A probably partial list of favorite books in 2011

A corner of my living room

Since I never found the notebook where I wrote down everything I was reading, I had to depend on going through last year's blog posts to get an idea of favorites.  I know I missed something!

I am not including any books I re-read.  It was interesting skimming through the posts of summer and autumn as I read less and what I did read was mostly re-reading.

That included the time period from the month of the lightening strike and subsequent gas leak until we were able to get some resemblance of "normal" a few months later.  I think my brain was fried, along with the house!

Favorite books are listed from the beginning of the year through to December.  You will notice that most of the fiction favorites I read last year are not listed.  

I needed old friends to re-read instead and everything on this list are those I read for the first time.  I also did not include cookbooks or gardening books.

Fiction

The Twelfth Imam (Winter) and The Tehran Initiative (Autumn) by Joel Rosenberg
This is Joel's newest series of end times adventure novels.  Basically... imagine The Twelfth Imam appears to have returned, Iran gets the nuclear bomb, and America is under attack internally.

I don't know why I've always had a thing for "the end of the world as we know it" disaster movies and books but I do. 

Vittoria Cottage and Music In the Hills by D. E. Stevenson
Imagine a story set in a small English Village and continued (for one or two of the characters in the previous book) in Scottish farmland.  Charming story... believable characters... took me away from it all for awhile.

Henrietta's House by Elizabeth Goudge
Henrietta's dream is to have a house of her own where everyone she loves most can be together.  When her friends and family get together for a birthday picnic for Hugh Anthony, most of them end up lost in a new part of the woods where adventures and magic (Narnia magic so to speak) happen.

Non-Fiction

Marriage to a Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union of Jonathon & Sarah Edwards by Elisabeth Dodds
Excellent biography which is mostly about the marriage and family life of the Edwards family but also gives the reader insight into pre-Revolutionary War New England.

I came away wanting to know even more about Jonathon Edwards and his teaching.  I also realized why it is said there would have been no Jonathon without Sarah (which meant in her role as wife and mother, she helped to start the famous revival called the "first Great Awakening" in America).

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Ann (of the Holy Experience blog) writes the story of the tragedy in her life which led to her being a self described "mess" and then the simple action God had her take to bring healing and joy to her life.   She shares how we can do the very same simple steps to bring joy into our lives.  Ann's prose reads like poetry.

Walking On Water: Reflections on Faith & Art by Madeleine L'Engle
In this book, Madeleine shares very personal insights and experiences regarding what it is like to be a Christian and an "artist" (in her case, a writer).  A book which reminds us we are created in the image of a creative God and we were meant for "art".

The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through the Seasons by Amanda and Stephen Soule
A lovely little book with pictures and a lot of ideas to show how we can enjoy each season as a family.  The book offers many ideas for teaching our children about living closer to nature, crafting, cooking, etc.  I skipped the pages about teaching children to meditate, otherwise this is a book one can enjoy reading off and on all year.

Where Women Cook, Celebrate! by the editors of Where Women Cook magazine
This is kind of a cookbook because it has recipes and kind of a book about cooks and kind of a book that tells us how different people hold parties and celebrations.  But mostly it is a book filled with fun, letting us peek into the lives and kitchens of all kind of women.  I read this book now when I need to brighten my day.

Surprised By Oxford by Carolyn Weber
This is a wonderful book!  I loved it so much I had to write Carolyn to tell her.  It is the story of a young woman (that being Carolyn, or "Caro" as she is known to friends) who gets a scholarship to study for a graduate degree at Oxford.

It is the story of her life before Oxford, her journey to Christ, the people she met along the way, and her insights and experiences at Oxford.  The book is a real autobiography that reads like a novel.   I know so many like minded people who would love this book.

Now... I must brew some tea and enjoy watching the snow fall outside my window.   In front of me are household chores to do, cooking, dishes soaking, wedding preparations, and a couple snail mail letters to write.  I may take a nap instead.  ;)