Category: Books

Books and reading have always been important to me. Because of that, in the past few years, I’ve chosen to set reading goals for myself. In 2018 I had a reading goal of 25 books, and in the end, I was able to read 19.

I decided to set that same 25 books goal for 2019, and hopefully reach it this time. With just a few minutes to spare, I’m happy to report that I met my 2019 reading goal. (Yes, I finished reading my final book at 11:40pm on New Year’s Eve!)

I read so many great books in 2019 and just a couple that I thought were pretty good (but not great). Here in this post you’ll find my top 5 favorites, a couple of honorable mentions, and a list of all 25 books.

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

My Top 5 Reads of 2019

*in no particular order

The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias

This is the adaptation for young readers, but I think it’s the perfect choice for most people. (The original version is full of a lot more sea and boat details and terminology.) I read this book while subbing long-term for a wonderful group of 6th graders. Maybe I love it so much because I taught it. Maybe I love it so much because it took place just a few miles from my home. Ultimately, it’s a true story that is hard to believe; that’s really what makes it so fantastic! If you want a great story of heroism, check out The Finest Hours! There’s also a movie version of the book that is well done. (Make sure you read the book first!)

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst

I listened to this one and enjoyed hearing Lysa’s voice as she shared her marriage story and her heart. A lot of life is full of heartache and disappointment. We might be quick to say, “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way!”.  Yet there is hope and purpose in the midst of all the yuck. Lysa so beautifully conveys all of that in It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy

I’ve always been a fan of Anne of Green Gables, so I was very excited when I learned Sarah McCoy had written a prequel. McCoy did a beautiful job of staying true to the original story and imagining (so very well) the untold story of Marilla of Green Gables.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callhan

You would categorize this book as historical fiction, and it is so wonderfully written. The author used old letters, journals, and poetry to write and bring to life the love story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a beautiful story of love, life, and faith.

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

I’m drawn to minimalism. I’m also drawn to intentional and purposeful living, so this book was right up my alley! If you’re looking to make your digital world a little smaller and more focused, I highly recommend this book. It’s full of important insight and plenty of practical tips. Digital Minimalism is not to be missed. (Read it with your spouse. Share it with your family.)

*If you enjoy listening to books, don’t forget about Audible’s free trial membership.*

2 Honorable Mentions

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider

This is a great book for those who love to or long for travel!

Delay, Don’t Deny by Gin Stephens

I had heard about intermittent fasting while watching a few brief videos online. This book provided even more information about the topic.

*If you like ebooks and audiobooks, then a kindle unlimited membership might be a great option for you.*

All 25 Books I Read in 2019

Remember God by Annie F. Downs (non-fiction)

The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias (non-fiction)

Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush (non-fiction, audio)

The Widow’s War by Sally Cabot Gunning (fiction)

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate (fiction, middles grades)

It’s Not Supposed This Way by Lysa TerKeurst (non-fiction, audio)

Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith (non-fiction)

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider (non-fiction)

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy (fiction)

Restart by Gordon Korman (fiction, middle grades)

What Falls From The Sky by Esther Emery (non-fiction)

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (fiction, middle grades, audio)

The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Annie Raser-Rowland & Adam Grubb (non-fiction)

Eat Cake. Be Brave by Melissa Radke (non-fiction)

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden (fiction)

The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (non-fiction)

Jacky Ha Ha by James Patterson (fiction, middle grades, audio)

Deny, Don’t Delay by Gin Stephens (non-fiction)

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (fiction)

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (fiction)

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport (non-fiction)

The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker (non-fiction)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (fiction)

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock (fiction)

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott (fiction)

Some Final Thoughts

*Just because I read these books, it doesn’t mean I recommend them all. (I do recommend my top 5, for sure!) For example, I thought The Widow’s War was interesting and well-written. It takes place where I live, and I always enjoy historical fiction. That being said, I think there is some mature content that I don’t always enjoy encountering in books (even as an adult).

*I love reading a variety of books. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction. I enjoy heart-warming and serious. I think you’ll see that love of variety reflected in my list.

*I enjoy middle grades books very much. I’ve shared this before, but it’s true! I was a fifth grade teacher a number of years ago, and middle grade books are still some of my favorites. You’ll almost always find a few on my reading list each year!

Related Posts:

The Books I Read in 2018

My Top 4 Reads of 2017

5 Books That Have Inspired and Encouraged the Not So Busy Mom

What about you? What books did you read in 2019? Any great titles you’d like to share? Feel free to drop your ideas in the comments below!

