2022 Book List

I set my goal at 50 books this year, and I made it to 68! Not quite as high as last year, but still respectable ;)

I also committed to the 2022 Reading Challenge with Visual Theology, which helped to diversify my reading this year. I noted the Avid list in green and the Committed list in pink. Some of the books fit multiple categories, but I tried to hit one unique book per item. I didn't quite hit every category, but I found this helpful when it was time to choose new books, or when I wanted to read something different.

Avid: 

• A book for children or teens The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie the Pooh
• A memoir or autobiography
• A novel  The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed
• A book by a woman A Brief Theology of Periods, Confessions of a Domestic Failure
• A book by a man The Pastor's Kid, The Whistler
• A book published prior to 2000 A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 {first published in 1970}
• A book with the word "gospel" in the title or subtitle Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel, Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home
• A book with an image of a person on the cover An Ugly Truth, Triggers
• A book about a current social issue Fault Lines, Irreversible Damage
• A book published in 2021 or 2022 The Missing Husband, PreachersNSneakers, The Book of Cold Cases, Apples Never Fall
• A book about suffering
• A book about Christian living A Praying Life, Uncomfortable
• A book of your choice Preventing the Next Pandemic, Empire of Pain
• A book written by a Puritan
• A book recommended by a family member The Judge's List
• A book about a current issue When Narcissism Comes to Church, The Death of Expertise
• A novel that won a prize In the Woods, A Flicker in the Dark
• A book with more than one author The Happiest Kids in the World, The Lifegiving Home
• A book with at least 400 pages Home Learning Year by Year
• A book by an author who was alive in the 1800s
• A book that has a name in the title Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot
• A book on a bestseller list Room, Oh Crap! Potty Training
• A book about a book of the Bible
• A book about theology
• A book about Christian living The Benedict Option, Even Better Than Eden
• A book of your choice Homeschool Bravely 

Committed: 

• A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with
• A book by someone you think you could be friends with M is for Mama, How to Thrive as a Pastor's Wife
• A book that won an award The Maid
• A book about relationships The Moonlight Child
• A book by Jane Austen or one of her contemporaries
• A book of poetry The Complete Poems of Winnie the Pooh
• A book based on a true story The Premonition
• A book with a photograph on the cover
• A softcover book Family Worship
• A book with 100 pages or less Coming Home
• A book with a two-word title All of the Blake Pierce books
• A devotional book Emmanuel
• A novel set in a country that is not your own The Secret Keeper {England}, The Lost Village {Sweden}, The Sanatorium {Switzerland}
• A book about art or music
• A book of Christian fiction The Pilgrim's Progress
• A book about something fun The Residence
• A book by a female Christian author The End of Me, Why Motherhood Matters
• A book whose title comes from a Bible verse
• A book by a living author 70 or older
• A self-improvement book
• A book set during a war Children of the Stars
• A book you own but have never read
• A book about euthanasia or abortion
• A book about theology
• A book about something interesting Dopesick
• A book of your choice The Medlar Mystery series, Arsenic and Adobo, Every Last Fear

1. Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel by Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr. // I'm glad I started the year with a marriage book because I realized I didn't read a single marriage book last year! Ortlund walks through the Scriptures to give a clear picture of God's design for marriage and how it is meant to reflect the gospel. This is a good starting place for understanding what the {whole} Bible says about marriage. It doesn't necessarily offer many practical "to do's," but I think it's vital to have a Biblical foundation before any of that can be applied anyway. {A book with the word "gospel" in the title or subtitle}

2. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton // Laurel witnesses her mother commit a shocking crime, and 50 years later she decides to find answers. The story goes back and forth from WWII times, following Laurel's mother's story, to present day where Laurel is trying to piece together her aging/dying mother's past. The story was interesting, but this book was. so. very. slow. It seemed to pick up at the very end, but it just took too long to answer questions. Not bad, just slow and long. {A novel set in a country that is not your own: England}

3. A Brief Theology of Periods (Yes, Really) by Rachel Jones // When I first saw the title of this book, I asked the question that the parenthesis answers haha. But I am so glad I gave this book a chance. It seems like a strange topic, but if we could all take this in-depth, gospel-centered approach to every topic in our lives, it would be so beneficial. I really appreciated this author's approach to seeing what the Bible says about menstruation and how the gospel applies to it in our lives. Super helpful for all women, whatever your stage of life or personal feelings about your cycle. {A book by a woman}

