My Top Ten Books of 2015

I try to go back over the books I read each year to pick my "Top Ten," so even though it's already January 2 (of 2016!), I'm going to share my top ten books from 2015.  I think this year I'll try to categorize the 76 books I read and choose a favorite (or two) from each category.  I'll also try to link to the reviews I wrote of each book.

• For homeschool encouragement, I would pick Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie.  I loved it so much that I read it, coerced a bunch of friends to read it, and then read it again and hosted not one but TWO evenings in my home to discuss the book.  It has revolutionized and breathed new life and enjoyment into our days.  I'm also going to have to include Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto as it really made me think and validated my decision to continue this homeschooling journey, even though it's not an easy choice.
• Biography would be A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer by Dorsett.  I also read The Pursuit of God by Tozer himself this year, but actually enjoyed reading about him even more.
• My favorite book for spiritual encouragement would probably be The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.  You are correct, there is no link to a review of this book because I simply couldn't review it.  This is another book that I read, gathered a group of friends to read it with me, and then hosted book discussions of the book for a few weeks.  This book caused me to look at the parable of "the prodigal son" more closely than I ever had before, and especially to consider how lost the older brother was.  It also challenged me to truly examine what sin is--not just a list of moral failings, but the root principles of sin.
• My favorite memoir would be The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates.  This book was a fascinating 'case study' of two men with the same name, same age, same race, who grew up in the same area during the same time in very similar circumstances. . .but who had two very different fates.  Fascinating.  I also have to include Jaiya John's Black Baby, White Hands as a close second favorite memoir.  It was not an easy read for me, especially as a White mama to Black children, but it was very thought-provoking and well-written.
• The best historical book I read was Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.  It makes one think of Unbroken, although it is not quite that good (Hillenbrand is a master of her craft!).  It tells the story of the young men who won the gold medal rowing in the 1936 Olympics and what I enjoyed most was the way the author illustrated the effect their character had on their lives.
• Hands down, the best fiction novel I read this year was Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova.  I have enjoyed all of her books so far (her background as a neuroscientist really adds to her stories), but this story of a man affected by Huntington's disease was especially well-done.
• Classics--I have to pick two.  I couldn't decide between Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  They were both well-written in different ways, but both provided much to discuss regarding character.

For next year, I have set a Goodreads goal of reading 85 books, and a friend and I are trying to choose books from the guidelines set out by Tim Challies in his 2016 Reading Challenge.  It's going to stretch me, but that's a good thing.  (We've made a spreadsheet on google docs to record our readings because we are just big dorks like that!)

I'd love to hear your recommendations and favorites from the last year (my want-to-read list needs to continue growing, right?).

Reading in 2014

At the end of each year I like to go back and review my reading list for the year.  I was a little surprised and disappointed in myself at my reading choices during 2014, but in my defense, I *did* have a baby who kept me tired with her refusal to sleep through the night, which kept me from desiring to tackle challenging books.  :)

I read 82 books this year and many of those were current fiction.  I actually read several books from a list of what women born in the 1970s are reading.  That was interesting, especially when I considered the worldview of some of the authors.  I also got caught up reading several easy fiction books by two different authors, Elizabeth Berg and Liane Moriarty, because I enjoyed their characterization.

A friend asked me recently "what I read for--an escape, for self-help, a good mystery, ideas, words used just right, or what?"  That was a fun question to ponder.  I answered her with the following:

Sometimes it's a great story that takes me away. Sometimes it's for characterization so I can learn about people and what makes them tick. Sometimes it's to appreciate "masterful writing" (although, alas, that is rare and so hard to find). 
Other times, yes, it's about ideas. To be challenged to grow in some way. To step out of my comfort zone, to evaluate what I believe and why.
Lately it's more the former than the latter. I'm tired, and books are my escape.  I'm having a hard time finishing the "idea" books because when I find TIME to read, I need to just shut my brain off. 

I loved the question she posed, and would love to read other people's answers.  If you read, what do YOU read for?

And now, without further ado, here are my top ten books I read in 2014 in no particular order, chosen either because I particularly enjoyed them or because of the effect they had on my thoughts and/or life:

• The Color of Water:  A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother--I didn't write a review of this one because I knew it would be too long.  But I enjoyed it because I am a White mother to a Black boy.  I enjoyed it because I could really relate to it as his mother was born within ten years of my grandmother and the author was born within five years of my mother and I found the simultaneous stories of their lives and time periods fascinating.  I enjoyed it because it is a story of endurance, of overcoming, of strength of character and it was well-written.
• To Kill a Mockingbird--This was my fourth time reading this classic, and I still loved it on this reading with my teenagers.  I didn't write a fresh review, but here is one I wrote a few years ago.
• The Rosie Project--I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel.
• Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full--This was very good for me to read in this busy season of my life.  It actually would probably be a good one for me to read again next year!
• Still Alice--This fictional novel about a women with early-onset Alzheimer's will likely stay with me for years to come.  Heart-wrenching.
• Animal Farm--Reading and discussing this with my teens was memorable and elicited emotions like anger and trepidation.
• What's It Like to be Married to Me?--I read and discussed this one with five dear friends and enjoyed it very much.  I find that it's best to constantly be focusing and working on my marriage, and this book had some positive effects on my marriage.
• The Hundred and One Dalmations--This was my favorite read aloud with my little ones.  I had never read it before, and we enjoyed it tremendously.  What excellent writing!
• The Glass Castle/Half Broke Horses--I'm cheating, I know I am, but I'm counting these two books as one. They are written by the same woman, and together they give a fuller picture of the author's family.  I am absolutely fascinated by this family's unique experiences.  I like to learn about people and examine what makes them tick, and this family is quite the case!
• Black Baby White Hands--I haven't written my review of this one yet, but it has been especially powerful to me this year.  It is the memoir of a Black man who was adopted by a White family.  It hasn't been easy for me to read (emotionally), so I have set it aside several times over the six weeks it took me to read it.  The author is very insightful and philosophical and his prose is filled with figurative language.  I am still processing this one, but I think it's going to impact my thinking for years to come.

So now, as I'm planning what to read next year, do you have a recommendation for me?  

And do tell, what do YOU read for?

Top Ten Books of 2013

How *does* one pick the top ten books she has read for the year?  By what criteria can I place one book on my list instead of another? Some books are especially appropriate for a season, others are wonderful because of the writing or the characterization, others really challenge me to think, and still others hold memories as I read and discussed them with my teenagers.  As difficult as it was to decide, here is my list of "The Top Ten Books I Read in 2013" (in no particular order and for whatever reason I chose them) linked to my review if I got around to writing one.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom was even better my second time through as I read and discussed it with my teens this year.  What incredible faith; what incredible character; what incredible faithfulness.  One of the most inspiring books I've ever read.

I said The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield would make my Top Ten when I read it way back in February and I was absolutely right.  I read this book twice this year (because it was just that good!) and spent many hours discussing it with fellow readers.  This account of a "liberal lesbian English professor" encountering the Word is well-written, convicting, and challenging.

Unplanned by Abby Johnson was a thought-provoking story of a woman who got caught up in the abortion rhetoric and worked as a director of a Planned Parenthood until she was finally able to see the truth and became bold enough to share it.  It impacted me because it perfectly illustrated why I want to teach my children to think and be able to discern when they are presented with ideas and compare them to the Word of God.

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman was simply too big to review.  I read and discussed this book with both my teenagers and my local book discussion group.  I started a review, but never got around to finishing it.  The book is insightful and rather scary and depressing, but well worth reading.  Here is a quick blurb from the three paragraphs I had written and I will cross it off my "list of book reviews to finish":

Postman argues that Huxley's dystopic world is a more likely eventuality than Orwell's because we as a society are voluntarily giving up our freedom of thought in exchange for the paralyzing and mind-numbing escapes provided in entertainment, specifically in the form of television.  No scary, foreign government needs to come and overtake our society, forcefully removing our liberties to read and think and publicly debate ideas and policies.  We are daily forfeiting these rights by not using them.  Just as no one fought the firemen book-burners in Fahrenheit 451 because they had already chosen not to read the books, so will we lose our freedoms by reason of disuse without anyone noticing or fighting to retain them.

True Community:  The Biblical Practice of Koinonia by Jerry Bridges is another book that was just too big for me to condense to a review.  It might have been the particular season I was in, but I found his examination of biblical fellowship quite profound and thoroughly enjoyed the many scriptures he dug into.  I would love to someday read this one again because again, it's just that good.

Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot was a selection for Carrie's book club and while I had seen The End of the Spear many times, I had never read any of the accounts of the men being killed as they tried to take the Word to the native tribes of Ecuador.  This is another of those books that is simply inspiring and challenges one not to get caught up in the day-to-day cares of this world, but rather to live purposely for Christ.

I got to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury again this year--this time with my teenagers.  I've read this book three or four times and like it more every time I read it, even as I get a little more concerned every time I read it as I see our society voluntarily giving up its freedom to educate itself and thus setting itself up to LOSE that freedom.  What a great book!

I debated over listing Brave New World by Alduous Huxleyon on my top ten reads this year, but I so enjoyed re-reading it as Destry read it for the first time and discussing it with him.  It's a strange book, but it's so effective at getting into a person's mind that I decided to go ahead and put it on my list.

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis was chosen by one of my friends in my local book discussion group.  I placed it on my top ten list because, well, obviously, it's C.S. Lewis, right?  But it really challenged me to examine myself and ask "according to the way I'm living, what do I value more than an eternity with God?"  Sobering--but excellent book.

