Wednesday, January 7, 2015

2014 in Books and Misc Details

For the first time in my life, I tracked my reading all year long.  2014 was the year of throwing out my rule about reading nonfiction in between every fiction book.  Life is too short.  And winters are too long.  I'm still reading some non-fiction, but not MAKING myself do it as frequently.  I read mostly for enjoyment in 2014 and branched out with some new genres.  It was really fun!  I also let myself endeavor in multiple books at one time. Watch out world!  My love for reading is totally revived.

Most impactful:
*Bread and Wine, by Shauna Niequist - Inspired me to try making risotto and ultimately enjoy cooking for my people so much more!
*Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell - Even though it was mostly just a fun read (SO FUN), it changed how I think about what it must feel like to grow up without supportive parents.  Like how she has to wash her jeans in the bathtub and exists without privacy.  Eye opening about real-life poverty.
*The Nesting Place, by Myquillyn Smith - Inspired me to create beauty in my home and be safe to make mistakes.  It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!

Most enjoyable:
*Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier - Spooky!  Loved it!
*The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion - Out of the box for me.  I love the bar-tending scene so much!  Hilarious.
*Parnassus on Wheels, by Christopher Morley - Short and oh so sweet.

ALL BOOKS READ in 2014:
Empire of Bones: Ashtown Burials #3 by N.D. Wilson
Divergent, by Veronica Roth
The Secret Keeper, by Kate Morton
*Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
*Bread and Wine, by Shauna Niequist
*The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion
Don't Make Me Count to Three, by Ginger Plowman
*Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller
Lifter of My Head, by Susan McRoberts
Maisie Dobbs, by Jaqueline Winspear
Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs #2), by Jaqueline Winspear
*Parnassus on Wheels, by Christopher Morley
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis
Europe Through the Back Door, by Rick Steves
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
The Paper Magician, by Charlie N. Homberg
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
*The Nesting Place, by Myquillyn Smith

Unfinished:
Notes from a Blue Bike, by Tsh Oxenrider
The Homemade Life, by Molly Wizenberg
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling
Made for More, by Hannah Anderson


FAVORITE BLOGS of 2014:
Rachel Schultz - Not only did she teach me how to make killer pad thai, I love how she talks about faith.
Modern Mrs Darcy - She inspires my reading life and I love her stuff on personality
Nesting Place - I was reading her blog for a year before I read her book.  Let go of perfection!

FAVORITE Netflix SHOWS of 2014:
Foyle's War
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Longmire

FAVORITE MEALS of 2014:
Pad Thai
Risotto
Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas