This year I read a LOT of books, but about a third of them were audiobooks. They still count, right?! I read and/or listened to the majority of my books before I started working at Rio Norte as Pinkie's assistant (about forty-eight of the sixty-two books).
Once again, I don't recommend all of these titles to everyone, but I hope if you're reading this very long post that maybe you'll find a book you'd like to try out. I tried to keep my descriptionsshorter brief this year.
My reading lists from past years are included as tabs now, right under my blog banner. If you'd rather click on a link, here you go:
2010
2011
2012
Updated Key
* fun
# favorite
AB audiobook
Christian
# AB God's Smuggler, Brother Andrew and John and Elizabeth Sherrill
My first audiobook ever, I think. This is a book about Brother Andrew's growing up, conversion, and early ministry years. Amos and I love a few of his later books, too, Secret Believers and Light Force.
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, John and Stasi Eldredge
I read this for our short-lived girls' book club. I do not recommend it unless you are well-grounded in biblical truth (it did have some interesting points).
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
After listening to interviews and reading various blog posts about this woman, I couldn't wait to read this book. Our little book club read it and we all deemed it very helpful, though we didn't agree with everything she had to say. I found Butterfield's thoughts on her conversion as well as her thoughts on adoption very insightful.
# Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth Elliot
I had never read this classic about the missionaries in Ecuador, but I loved it. It is particularly gut-wrenching because you know that the missionaries are going to die.
Give Me This Mountain, Helen Roseveare
Good missionary biography.
AB A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer, Lyle Dorsett
I didn't know much about Tozer, and honestly, after reading this biography, I wasn't that impressed by his character, though I know that his work helped to advance the Kingdom.
# Through Her Eyes: Perspectives on Life from Christian Women Serving in the Muslim World, Marti Smith
This was one of the best books I read this year. The advice and experiences were very interesting and insightful. I got this from our friends before they headed off to Xinjiang, read most of it, then passed it on to my friend Heather.
Chariots of Fire, W.J. Weatherby
I haven't seen the movie, but I already knew a little bit about Eric Liddell when I found this book. This book, a kind of book version of the movie, made me want to read even more about him.
Children's/Young Adult
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
# Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
This is my favorite Harry Potter book. Maybe THIS year I'll write about them on my blog.
Son, Lois Lowry
I really liked The Giver and Gathering Blue, but I didn't like Messenger so much (rather anticlimactic). Son, the final book that brings all the characters together, was better than Messenger but not as good as the other two. Oh well.
A weird quote:
"Freed of the menacing greed and self-indulgence that had almost overwhelmed them during that time, the villagers had learned to celebrate themselves, as they were doing this evening."
Son, Lois Lowry, pg. 293
Chester Cricket's New Home, George Selden
Bleah. Don't waste your time! A sad follow up to A Cricket in Times Square.
James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
I like some of Dahl's other books better, such as Boy, Going Solo, Esio Trot, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
* # AB The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart
Amos and I LOVED these books! I picked this up at the local library, and we were hooked (even though it took us several months to listen to all of the books).
Nicholas Again, Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe
Nicholas on Vacation, Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe
Two books about a little boy who gets into mischief (and ends up crying a lot); translated from French.
The Twits, Roald Dahl
Very short book about some terrible people and their come-uppance; this is my former roommate Adrienne's favorite Dahl book.
The Hundred Dresses, Eleanor Estes
A short book about the importance of being nice to others and trying to make it right when you fail.
Betsy-Tacy, Maud Hart Lovelace
Classic book about two best friends.
Eighteen and On Her Own, Arleta Richardson
I'd read other Grandma's Attic books (my Great Aunt Barbara let me borrow them), but I'd never read this one. I really liked it, and now I want to read the ones that come later.
* # The Middle Moffat, Eleanor Estes
I think this is my favorite Moffat family book. I checked it out from the library and was sitting in my car laughing out loud at Jane's part in the play about the three bears.
Applewhites at Wit's End, Stephanie S. Tolan
I really liked Surviving the Applewhites; this book used a lot of pop culture references (death to any book attempting to be a classic), and the story wasn't as good, but it was okay.
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
First book in the series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Amos read the series and thought they were okay; I didn't like this one very much and thus didn't read the others.
The Moffat Museum, Eleanor Estes
Another Moffat book; very good.
Betsy-Tacy and Tib, Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy add Tib to the best friend mix.
*# AB The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Trenton Lee Stewart
*# AB The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, Trenton Lee Stewart
Loved these, too.
