In my last post, I shared my favorite books that I read in 2018–my top 5 of the 16 that I read/listened to.  It’s been so fun to fall in love with reading! I did really enjoy reading as a kid (and I still marvel at my concentration, focus, and comprehension that I had then).  However, I was a pretty active kid, and being outside probably had more appeal than sitting curled up with a book.  So, here I am, all grown up and enjoying time with a book–generally early in the morning before my people are awake or after the tiny humans are in bed.

This year’s goal is 24 books–two per month.  When I factor in audiobooks, that feels pretty achievable.  I am a list person and definitely a planner, so I enjoy deciding which books I’ll read when.

So, what am I hoping to tackle this year?

Fiction in 2019

1.  The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)

I started this one last fall, but it is a big book (1200+ pages!), so I’m not moving too quickly, but, my goodness, is this book good!  Don’t let anyone tell you it’s just an old, dusty classic.  There have been a few parts so far that have really had me on the edge of my seat!  I’m interested to see how this story unfolds.  Also, I feel smart reading this book.  So, there’s that. (Note: if you’re considering reading this book, I’ve heard that the Penguin Classic translation is the preferred translation.  I briefly looked at a different translation and had to agree!  I wouldn’t want a potentially not-so-great translation of this book to rule this one out for you.)

2.  Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christy)

A middle school teacher read us an Agatha Christy mystery, but that is my only exposure to this extremely famous author!  When the movie came out for this one, I decided I’d like to read this one before watching.  Thinking this might be my “beach read” during our spring break vacation.

3. & 4.  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince & Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Books 6 and 7) (J.K. Rowling)

I need to finally finish this series.  I’ve read about 2 per year for the past few years.  They are great, and I can’t believe I’ve never read them before!  So fun.  Again, shameless plug for reading all the children’s literature that you probably would have greatly enjoyed as a child but were too busy running around.

Non-fiction in 2019

1.  The Whole Christ (Sinclair Ferguson)

Currently reading for Women’s Doctrine Study at my church (these ladies do not read fluff)!  I never, ever would have picked this book up off the shelf, and I do feel like some of this is going straight over my head, but I also really appreciate the women with whom I am studying this book.  They are helping me make heads or tails of this material!

2.  Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (Siegfried Engelmann)

I bought this book last fall but haven’t touched it yet.  Hoping to get through the introduction in the next week or two, so Landon and I can begin his lessons.  I’m hoping to get him reading in the next six months or so.  He likes “school,” and seems to be picking up letters and sounds fairly well.  I’ve only heard good things about this book, so we’ll see how it goes!

3.  Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God (David McCasland)

I’m almost finished with this book, and I’ve found it quite encouraging.  It’s a biography of Oswald Chambers, a saint I have only ever “met” through his most famous work, My Utmost for His Highest.  I’ve picked up a few, really important take aways from his life and work that have encouraged and changed my own daily walk with Christ in the past few months.

4.  The Free Voice (Cornelius Reid)

Pretty doubtful that any of my blog readers will jump at the chance to read this book, but I am also a voice teacher!  Also, I am a descended student of Reid (my teacher’s teacher), and I can totally tell as I read this book!  Such a simple, straightforward manner of teaching voice that doesn’t dabble in all the imagery based methods of the 20th century.  Just good, science-based pedagogy founded upon the work of the great masters of the Bel Canto era.  In case you wondered if I’m actually as nerdy as I say I am, here’s proof.

Audiobooks of 2019

1.  Intuitive Eating (Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch)

I’ve heard great things about this book, and I think it aligns well with my approach to health and wellness (and how much I hate diets!).  After reading Food Freedom Forever last year (and being surprised that it made my top 5!), I am increasingly more interested to read this one.

2.  Deep Work (Cal Newport)

Almost finished with this one!  It started off a little basic, but now it is getting really interesting.  I’m excited to try some of Newport’s techniques for improving your ability to put in solid blocks of uninterrupted, focused work time.  I have a morning block of time, a nap time block of time, and an evening block of time during which to work, and I’d like to make these hours as focused as I possibly can.  Also, interested to see if these techniques (like memorizing an entire deck of cards) could help me solve my reading comprehension/speed/focus issues.

3.  Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

Another classic that I’ve never read!  I don’t listen to many fiction books, but two summers ago when I listened to Rachel McAdams read Anne of Green Gables, I really, really enjoyed it.  I think I picked up this audio book on the cheap quite a while ago.  I’m thinking it would make for a good summer listen.

4.  Reading People (Anne Bogel)

This book, written by a book-loving blogger, looks interesting.  There are so.many.personality quizzes and systems these days.  This book looks into the biggest personality frameworks and explains how they help us understand ourselves and each other when it comes to work, family, productivity, spiritual life, etc.

And of course, a few cookbooks…

1.  Salt Fat Acid Heat (Samin Nosrat)

This cookbook is so buzzy right now, and I think I just love the premise!  There are a few basics that create any great recipe (I bet you can guess what they are from the title), and once you’ve got a handle on how those things play together, you really can create endless recipes.  Am I already doing this when I create a recipe?  How could I do it better?  Let’s find out…should be to my door shortly via Amazon Prime.

2.  Eat What You Love (Danielle Walker)

Blogger turned cookbook author, Danielle Walker, is one of my favorites (I have 3 of her previous cookbooks, and two mini e-cookbooks)!  Her journey with a very debilitating autoimmune condition has inspired her to create some crazy delicious recipes!  I find them to be well-tested also (not always the case when bloggers turn into cookbook authors, in my opinion). Excited to see what else she turns out in her kitchen!

3.  Tasty Ultimate: How to Cook Basically Anything

Okay, can we all just admit to watching some of their fast-forwarded cooking videos that pop up on Facebook from time to time?  I am not a big video watcher, but these ones always get me.  This cookbook looks SO fun–definitely not recipes that I can make everyday (hello, gluten and dairy!), but I think I just can’t pass this one up.  (Can I please judge a book by its cover just this once?  I mean, those are mozzarella stick onion rings!)

4.  Cook Like a Pro (Ina Garten)

There are a few cookbook authors of whom I like to get my hands on every single work produced: Danielle Walker (mentioned above), Gwenyth Paltrow (mentioned here), and Barefoot Contessa!  She is just the best.  Her recipes are foolproof.  They really teach you how to cook–even hard recipes that might seem unapproachable.  She’ll walk you through it.  She’ll hold your hand.  It will be great.  Browsing through this one, I saw a scone recipe.  Sold.

What else should I read?

This list only takes up 50% of my current goal of 24 books this year.  (I don’t count cookbooks in my final list!)  I like to leave some space for other books that jump out at me at a moment’s notice, or for when I find a book I’ve heard about on a good sale!

I love, love, love to know what other people are reading.  It tells me so much about them.  Also, my friends seem to have good taste, and the things that they like, I tend to like, too. (Duh.)  So, tell me what you’re reading right now or what you’re thinking you’ll read next (even if you’re not a crazy Type-A person like myself that creates whole spreads in her bullet journal for mapping out her literary adventures for the year.  I have heard about this idea called spontaneity, but I don’t think I like it.)

Send comments my way!

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