4. In the Woods by Tana French // This was the first in the Dublin Murder Squad series. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this book. I liked the premise: a detective investigates the murder of a young girl, and in the process, has to deal with his past. But at times it felt slow, and the author tried to make the detective introspective, but in so many ways the detective was super dense {ex: relationship with his partner and his roommate}. Honestly, I think it could have been redeemed, if the mystery from his past had actually been solved! Not having a resolution was SO disappointing! {A novel that won a prize}

5. Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki // A re-read from 2020 because it was Aiden's turn! I needed a refresher on her methods, because it worked with Eli and Maddie. I rolled my eyes again at her harsh stance on potty training after age 3...but otherwise, the method is solid. {A book on a bestseller list}

6. Girl, Alone by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #1. This was a really fun one! FBI Agent Ella Dark is called out to the field to track a serial killer who is mimicking other famous serial killers. Fast-paced, suspenseful...an overall good thriller. I probably enjoyed it more because the author incorporated the details of many famous serial killers, ones about whom I have read true crime books. I had to look past a rookie out-thinking a veteran and some glaring editing issues, so I'm hoping those issues don't carry over into the rest of the series. {A book with a two-word title}

7. Girl, Taken by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #2. I liked the first one so much that I jumped right into the next one. This time, FBI Agent, Ella Dark is on the track of the "Artist Killer." So I have to admit that more reality has to be suspended {like hopping from one case to another within a matter of days, catching these serial killers in like 2 days}, but these books read so quickly and easily, that I'm willing to do that a little. And I like that there is a background story or two that weave through the books too. {A book with a two-word title}

8. Girl, Hunted by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #3. I basically couldn't stop myself...I had to keep going! A new day, a new serial killer to hunt, this one trying to best the Zodiac Killer. I like that we get to read multiple points of view {but it's not too many that it's too many to keep track of}. I haven't read a series that I just couldn't put down in so long, so it was kind of fun. I wouldn't say these are award-winning books. But they are highly entertaining, and I am really enjoying them. {A book with a two-word title}

9. Girl, Silenced by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #4. And why not finish off all the books that out right now? This one was a little more gritty and distasteful {delving into the realm of sex workers}. Again, I couldn't put this one down, but I wonder how long Ella will chicken out of confessing her secret to Mia, and I wonder how many "rookie mistakes" she can realistically make before she's fired and ALL reality is suspended. But now I'm stuck, because while there are 10 books in this series, I didn't realize that not all of them have been released yet! {A book with a two-word title}

10. Homeschool Bravely: How to Squash Doubt, Trust God, and Teach Your Child with Confidence by Jamie Erickson // Since we have made the decision to homeschool for Kindergarten {I know, what?!?}, I have been reading up on all the homeschool things. I really, really appreciated and needed this book. It was the right amount of encouragement and truth-telling, without any judgment or "homeschool is the only right way" ideas. If you are considering homeschooling, and/or just getting started, I highly recommend this book. {A book of your choice}

11. The End of Me: Finding Resurrection Life in the Daily Sacrifices of Motherhood by Liz Wann // The author acknowledges the struggles of motherhood and offers encouragement with gospel truth. It's a short, quick read, but it is filled with prayers, Scripture, and even journaling space. Lots of good reminders; this book would make a great gift for new moms. {A book by a female Christian author}

12. Once Gone by Blake Pierce // Riley Paige Mystery Book #1. I decided to try another series by this author, and this one was just terrible. FBI Agent Riley Paige is on leave because of her encounter with a serial killer on her last case. But when the FBI is stumped on this new case, she's {apparently} the only one who can help. There was just so much unlikeable about this book: characters, plot, location descriptions. I felt like I was missing a huge piece of the story {her encounter with a serial killer on her last case}. I know that was on purpose, but it still felt like I missed an entire book. As those details were revealed, it just seemed like too much drama surrounded it {too much stress and anxiety as she worked through the trauma...understandable, but completely distracting from the actual storyline and how on earth was she still on the job??}. Also, I listened to the audio book, and it was just awkward to hear a British accent when the book was set in Northern VA/D.C. I literally laughed out loud when the narrator pronounced Yosemite, Yo-suh-mite :) This series is not for me. {A book with a two-word title}