# AB Code Name Verity, Elisabeth Wein
I really, really liked this book. The audio version is great!
AB The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
A book that a lot people read and really liked, including my friends Jamie, Rachel, and Cara, but I didn't like it that much. The story was interesting, but the style of writing and the narrator made it ehhhh, in my opinion.
* AB The Extraordinary Education of Nicolas Benedict, Trenton Lee Stewart
We liked this one, too, but not as much as the other Benedict books; still good, though!
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
A graphic novel about an Iranian girl. Interesting.
AB A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond
This audio version was read by Stephen Fry. Amos and I really liked it!
Around the World, Matt Phelan
A graphic novel about three people who journeyed around the world. The pictures are very well done and the stories are interesting.
In Grandma's Attic, Arleta Richardson
An early Grandma's attic book. I think we got this one for free on amazon; the last chapter was missing. :P
AB More About Paddington, Michael Bond
Also read by Stephen Fry
Rose Under Fire, Elizabeth Wein
This book is related to Code Name Verity, but I didn't like this one as much. It seemed much less plausible than Code Name Verity. I'm glad I read Rose Under Fire rather than listened to it because this book had a lot of poetry in it, and it might have been irritating to listen to( in addition to the implausible plot and one particularly annoying character).
Agatha Christie
AB Murder in Mesopotamia, Agatha Christie
A dramatized audiobook.
AB Towards Zero, Agatha Christie
Another dramatized audiobook; I don't think I liked this story as much as some other Christie stories.
AB The Moving Finger, Agatha Christie
This was an interesting story about blackmail. I can't remember now who was sending the letters. :P
AB Dead Man's Mirror, Agatha Christie
AB The Body in the Library, Agatha Christie
# AB The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie
One of my favorite Agatha Christie stories. It is brilliant, plus the narrator was very good (I think it was Hugh Fraser).
AB Dead Man's Folly, Agatha Christie
AB Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie
AB Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie's first book!
# An Autobiography, Agatha Christie
This was really interesting.
Other
# A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
One of my friend Jamie's favorite books; I really liked it. Amos found an old copy of this book at Goodwill, so now I have my own.
Education of a Wandering Man, Louis L'Amour
I don't remember where I found this book (maybe on goodreads), but Amos and I both read this memoir and liked it.
And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini
Another moving book by the author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
A View of the Nile, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
Another memoir of one of my favorite authors on the Middle East; this book is about her family's time in Egypt.
Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
I read this one because a few Christian bloggers had mentioned it and because it seemed like something my friend Heather would like (yeah, weird reason to read it). It was good, though I had to read some of the passages over and over to get what the author was saying.
AB Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, Julie Andrews
I really liked this book, though I was surprised to find out that Julie Andrews wasn't as pure and saintly as her early movie characters, Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp. Nevertheless, her background is very interesting, and Julie Andrews herself read the audiobook, making the story even better.
Lady from Savannah: The Life of Juliette Low, Daisy Gordon Lawrence and Gladys Denny Shultz
An interesting book about the eccentric founder of the Girl Scouts. I wish the book had given details of her journeys to foreign places.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott
I thought this book was very interesting, though rather unorthodox (hence the placement in the "other" section rather than the Christian section). Anne Lamott is a good writer and had good insights into a number of topics, but she believes some weird things about God and uses some foul language in this book, so it definitely isn't for everyone.
Rereads
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling
I originally read this in college, in 2008.
# By Searching, Isobel Kuhn
I read this last year.
# Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013 because I liked it so much.
# AB Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
One of my absolute favorite books. It was hard to find a decent narrator.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013.
# AB Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein
One of my favorite books from 2013. I liked the audio version so much that I got it for my birthday and listened to it again.
AB Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013.
AB Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
I read this last year.
Picture Books (not counted)
Brothers at Bat, Audrey Vernick and Steven Salerno
* # This Is Not My Hat, Jon Klassen
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, William Joyce
Choo Choo; Calico the Wonder Horse or the Saga of Stewy Stinker; The Little House; Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; Katy and the Big Snow; Maybelle the Cable Car; Virginia Lee Burton
Miss Rumphius, Barbara Cooney
* # One Cool Friend, Toni Buzzeo and David Small
* # Tea Rex, Molly Idle
I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen
This Moose Belongs to Me, Oliver Jeffers
* # Boot and Shoe, Marla Frazee
Here Come the Girl Scouts! Shana Corey and Hadley Hooper
Goals for 2014
Read more Christian books
Finish The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Finish Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Once again, I don't recommend all of these titles to everyone, but I hope if you're reading this very long post that maybe you'll find a book you'd like to try out. I tried to keep my descriptions
My reading lists from past years are included as tabs now, right under my blog banner. If you'd rather click on a link, here you go:
2010
2011
2012
Updated Key
* fun
# favorite
AB audiobook
Jennica-Ayelet's 2013 Reading List
Christian
# AB God's Smuggler, Brother Andrew and John and Elizabeth Sherrill
My first audiobook ever, I think. This is a book about Brother Andrew's growing up, conversion, and early ministry years. Amos and I love a few of his later books, too, Secret Believers and Light Force.
