2011 Finished Books

Here is my reading list for 2011! I like to keep a list going in drafts for the blog so that I can keep track of what I read throughout the year. I love looking back on what I have read. It's like reliving memories made with dear friends.

I read 42 books by 23 authors in 2011. Last year, I read 51 books. I read a little less this year but what I did read I really enjoyed. Some old, some new. I only read a few books that were flops. Usually, when I start reading a book and realize it's going to be a flop I put it down and don't finish it..I don't include those in this list. There were a few that I held out on and read the whole thing in hopes that it would turn out well..they didn't. 

I think my favorite re-read of 2011 were the Emily books by L. M. Montgomery. I read them when I was younger but decided to read them again. I loved them so much. 

Favorite new (to me) book was Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. We love the movie and I finally got time to read the book. It did not disappoint. Mr. Dickens is brilliant as always.

As last year, I will put an * by the books I have read once (or five times) before. I will attempt to rate them from 0-10. 

0 = hated and 10 = loved

I will also attempt to give each book one word to describe my feeling toward it. I may give it two or three words...and I can do that because it's my blog. So there. :)

*Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- Favorite. 10
The Winter Rescue by Paul Hutchens- Cute. 6

 

*Plum Pie by P.G. Wodehouse- Funny. 10
*Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Pa. (The whole series gets a rating of 10)
*Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Love Pa.  

*Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Manny.
*On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder- I really love Pa.
*On the shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Laura too.

 

*The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Cold.
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks-  Meh. 4
*Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Beautiful.
The Lost Campers by Paul Hutchens- Fun. 6
*These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Manly and Laura.
*The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Disappointing (I wanted more detail and it just skims   through their lives. *cry* Still loved it though!)
The Painted Veil by M. Somerset Maugham- Ick. 1 (one of the flops unfortunately. I liked a few of the characters but not enough to redeem the story so I give it a 1)

 

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss- Adventure. 8
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa- Touching. 9

 

*Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke- Lovely. (this is my favorite series by Ms. Oke, I give the whole series a rating of 9)
*Loves Long Journey by Janette Oke
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter- Sweet. 9

 

*Love Follows the Heart by Janette Oke
*Loves Abiding Joy by Janette Oke
The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery- Beautiful, beautiful and funny too. 10

 

Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens- Mr. Pinch! 10
The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald- Entertaining. 7
Meet Me In St. Louis by Sally Benson- Silly, sweet and funny. 10

 

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- Curious. 8
The Patch of Blue by Grace Livingston Hill- Sweet. 8
*Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery- Lucy. Maud. Montgomery. Need I say more?  10

 

*Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt- Endearing. 9
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry- Crack up.  8
Big Money by P. G. Wodehouse- Hilarity. 10
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell- Dark. 7
A Daughters Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick- Beautiful. Sad.  10
Rosanna of the Amish by Joseph Yoder- Interesting. 7
Sam the Sudden by P.G. Wodehouse- Belly Laugh. 10

 

*My Man Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse- Oh Jeeves.... 10
Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy- Comical and lovely. 10
Beauty by Robin McKinley- Romantic. 9

 

*Emily Climbs- Enchanting. 10
*Emily's Quest- Exquisite. 10

What did you read? What was your favorite in 2011? Least favorite?

♥Genevieve

A Pile of Reading

I seem to never be able to stick to one book at a time...I always seem to be dashing back and forth between books. Right now I am reading six books! 

 I started keeping a book journal awhile back which is wonderful to look back on and see what I've read and how I liked it and where I got the book from.

I'm on a roll...I would like to try to read at least 20 books in 2012. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but last year I think I only finished one book. What's wrong with me!? I guess it was a busy year. But now I've decided to make myself take the time to relax and read. Sometimes I feel guilty sitting down to read as if I should be doing something else. There are always dishes, dust, knitting, mending, etc....etc...etc...
However, I've realized the exercise (and rest) of our mind is important too! My mind gets exercised by reading about new ideas, new places, and learning new words. And it gives my mind a rest at the same time from thinking about the millions of things there are to do. It's a little escape in my day to refresh me.
What does your reading pile look like? Do you ever feel guilty sitting down to read?