The Mid-Point: Where I'm at With My Reading Goals

Yikes, the year is more than halfway over, but I am definitely not halfway through my reading goals. I'm hoping I can summon up a lot of drive and really organize my reading to get through the rest of them before December 31st (which still sounds like such a long way off, but I know it isn't). Here's where I'm at so far:

1. Read the 2018 Newbery winner (complete)
This is the only goal on this list that is 100% finished, so I'm going to celebrate it. When I made this goal, the ALA youth media awards had not been announced yet, so I didn't know what I would be reading. The book that ended up winning the Newbery medal was one I hadn't even heard of (which wasn't all that surprising considering I didn't really keep up with the bookish buzz the way I had in previous years). The 2018 winner was Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. I listened to it soon after it won, and, although I really enjoyed it, I was still pretty surprised that it beat out all the other contenders. I can see myself making this same goal for many years down the road though because it's so fun to read the winning book, regardless of what it is.

2. Read A Rambler Steals Home and Zinnia and the Bees (partially complete)
I follow Carter Higgins and Danielle Davis on Instagram, so I was very aware when both of their books were published last year, especially because they were first novels for both of them. I intended to read them last year, but my intentions are never as strong as my goals, so this year it's actually happening. I read Zinnia and the Bees a few months ago, and it wasn't my favorite (I actually think I might have liked it more if I could have listened to it, but currently there isn't an audio edition). I'm in the middle of A Rambler Steals Home right now, and so far, I'm liking it quite a bit more than Zinnia.

3. Read something by Virginia Woolf (not complete)
I have the audio of To the Lighthouse on hold at the library right now. It would be awesome if it came in soon since I'm currently without anything to listen to (something that doesn't happen often), so I could get to it right away.

4. Read three older (pre-1970) young adult novels (partially complete)
So I guess the solution to my dilemma "Find books to recommend to teenagers" is as simple as diving back in time. So far I'm loving this goal. I read And Both Were Young by Madeleine L'Engle (published in 1949), and it was a treat. I've read one other so far, but I read it in July, which is technically the second half of the year, so I'll keep you in suspense. If you have any other older titles to recommend, please share!

5. Read the three books I recommended for book club this year (partially complete)
As a reminder, my book club decides on their schedule for the entire year by having each member bring three recommendations for a certain genre. My genre was nonfiction for the month of September, and the three books I recommended were Dead Wake, Walkable City, and The Four Tendencies. The book club members voted and chose to read The Four Tendencies, but I still wanted to read the other two as well. So far, I've read The Four Tendencies (because my family also chose to read this for our family book club), but I've had Dead Wake checked out  twice from the library already, so does that count for anything?

6. Read a classic I own (not complete)
I've kind of been saving this one for the fall because I'm planning to read Wuthering Heights, and it just seems like it will fit the mood of that season. Tell me if I'm right.

7. Read three books from Honey for a Child's Heart (partially complete)
So far, this is my least favorite goal. That could be because the one book I've read for it so far (Tom's Midnight Garden) I didn't really like. But I'm also just finding it frustrating to choose a book from the book lists (which I wasn't expecting at all; I thought that would be the fun part). I think I'm making it more difficult for myself because I added the stipulation that the book had to be one that wasn't already on my to-read radar. This made sense at the time because the whole point of looking at the book lists in Honey for a Child's Heart was to get new ideas. But I'm having a hard time finding books I don't know about that actually sound good. So maybe I should just use the book lists to remind myself of the good books I've been wanting to read. Sounds like a better plan, right?

8. Read Simplicity Parenting or No-Drama Discipline (not complete)
These are both books I've had on my parenting to-read list for awhile, but I don't really know anything about either of them. I need to read a bunch of reviews of each one so I can decide which book will most benefit my parenting at this time. If you've read either of them, I'd love to hear your opinion/recommendation!

9. Read a book by Clara Parkes (not complete)
Clara Parkes is a knitter who writes memoir-type books about knitting. Her latest book, A Stash of One's Own, is actually a collection of essays written by other knitters, and it's the one I want to read for this goal. Sadly though, the library doesn't have it, but I asked if they would order it, and they did. Now I'm just waiting for it to come in and be processed, which I anticipate taking a fairly long time . . .

