2025 Reading List

January to May, with the 2nd grade class

Capyboppy, by Peet 

The Minstel in the Tower, by Skurzynski 

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain, by Dalgliesh 

The Big Father and His Little Boy, by Schuermann 

The Moffats, by Estes 

Mrs Piggle-Wiggle, by MacDonald

Life of Fred (Apples), by Stanley Schmidt

February 

Eleven Numbers: A Short Story, by Child 

JRR Tolkien: A Life Inspired, by North 

Martin Luther on Mental Health, by Saunders 

March 

Orthodoxy, by Chesterton 

The Problem of Suffering, by Greg Schulz 

Take Courage, by Matt Harrison 

April 

The Best Yes, by TerKeurst 

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, by TerKeurst 

Forgiving What You Can't Forget, by TerKeurst 

May 

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, by TerKeurst 

June 

I Want to Trust You, But I Don't, by TerKeurst 

Growing Old with B.C., by Hart 

Irregular People, by Landorf

Old Testament Canticles, by Andrew Gerike

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Richardson

The Ardent Swarm, by Manai

July

Alexander the Great, by Gunther (Landmark book)

Napoleon and the Battle of Waterloo, by Winmar (Landmark book)

Red Dog, by Wallace

Above All Things: The Tale of the King, by Rivers

August

Kids in the Divine Service, by Thoma

October

Faith Formation in Families, by the LCMS Children in Worship Initiative

November

Captain Cook Explores the South Seas, by Sperry (Landmark book)

June to December

Without the Shedding of Blood, by Scaer

Started but ditched pretty quickly

There's Something About Mira, by Dev

The Lending Library, by Fogelson

2024 Reading List

January
The Saints of Whistle Grove, by Schuermann

Feb/March
Seasons of My Life, by Hannah Hauxwell

April
Silver Linings, by Macomber
Sweet Tomorrows, by Macomber
The Moffats, by Estes (with Martin)

May
The Warner Boys: Our Family's Story of Autism and Hope, by the Warners
The Middle Moffat, by Estes (with Martin)
Rufus M, by Estes (with Martin)
Warrior Monk, by Ray Keating

June
The Root of All Evil? by Keating
An Advent for Religious Liberty, by Keating
The River, by Keating

July
Murderer's Row, by Keating
Wine into Water, by Keating

August
A Bride Most Begrudging, by Gist

Sept-October
Behind Palace Doors: My Service as the Queen Mother's Equerry, by Burgess

November
There's a Hole in My Bucket: A Journey of Two Brothers, by R. Tolkien
Hope When Your Heart Breaks: Navigating Grief and Loss, by Newman
The Answer Is NO, by F. Backman

December
Holly Banks Full of Angst, by J. Valerie
When We Were Widows, by A. C. Macias

Best book of the year was "Saints of Whistle Grove" -- hands down.  I'm kind of amazed that I haven't already read it another time or two.

Keating murder mysteries were very enjoyable even though that's not normally a genre I read.  The Lutheran setting and the theological/moral perspective was great (without being at all preachy).  I'm looking forward to continuing the series.  I did need a little break, though, from all the BadGuyStuff.

The Aug-Sept books were pretty good.  The Kindle freebies (Nov-Dec) weren't bad.

2023 Reading List

January
Mrs Entwhistle: Once You're Over the Hill, You Pick Up Speed, by Reidy
Miss Budge in Love, by Simpkins

February
How Green Was My Valley, by Llewellyn

April
What Do You Think of Jesus? by Scaer 

May 
Mrs Miracle, by Macomber
Susannah’s Garden, by Macomber
A Martyr's Faith in a Faithless World, by Wolfmueller

June
When First They Met by Macomber
The Inn at Rose Harbor, by Macomber
Lost and Found in Cedar Cove, by Macmber
Rose Harbon in Bloom, by Macomber
Love Letters, by Macomber
Falling for Her, by Macomber

July-October
The Mission of Mildred Budge, by Simpkins
Belle, by Simpkins

November
Miss Budge Goes to Fountain City, by Simpkins
Kingdom Come, by Simpkins
Christmas in Fountain City, by Simpkins

December
Has American Christianity Failed? by Wolfmueller

2022 Reading List

January:  
Bright Valley of Love, by Edna Hong  ***
Dashing through the Snow, by Debbie Macomber
Mildred Budge in Cloverdale, by Daphne Simpkins *