Until next time,
Charissa


The Not So Busy Mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to feel a little disappointed when you don’t reach a goal (or at least it’s easy for me). Last year I set a goal of reading 25 books in 2018 (2 a month plus 1 bonus book). Instead, I read 19 books. Again, I could feel a little disappointed and discouraged that I missed the mark, but really, a goal is meant to motivate. I was motivated to read, and I did read. I read many great, memorable books.

I realize that the number 19 might seem quite low to many of you. Perhaps it seems high to others. I actually feel it’s a little low for me, but I find that although I love to read, because I am a blogger, I read a lot that isn’t found in books. I read other blog posts, website articles, social media posts, etc. It’s part of what I do to connect and grow as a blogger. Because of this, the number of books I read has decreased.

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

I didn’t reach my goal, but here are the 19 books I did read in 2018.

Non-fiction

Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller

Meet the Frugalwoods by Elizabeth Willard Thames

One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner

Uninvited (audio) by Lysa Terkeurst

The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

Reading People by Anne Bogel

Fiction

How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells

Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells (*I just read that this book has a release date of April 2019; I think they must be re-releasing it.)

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart

Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Crenshaw (middle grades, audio) by Katherine Applegate

No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

Rain, Reign (middle grades) by Ann M. Martin

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

A Long Walk to Water (middle grades) by Linda Sue Park

Before We Were Yours (audio) by Lisa Wingate

Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

My Favorites

I always enjoy reading a mix of nonfiction and fiction. I would highly recommend all the nonfiction books I read this year. If I had to pick favorites, I’d probably choose Meet the Frugalwoods and The Road Back to You.

Choosing fiction is always a little harder for me. I am a highly sensitive reader, so I have to be careful about my reading choices. That being said, I would say about half of the fiction I read did tackle some tough subject areas including: rape, abuse, childhood trauma, racism.  I was willing to tackle those important topics even if it was somewhat hard to read. None of the books were so explicit that I couldn’t finish a chapter or the book itself. If I had to pick two favorites, I’d choose Before We Were Yours and Rain, Reign.

A few final thoughts

You’ll almost always find middle grade books on my book list. I was a fifth grade teacher before staying home with my kids, so I am always drawn to these types of books. If you’ve never picked up a middle grade book, I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

I also enjoy audio, so I often pick a few books to listen to each year. I love listening to a few chapters while taking a walk or doing household chores. I generally listen to audio through the Libby app, an app for library ebooks and audiobooks. I’ve also listened through Audible, too. If you haven’t signed up for the 30 day free trial, it’s worth it. You get 2 audiobooks + 2 Audible originals. It’s easy to cancel after the 30 days or continue the service for $14.95/month.

My reading goal for this year is (once again) 25 books. I believe I’ll get there!

What about you? What memorable books did you read in 2018? I’d love to hear your suggestions, so drop a comment below!

Until next time,
Charissa

 

I’m a little disappointed to say I did not read as much as I hoped in 2017. Fortunately, the books I did read this past year were all quite good, so I wanted to share my top 4 reads of 2017. It was a little hard to choose my favorites, but like last year, I picked 2 non-fiction and 2 fiction!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Non-fiction

The Magnolia Story (audio) by Chip and Joanna Gaines 

My husband and I have watched several seasons of Fixer Upper (Chip and Joanna’s show). We have always enjoyed the two of them and the work they do, so I was very interested in hearing their story. They both narrate (which is why I would recommend the audio), and share their individual backgrounds, early marriage, and journey to the life they now live. My husband and I listened together and enjoyed “getting to know” this unique and creative couple.

 

The Magic of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd

I included the Magic of Motherhood in my October favorites. It is a collection of essays from about a dozen moms. The stories span the range of topics from infant loss to infertility to everyday mom-life. I found myself drawn into each story, nodding my heading in agreement with shared experiences and being stretched by stories I have never known. It really is the perfect book to read and give as a gift.

Fiction

  Wolf Hollow (audio) by Lauren Wolk

I loved, loved, loved this book. It also just might be my favorite audio I have ever listened to (and I have listened to a lot of audio). It’s a story about a 12 year old girl living in Pennsylvania (in post WWII times). It is a beautiful and bittersweet story about family, friendship, bullying, and overcoming difficult trials.

 

 

       Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

I tried to break away from another Lauren Wolk for my second favorite, but when an author is good, she’s good! I decided to read (not listen to) this book and was drawn in right away. Wolk truly is a beautiful story teller and invites us into the world of 12 year old Crow,whose desire to know more about her past results in discoveries that shape a page-turning story.

