2019 Reading Challenge
I set an impossible goal for 2019 - to read 125 books in the entire year. If you figure it out, that comes to around 1 book every 2.5 days. I set it high because, you know, reach for the stars?
I will confess, I did fluff it a little bit. I read Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, and some horrible children’s books about a bunny army (NOT Watership Down). I read all of Robert McCloskey in the beautiful “Make Way for McCloskey”. I read obscure books like Roverandom by Tolkien, parenting books on how to handle toddlers, discipline, and potty training, along biographies of Daphne du Maurier, Tolkien, and QEII. Classics and modern lit mixed together and I came out at the very end of 2019 having read some of the very best in literature, and possibly some of the very worst.
So, without further ado, here are my top 6: (Most of this I’ll have copied from Goodreads because I don’t have time to rewrite all my reviews twice) ;) If you want to see more, follow me on Goodreads, because I don’t have time to rehash all 125 books from this year!
Risen Motherhood: This book is a must for any mother. It's beautifully designed, meticulously organized, and speaks truth on every page. Also, it has footnotes, which alone makes me love it! It's convicting and a book I'll reach for again and again. 5/5
The Lost Words: (This is a children’s books, but it’s massive and beautiful, and one we reach for again and again!) Kids books should be beautiful, educational, fun, enjoyable... Right? This book ticks all those boxes and more. I think it's probably one of the most beautiful books we own and I just love going through it with my toddler and teaching her these words. I find it shocking that children today don't have a reason to use the words "acorns" and "fern". This book goes so well with outdoor explorations. Highly, highly recommend! 5/5
A Fire Sparkling: This book was unexpectedly fantastic. Part mystery, part historical, with a strong emphasis on family ties and love, this book was intriguing. I simply couldn't put it down. Set during WW2 and the modern period, Gillian Gibbons finds a picture of her grandmother with a Nazi during WW2. As the story unravels, not everything is as she thought and worlds are turned upside down. 5/5
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: These books are such classics. Again, it's been several years since I've reread them, and it's always like coming home to Hogwarts to be introduced to such special and unique characters. These are truly Rowling's masterpieces. So excited to reread the rest of the series, as the stories never get old. (Edit: I reread these books and cried at the end. Hogwarts, while imaginary, feels so beautifully lifelike. I will probably always enjoy reading them for the sheer joy of rediscovering the story and all the emotions that go with it.) 5/5
Shetland; Cooking on the Edge of the World: (If you watch GBBO, you’ll have seen James Morton and his adventures with food.) I've wanted to visit Shetland for years now, but I believe this book is a pretty close approximation of their food. Written by a father and son, it is witty and engaging. It is full of traditional recipes and absolutely stunning photography. While not all the recipes are able to be attempted in my current locale, it would be a fascinating experiment to cook through this book. I greatly appreciate the excerpts on life and traditions in Shetland, as it is so different there from my location in Scotland. A fascinating read! 5/5
The Montessori Toddler: Most parenting books don't deserve 5 stars because I disagree with them in enough parts, or they're weak in vital areas. And while I might not subscribe 100% to Montessori methods, this book does an amazing job of relating to your toddler. (the illustrations are an additional bonus. They are so beautiful and eye-catching!)
Toddlerhood is a tough age. It's a struggle sometimes to get through each day (for both of us I think). But this book not only directs and instructs, but it also comes alongside and gives resources and further support. The appendix at the back is so vital. I'm definitely going to reread this book many, many times, and I've already highlighted and scribbled in the margins.
Whether you subscribe to a Montessori mindset or not, this book helps you best relate to your toddler, to give them a wonderful childhood, and for everyone to learn to be a bit more like a toddler and enjoy the present, instead of worrying about the future. 5/5
I had more 5 star books, but those were some of my favorites. And because you probably want to know… my lowest 3 that I actually gave reviews on…
Stories we Tell Ourselves: I got this book through a monthly book club subscription and it was quite possibly one of the worst books I've ever read. There were too many characters (all with bland, boring, 4 letter long names). The book tripped from character to character with no warning. And perhaps worst of all, the writing was choppy and disjointed. While the review on the back said it was "a wonderful, warm and intimate portrayal of family life - sublime, quiet observations lit up by fierce flashes of humor", I'm pretty sure they're referring to a different book. This book was cold and depressing. There was nothing funny about any of it and every person was so incredibly unhappy with everyone that it made for a miserable read. I skimmed the last half because I couldn't handle it anymore and just wanted it finished. 1/5 stars
On a Cold Dark Sea: Yet another disappointing historical read (that makes two in a row for me. Sniff.). I think my issue with this book was the three main characters and their confusing stories. I think had one or maybe two of the women's stories been fleshed out, that would have been interesting. But the whiplash from 1912 to 1933 and the character hopping back and forth was just, confusing and pointless.
Also, the whole tagline "On April 15, 1912, three women climbed into Lifeboat 21 and watched in horror as the Titanic sank into the icy depths. They were strangers then…" These women stayed strangers. They never moved beyond acquaintances that fate threw together into Lifeboat 21. I strongly dislike taglines that aren't true.
What redeemed this book for me was the vivid portrayal of the sinking of the Titanic, which proved the author can be an excellent writer, and that her strengths are in setting a scene, not on character development, particularly when multiple characters are involved. The portions spent on the sinking were her strongest by far, and they gave this book an extra star. 2/5 stars
The Green Ember Series: (This book series went down as some of the worst I read this year, despite my giving it 2.5/5 stars. I read some great children’s lit this year. This series was not it. Currently reading Redwall, and there is no comparison. The sentences in each paragraph actually flow and are cohesive. Novel concept, I know.) I wanted to love this book, I really did. I think it has the bones to be an excellent novel that appeals to both children and adults (I read this myself, not to my kids). But this book was in need of some serious editing and polishing. I really struggled to read it and halfway through I was skimming it. The beginning and end were intriguing, but the middle was oddly complex and rough and I sloughed through it. It went from being incredibly description about places and people to minimally descriptive about actions or sometimes the opposite. There was no consistency, there was too much of a focus on certain character's aspects and each time the same descriptions were used. It was like reading the same paragraphs over and over again, except in different circumstances or chapters. Sometimes I had to reread the previous paragraphs to get what the author was trying to say. There is a reason that E. B. White, C. S. Lewis, and even Brian Jacques are consistently popular with school aged children: These authors used descriptive language that is easy to understand, easy to read, and created worlds that are inviting and intriguing. This book cannot be classed with those because it is not really good children's literature.
As I look towards my 2020 reading challenge, I am definitely going to aim lower with my final book count. My plan is for 75. I have some hefty tomes I want to read, and I have other writing obligations that I must work on and sadly, I can’t write and read at the same time. Having a reading challenge though really pushes me to read and I’m so glad I can finally say that I’m enjoying reading again!