February:
QuickBooks for Nonprofits and Churches, by Lisa London

March and April:
Faith Alone, by Bo Giertz *
Jayber Crow, by Wendell Barry *

May:
Mildred Budge in Embankment, by Daphne Simpkins *
Roommaid, by Sariah Wilson

June and July:
Flatland, a romance of many dimensions, by Abbott 
The Paid Bridesmaid, by Sariah Wilson

August:
Keeper of Happy Endings, by Davis 
Lifecycle of an Exempt Organization, by IRS

September and October:
The Highly Sensitive Person, by Aron  [Worst book of the year, and take note that I'm ranking an accounting book and an IRS manual higher than this book.  For a while I quit the book and said it was pointless to waste the time.  When I felt compelled to finish, my husband kept asking why I had gone back to it.  He was right: I shouldn't have.]

November:
The Mutual Admiration Society, by Kagen (not recommended)

December:
The Bride's Room: A Mildred Budge Story, by Simpkins *
Microsoft Publisher for Dummies
Microsoft Excel for Dummies

2021 Reading List

Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer -- finished April 2.

The Baritone Wore Chiffon, by M. Schweizer -- finished April 28.

The Tenor Wore Taps, by M. Schweizer -- finished in June.

Hannah Coulter, by W. Berry -- finished June 12.

Feeling Good, by Burns -- finished in July.

Redeeming Love, by F. Rivers -- finished in September.

The Magdeburg Confession -- finished in early December.

The Bass Wore Scales, by M. Schweizer -- finished in late December.

2020 Reading List

 

The Theology of the Cross, by H. Sasse (in We Confess Jesus Christ)

Richest Man in Babylon, by G. Clason

A Christian Guide to Mental Illness, volume 1, by S. Saunders

Time at the lake during summer:
        Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, by M. Sidney
        Shadow Among Sheaves, by N. Stephens
        The Alto Wore Tweed, by M. Schweizer

Autumn:
        Mamma's Boarding House, by J.D. Fitzgerald 

Proofreading review of 
        Lutheran Catechesis, Catechist Edition

2018-19 Reading List

2018
33 Going on Girlfriend, by Monson -- January 3
34 Going on Bride, by Monson -- May 27

He Remembers the Barren, by Schuermann -- Jan 15
Bringing the Oxford Tutorial to Your High School or Middle School Student, by R. Paul -- May 28



2019
audio books between here and Minneapolis:

    A Year Down Yonder, by Peck

    Around the World in 80 Days

    some Narnia

rereads:

    House of Living Stones

    The Choir Immortal

    and probably some others I forgot

2017 Reading List

Christ for Us, by Preus -- fifth re-read in April 2017 (following book layout)
Pioneer Girl: The Annotatated Autobiography -- May 3.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, by Pedersen -- July 4.
The Pastor's Wife, by Wurmbrand -- August.
The Fire and the Staff, by Preus -- October.

Dust in the Glass, by Gehlbach-Stemm -- May 16.
House of Living Stones, by Schuermann -- May 27.
The Choir Immortal, by Schuermann -- May 30.
The Harvest Raise, by Schuermann -- December 19.
The Kingdom of the Birds, by Demuth-Lutze -- June 17.
32 Going on Spinster, by Monson -- August 15.




Pioneer Girl was hard.  It took me two years to read, what with all those footnotes.

There was a lot more fiction and fun escapist reading this year.

2016 Reading Lists

Ivan Denisovich, by Solzhenitsyn -- July 29.

Mothering Many, by MacPherson -- August 13.
Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief, by Bowman -- August 19.
Christ for Us, by Preus -- three more re-reads 

Audio book:

Around the World in 80 Days, by Verne [Jim Dale] -- August 24.   


My 2015 reading list was affected by Mom's hospitalization and death.  The 2016 reading list was on "pause" for the same reason.  In late spring I started reading again, but when I resumed Pioneer Girl, it was long and difficult and wasn't finished in 2016.  Then in fall, my reading again disappeared because of putting in long hours in the church office.  

Other people's reading lists demonstrate what kind of interesting ideas they're putting into their minds.  My reading list demonstrates when I'm distracted by non-reading tasks.