10. Read snippets from my favorite books on at least one Sunday each month (partially complete)
This has been such a fun goal. I have loved going back to some of my favorite books and just casually perusing the pages, reading a page here and there, wherever strikes my fancy. I don't feel any pressure to reread the entire thing. I just read as much as I feel like and remember why I loved it in the first place. So far, I've read:

• January: Notes From a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider. 
• February: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. 
• March: Raising a Reader: A Mother's Tale of Desperation and Delight by Jennie Nash
• April: Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
• May: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
• June: ?????

Apparently, I completely spaced it in June and forgot to read a book. Luckily, I read from two books in February, so I'll count that. I'm looking forward to continuing this goal for the second half of the year and revisiting more of my favorite books. 

Excluding Goal #10, I have only read five of the sixteen books I need to complete these goals. In other words, I'm in trouble. Or at least I need to up my focus for the last half (now down to just five months) of 2018.

How are your reading goals coming along? What has been your most challenging read? Most enjoyable?

Books of 2017, First Half

After feeling a lot of self-induced pressure last year, I decided to set a lower numbers goal this year. I committed to read 48 books, and at the end of June, I'd finished 27. I may have set it a little too low, but it's actually been quite nice to take a break from obsessing over numbers. That's not what reading should be about anyway, but I can't seem to help myself.

Here's a list of what I read during the first half of the year. All titles are linked to my reviews.

1. The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman, 8/10 (readaloud)
A stuck-up prince, two bad guys who get what they deserve, and a hero worth cheering for--definitely a readaloud winner.

2. Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus, 7/10 (readaloud)
If you liked The Great Mouse Detective when you were a kid, this original book series is worth checking out. We enjoyed this first installment and have the second one on our readaloud docket.

3. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, 7/10
The first half was an absolute slog, but in the end, I actually really enjoyed it. It definitely has some memorable, funny moments.

4. Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent, 10/10
Chock full of crazy, unbelievable birth stories. Exactly what I wanted it to be.

5. The Railway Children by E. Nesbit, 8/10 (readaloud)
In which I discovered the sheer delight of E. Nesbit.

6. Cal and the Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine by Richard Hamilton, 5/10
Honestly, I could have passed on this one, but I would happily recommend it to kids without reservation.

7. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, 6/10
A really inspiring story about the uphill battle of getting out of a destructive family cycle, but be forewarned: there was so. much. swearing.  

8. Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave, 8/10 (audio)
Out of the WWII books I've read in the last couple of years, this one is my favorite. Plus, I love the title.

9. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, 3/10 (audio)
I agree with people when they say that this is an important read, but if I'm being perfectly honest, it was a bit too bitter and accusatory for me.

10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, 8/10
Can a book be tightly woven and compelling while still being a little too long? Because that's how I would sum up this book.

11. Ereth's Birthday by Avi, 6/10 (readaloud)
I think I like prickly Ereth more as a side character than the main protagonist. His complaining and "swearing" is funny in small doses, obnoxious in large.

12. The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, 9/10 (readaloud)
I think I could read the chapters about the mumps and the near-suicide over and over again and not get tired of them.

13. The Gift of Giving Life by Felice Austin and others, 10/10
Unlike any other birth book I've ever read, it transformed the way I think about birth and motherhood.

14. More Adventures of the Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, 7/10 (readaloud)
More antics, more conniving, more laughs.

15. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West, 6/10
A rather silly, totally unbelievable romance, but then, it's YA, so what was I expecting?

16. Me and My Little Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, 8/10 (readaloud)
Apparently, we were on a Great Brain kick. This one was more intense and frightening than I was expecting, but it had a slam bang ending.

17. Ten Miles Past Normal by Francis O'Roark Dowell, 6/10
Totally lukewarm about this one. But it is clean, so there's that.

