Wednesday, January 8, 2014

50 Books: My 2014 Reading List


It took awhile, but I finally created my reading list for the coming year (and have actually started on a couple of these books already!)

Here's where I find Pinterest to be a huge asset!  Throughout the year, as I see books that pique my interest or read positive reviews that others have written, I pin them to my Books to Read board on Pinterest.  That alone gave me a great start on coming up with my list.

I decided to categorize my books this year to make sure that my reading is balanced and that I'm learning about subjects that are important to me.  In my parenting section, I also included books that I want to preview before possibly having my girls read them.

I'm sure I'll read other books as well in 2014, but this gives me a starting point!

Spiritual Growth

1.  The Shaping of a Christian Family:  How My Parents Nurtured My Faith by Elisabeth Elliot

2.  Speak Love:  Making Your Words Matter by Annie F. Downs

3.  Heaven by Randy Alcorn (recommended by Nikki)

4.  The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith

5.  Not My Will:  How Much Will Surrender Cost?  by Francena H. Arnold

6.  Believing God by Beth Moore

7.  12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me) by John Fischer

8.  Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

9.  When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg

10.  If by Amy Carmichael

Marriage

11.  Have a Heavenly Marriage by David Sorenson

12. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O'Martian

13.  The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage by Myles Munroe

14.  The Antelope in the Living Room:  The Real Story of Two People Sharing One Life by Melanie Shankle

15.  The Husband Project:  21 Days of Loving Your Man - On Purpose and with a Plan by Kathi Lipp

16.  The Meaning of Marriage:  Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller

17.  7 Things He'll Never Tell You (but you need to know) by Dr. Kevin Leman

18.  The Good Wife's Guide:  Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet by Darlene Schacht

19.  A Faith Full Marriage:  Building a Lifetime Love on Biblical Principles by Paul Chappell

20.  Becoming Your Spouse's Better Half:  Why Differences Make a Marriage Great by Rick Johnson

Parenting

21.  Surprised by Motherhood:  Everything I Never Expected about Being a Mom by Lisa-Jo Baker

22.  How to Really Love Your Teen by D. Ross Campbell

23.  Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson

24.  What He Must Be....If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham, Jr.

25.  How to Raise Selfless Kids in a Self-Centered World by Dave Stone

26. Start Here:  Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are by Alex and Brett Harris  (This is a follow-up to Do Hard Things, which I thought was a great book for teens and will be having my daughters read.)

27.  If I Have to Tell You One More Time....The Revolutionary Program That Gets Your Kids to Listen Without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling by Amy McCready

28.  The Young Lady in Waiting:  Developing the Heart of a Princess by Jackie Kendall and Debbie Jones

29.  Just Friends by Mike Ray and Cary Schmidt

30.  Sacred Parenting:  How Raising Children Shapes Our Soul by Gary Thomas

Personal Development

31.  A Million Little Ways:  Discover the Art You Were Made to Live by Emily P. Freeman

32.  Women Living Well:  Finding Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids and Your Home by Courtney Joseph

33. Teaching to Change Lives by Dr. Howard Hendricks

34.  Every Writer Needs a Tribe: A Practical Guide to Finding (and Writing For) Your Audience by Jeff Goins

35. What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend: A Short Guide to Making the Most of Your Days Off by Laura Vanderkam

36.  You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins

37. Forever Chic: Frenchwomen's Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style, and Substance by Tish Jett

38.  Perfectly Unique: Praising God from Head to Foot by Annie F. Downs

39.  The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful by Myquilyn Smith

40.  Say Goodbye to Survival Mode:  9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life by Crystal Paine

Biographies and Fun Reads

41.  The Life and Diary of David Brainerd

42.  The Life of Charles G. Finney (His Memoirs)

43.  The Heart of John Wesley's Journal

44.  The Complete Journals of L. M. Montgomery:  The PEI Years, 1889-1900

45.  Growing Up Duggar:  The Duggar Girls Share Their View of Life Inside America's Most Well-Known Super-Sized Family

46.  Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

47.  Bon Appetit (French Twist, Book 2) by Sandra Byrd

48.  Piece de Resistance: A Novel (3rd in the series) by Sandra Byrd

49.  Balancing It All:  My Strory of Juggling Priorities and Purpose by Candace Cameron Bure 

50.  Harbor of the Heart by Katherine Spencer

If you've read any good books lately, please let me know and I'll "pin" them for future reference!

8 comments:

  1. You've got an impressive list! There are several books that I've thought about reading, too, and your reviews may inspire me to read them, like the Duggar book and Sacred Parenting. I'm also interested in what you think about the Power of a Praying Wife. I read it years ago, right after John and I married, and I didn't care for it. It seemed too self-pitying, but that may have been caused by the newlywed bliss.

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  2. Oh, and did you know that Crystal Paine's book is coming out today on BookSneeze? I plan to get a copy...if there are any left when I get to it!

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    1. No, I didn't know that! I'll try to get over there and get a copy...but I won't take yours! :)

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    2. Too late! I already got my copy, or at least, ordered it!

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  3. I love so many of your books on your list!!! Happy reading!
    Lots of Love,
    Courtney :)

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  4. Man, oh Man, you are organized! I read what ever is dropped in front of me. ;)

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  5. When do you find time to read? I so miss curling up with a book!!

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    1. Well, let's face it - your children are quite a bit younger than mine, so I'm guessing you have to give them lots more attention than I do mine at this point! ;)

      Right now, the best time for me to read is right after supper. By the time I clean up the kitchen, the girls are off entertaining themselves until they have to begin the bedtime process (clean up their rooms, shower, brush teeth, etc.) Sometimes I can sneak in a bit of reading in the afternoon while they're having their daily 20 minutes of "computer-game" time. I also try to bring a book with me in the car anytime I go somewhere that might involve a few minutes of downtime (appointments, piano lessons, etc.)

      I know you'll get back to curling up with a good back one of these days!!

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I look forward to hearing your comments and welcome your questions and suggestions. Thanks for visiting my blog!