 |
| from amazon.com |
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, John and Stasi Eldredge
I read this for our short-lived girls' book club. I do not recommend it unless you are well-grounded in biblical truth (it did have some interesting points).
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
After listening to interviews and reading various blog posts about this woman, I couldn't wait to read this book. Our little book club read it and we all deemed it very helpful, though we didn't agree with everything she had to say. I found Butterfield's thoughts on her conversion as well as her thoughts on adoption very insightful.
# Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth Elliot
I had never read this classic about the missionaries in Ecuador, but I loved it. It is particularly gut-wrenching because you know that the missionaries are going to die.
Give Me This Mountain, Helen Roseveare
Good missionary biography.
AB A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer, Lyle Dorsett
I didn't know much about Tozer, and honestly, after reading this biography, I wasn't that impressed by his character, though I know that his work helped to advance the Kingdom.
# Through Her Eyes: Perspectives on Life from Christian Women Serving in the Muslim World, Marti Smith
This was one of the best books I read this year. The advice and experiences were very interesting and insightful. I got this from our friends before they headed off to Xinjiang, read most of it, then passed it on to my friend Heather.
Chariots of Fire, W.J. Weatherby
I haven't seen the movie, but I already knew a little bit about Eric Liddell when I found this book. This book, a kind of book version of the movie, made me want to read even more about him.
Children's/Young Adult
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
# Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
This is my favorite Harry Potter book. Maybe THIS year I'll write about them on my blog.
Son, Lois Lowry
I really liked The Giver and Gathering Blue, but I didn't like Messenger so much (rather anticlimactic). Son, the final book that brings all the characters together, was better than Messenger but not as good as the other two. Oh well.
A weird quote:
"Freed of the menacing greed and self-indulgence that had almost overwhelmed them during that time, the villagers had learned to celebrate themselves, as they were doing this evening."
Son, Lois Lowry, pg. 293
Chester Cricket's New Home, George Selden
Bleah. Don't waste your time! A sad follow up to A Cricket in Times Square.
James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl
I like some of Dahl's other books better, such as Boy, Going Solo, Esio Trot, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
 |
| from amazon.com |
Amos and I LOVED these books! I picked this up at the local library, and we were hooked (even though it took us several months to listen to all of the books).
Nicholas Again, Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe
Nicholas on Vacation, Rene Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe
Two books about a little boy who gets into mischief (and ends up crying a lot); translated from French.
The Twits, Roald Dahl
Very short book about some terrible people and their come-uppance; this is my former roommate Adrienne's favorite Dahl book.
The Hundred Dresses, Eleanor Estes
A short book about the importance of being nice to others and trying to make it right when you fail.
Betsy-Tacy, Maud Hart Lovelace
Classic book about two best friends.
Eighteen and On Her Own, Arleta Richardson
I'd read other Grandma's Attic books (my Great Aunt Barbara let me borrow them), but I'd never read this one. I really liked it, and now I want to read the ones that come later.
* # The Middle Moffat, Eleanor Estes
I think this is my favorite Moffat family book. I checked it out from the library and was sitting in my car laughing out loud at Jane's part in the play about the three bears.
Applewhites at Wit's End, Stephanie S. Tolan
I really liked Surviving the Applewhites; this book used a lot of pop culture references (death to any book attempting to be a classic), and the story wasn't as good, but it was okay.
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
First book in the series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Amos read the series and thought they were okay; I didn't like this one very much and thus didn't read the others.
The Moffat Museum, Eleanor Estes
Another Moffat book; very good.
Betsy-Tacy and Tib, Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy and Tacy add Tib to the best friend mix.
*# AB The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Trenton Lee Stewart
*# AB The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, Trenton Lee Stewart
Loved these, too.
 |
| from amazon.com |
# AB Code Name Verity, Elisabeth Wein
I really, really liked this book. The audio version is great!