I think I'll end this list with two books that have made a big impact on my year, even as they aren't and likely never will be classics or even widely-read.  The Brain Integration Therapy Manual and Elijah's Cup are books that have opened my eyes and my mind to new ways of thinking, given me an appreciation for the different ways God created us, and helped me to better understand and parent my children and I'm incredibly thankful to have read them this year. 

My complete list of books read in 2013 can be found here.  I seem to be finding less and less time to read these days, and as I look over my list, I'm a little embarrassed at how often I choose the light or easy read when I manage to steal a couple hours in this busy season.  I'm challenging myself to learn more--to grow more--through my reading selections in 2014.  Some friends have already provided me with several great suggestions!

Top Ten of 2012

Don't you just hate it when you're challenged to pick your top ten?

And your top ten books you've read in the last year, to top it off.  It's almost like being asked to pick my favorite child.  (Well okay, not really, but still!)

The more I think about it, however, it's easy to pick my favorite book I read this year.  Hands down, this award goes to Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  This book had it all--outstanding writing, intriguing plot, interesting characters, and enough to think about to keep one's brain busy for quite some time.  In the wake of our recent election and news items involving companies like Hostess and Hobby Lobby, this book is increasingly relevant.

It's also pretty easy to include two outstanding books I read this year about worldview:  Assumptions That Affect Our Lives and Life at the Bottom.  These are the kinds of books I would love to read with a good friend and chat the hours away over a Pepsi.

 These books were so well-done that I am tempted to say everyone should read them.  Life at the Bottom, a collection of essays, was the easier read, but they both will challenge and enlighten the reader about what they think, why they think it, and the consequences of their thoughts and attitudes.

 In the area of encouragement for me as a mother, Loving the Little Years easily wins a spot on my top ten.  This book was so encouraging, sprinkled with great tips, and entertaining all at the same time.  I have loaned my copy to several friends and recommended it to many others.  I literally sent an email to several friends who live a distance from me and told them they need to read this book.  Perhaps I should read it again. . .

As a homeschooling mother, I gained a great deal of encouragement and wisdom from Diana Waring's Reaping the Harvest.  This is another book which would benefit from a re-reading.

 I am a little surprised to see Managers of Their Homes on my top ten for 2012 even though it was my third time through.  I include it because it is one of the books that had an impact on my life this year.  In moving twice this year, I had let my daily schedule slip.  The motivation and inspiration I gained from this third reading got our school back on track to the point that, yes, believe it or not, our days almost run themselves.  This is a priceless feeling and every homeschool mother deserves to give it a try.

I was blessed to complete a challenge to read through the Bible in 180 days this year, but I'll not include the Bible on my top ten because, well, that's just a given, right?  But several other books blessed and challenged me in my spiritual walk this year as well.  What I Learned in Narnia by Douglas Wilson was a very rich discussion of some of my favorite books.

 I Will Carry You by Angie Smith was also a powerful testimony of a woman walking through one of the saddest trials I can imagine, but doing so with faith, trust, obedience, and ultimately bringing glory to God.  I am glad to have this real-life example of experiencing tragedy with hope.

I'm also rather reluctantly including 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess on my top ten.  Why reluctantly?  Because I read it pretty recently so I don't know if its impact will wear off over time.  I'm also rather afraid it's a "fad" book, but it has really challenged me in my spiritual walk so I'm including it.  I think it's hard to maintain a balanced life--a life lived in moderation--and she tempts me to extremism.  At the same time, I never want to fall into complacency or a comfortable, self-driven life, so it's good to examine myself again and again.

I think it's ironic that very few fiction books made my top 18 (hey, I had to start somewhere!) as I would tell you I prefer to read fiction.  I turn to fiction for an escape, and probably read more fiction than non-fiction.  But as I evaluate the year and the books I most enjoyed, or the books that made the most impact on my life, or made me think the most. . .well, it's heavy with non-fiction.

I'm surprising myself by picking the inimitable Tom Sawyer as the representative of fun fiction on my top ten list.  It was just such a fun read for me this time through, and Twain's writing was a delight.  To repeat Destry's assessment, "You can tell he was a kid once--and he loved it."

I know I said this was my top ten, but I'm going to include a bonus book that affected me this year.  Especially in light of recent events with Russia closing their borders to US adoptions--even as they have unimaginable numbers of orphans languishing and dying in their orphanages--I can't help but reflect on Alex Krutov's account of his experience in Russia's orphanage system in Infinitely More.

I do recommend this book as an eye-opener to what life is like for orphans.  You might also like to take a few minutes to read Linny's post in light of recent events.

If you want to see the list of the other 65 books I read in 2012, you can check it out here.  I would love to know your favorite book (or books) you read this year!