18. The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt, 7/10 (readaloud)
If you want a book about the most unorthodox of nannies, this one's for you.

19. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, 9/10 (audio)
For a girl who normally doesn't love fantasy, I was a major fan of this one.

20. "Who Could That Be at This Hour?" by Lemony Snicket, 7/10
I spent a good portion of the book feeling moderately confused. It is a prequel of sorts to A Series of Unfortunate Events, so it might have helped if I'd read that first?

21. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett, 7/10
The memoir of a woman who was kidnapped and held captive in Somalia for fifteen months. Well told, but it's not for the faint of heart.

22. Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary, 6/10
To tell you the truth, it seemed a little underdeveloped to be written by Beverly Cleary.

23. Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, 10/10
The format is unusual, the content is poignant, the takeaway is unforgettable.

24. Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff, 6/10 (readaloud)
My boys absolutely LOVED this one, but the writing felt a little tedious to me (at least, while reading aloud).

25. Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle, 7/10
I started this series because I really want to get to the fourth book (A Ring of Endless Light) which was recommended in an episode of What Should I Read Next.

26. Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, 7/10
My kids have read this series over and over this summer. I had to see what all the fuss was about.

27. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, 8/10
Top-notch historical fiction about Thomas Jefferson's slave children.

I'd love to hear about some of your most memorable reads from the first half of the year!

Checking In With My Reading Goals

We've crossed the halfway point of 2017, which means it's time for me to take a look at my reading goals and do a little accounting and also a little planning for the rest of the year. In a nutshell, I've read ten goal-related books so far; I have three more that are in progress; and I still have six I need to crack the cover on. So just the numbers are looking good, but the specifics are leaving me a little worried. Take a look:

1. Read two books about childbirth (complete)
I knocked this one out early since Ian was born in April. I chose two very different childbirth books, but I loved both of them immensely (and gave each a five-star rating). If expectant moms asked me for book recommendations, I'd recommend these two before any of the other ones I've read, especially if they're wanting a natural birth (but, as you know, this time I went with an epidural, and I still loved reading all the birth stories, but maybe that's because, at heart, I think I'm still a natural birth kind of gal). Anyway, the two books were: Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent and The Gift of Giving Life by Felice Austin.

2. Read three books with Maxwell and three books with Aaron (partially complete)
In the preceding six months, this goal has been slightly modified to include Bradley. At first, Maxwell was not at all interested in reading some of the same books as me (he has since graciously changed his mind), but Bradley was. The whole point of the goal was to motivate myself to read some of the same books as my kids so I could be more involved with their reading, so I feel like my heart is in the right place even if it's not a strict three and three between Aaron and Maxwell. And just to clarify, these are not readalouds but rather books that we're reading separately but during the same span of time. So far I've read The Mysterious Benedict Society with Aaron, Who Could That Be at This Hour with Aaron, Cal and the Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine with Bradley, Muggie Maggie with Bradley, and Zita the Spacegirl with Aaron, Max, and Bradley. So as far as numbers go, I really only need to read one more book to complete this goal (and Max has agreed to have us both read Abel's Island by William Steig), but I'm pretty sure I'll read beyond the required number with this one.

3. Read Rose in Bloom by Louise May Alcott and The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (partially complete)
As I write this, I'm about halfway through the audio of Rose in Bloom. However, as I've mentioned before, I'm getting through far fewer audio books than I once did, so I've actually been listening to it for awhile, but I'm just making really slow progress. But we'll get there. I'm so excited to start The Blue Castle. I've been looking forward to this book for years but just haven't made the time for it. Until now.

4. Read a book about slow, conscientious living (not complete)
I've held off on this book on purpose because I think it will be most beneficial in November, just as we enter the cold, dark days of winter (shudder). Not that I don't think a simple lifestyle is appropriate in the summer. It is. But it just feels so much more necessary in the winter, like it might be the very key to my survival. I'm leaning strongly towards The Year of Living Danishly, but I would love any recommendations you think would fit the bill.