2015 Reading List

How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher -- finished Jan 13
Holy Housewifery -- finished Jan 17
Wild Swans, by Chang  -- finished Feb 25
Light in the Dark Belt: Story of Rosa Young -- March 7
Heidelberg Disputation -- finished April 2  
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde -- April 13
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules ... to Break-- May 1
Let's Roll, by Beamer-- finished May 4
Christ for Us, by Preus -- finished Sept 25
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon -- March 30

Re-reads:
Narnia
~ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- May 17
~ Prince Caspian -- June 23
~ Horse and His Boy -- finished April 16 [audio]
~ Magician's Nephew -- finished May 12 [audio] 

With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside -- finished Jan 16
Penderwicks -- finished Feb 24

Looking at this list, it's very apparent to me when Mom fell and died.

Reading Challenge 2015

How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher -- finished Jan 13

Holy Housewifery -- finished Jan 17
Wild Swans, by Chang  -- finished Feb 25
Light in the Dark Belt: Story of Rosa Young -- March 7
Heidelberg Disputation -- finished April 2 
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde -- April 13
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules ... to Break-- May 1
Let's Roll, by Beamer-- finished May 4
Christ for Us, by Preus


Flatland
Pioneer Girl (biography of Laura)
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You,  by Aron

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon -- March 30
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese


Re-reads:
Narnia
~ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- May 17
~ Prince Caspian
~ Dawn Treader 
~ Silver Chair
~ Horse and His Boy -- finished April 16 [audio]
~ Magician's Nephew -- finished May 12 [audio] 

~ Last Battle
Harry Potter
Hammer of God



With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside -- finished Jan 16
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside

Penderwicks -- finished Feb 24
Carry On, Mr Bowditch
On to Oregon
Across Five Aprils

Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers


Additional Suggestions from Friends:
Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Hardcore Poor, by Sangree
Joel Salatin's 2007 book about food practices in the USA
Simply Classical
On Our Way Rejoicing, by Trobisch
Richest Man in Babylon
Finding Kansas
Our Island Story
Luther the Reformer, by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong, by Seamus Hasson
How to Bake Pi, by Cheng (SCI 510.1)
Bitter is the New Black (817.6 LAN)

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

House of Living Stones
Bride Most Begrudging
A Star for Mrs Blake
Caleb's Crossing

Reading Challenge 2015

How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher -- finished Jan 13

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You,  by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang  -- finished Feb 25
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde
Holy Housewifery -- finished Jan 17
Flatland
Pioneer Girl (biography of Laura)

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon 
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese

Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God



With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside -- finished Jan 16
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside

Penderwicks -- finished Feb 24
Carry On, Mr Bowditch
On to Oregon
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break

Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers

Reading Challenge 2015

Challenge is probably too strong a word.  Maybe "plans."  Or "tentative plans."  Or wish list.

How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You,  by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde

Holy Housewifery (because somebody mentioned it jokingly on Jenny's FB page and I happen to have a copy)

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon 
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese

Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God



With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside

Penderwicks
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break

Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers

Reading Challenge

Update on this year's reading list:

finish proofreading New Testament Catechist  [done Feb 11]

Light from Heaven (the last Mitford book) [done March 6]
Home to Holly Springs [done Sept 7]
In the Company of Others [done Nov 23]
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good


the Kristin Lavransdatter series, by Sigrid Undset
Bridal Wreath [done March 27]
Mistress of Husaby [done April 30]
The Cross [done June 15]

Anne of the Island [done July 31]
Anne of Windy Poplars [done Sept 8]
Anne's House of Dreams [done Oct 12]
Anne of Ingleside
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside
(with Maggie)


Hammer of God (again)

The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan, by Hal Wright [done Sept 19]
likely some proofreading on Bible Stories for Daily Prayer



possibly
a Luther biography with Maggie
Narnia (again)
Horses of Heaven, by Gillian Bradshaw [done Sept 1]
maybe try out an Elizabeth Gaskill book
something by Beverly Engel or Robin Stern
Quiet by Susan Cain [done July 20]


additions beyond original list
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause [done July 29]
Struck by Genius [done Oct 20]


The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
by Elaine N Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young

Reading Challenge

Update on this year's reading list:

finish proofreading New Testament Catechist  [done Feb 11]

