What did you read this year? Do you hope to read more in 2016? Me, too. I think I say that every year, and instead of my list growing longer it somehow keeps getting shorter! Well, if you need a book suggestion…keep reading!
I wasn’t quite as good at keeping my list this year! I probably forgot to mention a book or two, but here is a list of most of the books I read this year!
See previous years of reading here: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Books I Read in 2015
- The Good Earth
– I wasn’t sure about this book, sometimes classics are either over my head or I don’t have time in this crazy life to really dig in and focus on the book. But this story was SO GOOD. It was worth it!
- A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet: Southern Stories of Faith, Family, and Fifteen Pounds of Bacon
– Ok, so I wasn’t really a fan of this book. I was hoping it would be a humorous memoir like Sparkly Green Earrings or The Antelope in the Living Room, but these stories seemed so random, I couldn’t get into this one.
- The Swan House
– loved this story, sad and hard time in our country’s history, but a sweet book nonetheless.
- The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
– a book for all moms! We need time for ourselves and for our calling and to learn how to TAKE CARE of ourselves. Read more of my thoughts here.
- All the Light We Cannot See
– Oh my. Maybe my favorite book of 2015 so far. SO good. Also quite a hard story, but the historical part of this book made it so fascinating, knowing that this story was based on some true parts of this portion of our world history. Wow. The story and the characters are beautiful and will draw you in!
- What Alice Forgot
– this was a quick and fun read. Warning: language and some other stuff I’m probably forgetting. But the story is just great and I couldn’t put it down.
- The Husband’s Secret
– this book is by the same author of What Alice Forgot, so I picked it up (on kindle) after reading the first one. This story was good and I really enjoyed the story, but a lot MORE language and lot MORE inappropriate stuff happening. I probably would not recommend it for that reason, unless you can read a story and overlook all that.
- Praying Over God’s Promises: The Lost Art of Taking Him at His Word
– a hugely encouraging book, especially if you need reminding of the PROMISES of God and how to cling to them by praying them! Loved this book! Read my post about this book here.
- The 15 Success Traits of Pro Bloggers: A Proven Roadmap to Becoming a Full-Time Blogger
– This was a great and helpful read if you are wanting to improve your blog!
- If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers
– oh I loved this one! I wrote a whole post on it. So encouraging and inspiring!
- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
– this was another DIFFICULT yet beautiful story! I loved this book and did not want it to end! But beware, I cried multiple times in this one!
- Dragon’s Gate
– I read this one for my girls reading list this year, I wanted to read ahead of them and develop some comprehension questions for them. It was also good and very eye opening! I had no idea of the history that went along with the building of the transcontinental railroad! If you’re studying this period in history (around same time of Civil War) I highly recommend it.
- Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love: Benedict’s Way of Love, 2nd Edition
– this will also rank as one of my favorite reads of 2015. I loved it so much I started a book club for discussion for October 2015. Find more details about the book club here. And see all 31 posts in this book discussion here.
- The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future
– this was a VERY fascinating and also scary/eery read. The author tells us that the DETAILS of history are ACCURATE, but the characters and how it happened are fiction. If you are curious about prophecy and end times and the direction of America, I would recommend this book. Be prepared for your jaw to drop a few hundred times as you read it. I will also say that I do not usually like books like this. I don’t have a huge need to study end times, it leads to fear for me personally. But, this book is so fascinating and I believe a lot of it to be true!
- Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World
– another fabulous book by Emily P. Freeman. I wrote a whole post on this book also, click here to read it. This book reminds us that we don’t have to be doing the biggest and greatest things for God. This book reminds me that we are small and that is good.
- Counting by 7s
– This book says for ages 10 and up. LOL! I guess I’m just an immature reader but I LOVED this book. (I also loved Hunger Games which are considered YA so there ya go.) This book is about a 12 year old girl who faces some pretty difficult and life changing things in her young life. There is nothing questionable in this book as far as inappropriate conduct or language, but I’m not sure if my girls (13 & 12) could handle the “hard stuff.” This story will capture your heart, you will cry, you will laugh and you will be reminded that there really are new beginnings in life!
- When Lightning Struck – brand new book for middle and high schoolers on the life of Martin Luther! Such a wonderful book! I wrote more about that book here.
- Blessed, Blessed…Blessed – a great book from Missy Robertson of the Ducky Dynasty family. She shares the joys and struggles of having a special needs child. I wrote a full post on this book here.
- Fervent – this book by Priscilla Shirer was AMAZING. Probably one of my favorite books on prayer and the armor of God! I wrote more about it here.
- Longing for Paris – this book written by Sarah Mae totally met me right where I’m at…it’s about finding joy and contentment right where you’re at and not always longing for the “other…” She describes her longing for Paris and how God has taught her so much about longings in this life.
- Little Cabin on the Trail – I may have saved the best for last. Goodness. This book, written by a dear friend of mine, made me laugh, made me cry and made me want to hug my children and hold on tight. All at once. Denise has such a gift with words. (Check out her blog, too!)
Favorite Books of 2015
I can’t leave a post like this without mentioning which books were my ABSOLUTE favorites!
Faith book – Fervent
Fiction book – All the Light We Cannot See
Memoir – Little Cabin on the Trail
Other – I can’t leave out Radical Hospitality, I mean I wrote a 31 day series on this book!! 🙂
Candace,
One of my favorites this year was AD 30 by Ted Dekker. I blogged about it here:
https://meganvance.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/review-of-a-d-30-by-ted-dekker/
Happy New Year!
Megan
Candace,
I made a goal last year to read 26 books. Each book with the last name of an author from every letter of the alphabet. I was about 7 short of finishing that goal, even though I read about 31 books. (I kept reading authors with the same letter last name 🙂 ) So this year my goal the same thing, but I plan on sticking to it this year.
Excited to see what you read,
Abbey