My 2022 Book List

My THIRD annual book wrap-up! (It's hard to believe that I've been plugging away at this little blog, squeezing it into the tiny margins of life for that long!) If you're interested in seeing the previous book lists, you can see them here & here.

I didn't really set out to read all that much this year, but I ended up reading over 100 books in 2022.

I know people have arguments against using audiobooks, but I have a lot on my plate. I've also struggled with keeping my mind focused on hard copy books this year. Audiobooks are such a great tool to get reading done while I also keep my hands busy.

Three changes to my reading habits that I'm planning to make this year:

1. I keep track of my reads on Goodreads, but I'm also planning to add a paper reading log for fun this year. Maybe I'll manage to convince my older 2 kids to join me that way. Here's a link to a few resources I've found.
2. I need to start reviewing more of the books I read. I feel like that would help me slow down & remember more of what I read. I started to participate in a review program for The Good Book Company, which means I at least need to write some reviews for those books!
3. I'd like to post on Instagram more consistently, and books would be one way to do that. I know there are SO MANY bookish IG accounts, but I feel like it would be kind of fun to share what I'm currently reading once a week or so. (Also, if you have a favorite "bookstagram" account that you follow for recommendations, tell me in the comments!)

OK - to the books!!!

Nonfiction

Christian

Funny that I read one about dreaming big & another one about dreaming small. I also finally got around to reading Give Them Grace, but I can't say I loved it. The idea was good - give grace because we've been given grace. But I wasn't crazy about the writing. Who Is Jesus? was a particular favorite.

1. Astonished by God: Ten Truths to Turn the World Upside Down by John Piper
2. Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You're Going to Do About It by Bob Goff
3. Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him by Sally & Nathan Clarkson
4. The Gospel According to Satan: Eight Lies about God that Sound Like the Truth by Jared C. Wilson
5. I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction by Lysa TerKeurst
6. Divine Disruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart by Dr. Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, & Jonathan Evans
7. Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through my Greatest Heartbreak by Mattie Jackson Selecman
8. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble
9. Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
10. He Will Be Enough: How God Takes You by the Hand Through Your Hardest Days by Katie Faris
11. Raising World Changers in a Changing World by Kristen Welch
12. Dream Small: The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life by Seth Lewis
13. Who Is Jesus?: Forty Pictures to Share with Your Family by Kate Hox
14. The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist: What If You Could Get What You're Really Hoping For? by Rico Tice

Memoir/Biography

I enjoy listening to memoirs when they're read by the author. Viola Davis has a powerful story. Cicely Tyson was particularly interesting because of the length of her life & career.

1. Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson
2. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
3. Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk
4. Hearts of Fire: Eight Women in the Underground Church and Their Stories of Costly Faith by Voice of the Martyrs
5. Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule
6. Finding Me by Viola Davis

Parenting/Home/Personal Development

Fewer than I have read in the past, but we're in a much smaller town than we were. Our library doesn't have as many resources as we had in Maryland! I guess I was spoiled & will have to start buying these for myself.

1. The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock your Brain and Reimagine Your Life by Allison Fallon
2. Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Your Life by Allie Casazza
3. Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart
4. Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: An Introvert's Year of Living Dangerously by Jessica Pan

Fiction

Classics

I didn't realize I was racking up so many in this category! A few of these my daughter & I got to read together which was special for sure. My oldest son & I have been slowly working through Narnia. And we've been reading the Little House series at lunchtime together.

1. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
2. Recitatif by Toni Morrison
3. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
4. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
5. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
6. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
7. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
8. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
9. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
10. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
11. Redwall by Brian Jacques
12. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery
13. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
14. Mossflower by Brian Jacques
15. A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett
16. My the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
17. Rebecca by Dauphne du Maurier
18. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
19. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
20. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
21. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
22. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
23. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
24. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
25. The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
26. Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace

Juvenile/Young Adult

A lot of these were found through Jasmine L. Holmes & Charaia Callabrass who hosted a reading challenge that highlighted black authors. (They're hosting it again in 2023, so I look forward to more recommendations from them!) A few of these were also lunchtime read alouds with my kiddos. I've read Jenny Han's other series, but this new book is *bleh* & not anywhere as good. I'm reading the Percy Jackson books because my oldest likes them & I wanted to see what the hype was about. Also, WINGFEATHER!!!

1. When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown
2. So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
3. Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
4. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
5. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
6. This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
7. Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
8. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
9. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
10. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
11. A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A . Brown
12. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
13. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
14. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
15. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
16. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
17. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinneli
18. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
19. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
20. The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
21. North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson
22. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
23. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
24. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
25. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Contemporary

A couple of these were cute, light-hearted fun. A few were a little more heavy. Some are pretty clean. Others I was skipping certain pages, if you know what I mean...

1. Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades
2. Zorrie by Laird Hunt
3. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
4. 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan
5. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
6. The Lies that Bind by Emily Giffin
7. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
8. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
9. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
10. My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
11. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
12. A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande
13. Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
14. A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf
15. Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay
16. Mr. Malcoms's List by Suzanne Allain
17. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
18. Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
19. What You Wish For by Katherine Center
20. Always, in December by Emily Stone
21. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
22. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
23. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
24. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Christian

I didn't get as many of these in as I have recently, but I was trying to be a little pickier. Counted... was really interesting - it follows the Hebrew people as they witness the plagues & flee Egypt. The Hauck book was pretty terrible. Not sure why I bothered to finish it.

1. Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette
2. To Love a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Poetry

I read the Silverstein books together with my kids. Some of the poems had them cracking up. Some had me wondering what he was thinking... Amanda Gorman's book I listened to her read it. Poetry is meant to be read aloud, of course. And who better to hear read it than the poet herself?

1. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
2. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
3. Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
4. Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

If you love books as much as me, I hope you will find a few on this list that you might enjoy!

Cheering you on!

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