the best books I read in 2019
According to Goodreads, I read 34 books in 2019, which translates to more than 10,000 pages! There are few things in which I delight more than snuggling into my bed (warmed, of course, by my faithful heated mattress pad #helloWisconsin) and getting lost in a good story.
Do you have difficulty finding time to read? This year, I discovered a method of reading that works for me, and maybe it's worth a try for you, too! In the afternoon, when Logan is settled in his room for quiet time and Theo is napping, Conner, Shane, and I all spend 30 minutes reading. I read non-fiction at this time because I'm still pretty awake. At nighttime, I'm exhausted enough to need to be tempted by an interesting plot. I try to read fiction for at least 30 minutes before bed, but sometimes I'm just too tired to hit that goal! I definitely miss some days, sometimes even several in a row. There's a lot of grace in the process.
Without further ado, here are the best books I read in 2019 (in no particular order):
Fiction {Adult}
* Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
* A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Fiction {Children/Young Adult}
* The Wingfeather Saga (entire series, books 1-4) {Honestly, this series was the BEST thing I read all year, but--SPOILER ALERT!--the ending! It took all my self-control not to fling the book against the wall. I was actually sobbing when poor Dan walked into the bedroom to join me in reading. Between my tears, I sputtered, "GO AWAY! I JUST WANT TO BE ALONE RIGHT NOW!" Again, poor Dan. I am always such a delight to be around. Ahem. The epilogue redeems the ending, but I still feel a bit traumatized! For many reasons, I would not recommend this series for younger than tweens or teens, but the first book (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness) is light enough that I feel OK about finishing it with my almost-nine-year-old.}
* The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (entire series, books 1-6) by Mary Rose Wood (This series is delightful, and the audiobooks are fantastic!)
* Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
* The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
* Amon's Adventure: A Family Story for Easter by Arnold Ytreeide
Non-fiction
* The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie (obviously)
* Boundaries by Henry Cloud (Truly, this one was life-changing. I wish I'd read it years [and years!] ago.)
* Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley
* A Simplified Life by Emily Ley (The two Emily Ley books are similar. I liked both. Grace, Not Perfection has more of Ley's personal story, while A Simplified Life sticks more to tactical advice. I own both of these and love them.)
* The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
* The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
