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Friday, January 4, 2013

2012 Books



This year I took a lot of recommendations from friends.  I wanted to take on a big mix of fiction, especially things I wouldn't normally seek out on my own.  Some of it was great, some was just not for me- but I'm glad I went for it anyway.  I haven't gotten a lot of reading done this fall; but I'm carving more time out for it now that the weather is cold.  (Right now I'm reading A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.)

Here's what I read in 2012:

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan

Reading with the Stars, A Celebration of Books and Libraries, Compiled by Leonard Kniffel

77 Love Sonnets, by Garrison Keillor

The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English, by Roy Peter  
     Clark

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, by 
     Timothy and Kathy Keller

Small Things with Great Love: Adventures in Loving Your Neighbor, by Margot Starbuck

Fannie’s Last Supper: Re-creating One Amazing Meal from Fannie Farmer’s 1896 Cookbook, by 
     Chris Kimball

Night, by Elie Wiesel

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, by Julie Andrews

Girl Meets God: On the Path to a Spiritual Life, by Lauren F. Winner

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand

Mudhouse Sabbath, by Lauren F. Winner

Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity, by Lauren F. Winner

Beyond the Mirror: Reflections on Death and Life, by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship & Life Together, by Mark and Grace Driscoll

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, by Lauren F Winner

State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett

My Own Two Feet: A Memoir, by Beverly Cleary

Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O’Donohue

Girl Walks into a Bar: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters and a Midlife Miracle, by Rachel
     Dratch

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie
     Barros

To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, by John O’Donohue

The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom, by Christine Valters Paintner

No Man is an Island, by Thomas Merton

Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture, by Makoto Fujimura

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp

Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World, by Bob Goff

Spotlight: A Close-Up Look at the Artistry and Meaning of Stephenie Meyer‘s Twilight Saga, by
     John Granger

When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God, by T.M.
     Luhrmann

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, by Deborah Moggoch

The Family You've Always Wanted: Five Ways You Can Make it Happen, by Gary Chapman

The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield

The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One, by Patrick Ness

Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn

The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling

Divergent (Book 1), by Veronica Roth

Half the Church: Recapturing God's Global Vision for Women, by Carolyn Custis
     James

We Only Know So Much: A Novel (P.S.), by Elizabeth Crane

Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters, by N.T.
     Wright (1/2 of it)

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, by Joan Reardon

The Distant Hours, by Kate Morton

The Things That Matter, by Nate Berkus

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Which ones would you recommend? ~B*

Megan said...

Oh man, I never know what to do with that question! I suppose it depends on what type of book you're looking for, since I might think one is great, but it isn't for everyone, etc. I CAN say that anything on this list was interesting/good enough that I finished it! There are so many books that I see somewhere like the library or in a review, and after starting it I know I just won't get into it (that's why I like using the library so much!)

If you know what type of book you're looking for I might be more help! :)

MK

Danielle said...

A great list, some I've read and loved, others on my own list as well. Nicely varied! I hope to get my 2012 list up this week.