My 30 Books in 2018
I hit my goal of 30 books in 2018! Between birthing a new baby, working two ministry’s (check out Blessed is She & Creighton Model Fertility Care!), homeschooling & wifing…it’s been an amazing reading adventure! I’m a changed, better woman by these books. A few years ago I started documenting the books I read, categorizing them by month and topic. It makes for a great reference for recommendations, and provides the pleasure to simply reminisce. I highly recommend keeping track of your books, especially for my fellow list loving friends, and categorizing by topic. I read in the early morning hour before kids, evening hour, and always stash books in my purse, on my bedside table and minivan floor. The habit slowly grows, and the culture is steadily built. Oh, the added benefits your modeling will reap. It is simply incomparable! So wherever you are in your adult reading journey, I challenge you to add reading to your New Years goals.
Yet, before you begin your grand goals or swallow in a feeling of failure, let my list loving nature detract to remind us of an important truth. The experience of reading is not about crossing off a list, reading more than your neighbor or doubling last years number. We don’t read to have read, we read to read. 30 is just a number. The experience of one great book read slowly and thoughtfully over the course of a year can have more power than 50 books read lightly. I have friends who read triple this amount & beyond, and friends who can’t remember the last book they finished. We don’t read to have read, we read to read. The real adventure lies in your relationship to written word, the story, the characters, and the truths shared.
My advice for the newbies would be to find something you like, that interests you, and aim for one book a season. Find a book buddy to discuss what you’ve read, or follow some awesome bookish bloggers. For the advanced, maybe dive into unfamiliar territory - a new author or different genre, and consider joining a formal book club. We can all take the challenge to pick up a book before the iPhone scroll! They say, you are what you eat…well, you are what you read. Fill your eyes and mind with the true, good and beautiful. Be intentional and selective in the New Year.
Here is my 2018 Booklist, in case you are looking to add something to your amazon cart before the New Year! It’s so fun to look back through the year & recall the fond memories with each book. I hope it inspires you, or leaves you with a great recommendation! My 2019 reading goals include diving into the Church doctors, CS Lewis novels, Russian literature, popular autobiographies, and some New York Times Bestsellers. I’m open to recommendations ;)
2018 Book-List
January - The Privilege of Being a Woman by Alice von Hildebrand
February – Saint Anthony of Padua His Life, Legends, & Devotions by Jack Wintz
February - Introduction to Classical Education by Christopher Perrin
February – Navigating the Interior Life by Daniel Burke
February – The Love that Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St Therese of Lisieux by Marc Foley
April - The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard
June - Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
August - Critical Care by Theresa Brown
August - Crazy Busy by Edward Hallowell MD
August - One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
September - Less Than a Minute to Go by Dr Bill Thierfelder
September - Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
October - Proud Parents Guide to Raising Athletic, Balanced, Coordinated Kids by Karen Ronney
November - Edith Stein Essays’ on Woman translated by Freda Mary Open
November - Raising Creative Kids by Susan Daniels & Daniel Peters
November - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
November - Know and Tell by Karen Glass
December - Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
I’m also currently reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Being Mortal, Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum and The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, and hoping to finish before the New Year!
Books provide such encouragement, truth, inspiration and absolutely joy!!! What should I add to my list in 2019?
Happy reading friends!!!