AB The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
A book that a lot people read and really liked, including my friends Jamie, Rachel, and Cara, but I didn't like it that much. The story was interesting, but the style of writing and the narrator made it ehhhh, in my opinion.
* AB The Extraordinary Education of Nicolas Benedict, Trenton Lee Stewart
We liked this one, too, but not as much as the other Benedict books; still good, though!
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi
A graphic novel about an Iranian girl. Interesting.
AB A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond
This audio version was read by Stephen Fry. Amos and I really liked it!
Around the World, Matt Phelan
A graphic novel about three people who journeyed around the world. The pictures are very well done and the stories are interesting.
In Grandma's Attic, Arleta Richardson
An early Grandma's attic book. I think we got this one for free on amazon; the last chapter was missing. :P
AB More About Paddington, Michael Bond
Also read by Stephen Fry
Rose Under Fire, Elizabeth Wein
This book is related to Code Name Verity, but I didn't like this one as much. It seemed much less plausible than Code Name Verity. I'm glad I read Rose Under Fire rather than listened to it because this book had a lot of poetry in it, and it might have been irritating to listen to( in addition to the implausible plot and one particularly annoying character).
Agatha Christie
AB Murder in Mesopotamia, Agatha Christie
A dramatized audiobook.
AB Towards Zero, Agatha Christie
Another dramatized audiobook; I don't think I liked this story as much as some other Christie stories.
AB The Moving Finger, Agatha Christie
This was an interesting story about blackmail. I can't remember now who was sending the letters. :P
AB Dead Man's Mirror, Agatha Christie
AB The Body in the Library, Agatha Christie
# AB The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie
One of my favorite Agatha Christie stories. It is brilliant, plus the narrator was very good (I think it was Hugh Fraser).
 |
| mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com |
AB Death on the Nile, Agatha Christie
AB Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie's first book!
# An Autobiography, Agatha Christie
This was really interesting.
Other
 |
| from amazon.com |
One of my friend Jamie's favorite books; I really liked it. Amos found an old copy of this book at Goodwill, so now I have my own.
Education of a Wandering Man, Louis L'Amour
I don't remember where I found this book (maybe on goodreads), but Amos and I both read this memoir and liked it.
And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini
Another moving book by the author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
A View of the Nile, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
Another memoir of one of my favorite authors on the Middle East; this book is about her family's time in Egypt.
Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
I read this one because a few Christian bloggers had mentioned it and because it seemed like something my friend Heather would like (yeah, weird reason to read it). It was good, though I had to read some of the passages over and over to get what the author was saying.
AB Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, Julie Andrews
I really liked this book, though I was surprised to find out that Julie Andrews wasn't as pure and saintly as her early movie characters, Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp. Nevertheless, her background is very interesting, and Julie Andrews herself read the audiobook, making the story even better.
Lady from Savannah: The Life of Juliette Low, Daisy Gordon Lawrence and Gladys Denny Shultz
An interesting book about the eccentric founder of the Girl Scouts. I wish the book had given details of her journeys to foreign places.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott
I thought this book was very interesting, though rather unorthodox (hence the placement in the "other" section rather than the Christian section). Anne Lamott is a good writer and had good insights into a number of topics, but she believes some weird things about God and uses some foul language in this book, so it definitely isn't for everyone.
Rereads
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling
I originally read this in college, in 2008.
# By Searching, Isobel Kuhn
I read this last year.
# Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013 because I liked it so much.
# AB Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
One of my absolute favorite books. It was hard to find a decent narrator.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013.
# AB Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein
One of my favorite books from 2013. I liked the audio version so much that I got it for my birthday and listened to it again.
AB Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
I read this twice in 2013.
AB Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
I read this last year.
Picture Books (not counted)
Brothers at Bat, Audrey Vernick and Steven Salerno
 |
| from amazon.com |
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, William Joyce
Choo Choo; Calico the Wonder Horse or the Saga of Stewy Stinker; The Little House; Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; Katy and the Big Snow; Maybelle the Cable Car; Virginia Lee Burton
Miss Rumphius, Barbara Cooney
* # One Cool Friend, Toni Buzzeo and David Small
* # Tea Rex, Molly Idle
I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen
This Moose Belongs to Me, Oliver Jeffers
* # Boot and Shoe, Marla Frazee
Here Come the Girl Scouts! Shana Corey and Hadley Hooper
Goals for 2014
Read more Christian books
Finish The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Finish Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
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