Light from Heaven (the last Mitford book) [done March 6]
the Father Tim series, by Jan Karon

the Kristin Lavransdatter series, by Sigrid Undset
Bridal Wreath [done March 27]
Mistress of Husaby [done April 30]
The Cross [done June 15]

Hammer of God (again)

The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan, by Hal Wright

Anne of the Island [done July 31]
Anne of Windy Poplars
and maybe a few more in the series
(with Maggie)

likely some proofreading on Bible Stories for Daily Prayer



possibly
a Luther biography with Maggie
Narnia (again)
Horses of Heaven, by Gillian Bradshaw
maybe try out an Elizabeth Gaskill book
something by Beverly Engel or Robin Stern
Quiet by Susan Cain [done July 20]


additions beyond original list
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause [done July 29]

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
by Elaine N Aron

Reading Challenge

Back in December, when everybody else was making their challenge lists for 2014, I didn't.  Maybe I can't plan for such pleasures right now.  But for now, here are some ideas I had early in the year, and how far I've come:

finish proofreading New Testament Catechist  [done Feb 11]

Light from Heaven (the last Mitford book) [done March 6]
the Father Tim series, by Jan Karon

the Kristin Lavransdatter series, by Sigrid Undset
Bridal Wreath [done March 27]
Mistress of Husaby
The Cross

Hammer of God (again)

The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan, by Hal Wright


Anne of the Island
Anne of Windy Poplars
and maybe a few more in the series
(with Maggie)

likely some proofreading on Bible Stories for Daily Prayer



possibly
a Luther biography with Maggie
Narnia again
a book or two by Jillian Bradshaw
maybe try out an Elizabeth Gaskill book
something by Beverly Engel or Robin Stern
Quiet by Susan Cain

Reading Challenge

The conclusion of my reading-year.   I seriously doubt anything more books will be finished in the next three weeks.

My primary list:
Anne of Green Gables   by L. M. Montgomery  Jan 24
Anne of Avonlea   (these two with Maggie) Feb 24
Christ Have Mercy   by Matt Harrison April 7
Mara, Daughter of the Nile   June 7

Love Divine   by Alan Kornacki July 30
A Great and Mighty Wonder July 31
One Thing's Needful Aug 5

Mitford's These High, Green Hills Aug 16
Out to Canaan    by Jan Karon Aug 27
A Common Life Sept 2
A New Song   Sept 20
In This Mountain   Oct 4
Shepherds Abiding  Oct 12


The list that someone else made for me:
Lutheran Catechesis   by Bender Dec 27, 2012
Old Testament Catechesis   by Bender March 1
New Testament Catechesis    by Bender  began in October
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer    by Fabrizius   still waiting



Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter  by Sigrid Undset  going on 2014's list
To Kill a Mockingbird   by  Harper Lee May 8
Luther, the Reformer   by James Kittelson  unread
The Right to Be Wrong   by Seamus Hasson unread
On Being a Theologian of the Cross   by Forde unread
Luther on Vocation   by Wingren July 15


Books not on the original list:
A Long Way from Chicago by R Peck audio book April 16
A Year Down Yonder by Peck audio book April 18
And She Was a Christian: Why Do Believers Commit
Suicide by Peter Preus May 7
Heaven Is for Real June 27
How to Treat Your Own Hand & Thumb Osteoarthritis  Sept 28

Eighteen books read.
Two audio books "read."
Two proofreading projects completed.
And for the last two months I've been knitting and watching movies instead of reading.

Now it's time to figure out which books will go on my 2014 list. 

Reading Challenge: Update

Instructions were found on Jane's site to set up a reading challenge of a mere 5-10 books, something that seemed daunting as of last Christmas. Everything on my primary list (plus some extras where the book was the initial one in a series) has been read.  I've also read two books from the alternate list and some others.  I can now declare, without reservation, that I have met the goal. 

What's funny is that Gary mentioned a few days ago that he's so happy to see me being able to read again.  I wasn't sure what I thought of that: the weeks where I made great headway on my reading list was when I was too sick (or too crippled from wasp stings) to do much but lie on the couch, reading.  So the stories and/or learning are great.  The reason I'm lazing with a book -- not so great.  But maybe I'm learning something about not knocking myself out?