Both Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea are considered children’s books. I believe that children’s fiction novels are some of the best books you can read!

What about you? Do you enjoy non-fiction or fiction? What were some of your top reads in 2017?

Until next time,
Charissa

Continue reading “My Top 4 Reads of 2017”

I love to read. Recently I noticed that the numbers of books I am reading each month is decreasing as I work on growing my blog. I am ok with that because sometimes you have to let things go, but I am also still committed to making reading a part of my life.

Today I am sharing the 5 books I plan on reading in the next several months.

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)

1. Queen Lucia & Miss Mapp: The Mapp & Lucia Novels by E.F Benson

I always appreciate a recommendation from Jennifer L. Scott who blogs at The Daily Connoisseur. Her last recommendation, Amy Snow, ended up being on my Top 4 Reads of 2016 list. I have found myself leaning towards nonfiction over the last several years, so I always appreciate a good fiction recommendation.

2. A Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell

Tsh Oxenreider from the Art of Simple recommended and reviewed this book on her podcast a few weeks ago. I was intrigued by the concept of the book and by Tsh’s support of it. I’m also drawn to books that are a type of “experiment” or challenge. This book fits into that category as does my next choice.

3. What Falls From the Sky by Esther Emery

This “experiment” type book was another recommendation from Tsh Oxenreider. I listened to one of Tsh’s podcast episodes where she interviewed Esther Emery. Esther chose to take a year off the internet, and then wrote this book sharing her experience and lessons learned. The podcast got me very excited to read the book!

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Does anyone else love reading children’s chapter books? This children’s book has been recommended time and time again. Now it has been made into a movie that is coming to theaters in November of this year. I need to get reading! I think this will be a great one to read along with my older children, too.

5. The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

I am a big fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines and their show, Fixer Upper, so I was super excited when I heard they had written a book. I am looking forward to reading their backstory and learning more about this creative, hardworking couple. I’m actually hoping to listen to this story because Chip and Joanna narrate it which would make for an even more personal storytelling experience.

I’m looking forward to enjoying these 5 titles (a nice mix of genres and topics) in the next several months!

What about you? What books are on your “to read” list? I would love to hear what you plan on reading, so please leave me a comment below!

Until next time,
Charissa

Continue reading “5 Books I Plan on Reading in the Next Several Months”

Happy Spring!

The calendar might say it’s spring, but where I live it is in the 30s today. All the more reason to dive into spring-themed picture books!

Today I am sharing 4 picture books that celebrate spring.

 

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)

 

SPRING An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur
This author has written an acrostic book for each season, and I think we have read them all! This book is poetic, uniquely descriptive, and filled with sweet illustrations.

Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
This book tells the sweet story of a young girl who rescues a caterpillar and creates a home for it to live in while it makes its transformation. It’s also a lovely generational story about a grand daughter and her grandpa. The last page includes instructions on how to raise a butterfly of your own.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
Waiting for Wings is another butterfly story for the spring. This book is very colorful, and the story is simple. I couldn’t help but think of Eric Carle books (in particular, The Very Hungry Caterpillar) as I read this one.

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure
After spring comes summer, so perhaps spring (for some) is just a lot of waiting for an even more beloved season. That seems to be the theme of this story by Nikki McClure. The child in this story repeats the same question and her mom responds with a “not yet” and some descriptive words about spring.

I shared these 4 books with 2 of my children and asked them to tell me which one was their favorite.

My almost-4 year old’s favorite was SPRING The Alphabet Acrostic because of the “babies” (humans & animals) that were mentioned on a couple pages. My 10 year old’s favorite was The Butterfly House.

If it’s warm where you are, grab one of these books and soak in some sunshine while you share a story that celebrates spring!

If it’s not warm, well, you can still grab one of these books and perhaps do a little make-believe.

What about you? Is it spring-like where you are?

Until next time,

Charissa

Continue reading “Spring Picture Books”

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)

Does anyone in your family love the “Who Was” series??  Are you looking for a great book for a special reader??

Amazon has the “Who Was” paperback books for as low as $2.49!

You’ll find a wide variety of “Who Was”, “What Was”, “Who Is” & “What Is” titles to captivate the interest of a young reader.

My football-loving seven year old son just recently read (multiple times)   What Is the Super Bowl?

Right now we are reading What Was the Boston Tea Party?
There are so many great options to choose; grab them while you can!!

Until next time,

Charissa