Reading Review: 2014 Books

Yep, I only write a post once a year. And it's about books. And like 2 people read it. But that's okay - I like to write this every year for myself. I wanted to read 80 books in 2014 and I only made it to 60. It was a little disappointing and it was because I kind of lost my reading mojo in the last few months of the year. And I hope I get it back soon! Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I had 14 books on my goal list and read 9 of them. (Just finished one this week; a little late but I'm counting it.) It's those stinkin' non-fictions that kill me. I have a hard time picking those up. But am half way through one of them. I'll do better in 2015. I think I'll go for 70 books this year.

To Read in 2015

To Finish:
Outlander by Diana Galbadon
Trails to Testimony by Bradley D. Harris

Classics:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Non-Fiction:
The Parenting Breakthrough by Merrilee Boyack
To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson

General Fiction:
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
James Potter & the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert


Out of 60 books, I read 2 non-fiction (yikes!), 6 classics, 17 YA, and 17 mysteries. I gave a 5-star rating to 8 books, 4-stars to 28 books, 3-stars to 18 books, 2-stars to 5 books, and 1-star to one sad, little book.

Favorite 5 Stars

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Phillip Sendker
The most romantic book you'll ever read! This is true love, the kind that lasts forever. I so enjoyed learning about the culture of Burma and how such a simple life can be so rewarding and joyful. The format made it almost a mystery, and the pieces of the puzzle come in slowly, at a rate that was frustrating for us Westerners, but made for a very beautiful story. The writing was excellent and obviously the setting was my favorite.

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
This was my favorite book of the year and I recommend it to everyone! Is like Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code meets Google meets your favorite old book store. All in a neat, not-too-long package. Great, descriptive settings too.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King
The 2nd book in a series about an older Sherlock Holmes & his young protege, Mary Russell. I am excited to read more of this series! This one was about mysticism and the women's rights movement in London.

Sutton by J.R. Moehringer
A psychological study of a famous bank robber, rich with historical detail and the setting of NYC. So different and interesting, PG-13 for sexual content, R for language.

Rules by Cynthia Lord
A very touching short novel about a 12yo girl with an autistic brother - appropriate for all ages.

It Starts With Food by the Hartwigs
This is the book that goes with The Whole 30 diet and while the book might not be a literary marvel, I give the program 5 stars. You can read my review of the system here.

Jacky Faber series by L.A. Meyer
I read books 3-8 early in 2014 and I love this series! I gave 5 stars to books 3 & 4, and 4 stars to the rest. If you haven't read the outrageous adventures of young Jacky you really should! I would love for my 10yo son to read these but they have enough sexual allusions that we will be waiting 4 or 5 years. But I would say for grownups they are pretty clean. Although there is some violence. They are YA books. I am going to read the last 3 books this year.

Notable 4 Stars

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Well written, mysterious and scary! The setting of Spain and some very interesting characters make this a great read.

The Incorrigibles by Maryrose Wood
I read the first four books of this series and am so excited for the last two. Silly, smart, mysterious, and charming! These are short-ish chapter books appropriate for 9 and up.

The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Charming story about a Southern beekeeper living in NYC.


The entire list of 60 books that I read in 2014 is on Goodreads.