Without further ado...
1. Number of books read
33
2. Number of rereads
Just one. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!
3. Most read genre
Just by a quick overview I would say fantasy but I also read a lot of mysteries this year as well.
4. The best book you read in 2017
Without a doubt this goes to Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. My oldest brother had read it and told me it was the best book he ever read. He gave it to me and I devoured it in two days. This is a retelling of the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche. C.S. Lewis rearranges this myth to create an allegorical representation of the relationship between the one true God and man. I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it again. This book wrecked me and I think I will spend a lifetime rereading it!
My honorable mention has to be Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. This is a middle grade novel that I read back in the fall and I absolutely loved it! This is such a whimsical and charm filled adventure and it's just so good. It gave me almost the same feeling as reading Harry Potter, which is a win in my book! I can't recommend this enough!
5. What's a book you were excited about and thought you were really going to love but didn't
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson. This is a mystery novel that I had heard so much about. I was really intrigued so I picked it up. I ended up not really liking it. I thought it was really slow and it didn't hold my interest. I am really hard on Mysteries though because I want to be gripped. If a mystery doesn't have me flying though the pages then it doesn't really work for me.
6. Most surprising book that you read
The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Kathie Lee Gifford. I am going to be honest. I picked this book up because I had traveled to Israel at the end of 2017 and absolutely fell in love. I wanted to read this book so I could relive my time there and of course this book definitely did that for me. What really surprised me though was the commentary provided by Rabbi Jason Sobel. He shared so many eye opening realities within scripture that I have never studied before. I love the way both He and Kathie Lee really shed light of God's redemptive work in Israel: Prophecies coming to pass and promises being met. It makes me so giddy to see what God is going to do further. I believe we are living in exciting times and Israel plays the most important role in that!
7. Best series you started in 2018
Hands down Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. I keep hearing that this series is going to be a long one and I am hear for it!
8. Best series ender you read in 2018
This one wins by default because it was the only series ender I read this year. Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han. Contemporaries don't tend to be my favorite but I thought I would give this series a try because I had heard so many great things about it. In the end I really enjoyed it! I thought it was super cute and by the end of the series I kind of got sad that I wasn't going to be with these characters anymore, which to me is a true hallmark of a good book!
9. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018
Stuart Turton! I read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which I actually believe is his debut novel. Now this was a mystery that kept me interested! This was such a fun read and I definitely did not guess the outcome! I really hope that Stuart Turton keeps writing books because I will surely be reading them!
10. The most action packed, thrilling, unputable down book of the year
I will give this to The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. This book was so intricate and there was always something new to discover. I loved it's mansion setting and the whole cast of characters. It was a good time!
11. A book that you read in 2018 that you will most likely reread
I know I already mentioned this but without a doubt, Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. But I will also say that I have already thought about rereading Live Fearless by Sadie Robertson. I read this book in an extreme time of need and her words were so inspirational in lifting me out of a place of anxiety. I think it will be a reread for me throughout my life. Especially as my family and I enter into different seasons of calling. I always want to say "Yes" to whatever God has called us to no matter how scary or difficult it may seem. Like I said, Sadie's words really inspire boldness!
12. Favorite book cover of a book you read in 2018
Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin. The author of this book also did the cover art and illustrations throughout and these illustrations are seriously stunning! They are so whimsical and dreamy. It's without a doubt one of the most beautiful books I own!
13. Most memorable character of 2018
Morrigan Crow from Nevermoor. I loved reading about this character! She is strong, smart, loyal, unique, and adventurous. I cannot wait to continue following her journey!
14. Most beautifully written book of 2018
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
15. Most thought provoking book
Till We Have Faces. Sorry guys....just read it!
16. A book that you can't believe you waited until 2018 to read
I would have to go with the Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. This was another book that I read when I was going through a bout anxiety. I wish I would have read it sooner. It's definitely one of those books that hits you right in the face with conviction. Joyce Meyer really knows how to shed light on truth in a no nonsense way. It's definitely what I needed in that season of my life but I honestly wish I would have read it sooner!
17. Favorite quote from a book you read in 2018
"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words."
-C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces
18. Favorite non-romantic relationship in a book you read in 2018
Most definitely the relationship between Morrigan Crow and Jupiter North in Nevermoor. I don't know how to explain this without giving too much away but at the beginning of the book you see that Morrigan has a rather strained relationship with her biological father. Jupiter North ends up taking Morrigan to a magical city called Nevermoor because he has chosen her to compete in a prestigious competition in which the winners earn the right to enter into an organization called the Wondrous Society. Throughout the story you really see Jupiter North become like a father figure to Morrigan and his mentorship towards her is so pure and authentic. He truly believed in her when no one else would.
I also have to go with Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, and Helen Burns from My Plain Jane. They are a hilarious dynamic trio. I was laughing constantly during this read!
19. A book that made you cry in 2018
This is strange for me because it does NOT take much to make me cry, like ever! That includes books but this year I can really only remember crying during two different books. Till We Have Faces, obvi! and also, Live Fearless by Sadie Robertson. I was going through a lot while reading this and her words were just so encouraging. I knew that God was using her to call me towards a place of peace and for that....tears were shed.
20. What are your reading goals for 2019?
I love setting reading goals. It's fun for me, especially when I pile up new books on my shelf but I also know that I will just end up reading what I am interested in at the time so I usually don't put too much pressure on myself!
1. My first reading goal is always to read 20 books. For the past several years I have always exceeded this goal but I keep it lower so that I don't feel any pressure.
2. First and foremost the book I am determined to finish is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This was a goal I had for this year and sadly I didn't start it until a couple of days ago. This book is a monster so I know I won't finish it by the end of this month but most likely in January. I LOVE this story so much. I have seen the absolutely stunning film (with Keira Knightley) several times and I just can't get enough of it. So I am excited to finish the book!
3. I WANT TO READ MORE C.S. LEWIS!
4. Another big priority is of course Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend, the sequel to Nevermoor!
5. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien (I say this year after year...will this be the year?)
6. I would love to read more mystery. Like good classic mysteries that have a lot of support already behind them. I haven't read a lot of Agatha Christie or any of Arthur Conan Doyle. I think those would be good places to start!
So there is my 2018 reading year in a nutshell. It's so fun to look back and see what I have been reading all at once. I am so looking forward to yet another year ahead filled with lots of books! What are you currently reading? What are some of your all time favorite books and authors? I would love to hear your suggestions!
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