So, I only made two resolutions this year. Both I thought would be challenging. One, so far has, the other...has been breezy.
I, at this point, have only 20ish verses of James memorized. This is progress, but it is for sure not half of the book! I want to say that I've been working on it every day, but I haven't. It's been hard, and I've been distracted. I DO have 6 more months to work on it, and I am optimistic that it will be done.
...that being said. Those first 20 verses....have been drowning my heart in truth! Oh how I love God's words and how applicable it is, even centuries after it as originally penned!
So, my second resolution was to read 52 books this year. Here is the list so far, with a brief description of why I liked, or didn't like it:
1. Storm Front, By Richard Castle - I loved this. Not because of the content, but because it is meta - the person Richard Castle doesn't exist, he is a character in a TV show....but this book is written in such a way that you really do feel like the character wrote it!
2. The Shunned House - HP Lovecraft - I read it to see his style of writing. It was creepy, and fantastic. I then watched a documentary about his life, and was fascinated. He really burst open the world of subtle horror.
3.To Live is Christ to Die is Gain - Matt Chandler - this was an excellent read....and the title says it all.
4. Angels Watching Over Me - Michael Philips - this is a first of a series, but I wouldn't read the rest. It was okay, but not great
5. Alone with God - J MacArthur. - This was a great read on prayer! LOVED it!
6. Into the Whirlwind-Elizabeth Camden - this was a fluffy escape book. You can 'call it' from the first page, but it did hold my interest.
7. Sycamore Row - John Grisham - this is well done...just like all Grisham's stuff.
8. I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai - This was interesting read. It was a bit cumbersome, as it was written by a young girl in her native tongue, then translated into English. It was fascinating, but I would much rather read her story if she would choose to write it again in 10 years.
9. Shrewd: Daring to Live the Startling Command of Jesus - Rick Lawrence - This has been my favourite non-fiction book this year! It is AMAZING. It's about a subject I had never even really thought through before - I would say a must read!
10. Overwhelmed: Winning the war against worry - Perry Noble - to be honest, I don't much remember this book. I'm sure it was okay...just maybe not new info that stuck with me.
11.Watching Tree Limbs - Mary E. DeMuth - This was a brutal read. So painful to read about a young abused girl's life, and then see how she is taken out of it. I would read it again, but with an entire flat of kleenex.
12. All for a Story - Allison Pittman - This was another fluffy escape type book, but well done, and not super typical for a Christian 'romance'
13. The Runaway Jury - Grisham - This was a reread, and I still love this book
14. The Stone and the Song - Ben Y. Faroe - written by a dear friend of mine! It's not my usual style, but is was great nonetheless!
15. Moby Dick - Herman Melville - I had gotten the abridged version for my son, but read a few pages myself to see how I liked it, fell in love with the language then read the whole unabridge version (okay, minus the entirely too long essay about all the different kinds of whales in the world). the language got me. I loved it. I also particularly loved Tashtego being compared to a midwife.
16.Anne of Greeen Gables - LM Montgomery - I cannot even start to say how much I love this series of books!
17. Diving Design - J MacArthur - This was okay. I felt it was a bit dated, though
18. Anne of Avonlea - LM Montgomery - Oh Anne....
19. Anne of the Island - LM Montgomery - More lovin'
20. Take One - Karen Kingsbury - okay....this one was just annoying to me. It's another part of an already too long series. .....ugh.
21. Franchising McChurch - Thomas White - interesting concept, but didn't really 'hit' me.
22. A Hopeful Heart - Amy Clipston - An interesting spin on the the usual Christian Amish stories
23. Anne of Windy Poplers - LM Montgomery - this one used to be my least favourite....but it has risen in ranks, with maturity and time.
24. Anne's House of Dreams - LM Montgomery - I think this one is my favourite!....or the first...or second... oh I don't know...they are all SO GOOD!
25. Static Jedi: The Art of Hearing God Through the Noise - Eric Samuel Timm - it was okay, not THE BEST, but okay.
26.The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Muriel Barbery - I LOVED THIS BOOK. Seriously, this one is my new favourite of all time....right up there with the Anne series ;)
27. God built - Steve Farrar - This was was stellar - a great look into the life of Joseph. Loved it!
28. The Street Lawyer - Grisham - ....I like Grisham's stuff, what can I say?
29. Anne of Ingleside- LM Montgomery - I had taken a break, you can get 'Anne-d' out, but this one brought me right back in!
30. Crucify! Why the Crowd Killed Jesus - Timothy J. Stoner - I am not sure how entirely accurate this book is, but it makes you think of the earthly ministry of Christ in a whole different light. I mostly enjoyed it!
31. Rainbow Valley - LM Montgomery - All about Anne's kids and friends! YAY! more Anne Love!
32. Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus - Floyd McClung. This one was life changingly good. seriously...I'll probably read it again this year.
33. Rilla of Ingleside - LM Montgomery - oh....how I hated finishing the last book of the Anne series.....sigh....now to start them over again?
34. Palace of Curiosities - Rosie Garland - interesting premise....lousy ending. I would not read it again, or even suggest others to. It's supposed to be a book about the behind the scenes lives of circus performers....it was just kind of....blah.
35. Secondhand Jesus - Glenn Packiam - I LOVED this book. read it - you will too.
36. Covered Glory - David Philips - a short read about a study on covering womens' hair during prayer and worship. Interesting....
37. The Rainmaker - Grisham - more Grisham....hooray!
38. The Oracle of Stamboul - Michael David Lukas - This one had SO MUCH POTENTIAL....and that's all it had.
39. Gourmet Rhapsody - Muriel Barbery - this is a companion book for The Elegance of a Hedgehog (see above). I don't know if there was a I book I was ever more excited to read...It was elegant, short, and like putting a puzzle together in your mind about the man's life. oh...I loved it.
So - that is my list so far! only 13 more to go until I am finished for my resolution....but I won't stop reading then. It's fascinating to me how much written word can be taken in in such a short time! Thank you, Jesus, for the printing press!
How are your resolutions going?
XO
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
