Reader's Journal 2012

I have always wanted to keep track of all the books I read over the course of a year.    I only wish I started this, oh, about 40 years ago.  This is a record of the books I read mainly at night when I retired for the day.  It does not include the books I read for our school nor does it include the dozens of books I read only portions of.  Some I blogged about, most I did not.  The Bible, devotionals, CM's 6 volume series, or research stuff - none of that is included here. I learn something from everything I read but  I don't necessarily like everything I read. (In fact, I strongly disliked some of the titles in the list below.)

Here are some highlights followed by the list.

                              Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me

I loved this one.  The author takes you on her journey with books and her journey with God, which happen to be one and the same.  The title of the first chapter is "Books Promiscuously Read:  John Milton's Areopagitica".  It includes her sometimes beautiful and sometimes messy experiences.  If you love books and books about books, you will like this one.  If I were to write a memoir, I would steal this format.



Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring
Remnicent of Edith Schaeffer and Karen Mains, this book is spot-on when it comes to caring and hospitality.  I learned  much from it, especially since I was staying in the home of someone who lives this out while I was reading it.




Wings  by Gene Stratton-Porter
A series of 11 essays that I hadn't read by Gene Stratton-Porter, many that give the story-behind-the-story. A must-read for any of her fans.   Perusing it again makes me think I need to reread it. There was that amazing story of what she had to go through to get that kingfisher photo...


Pebble in a Pool: the Widening Circle of Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Life I have been discussing this again with my sister-in-law.  She reminded me of the reasons I enjoyed this biography and brought up many things I hadn't remembered.  I wrote about this book here. Dorothy was indeed a fascinating, strong woman and an advocate of Maria Montessori.

Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived by Penelope Lively  The fascinating memoir of an English writer who grew up in Egypt.  Historically, it was interesting.  But for me, the details of her PNEU education were the ticket.  (A Charlotte Mason education!  Well, it was supposed to be.)




Chronicles of Fairacre: Village School / Village Diary / Storm in the Village (The Fairacre Omnibus)  Here is where I began with the Miss Read books.  I tend to want the hardcovers and only the illustrations by John Goodall.  Sweet, satisfying reads. A nice break after some heavier lifting.

Books Read in 2012 
(*indicates a high recommendation!)

1.In the Country of Books: Commonplace Books and Other Readings by Richard Katzev*
2.Forgotten Bookmarks: A Bookseller's Collection of Odd Things Lost Between the Pages by Michael Popek
3.Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden*
4.Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis  by Lauren Winner
5.The Keeper of the Bees (Library of Indiana Classics)  by Gene Stratton Porter*
6.The Rossettis In Wonderland: A Victorian Family History  by Dinah Roe*
7.Wise Child by Monica Furlong
8.Pebble in a Pool: the Widening Circle of Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Life by Elizabeth Yates*
9. Sweeping Changes: Discovering the Joy of Zen in Everyday Tasks by Gary Thorp
10. Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen*
11.Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative by Ken Robinson*
12. Village School (The Fairacre Series #1)  by Miss Read*
13.Village Diary (The Fairacre Series #2) by Miss Read*
14.Storm in the Village (The Fairacre Series #3) by Miss Read*
15.Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived  by Penelope Lively*
16.Miss Clare Remembers and Emily Davis (The Fairacre Series 4 & 8) by Miss Read*
17. Early Days by Miss Read*
18.Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books (Unpacking My Library Series)  by Leah Price
19. Over the Gate (The Fairacre Series #5) by Miss Read*
20.Wings  by Gene Stratton-Porter*
21. Fairacre Festival  by Miss Read*
22. Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring  by Andi Ashworth*
23. Miss Clare Remembers and Emily Davis (The Fairacre Series 4 & 8) by Miss Read*
24.Tyler's Row (The Fairacre Series #9)  by Miss Read*
25.Farther Afield (The Fairacre Series #11)  by Miss Read*
26.No Holly for Miss Quinn (The Fairacre Series #12)  by Miss Read*
27.The Exact Place  by Margie L. Haack*
28.True Heroism in a World of Celebrity Counterfeits  by Dick Keyes*
29.Village Affairs (The Fairacre Series #13)  by Miss Read*
30.Village Centenary (The Fairacre Series #15)  by Miss Read*
31.The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel  by Diane Setterfield*
32. Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me  by Karen Swallow Prior*
33. Miss Read's Christmas: Village Christmas and Christmas Mouse (The Fairacre Christmas Omnibus)  by Miss Read*
34.Rock-Bottom Blessings: Discovering God's Abundance When All Seems Lost by Karen Beattie*
35.So Brave, Young, and Handsome: A Novel by Leif Enger
36.After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters  by N.T. Wright*
37.Peace Like a River  by Leif Enger*

Have you enjoyed any of these?  Disliked any of them?  Please link to your own 2012 list if you have one - I'd love to see what you read!

Take joy,
Nancy