lewis
25.  The Reckoning by Beverly Lewis
26.  Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery * another kids non-fiction that I loved, I had seen the movie before I read the book, and loved both
27.  A Prince among Frogs  by E.D. Baker * love her Frog Princess series, this is #8
28.  The Invisible Wall by Harry Berstein * non-fiction and one of my favorites.  It was written by a 95 year old about his youth in England after World War I and how an invisible wall existed down their street dividing the Jews from the Christians.
29.  Recovering Charles by Jason Wright
30.  The Tale of Hill Top Farm:  The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series #1 by Susan Albert * I love the movie Miss Potter, and if you watch that and then start reading this series right after it continues the story.  The movie should be required viewing before reading the books.  It is fiction/mystery, and a new series I really have enjoyed a lot.  I have always been a fan of Beatrix Potter, and it has been fun to learn more about her 'real' life.
31.  Moon Over Manifest by Claire Vanderpool * the Newbery award winner for 2012 which author I got to meet and have lunch with
32.  The Tale of Holly How:  The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #2 by Susan Albert
33.  Feed the Children First:  Irish Memories of the Great Hunger by Mary E. Lyons * non-fiction kids book about the potato famines in Ireland
34.  The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ * non-fiction, scripture which I try to read every year
35.  Pearl Harbor Warriors:  The Bugler, the Pilot, the Friendship by Dorinda Nicholson * non-fiction about how an American and a Japanese soldier become friends after fighting against each other at Pearl Harbor
36.  The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #3 by Susan Albert
37. Across American on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy * love Jim Murphy's kids non-fiction books, many are award winners, this one tells of the story of how Robert Louis Stevenson came to America
38. The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens * non-fiction written by Dickens for his children to be read at Christmas time, not published until after his death, a great Christmastime read

What good books did you read this year?  What were some of your favorites?  Please share in the comments so I can read them too!  Thanks!

Blue Jeans Week 45

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week!  Ours was good, crazy and filled, but good!  Here is a look at our past week with so many things to be thankful for!!

Sunday:  I am thankful that I have a little boy.  We didn't ever find out the gender of our kids before they were born (except the first Miss A) and after 3 girls I told Ben he had one more chance to get a boy.  When he was born and the Dr. said, "It's a boy!"  I cried, Ben cried, even the nurses cried!  We got a boy!  Finally!  And what a fun boy he is!  He is addicted to his Dad's I-Touch and will sit down anywhere to play it.  Love my boy!

Monday:  I am thankful for good books!  You can see the previous post to find out more about this picture, but we love books in our family and reading, and today we got to meet and listen to author Christopher Paolini.  Miss E was so excited!  He is signing her new Inheritance book for her.

Tuesday:  I am thankful for the beauty of the earth and that we can enjoy the beauties of it.  There are so many large and small that we need to take the time and notice.  Today Miss A and my mom enjoyed the beauties of the earth as they walked a local trail near our town.

Wednesday:  I am thankful for a thoughtful daughter.  Today Miss A got over 10 inches cut off her hair to donate to Locks of Love.  I was very proud of her, and her new cut looks super cute on her!

Thursday:  I am thankful for the "youngest" table members at our feast. 

Thursday #2:  I am thankful for the "younger" table members at our feast.

Thursday #3:  And last but not least I am so thankful for the "young" table members at our feast.  We had 30 for Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  It was lots of fun.  Had lots of food--more pies that I have ever seen before, played lots of football after to run off all that pie, then enjoyed Cars 2 to re-cooperate from all that football.  It was a blessed day!

Friday:  We are thankful for many things, and one Thanksgiving tradition we have is our "Thankful Tree" which Miss O, Miss E, and a friend helped make.  Everyone at our feast was to take a leaf and write on it some things they were thankful for.  Mr J and his friend helped show it off Friday morning.  We have much to be thankful for.

Saturday:  I am so thankful for friends!  We had some of our dear friends who used to live in our town, but sadly moved away, with us over the Thanksgiving weekend.  The kids had so much fun!  Got no sleep, and played all day long.  Life is good when you have friends!

Hope you had a great week.  I decided I am going to try the "Daily December" blogging, so be sure and stop by daily each day in December for something new! 

We met Christopher Paolini!

I don't normally do more than one post a day, but I just had to share what we did last night. . .

Way back in August, we heard that Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon and the Inheritance Saga, would be coming out with the last book in the series in November and would also be doing a book tour.  We found out he would be presenting in the city 2 hours from us.  Now you have to understand how much my 9 year old daughter Miss E loves this series.  She has read all the books, but most importantly she has listed to the audio books like 4 times each--seriously.  So, when she heard he was coming, we decided we had to go, and she was ecstatic!  So last night Miss A, my mom, Miss E, Miss O, Ben, and I all went up to the city.  Mr J stayed home with Grandpa :) 

Christopher was presenting at a church.  He talked, fenced, did a cartwheel, and read a short excerpt from each of the four books.  He was very good, entertaining, and lots of fun to listen to. 