13. When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse by Chuck DeGroat // I walked away from this book feeling like we are all narcissists {which in many ways, to be fair, Americans are}. It was a little difficult to see the line between the pride we all need to deal with in our hearts before the Lord and the abusive leadership that pervades too many American churches. But I think this book is important to read to help understand the darkness of this sin. While I think hiring an independent consultant/outside expert is helpful, I don't think that's practical for many churches {thinking of the small ones}, so I was disappointed more resources/solutions were not offered. {A book about a current issue}

14. The Pastor's Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity by Barnabas Piper // Our kids fall into this category, so it's obviously a concern for my Mama heart. The author seeks to bring awareness to the unique struggles that pastor's kids face growing up in the church. While I appreciated his perspective, and was able to think through some ways to help my own kids, I do feel like there was a lot lacking in this book. Example: sharing how a pastor's kid's life aligns with Christ and His Word {isn't that what we should be doing with any kid, regardless of what their parents do?} I also think that it would be helpful for church members to read parts of the book to learn better ways to interact with and love pastors' kids, but perhaps it would have been more helpful {and practical} to hear ways that pastors can address these issues and set boundaries with church members to create a healthier environment. So helpful in some ways, not all-inclusive. {A book by a man}

15. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. Miller // While I found this book a little long and repetitive, I still found parts of it helpful and relatable. It's less of a "how-to" {though he does offer some practical suggestions} and more of a personal account. He focuses on how prayer should be more of a relationship, getting to know our Father, but also encourages the need for developing good habits.  {A book about Christian living}

16. Coming Home: A Quick and Practical Guide For Preparing a Mother's Heart, Mind, & Home for Homeschooling by Camille Kirksey // This was a super short book, probably more of a blog-post series. The author focuses on a mother preparing her heart and mind for homeschooling, to not focus so much on how overwhelming the task can be. While encouraging in some ways, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, as it wasn't very in-depth. {A book with 100 pages or less}

17. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan // Written by the creator of The Honest Toddler, this is a fiction book about a hot-mess mom who is trying to navigate stay-at-home-momhood. She is chosen to take part in a Motherhood Better boot camp, so it's the story of her attempts and failures to be the "perfect mom." There were parts that were funny, but overall I was disappointed in this book. The main character was beyond a hot mess, and it became overly tedious to read about all of her failures. {A book by a woman}

18. Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Creative and Comprehensive Homeschool Curriculum by Rebecca Rupp // I think this book will be a helpful reference as I plan our curriculum each year, but I probably won't reference it as much as The Well-Trained Mind. This book focuses more on public school standards of learning, so it will be helpful to see how our curriculum choices compare, but it will be more of a supplement than a complete guide, for our personal purposes. {A book with at least 400 pages}

19. The Happiest Kids in the World: How Dutch Parents Help Their Kids (and Themselves) by Doing Less by Rina Mae Acosta and Michele Hutchison // I have read about the Dutch way of parenting before, but this was a little more in-depth. I appreciate reading about how parents from other cultures raise their kids; I just find it interesting. I think there is a lot to be learned from how the Dutch parent, though practically-speaking it would be difficult to implement here in the U.S. Also, do keep in mind that it is a highly non-religious society, so take that into account when reading through some of the parenting methods. {A book with more than one author}

20. The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher // No, I'm not advocating for or attempting to move toward a monastic lifestyle, but I found this book thought-provoking. While I don't personally believe America ever was a Christian nation {and therefore is not now post-Christian or moving away from its supposed "roots"}, I do think that the American Church is in severe decline, and this book highlights the need for Christians to wake up to the fact that we no longer carry the influence in the public square we may have in the past. I liked the encouragement toward more orthodoxy, and appreciated his admonishment not to completely retreat. Some interesting suggestions, and some good food for thought. {A book about Christian living}

21. The Missing Husband by Natasha Boydell // A married couple who seems to have it all; husband goes to work one day and never returns. It wasn't hard to figure this one out pretty early, and honestly, it fell flat in the end. I spent the first half of the book irritated with the characters, so the obvious "twist" made the whole book that much more frustrating. Wouldn't recommend. {A book published in 2021 or 2022}

22. The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion // A neighbor sees a young child late one night in the house next door, and she knows there are no small children living there. She could have let it go, but when a former foster child comes to live with her, she is convinced that they should investigate further. It's marked as a suspense/horror/thriller, and it's definitely not any of those genres. It was a decent story that has a good ending, but the characters were one-dimensional and a lot of things happened that didn't further the story. Not bad, but not great. {A book about relationships}

23. Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney // A short intro to the history and tradition of family worship, and a few practical tips for starting the tradition in your own home. It's brief, more like a primer to the topic than an in-depth guide. I didn't agree with some of his assumptions surrounding the practice, but overall, I think it was a good encouragement to Christians to think through the discipline in their own homes. {A soft cover book}

24. Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe by Voddie T. Baucham Jr. // This one was a tough one for me...the Bible is sufficient, and any philosophy that wants to divide the Church along racial lines is anti-gospel. I do think Christians need to think critically and evaluate the particular worldview from which CRT is derived, but I don't think that it is the catastrophic issue that's going to rip the church apart. And honestly, this book only deepens the supposed fault line that the author discusses; it was highly divisive, and I found it unhelpful in the overall discussion. He failed to clearly define terms, often completely misrepresenting them. Rather than offering a gospel-centered discussion, he drew a line in the sand and demanded the reader pick a side. And most disheartening was his lack of strong {and unbiased} sources. Too many times he quoted secondary sources, and he often completely misrepresented the on-the-record views of high profile evangelicals. For those already convinced that CRT is the devil we should all fear, this book will affirm that belief, letting you champion an us vs. them mentality. For those who want to think critically and evaluate the arguments in a loving, gospel-centered, biblically-faithful, unity-seeking way...perhaps choose another book. {A book about a current social issue}

25. A Willing Murder by Jude Deveraux // #1 in the Medlar Mystery series. A retired romance novelist, her realtor niece, and the handsome live-in Jack team up to solve an old murder mystery in their small town. It was full of cheesiness, yes, but overall, it was a fun beach read. It was more like an Agatha Christie-type mystery {in terms of quaintness, not literary achievement}, rather than all the modern thriller mysteries. {A book of your choice}

26. A Justified Murder by Jude Deveraux // #2 in the Medlar Mystery series. The 3 team up again to solve a present-day murder in their small town. There were a lot of characters in this book, so it was a little hard to keep everyone straight, but I still thought it was another fun beach read.  {A book of your choice}

27. A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux // #3 in the Medlar Mystery series. Our novice detectives head to England for a break from murder...only to stumble across another skeleton. By far the cheesiest in the series so far haha. It would have been fine if they didn't somehow convince all of the suspects to put on a play to re-enact the murder to find out who really did it? Will I finish the series? Probably haha. {A book of your choice}

28. M is for Mama: A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood by Abbie Halberstadt // I have seen some of her posts on instagram, so I decided to give her book a try. And honestly? I really loved it. Probably one of the better gospel-centered and biblically-faithful books on motherhood. In it, she tries to fight through our culture's views on enduring motherhood, which touts self-care, wine-o-clock, and snark. She challenges her readers not to settle for mediocre motherhood, but to push for biblical excellence in our role as mother. Some have criticized it as more of a blog than a book. While the writing style might be more blog-ish, I don't think the book lacked substance at all; she thoroughly walked through each of her topics. It is a book that offers more personal experience than research, but it was biblically faithful. I appreciated how she had overview, reflection questions, and a prayer at the end of each chapter. I recommend this book. {A book by someone you think you could be friends with}

29. The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne // This includes Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, and Now We Are Six {all 4 of the Winnie-the-Pooh series, though the last 2 are poems, most of which don't include Pooh Bear}. We slowly read through this out loud in preschool, and we finally finished! I am glad that we read through this classic about this tubby little bear and his friends. But I will say that the language was really difficult for little kids. I understand why so many love this little bear {we are BIG Pooh fans in our house}, but Disney has definitely made the bear more relatable to kids.  {A book for children or teens}

30. Preventing the Next Pandemic: Vaccine Diplomacy in a Time of Anti-Science by Peter J. Hotez // This international vaccine scientist argues the need for vaccine diplomacy in a new world of global health. While parts of this book were interesting, I found it fairly repetitive. It seemed more like a long-drawn out newspaper article than a book. I agree with his premise {the need for vaccine diplomacy}, but I don't think the idea was developed enough by this author to warrant an entire book. {A book of your choice}

31. PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and {Wannabe} Celebrities by Ben Kirby // I have followed his Instagram page for awhile, mostly out of morbid curiosity, and it never ceases to amaze me the money that some pastors and supposed faith leaders put toward their clothing/shoes. The book highlights how some can be explained away as gifts, but also raises really good questions on wealth, consumerism, social media, and celebrity within the American church. However, it's not a book with a specific point; it mostly just asks a bunch of questions, as the author wrestles with what is faithful or appropriate. While there were a lot of good questions, there were not a lot of good, thought-out answers. It was not very in-depth or theologically deep, though I wasn't necessarily expecting that. {A book published in 2021 or 2022}

32. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe // The story of the Sacklers, the family whose fortune was made from the marketing/sale of OxyContin, which is blamed as the catalyst for the opioid crisis in America. As one of the richest families in the world, they were known for their lavish donations to the arts and sciences. But they often kept their connection to OxyContin quiet. Overall an interesting read, though it was pretty slow and repetitive at times. {A book of your choice}

33. The Lost Village by Camilla Sten // A documentary crew sets out to find out what happened to all of the residents in a small mining town, who all disappeared overnight. A woman stoned to death in the town square, an abandoned newborn, a cultish preacher...a lot of mystery surrounding this town. Interesting enough to finish, but somewhat of a letdown toward the end. The premise was good, but there wasn't a lot of character development, and too much of the plot was unbelievable and strange. {A novel set in a country that is not your own: Sweden}

34. Room by Emma Donoghue // Told from 5-year-old Jack's point of view, this is a story of survival and resilience. Jack's mother was kidnapped and held captive. She gave birth to Jack in captivity, so their tiny prison is the only world he knows. The story describes the room where they live {Jack's whole world}, their harrowing escape, and life after their captivity. A really interesting and captivating read. {A book on a bestseller list}

35. Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman // This was the first book for our summer book club, and I led the discussion on this one. In it, Gloria Furman calls her readers to treasure the gospel in how they live out their roles as homemakers. While she addresses homemaking topics, I think this book is immensely helpful for all Christian women seeking to center the gospel in their day-to-day lives. She clearly defines the gospel, while distinguishing from false gospels, as well as the implications and applications of the gospel. And then she looks at various aspects of building a home with the gospel as a base. A really solid, gospel-centered read. {A book with the word "gospel" in the title or subtitle}  

36. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan // Somehow, I had never read this Christian classic, so I decided to give it a go. While there were certainly aspects of the story that presented a beautiful picture of the Christian life, the particular writing style of allegory was hard for me. The language and pace are not my preferred style, so I really had to power through to finish this one. But understanding that it was written in the 1600s, I still think it was a worthwhile read, especially if you like this type of storytelling and/or value the Puritans. {A book of Christian Fiction}

37. Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy // After reading Empire of Pain {#32}, several reviews said this book was better, showing a more broad view of the opioid crisis. And I agree: the pace was much quicker and more interesting, and I appreciated that the author looked at the problem from varying points of view {not just the drug company}. A criticism, though, is that it's mostly from the point of view of mothers with addicted children. We hear some from doctors, a dealer, representatives from the drug companies, and very little from the addicted. I realize this is a multifaceted issue, but I didn't walk away with more empathy for the addicted; I walked away frustrated in the lack of personal responsibility and accountability. And I don't think that was the author's intent. At least how it was presented, I can understand why it took so long to become a national conversation and why not much has changed. {A book about something interesting}

38. Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community by Brett McCracken // I really appreciated this book. The author challenges his readers to push past the "uncomfortable" aspects of Christian community to follow the command for biblical community/unity. He lovingly challenges readers to push past some of the more difficult aspects of community in order to truly learn to love the church, the bride of Christ. The only thing I wish he had qualified or dug into more was the differences between orthopraxy and orthodoxy. Sometimes the "uncomfortable" that we experience in churches is something that is genuinely unbiblical on top tier doctrines, not just preferences. Otherwise, I found this to be a good, encouraging, biblical read. {A book about Christian living}

39. The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower // I found this book really interesting! It's full of stories and intimate details of the lives of those who serve the presidents.From maids, butlers, and cooks to florists, doormen, and engineers. It was so interesting to read about the loyalty of long-time staff members and the relationships they had with the First Families. A quick, interesting read. {A book about something fun}

40. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James // This one was a bit of a surprise to me. A young woman, who runs a true crime website, meets an older woman who many years ago was accused {but acquitted} of murdering two men. Beth, the older woman, finally decides to tell her story and grants an interview to Shea {the owner of the true crime website}. There is a bit of a ghost story element to it, but I still found the book interesting and enjoyable. I would try another book by this author.  {A book published in 2021 or 2022}