5. Start a new mystery series and read another mystery by Agatha Christie (not complete)
I love reading mysteries in the fall, so I've been saving this goal as well. But I have no idea what I want to read! So start sending in those suggestions! The two Agatha Christies I've read so far are Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None. I enjoyed both, so what would be a good one to read next? And as far as a series, I don't want anything too intense--think more along the lines of cozy mystery.

6. Read Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson throughout the year (partially complete)
This goal. Oh, this goal. It's going to be the death of me. I feel like I've read so much already, but my kindle says it's only 10% complete. I've been tempted to abandon it, but I feel like I haven't even come to the parts I was truly interested in, so I'm going to set some serious weekly goals to help myself knock out a big chunk of it. So far though, I think it's been rather disappointing. It seems rather ridiculous and unrelatable, so in the long run, it might not be worth investing fifty more hours of precious reading time. For now, I'll keep chipping away at it, and I hope I'll give myself permission to stop if it doesn't improve after another 20%.

7. Read a parenting book (not complete)
I just borrowed my mom's copy of The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax, so I should be starting this goal anytime now. I've been meaning to read this book for over a year, so I'm excited to finally make some time for it.

8. Read two Young Adult novels (complete)
I've read two, and neither of them satisfied, so I'm still on the hunt. They were The Distance Between Us by Kasie West and Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell. Honestly, they weren't bad (and they were clean, which was one of my major stipulations), but give me another three months and I know I'll have forgotten pretty much everything about them. You all have done a great job with the recommendations though, so I'm excited to check some of them out and continue my search.

9. Read the 2017 Newbery winner (complete)
This was a fun goal to make because, at the time, I didn't know which book was going to win. It ended up being The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, and it was fantastic. I've now discussed it with Suzanne in Episode 13 of The Book Blab, as well as my book club, and I'm convinced it was completely worthy of the Newbery.

10. Read Glimpses Into the Life of Marjorie Pay Hinckley (partially complete)
This book has been an absolute joy to read. I'm probably about three quarters of the way through and am already making plans to reread parts of it. I don't think my natural disposition is the same as Sister Hinckley's, which is terribly unfortunate and something I plan to write more about in the future, but I am incredibly inspired nonetheless. I'm glad the first half of 2017 has been filled with the wit and wisdom of this amazing lady.

I'm planning to do two more progress reports soon (a look at my 2017 plan and a list of the books I've read so far) because if there's one thing about me, it's that when I make a goal, I hold myself accountable.

How are your goals shaping up so far?

2016 Reading: First Half

I made a goal to read 70 books this year. At the end of June, I had only finished 34 (and that was with a lot of shorter books worked into the mix), so I'm not feeling overly confident about the second half of the year. I think the fact that I'm posting this a month late also shows that I'm just behind on everything right now, which is not something I enjoy. Looking on the bright side though, I read many good books during the first six months of the year, including three that I'm pretty sure will make it onto my favorites list at the end of the year. Here's a recap (book titles are linked to full reviews):

1. Lulu and the Hamster in the Night by Hilary McKay, 5/10
I kicked off 2016 by being a Round 2 judge for the Cybils Early Chapter books category. This was the first title I read, and even though I'm not going to rush out and read the rest of the series, I have no problem recommending it to an eight-year-old.

2. Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon, 8/10
This one, on the other hand, I liked well enough to then check out the first one in the series. And if Abby Hanlon writes any more books about Dory, I will read them. (Update: Dory Dory Black Sheep comes out on September 20th!)

3. My Pet Human by Yasmine Surovec, 2/10
Creative premise, disappointing execution.

4. Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner, 2/10
I'm always on the lookout for excellent historical fiction for the 7-10 year-old set. This one, unfortunately, is not going on the list.

5. The Lake House by Kate Morton, 8/10
I still like The Secret Keeper more, but I'd be lying if I didn't say this one pulled me in and didn't let me go until the end.

6. Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale, 4/10
It was fine, but I was very much aware that I was reading kids' lit.

7. The Case of the Snack Snatcher by Liam O'Donnell, 3/10
This one felt too much like it was trying to feature a special needs character, and so the mystery itself fell flat for me.