My primary list:
Anne of Green Gables   by L. M. Montgomery  Jan 24
Anne of Avonlea   (these two with Maggie) Feb 24
Christ Have Mercy   by Matt Harrison April 7
Mara, Daughter of the Nile   June 7

Love Divine   by Alan Kornacki July 30
A Great and Mighty Wonder July 31
One Thing's Needful Aug 5

Mitford's These High, Green Hills Aug 16
Out to Canaan    by Jan Karon Aug 27
A Common Life Sept 2


The list that someone else made for me:
Lutheran Catechesis   by Bender Dec 27, 2012
Old Testament Catechesis   by Bender March 1
New Testament Catechesis    by Bender
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer    by Fabrizius



Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter  by Sigrid Undset
To Kill a Mockingbird   by  Harper Lee May 8
Luther, the Reformer   by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong   by Seamus Hasson
On Being a Theologian of the Cross   by Forde
Luther on Vocation   by Wingren July 15


Books not on the original list:
A Long Way from Chicago by R Peck audio book April 16
A Year Down Yonder by Peck audio book April 18
And She Was a Christian: Why Do Believers Commit
Suicide by Peter Preus May 7
Heaven Is for Real June 27

Reading Challenge: Update

"A Little Help from My Friends"
Reading Challenge

Get a list of book suggestions from your friends.  From those suggestions choose between five and ten books that you will read in 2013.  Make a list of the books that you will read and a few alternates.
And the other instructions can be found on Jane's site.

My list:
Anne of Green Gables   by L. M. Montgomery  January 24
Anne of Avonlea   (these two with Maggie) February 24
Mara, Daughter of the Nile   by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Love Divine   by Alan Kornacki
Mitford's Out to Canaan    by Jan Karon
Christ Have Mercy   by Matt Harrison April 7


The list that someone else made for me:
Lutheran Catechesis   by Bender Dec 27, 2012
Old Testament Catechesis   by Bender March 1
New Testament Catechesis    by Bender
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer    by Fabrizius



Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter  by Sigrid Undset
To Kill a Mockingbird   by  Harper Lee May 8
Luther, the Reformer   by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong   by Seamus Hasson
On Being a Theologian of the Cross   by Forde
Luther on Vocation   by Wingren

Additional books (not on the original list):
A Long Way from Chicago by R Peck audio book April 16
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck audio book April 18
And She Was a Christian: Why Do Believers
Commit Suicide by Peter Preus May 7


Wow: the count thus far is 5 paper books, 2 audio books, and 2 for proofreading.  That's more than a year's worth in normal-booktime.  Even if I don't read anything else for the rest of the year, I'm going to claim (??) that I met my goal.  Hey, I read five books!

Reading Challenge

"A Little Help from My Friends"
Reading Challenge

Get a list of book suggestions from your friends.  From those suggestions choose between five and ten books that you will read in 2013.  Make a list of the books that you will read and a few alternates.
And the other instructions can be found on Jane's site.

My list:
Anne of Green Gables   by L. M. Montgomery  
Anne of Avonlea   (these two with Maggie)
Mara, Daughter of the Nile   by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Love Divine   by Alan Kornacki
Mitford's Out to Canaan    by Jan Karon
Christ Have Mercy   by Matt Harrison


The list that someone else made for me:
Lutheran Catechesis   by Bender
Old Testament Catechesis   by Bender
New Testament Catechesis    by Bender
Bible Stories for Daily Prayer    by Fabrizius



Alternates:
Kristin Lavransdatter  by Sigrid Undset
To Kill a Mockingbird   by  Harper Lee
Luther, the Reformer   by James Kittelson
The Right to Be Wrong   by Seamus Hasson
On Being a Theologian of the Cross   by Forde
Luther on Vocation   by Wingren



Well, I've never before set up a reading challenge for myself.  Many of my friends do so annually.  I am jealous.  But Jane has devised a teeny-tiny reading challenge (possibly just to encourage me, because she loves me).  I may not be up to the challenge; I may fail.  BUT I have a shot at it -- unlike most reading challenges which are entirely out of the realm of possibility.  Unless I want to quit homeschooling, quit cooking, quit cleaning, quit choir, quit gardening, and quit editing.  And I don't wanna quit those things.  So Mini Reading Challenge, here I come!