 He took questions, and then you got to have your books signed.  Here he is with Miss E.  I think he was surprised someone that young was there.  He asked her if she had read the books.  She said yes.  He said, "All of them?" in a surprised voice, "yes" she replied.  Then he questioned her, "How old are you?"  "Nine,"  she said.  "Wow," he said, "I am very impressed."  Miss E felt very special, let me tell you.

My mom and Christopher with Miss A behind her

And Christopher signing Miss O's book.  It was a really fun night that we will all remember.  It always means so much when you can read a book and say, "I met this author."  Makes it so much more personal.  If you haven't read his books yet, you should check them out.  Great fantasy reads!   And if his book tour is stopping near you, go hear him and buy a book!

My 2010 Reading List

My 2010 Reading List I posted over on my book blog, so if you would like to check it out please click here .  Hopefully if you are looking for a good book you will find one.  What are some of your favorites from 2010?

Children's Author/Illustrator Breakfast

Saturday we got up bright and early to drive 2 hours to an independent children's book store in the big city. It is an amazing place. Those independent booksellers are unfortunately very rare things. This one offers amazing programs, author visits, and Saturday they had an author/illustrator breakfast. My mom, being the amazing mom and children's librarian that she is, got us tickets--me, Miss O, Miss E, Mr J, and my mom. (Miss A and Ben were not able to attend. They drove 5 hours that morning to the Winter Quarters Temple for Miss A to be able to do baptisms for the first time, then drove 5 hours back. Long day for them, but they both loved it.) We enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the bookstore, then were able to hear from 10 different children's authors/illustrators. It was a cool thing.

Mr J, my mom, Miss E, Miss O, and me getting ready to eat breakfast at the bookstore.
This is Miss O with author Laura Manivong (they look like they could be related, huh?). She recently came out with her first novel called Escaping the Tiger which Miss O has read. Miss O really enjoyed it and said it was kind of scary at times because it is about war and escaping from a country during war, but it was exciting. Laura is married to a man from Lao who didn't come to the US until he was 19. The story is based on his life there and his family's. His family was held in a prison camp in Lao, and his father, Laura's father-in-law, was held in one for 12 years. She has an amazing story to tell. We enjoyed visiting with her. She is very personable, kind, and easy to talk with. This would be a great book for older kids (one especially for boys) or adults.

This is Miss O, Mr J and I with illustrator Laura Huliska-Beith. She illustrated one of our family's favorite picture books The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill. She has illustrated several others also. I really like her style--she incorporates real materials for different items in her drawings like using real fabric material for a kid's shirt in a drawing. It is a very fun, funky art style. If you haven't read The Recess Queen
you need to check it out---ringity, zingity, yesssssssssssssssss!

Me with children's poet and illustrator Jenny Whitehead. She was great! So fun to listen to, and her art style is so cute! We got her Holiday Stew "A kid's portion of holiday and seasonal poems." It is great. She also has done Lunch Box Mail. Of course we bonded because we are both Jennys :) Her husband is also a children's illustrator--Pete Whitehead. He was there and talked also. Another author that was there was Christine Taylor-Butler. She was a civil engineer who gave up that job she said, "to be poor and be a children's author, and I love it a whole lot more and am so happy!" She has done lots of different kids' books--several kids' science books, and recently a Mt. Everest picture book (if you didn't know, I am a huge Everest fan--it totally fascinates me) called Sacred Mountain Everest. Children's history author/illustrator Cheryl Harness was also there along with author/illustrator Lisa Campbell Ernst. We love, love, love Lisa's stuff. So, if you need some ideas for you or your kids' summer reading, hopefully you got some here today!!

Drumming on Drums!

Have you ever read the book Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins? If not, you are missing out on a choice childhood picture book. Go check it out. It talks about "Millions of fingers! Millions of thumbs! Millions of monkeys Drumming on Drums! Dum ditty, Dum Ditty, dum, dum, dum" This week we had millions of monkeys making drums and then drumming on them. We are so blessed in our town to have a fine arts center that has amazing programs for kids that are either free or very reasonable. Case in point--for 2 weeks my girls participated in a kids theater workshop--every day for 2 hours for 2 weeks, they got a t-shirt, snacks every day and a $5 DQ gift card at the end, and it cost $30. Next month my kids are taking week long art classes, choir classes, African drumming classes, and with each they all get a t-shirt, snacks, and $5 DQ card and the classes range from $10 to $15 each. Lots of cheap summer fun. Can't beat it. It is amazing. We are very blessed. So this week they had a free drumming class where the kids got to make their own African type drum. The girls all went and loved it.

Miss E makes her drum. They covered them with a goat skin top. Then the day after they had a big community drumming circle where everyone participated.
Miss E, far left, drumming on drums at the community drumming circle.

Miss A with her drums and cool percussion instruments they had to play.

And Miss O drumming on a drum. Feel the beat. Dum ditty, dum ditty, dum, dum, dum.