8. Clover's Luck by Kallie George, 7/10
I was pleasantly surprised by this one and would recommend it to elementary-aged kids.

9. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, 10/10
A re-read for me. I enjoyed every bit of it. I am more comfortable with who I am and my own hopes and dreams because of this book.

10. My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke, 6/10 (audio)
I love Dick Van Dyke, but I lost interest during the second half of this book.

11. Ragweed by Avi, 9/10 (readaloud)
Aaron read this first and then begged for me to read it aloud. If that's not a glowing endorsement, I don't know what is. (Also, if you like fun accents, this is the perfect readaloud for you.)

12. The Children Act by Ian McEwan, 5/10 (audio)
This makes for a great book club discussion, but let that be your warning: you'll want someone to discuss it with.

13. Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy, 7/10
I have not read very many books about the Great War, so even though this one was targeted towards a younger audience, I learned a lot from it.

14. Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt, 2/10 (audio)
Ugh. I know several friends who love this book, but I think the audio version might have ruined it for me.

15. Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon, 8/10
I read this myself and then had to share it with my kids because Dory was just too delightful to keep to myself.

16. Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol, 7/10 (readaloud)
My brother loved these books as a kid, so I read one aloud so my kids would get hooked, too. We loved solving the mysteries together.

17. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, 8/10 (readaloud)
So good. Caddie has some serious spunk but also a tender heart.

18. Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, 5/10
I would have liked this book a lot more if the library had actually been a cool library and not some technological showcase.

19. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, 9/10
I didn't think I could love a graphic novel about roller derby, but I did. Really top notch.

20. Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson, 7/10
The loose morals in this book (published in 1938) were shocking, but Miss Pettigrew herself was a model of decorum.

21. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner, 10/10 (audio)
I loved everything about this book: the multi-layered characters, the rich language, the quiet story. Five stars all the way.

22. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, 2/10 (audio)
Book club certainly helped me appreciate this book more, but I still didn't like it.

23. Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary, 10/10 (readaloud)
Ramona is the comfort food of books for me.

24. One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale, 8/10
I've been recommending this graphic novel series to anyone who has kids who love historical fiction.

25. Rascal by Sterling North, 6/10 (readaloud)
We loved parts of this book, but some of it was slow and tedious.

26. The Invisible Girls by Sarah Thebarge, 7/10
This memoir about how befriending a refugee family helped heal Sarah Thebarge after the trauma of breast cancer was inspiring and touching.

27. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, 7/10
There were a lot of hard things in this WWII novel, and at times I found it erring towards the dramatic, but I liked it.

28. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, 8/10 (readaloud)
This one has so many great adventures, and my kids were absolutely enthralled.

29. Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, 7/10
The main character is quite a bit older than what is common for most middle grade novels, but it works in this one.

30. By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman, 9/10 (readaloud)
What an absolutely delightful adventure story.

31. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, 8/10 (audio)
There were things about the book I didn't love, but Ove made up for almost all of them.

32. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier, 10/10
I read this book, and then Aaron read it, and then the whole family listened to it on audio. And just like that, it has become one of our very favorites.

33. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 8/10 (audio)
Another re-read. It was fun to read the story while knowing what the twist was going to be. I was just as impressed as the first time I read it.

34. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, 10/10
Oh wow. So heartbreaking, but what a powerful memoir.

Our recent trip helped me close some of the gap, but without any more ten-hour plane rides in my immediate future, I think it's going to be difficult to maintain my lead.

What have you been reading lately?

2015 Reading: First Half

I made a goal to read 65 books this year. At the end of June, I'd read 30. That means I'm behind, and I hate being behind (why do I do this to myself? why does an arbitrary number like 30 have to carry so much guilt with it?).

But I've read some truly amazing books during the last six months (as well as a couple of really awful ones), so overall I'm very happy with the year so far.

Here's the rundown (titles are linked to my full reviews):

1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, 6/10
Kind of a depressing start to the year. An engaging, but ultimately disappointing, read.

2. Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald, 7/10 (readaloud)
From the author of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, this is a sweet story about two orphan sisters who outwit their mean boarding house mistress.

3. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 10/10 (audio)
There are times when I'm convinced I must not belong to the same species as some other people on this planet. This was one of those times.

4. A Heart Revealed by Josi S. Kilpack, 2/10
The more time goes by, the less I like this book (and I didn't like it to begin with).

5. Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, 8/10 (readaloud)
For the "Guts! Guts! Guts!" scene alone, this is worth reading.

6. El Deafo by Cece Bell, 7/10
My enjoyment of this book was tainted by the fact that it won a Newbery Honor. I really liked the book, but the whole time I was reading, I just kept thinking about how impossible it was for the text to truly stand on its own.

7. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, 8/10 (readaloud)
The boys and I blazed through this book. They loved it just as much as I hoped they would.

8. Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary, 7/10 (readaloud)
This story is a nice glimpse of what life was like in the 1950's. I wish my boys still had the option of delivering papers as an after school job.

9. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, 10/10
I went into this book with looooooow expectations, and wow, I've never done such a complete turnaround. Who knew poetry and basketball went together?!

10. MotherStyles: Using Personality Type to Discover Your Parenting Strengths by Janet P. Penley, 8/10
Not going to lie--this was a tedious read. But it's one that now, months later, I'm still thinking about. It helped me get a clear grasp on personality typing (and caused me to type just about everyone I know).

11. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough, 6/10 (audio)
This one was far easier to read/listen to than MotherStyles, but it hasn't stayed with me at all.

12. Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, 7/10 (readaloud)
At first I didn't know what to think about the fact that the whole book centers around the illegal poaching of Danny and his father, but it's growing on me.

13. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, 7/10
I liked it, and it definitely helped me purge my clothes and books, but to call it "life-changing" would be taking it a bit far.

14. Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery, 7/10
I love Emily, but Teddy is no Gilbert Blythe, which means I could never love these books quite as much as the Anne books. 

15. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 8/10 (readaloud)
My kids now want to dress up as characters from Oz for Halloween, so I'd call this one a success.

16. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall, 9/10
A little more melancholy and emotional than the first three in the series, but I loved it. It's fun seeing the Penderwick sisters growing up.

17. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes, 8/10 (readaloud)
I was talking to my neighbor a couple nights ago, and he mentioned that many years ago their dog was stolen out of their backyard. I was shocked. I thought that kind of thing only happened in books (specifically, this book).

18. Middlemarch by George Eliot, 7/10 (audio)
This book had its slow moments, no question, but overall I'm very happy to have read it. Even though it isn't my favorite book of all time, I can see why it is for many people.

19. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin, 9/10
I'm an Upholder all the way. Habits make me a happy girl. I'm still thinking about this book.

20. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Changes the Way we Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown, 7/10 (audio)
This book helped me recognize the good vulnerable moments in my life, but I'm still not exactly sure how to have more of them in the future (in other words, it wasn't as applicable as I would have liked).

21. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, 8/10
One of those books where I felt like I needed to bookmark or highlight or write down every single quote because there was so much truth in it.

22. Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff, 7/10 (readaloud)
Loved this spin on the Rumpelstiltskin story. So did my boys.

23. The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter, 8/10
I had no idea there was so much controversy surrounding this book. It tainted my opinion a little, but overall, I still really enjoyed it.

24. Poppy by Avi, 8/10 (readaloud)
Despite this story falling second chronologically in the series, I have strong opinions for why you should read it first.

25. Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos, 2/10
I disliked this book on so many levels and for so many different reasons.

26. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, 6/10
There were things I loved and things I hated, and that made this a complicated book for me.

27. Poppy and Rye by Avi, 8/10 (readaloud)
I landed on the perfect voice for the sweet-talking, superficial beaver, Mr. Canad, and the memory still pleases me. "Well, bless my teeth and smooth my tail . . . "

28. Lessons From Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott, 6/10
I read this book for the bit about the ten-item wardrobe, but I think the most memorable thing ended up being that I now feel completely okay with my preference to wear very little makeup.

29. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling, 9/10 (readaloud)
I don't know that my kids have ever laughed so hard at a book before. Completely delightful, and we will remember it forever.

30. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest For Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown, 10/10 (audiobook)
This will go down as not just my favorite book of the first half of 2015, but as one of my favorite books of all time. Absolutely riveting.

And that's it! I'd love to hear about your favorite reads of 2015 so far!

Books of 2014, First Half

In addition to my reading goals, I also made a more general goal to read 60 books this year. I know that probably seems like petty cash to those of you who read 150+ books a year, but 60 is proving to be more ambitious than I originally thought. At the end of June, I had only read 26 books. (Last year, at this same point, I had read 34 books, which I guess is why I thought 60 books was a reasonable goal.)

Nevertheless, here's what I've read. (Click on the title to go to the full review.)

1. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, 8/10
I'd have a hard time recommending this one because of some of the content, but man, I'd be lying if I didn't admit it was a gripping read and I've thought about it a hundred times since then. Plus, I just love Liane Moriarty's writing.

2. A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine, 5/10
This is the way to take an interesting and informative topic and make it draaaaaag on eeeeeeendlessy.

3. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, AUDIO, 6/10
I didn't like it as much as The Real Boy, but it was the perfect thing to listen to on a cold January day.

4. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder, AUDIO, 8/10
My eyes are being opened: it's pretty obvious why this is a favorite series of so many.

5. Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, 7/10
Not my favorite by Kate DiCamillo but contained some pretty hilarious moments. 

6. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 10/10
Remind me to read this book if I'm ever feeling depressed about the cold and snow. 'Cause I'm pretty sure it will help me appreciate my nice warm house and little niceties like, um, food.

7. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, half-AUDIO, 6/10
Made me realize how very little I know about this world I live in. Also, I would love to read another memoir by Malala in fifteen years.

8. Henry and Beezus by Beverly Cleary, 10/10
Pretty much a perfect book.

9. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, AUDIO, 6/10
The writing wasn't exceptional, but the story impacted me nonetheless.

10. Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, 8/10
Well, my kids are still fighting, but I still feel like this was a helpful read.

11. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, half-AUDIO, 10/10
I think I could read this book a dozen times, and it would still be one of my favorites.

12. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville, 5/10
I'd say it was just me except that my boys, who usually love dragons, weren't totally enamored with this book either.

13. In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, AUDIO, 7/10
I wish I could say my eating habits were transformed after reading this book. But definitely some small changes were made with hopefully more coming in the future.

14. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin, 8/10
I'm not this much of a hippie, but I gleaned some good information nonetheless (that, and I can never resist a good birth story).

15. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, half-AUDIO, 6/10
Intricate and intriguing but not as gripping as I was expecting. 

16. Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool, 10/10
Now that I've read it a second time, I know my devotion and praise were not misplaced.

17. Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen, 6/10
Cute and fun. My boys loved it.

18. Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan, AUDIO, 8/10
Don't even think about reading this book unless you're going to listen to it.

19. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary, 9/10
After realizing that Ramona was my boys' favorite character in the Henry books, I knew we had to give her series a try. We were not disappointed.

20. Babe, the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith, 8/10
Super, super sweet.

21. All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior, 8/10
Aside from the fact that it made me absolutely terrified of having teenagers, I thought this was a fascinating book.

22. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic by Betty MacDonald, 6/10
I liked the first one, but this one is better.

23. Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary, 6/10
I guess I like boys (Henry) and girls (Ramona) better than mice (Ralph).

24. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary, 10/10
Oh, Beverly Cleary, I don't think I'll ever get tired of you.

25. A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty, 6/10
Bizarre, but it all makes sense in the end.

26. A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, 8/10
Absolutely spindiddly.

What has been your favorite book so far this year?

Books of 2013, Mid-Year

Last year, I listed all the books I read in 2012 in one post at the end of December. This year, I decided to break up that list and share the first half of it at (where else?) the half-way point. All of the titles are linked to my full review, if you're interested.

1. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale, 8/10
I loved Princess Academy, but I think I liked this sequel even more. What a great book to kick off the year with.

2. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, 9/10
One of my all-time favorite books. This time, I read it to my boys.

3. After Hello by Lisa Mangum, 6/10
Fun chick-lit but nothing all that memorable.

4. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George, 9/10
Perfect for January, I loved this retelling of an old Nordic legend

5. A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille, 7/10
I gleaned a lot of good ideas from this one. The appendices were especially helpful.

6. The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth, 8/10
How could Aaron and Maxwell not love a book about a dinosaur hatching out of an egg in the 20th-century? Definitely a favorite.

7. Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman, AUDIO, 8/10
Part memoir, part parenting book--I love books like this one. (And I'm still watching my kids' snack intake.)

8. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, 7/10
Not quite as funny as I was remembering it, but I liked it nonetheless.

9. The Evelyn-Wood Seven-Day Speed Reading and Learning Program by Stanley D. Frank, 7/10
I know the title sounds totally hokey and ridiculous (and not without reason), but this was actually a really beneficial book for me to read.

10. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin, 9/10
Everything I loved about The Happiness Project, revisited and expanded. So great.

11. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis, AUDIO, 9/10
Contains some really amazing metaphors for life all wrapped up in a captivating story.

12. Learning All the Time by John Holt, 4/10
John Holt and I had a major personality clash.

13. Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, AUDIO, 8/10
The language was rich, and the story was well-crafted.

14. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer, 8/10
I don't think there are many characters out there as easy to love as Sophy Stanton-Lacy.

15. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, 8/10
Totally deserves its shiny gold sticker--a lot of story is packed into a few words.

16. Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery, 8/10
Temple Grandin is a woman worth being inspired by . . . and I was.

17. Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack, 7/10
I knew going into this one that the ending would frustrate me, but I liked reading the rest of it.

18. Safekeeping by Karen Hesse, 6/10
An unusual, vague story that bore almost no resemblance to my beloved Out of the Dust.

19. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, AUDIO, 7/10
One of those books that keeps on giving--the more I think about it, the more there is to think about.

20. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, AUDIO, 8/10
I was afraid of this book, but my fears were unfounded. Loved it.

21. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax, AUDIO, 10/10
I'm pretty sure I've talked about this book to death, but that's because I found it so invaluable.

22. A Joyful Mother of Children by Linda J. Eyre, 6/10
I definitely liked the ideas in this book but not always the way those ideas were expressed.

23. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty, 9.5/10
I'd have to recommend it with some reservations, but I'd be lying if I didn't say this has been one of my favorite reads so far this year.

24. Half Magic by Edward Eager, 7/10
This book was a little advanced for my boys, but we still enjoyed it. I think we'll like it even more when we read it again in a few years. (And yes, it is a classic!)

25. The Submission by Amy Waldman, AUDIO, 7/10
Fascinating ideas about acceptance and prejudice post-9/11. Well executed.

26. The Center of Everything by Linda Urban, 6/10
Totally neutral on this one.

27. Raising a Reader by Jennie Nash, 10/10
Yum. If you live and breathe reading, this is (maybe) the book for you.

28. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, 8/10
In spite of its heartbreaking (for me) ending, the boys and I adored this book.

29. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine, AUDIO, 8/10
Not your average story about a white boy and a black girl.

30. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax, 10/10
Ha! You thought you'd heard about this book for the last time! I loved it so much, I bought my own copy and I read it again.

31. The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne, 6/10
Inspiring and disappointing all at the same time.

32. Cody Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, AUDIO, 8/10
A slow first half followed by an amazing second half.

33. 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith, AUDIO, 6/10
The characters were great, but some parts dragged mercilessly.

34. The BFG by Roald Dahl, AUDIO, 8/10
Delightful dialogue and, as usual, a one-of-a-kind story.

If the books of July-December are anything like the ones from January-June, it's going to be a great year! What has been your favorite book so far in 2013?