2015 reading goal and book reviews

At the beginning of the year I listened to Jamie Ivey interview her friend, Lindsey Paschal, on her podcast. [Which, by the way, is so good - when I found her podcast, I binge-listened to them all!] Lyndsey read 52 books in 2014  - I'm not sure if you just did that math, but that's a book a week. Did I mention she's a mom to two young kids? Talk about accomplishment. I immediately decided to set a reading goal of my own for 2015, although I wasn't crazy enough to think 52 books was realistic....

I decided on 30 books in 2015 in honor of my 30th birthday and set up a Goodreads account to keep track. [Goodreads is a game changer - you know all those times you thought I want to read that book...later and then forgot? It keeps track of books you want to read, books you're currently reading, and books you've already read. Every time I have that exact thought, I search for it on my Goodreads account and add it to the books I want to read. I'll never forget again!]. 

Below is a list of the books I've read through May with a tiny review [because who wants to read a blog with 15 full-out book reviews - too much]. And you can friend me on Goodreads here.

1. Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, with Recipes by Shauna Niequist
I've already written a little bit about this book here, but I'll say it again. I LOVED it. One of my favorite reads of the year about life, making space for one another, and making good food. 
Top three for the year - 5 stars [Can I give it 32 stars on a 5-star scale? I guess I can do whatever I want on my blog...]

2. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist
Since I loved Bread & Wine so much, I decided to go back and read her first book - and it was so worth it. Loved this book of short essays about celebrating the small things.
5 stars

3. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
I love historical non-fiction (and fiction too, for that matter) and was so glad I read this. It's a beautifully written and very real story about the life of Louis Zamperini and his time in the service and as a POW in Japan in WWII. So inspiring.
5 stars

4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
This story of a very dysfunctional marriage, while very well-written, just wasn't my thing.
1 star [brutal, I know, but it's how I felt...]

5. For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards by Jen Hatmaker
Just ask my husband, I love everything Jen Hatmaker. She's a truth-teller, but she does it with such sincerity and grace - a true representative of Jesus. And this book was my favorite of hers, which is saying something. It comes out in August and every woman I know needs to own it. 
Top three for the year, 5 stars [or 32 - again, my blog]

6. Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I listened to this in my car on my commute and loved every second. It's a beautiful story of an unconventional family born from adoption. And it reminds me of my childhood with my gramma - making cherry aid and watching Anne of Green Gables on VHS. 
5 stars

7. The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook
It's a simple story of a woman who finds herself again... It was a cheap buy on my Nook, and I ended up really liking it.
4 stars

8. Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly
Again, I love to read about history. Informative and interesting, but not particularly well-written. 
3 stars

9. Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables #2) by Lucy Maud Montgomery 
I listened to this one in the car as well. It's the second story in the series about Anne's time as a school teacher. This series is just so endearing.
5 stars

10. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
A very intricately woven story about a secret that binds three women. Again, well written, but not my favorite. 
3 stars

11. Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3) by Lucy Maud Montgomery 
You'd be surprised by how much time I spend in the car. Thank God for free audiobooks. It's the third story in the series about Anne's college years. I loved this one as well.
5 stars

12. Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables #5) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The fifth story in the series is about Anne's marriage to Gilbert Blythe. [I skipped #4 because I couldn't find a free version. Haha!] I think each one of these books is my favorite and then I remember I love them all equally, but differently.
5 stars

13. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A fictional story set in World War II about two people on different sides of the War whose worlds are intertwined. I thought this was beautifully written and loved every word.
4 stars

14. Nobody's Cuter than You by Melanie Shankle
I actually bought this book at Amazon's suggestion with I ordered Shauna Niequist's new book, Savor. Then I heard Melanie on another one of Jamie's podcasts and I thought hey, I just bought her book! Then I found the podcast Melanie regularly does with Sophie Hudson - these women are hysterical. Don't listen to them in public - people will wonder why you're constantly cracking up...all by yourself. [Not that I know from experience...] All that to say...I love everything about Melanie, including and especially this book about the importance of girl friends. Loved it.
Top three for the year, 5 [32] stars

15. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I read this book because I had heard such good things about it, but it was another one of those that I wasn't crazy about. It was a very intricate, well-written story, but not for me.
3 stars

I would love to know what you're reading this summer!