41. The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally & Sarah Clarkson // This book is about how to make your home your family's favorite place to be, how to build rhythms that provide warmth, comfort, and rest. I learned so much, and I wish I lived in this home haha. This book is very idealistic; but there are a number of elements that I want to at least try to implement in my own home. It would be easy for me to feel overwhelmed, like I could never make my home like hers...and that's ok! My home isn't going to be like hers. But I found a lot of great ideas, and it makes me want to be intentional about the home I am building. {A book with more than one author}

42. The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis // The supposed story of a small band of medical visionaries who saw the Covid-19 pandemic for what it was and started sounding the alarms early. It's the story of a secret team of dissenting doctors, the Wolverines, who had the plan to combat the pandemic...everything except the permission to implement it. It reads like a thriller, so I am sure it's sensationalized, but it was really fascinating. The book is highly critical of the CDC and the many "leaders" who chose politics over public health. It is non-fiction and much truth in it, but take it for what it is. {A book based on a true story}

43. Even Better Than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible's Story Changes Everything about Your Story by Nancy Guthrie // This was the second book we discussed at our summer book club at church. This was SO good. In it, Nancy Guthrie traces 9 themes {the tree of life, garden and wilderness, the image of God, clothing, Sabbath, marriage, the seed and the serpent, the temple, the city of Jerusalem} throughout the Bible, revealing how God's plan for the new heaven and earth is far better than we can imagine. This is a good book to help understand the story of God's plan for the future of His people. I listened to the audio book, and I think my favorite part was hearing the author read her own book and singing the hymns at the end of every chapter :) {A book about Christian living}

44. The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters by Tom Nichols // I found myself nodding and even giggling at multiple points in this book...because I understood so much of the frustration! {To be clear...I'm not claiming to be an expert; FAR from it. But I have been mocked for listening to experts, and I just can't help but shake my heads sometimes}. The author asserts that the rise of the internet and technology has actually made us all dumber. He argues that there has been a rise in questioning experts, with a society now believing that all voices are equal and "facts" are subjective. Now...I do believe he makes a lot of great points. But I also think he is missing a lot of key elements in his argument. He also asserts that this is a new phenomenon {which I don't think it is; I think it has only been exacerbated by the internet and social media}. But I found the book interesting and think it would be a good book for discussion {to those who are willing to be rational}. {A book about a current issue}

45. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman // As odd as it may seem...this book was delightful haha! A group in a retirement home meet together every week to look over cold cases and pass the time. But then a current murder happens in their midst, and they set to solve the mystery in their unconventional ways. I really enjoyed this one. Suspend reality a bit and just enjoy the quirky, curmudgeonly personalities in this book :)  I am so glad there are more in this series! {A novel}

46. Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay // A college student loses almost his entire family in what appears to be a gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. Even though the Mexican authorities ruled it an accident, the FBI is not too certain. Meh. This wasn't as suspenseful or interesting as I had hoped. Multiple points of view, alternating between past and present...nothing new.  {A book of your choice}

47. Girl, Vanished by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #5. I read the first 4 books in the series earlier this year, knowing some more would come out later. I have to say that I like this whole idea of binge-reading book series haha. The suspense continues when Ella catches a case of a serial killer who is leaving coins on his victims eyes. Ella is not working with Mia in this one, and the perspective of the main serial killer Tobias is provided, which makes this book in the series a little different. {A book with a two-word title}

48. Girl, Erased by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #6. So yes, these books pretty much have the same format, but I can't stop reading them haha. This time, doctors and medical personnel are being found murdered in brutal ways. Ella is partnered back up with Mia again, but the storyline with the guy she is dating seems totally out of left field and doesn't seem to fit the character. Aside from that, the suspense thriller part was good.  {A book with a two-word title}

49. Girl, Forsaken by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #7. In this one, Ella and Mia are trying to hunt down Tobias, who has escaped from prison {laugh at the ridiculousness, I know}. An FBI agent is found dead in Ella's apartment, and another serial killer is taunting Ella. I'm looking forward to the other books coming out later this year and next! {A book with a two-word title}

50. A Relative Murder by Jude Deveraux // #4 in the Medlar Mystery series. I read the first 3 books earlier this year, and was excited to pick back up with the Medlar Three with book #4. They're back in Lachlan, Florida. Kate discovers a dead body while visiting a friend, Jack is unexpectedly appointed as deputy, and Sara has some secrets that she needs to confess. Consistent with the other books, a good beach read. {A book of your choice}

51. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse // A former sanatorium is turned into a hotel. Detective Elin Warner visits to celebrate her brother's engagement, and his fiance goes missing. Creepy hotel, snowstorm that traps guests in...this fell flat for me. The detective had too many issues and didn't act like a detective at all. Probably won't read anymore in this series. {A novel set in a country that is not your own: Switzerland}

52. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman // #2 in the Thursday Murder Club series. I loved the first book so much, so I was excited to see there were more! In this one, the quirky group hunt for a murderer and diamonds, getting into all kinds of zany fun. Another fun read! {A novel}

53. Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier // The author argues that there has been a recent uptick in the number of young girls who say they are transgender; and even more alarmingly, wanting to take life-altering medical steps to transition. I went back and forth on whether or not to read this book at all, and then back and forth on how to rate it. I knew going in that it was probably going to be deeply skewed, just based on the inflammatory title and the far-right endorsements. And in many ways I was right. I didn't love her tone in many parts; too often she was insensitive and snarky, instead of just relying on the validity of her arguments. While I can understand {and even agree with} some of her explanations for the uptick, there's not a lot of solid scientific evidence; it's very anecdotal and a lot of conjecture. It was more a theory in search of evidence, presenting possible {even valid} reasons. The author does not wave a Christian conservative banner; she seems to have no issue with adults making decisions regarding their gender dysphoria. Her main concern is young girls who have not had appropriate therapy or time to mature before making life-altering decisions. So I can appreciate the concern, and I don't believe she is transphobic or in need of censorship. But unfortunately, she speaks too much to the fears of the echo chambers that will wave the banners of "conspiracy" and "downfall of society," so her legitimate concerns will be lost on everyone else. Read critically. {A book about a current social issue}

54. Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar // Set during WWII, two young Jewish boys journey across France, all the way to Argentina to be reunited with their parents. A sweet story of resilience and determination. Quick read. {A book set during a war}

55. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty // A deep dive into the family secrets of the Delaney family. A family of tennis stars. Mom goes missing. A stranger in their midst. Could have been an interesting read on human behavior and family dynamics, though it was nothing too revolutionary. A slow burn of a read and an anticlimactic ending. {A book published in 2021 or 2022}

56. Girl, Trapped by Blake Pierce // Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller #8. I'm too invested in this series to give it up at this point {I want to know what happens!}, but I do have to admit that this one was pretty ridiculous. In this one, she gets a new partner, a rookie she is tasked with training. This rookie is beyond unprofessional, and I have no clue how she made it as an agent. The ending made me roll my eyes, it was so unrealistic. I will read the next one when it comes out because I'm a sucker for these, apparently, but I hope it's better writing... {A book with a two-word title}

57. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala // Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #1. A little bit of a different mystery, with a bit of rom-com. Lila moves back home with her matchmaking aunts to help save the family restaurant. When a food critic drops dead after eating one of their meals, Lila has to solve the mystery to stay out of jail. Cute and light story. {A book of your choice}

58. An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang // I don't think this book added any additional information to the conversation on Mark Zuckerburg and Facebook's culture. Meh. {A book with an image of a person on the cover}

59. The Whistler by John Grisham // The Whistler #1. I actually read this one because I wanted to read the next one in this series following Lacy Stoltz, an investigator with the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. Crooked judges, casino money on Native American land, and the Coast Mafia. Seemed a bit far-fetched to me, but still interesting. {A book by a man}

60. The Judge's List by John Grisham // The Whistler #2. Definitely enjoyed this one better. Lacy Stoltz gets another case that involves a serial killer. She's a lawyer, not a cop or federal agent. But her hesitant witness brings the case to Lacy because she believes the killer is a sitting judge. {A book recommended by a family member}

61. Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses by Amber Lia // I found this book helpful. It's broken down into short devotional chapters with prayers at the end of each. There's not a lot of biblical or theological background on anger or discipline, but instead jumps directly into application. While not perfect {too much emphasis on feelings- for both child and parent- without any biblical foundations of discipline and consequences}, I do think it's a useful tool for the mama struggling to control her own anger in parenting. It offers helpful tips on controlling your own anger so that you can discipline your children in a loving and gracious way. {A book with an image of a person on the cover}

62. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom // While I appreciated her vulnerability in sharing her own story and struggles with sexual sin, the title of this book was very misleading. While she talked about how the church let her down in terms of the conversation about sex, she offered very little practical advice on the conversation the church should be having. I also was disappointed to find out that she had only been married 3 years when she wrote this book. I think she says many valuable things; but this book was not well-organized or even well written, and overall just missed a lot. {A book that has a name in the title: Jesus}

63. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller // I appreciated the practical insight in this book. It made Psalm 23 more meaningful, as I was better able to understand the context from a shepherd's perspective. I enjoyed learning more about a shepherd's profession and about the habits of sheep. Would recommend. {A book published prior to 2000}

64. Why Motherhood Matters: An Invitation to Purposeful Parenting by September McCarthy // This book was overall encouraging and challenging. I appreciated the author's vulnerability in her own motherhood journey, and I appreciated the years of experience she brings to the table. There were some areas that I felt could have been written better; some areas were not worded well, others seemed to be written in extremes. Some areas offered wonderful practical advice, others were less helpful {more, "my kids just obey because I expect them to"...unhelpful}. While I wouldn't count this as THE book on motherhood to read, I would recommend it.  {A book by a female Christian author}

65. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman // #3 in the Thursday Murder Club series. I am really enjoying this series! I love this quirky little crew and their shenanigans :)  This one is full of TV stars, money launderers, ex-KGB colonels, and 2 murders, 10 years apart. {A novel}

66. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham // Chloe Davis' father was arrested as a serial killer. Chloe was left to grapple with the horrific truth and the aftermath of her father's devastation. Twenty years later, she is finally settling into "normalcy" and happiness when a few local girls go missing and the nightmare she was trying to move past is coming back to haunt her. A mediocre debut novel. {A novel that won a prize}

67. Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always by Ruth Chou Simons // This was the Advent reading I chose for this year and I really enjoyed it! I enjoy her writing {and her artwork!}, and it was easy to follow. {A devotional book}

68. The Maid by Nita Prose // Molly loves order and cleanliness, which makes her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel a perfect fit. When she finds a guest dead in his hotel room, she becomes the prime suspect. Not quite what I was expecting. While I understand the author wanted to highlight the main character as neurodivergent, it seemed more of a caricature. The story and characters just felt strange and "off" to me...and not because the main character is on the spectrum, but because it was a strange depiction of someone on the spectrum. {A book that won an award}

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Books I started, but did not finish {I had a lot this year}:

• Hate, Inc.: Why Today's Media Makes Us Despise One Another by Matt Taibbi // A Rolling Stone journalist provides an insider's guide to how today's mainstream media tells us lies. It seemed like just a string of blog posts; it seemed less informative and more rant. Perhaps I would have found this more shocking when it first came out in 2019, but post-COVID, I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. 
• The Echo Man by Sam Holland // A serial killer draws inspiration from other famous serial killers. While the premise was interesting, I had to stop reading because of the repeated {and completely unnecessary} sex scenes and the crime gore seemed over the top, more for shock value than literary value. Not for me.
• The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan // I just don't think the dystopian genre is for me. Aside from that preference, I was unable to summon any empathy for the main character. The narrative just drug on too much for me, and I struggled with the sexual content in this book. I just decided it wasn't worth my time to push through a book I wasn't enjoying on any level.
• The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles // I decided to try another book by this author {I first tried and couldn't finish A Gentleman in Moscow}...and I guess this author is just a no-go for me. There is just too much detail about a lot of nothing. Sorry if you really like his books, I just can't get into them.
• Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala // Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2. I read the first book in the series, and it was cute and different enough for me to try the second. But this mystery surrounded a pageant, and there were just way too many details about pageantry that I just wasn't interested in. Not the series for me.
• Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll // Woah. The main character was absolutely loathsome, and the book had SO much explicit sex dialogue and narrative. Awful.
• The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell // I couldn't get into this book. It was really slow, and I kept falling asleep. It wasn't worth persevering.
• All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot // Another one that was a little slow for me: I had heard such great things about it, but it just wasn't for me.
• The Ink Black Heart by Robert Gilbraith // The fourth in the Cormoran Strike series. I read the first three books last year, and when I saw this one come out, I wanted to continue the series. I have to say...this one was dumb. It was SO long, WAY too long. And it was just a strange case. Way too much of the F-word, and I just didn't enjoy it at all. Couldn't bring myself to finish it. Such a disappointment.