This year was not a good one for me sticking with books and completing them. I started reading at least three times as many as I finished. The likelihood of my getting to the end of a book in 2017 remains iffy, so to show that I had what it took at least a few times in 2016, I will list here (so you don’t have to click to the Books and Reviews page) my Books Read, most recent at the top. I wrote reviews for two of them — make that three, sort of — and you can use the links to those if you want.
At least I can say that most of these are worth reading again, and they are worthy of better reviews than I accomplished. I’m starting the new year with just one very small book in hopes of getting off to a good start!
Read in 2016
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Acquiring the Mind of Christ by Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Between You and Me by Mary Norris (audio)
Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Babylon’s Ark by Lawrence Anthony (audio)
This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
Happy New Year! And may your own reading nourish your mind and heart!
Illustration from the NYT supplement “Holiday Books.”
Housemate Kit said it reminded her of me.
Gladsome Lights 
Thanks, Gretchen, for your ‘have read’ book list for 2016 — I want to check them out.
Some books I never finish either. If it can’t keep my interest, I let it go. There are times when some books are not for this time … maybe some other time, some other season.
Wishing you a peaceful and blessed New Year.
Brenda
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I hope you get to read lots more in 2017. I liked your list. I don’t think I was a great reading this year.
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Gretchen::
You read lots more books than I did this past year. I hope to get back to reading more in 2017. Also read your last blog about your Christmas with all the kids and grand kids. So glad that you had such a wonderful, warm, loving Christmas. Family is everything to us. Happy New Year!!
Sherry H..
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One thing I’m learning is to give up on certain books. I used to feel guilty about not finishing a book, but with all the books on my shelves and stored in my Kindle there’s no time to waste on something that doesn’t really capture my attention. I find I read a lot of non-fiction/biographical books. Maybe it’s time for something fun! I should remember to make a list. 😉
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Wishing you many ‘good reads’ in the New Year. Your list is very interesting.
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I was given a real book today! I can’t remember the last time some one actually chose a book for me. It might have been on my 50th when you gave me a book on Amy Carmichael. I never would have chosen it myself, since I didn’t know who Ammah was. But I still treasure it and refer to it. I was given “A Case for Grace” by Strobel. Hurrah!
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Just wanted to drop in and say have a blessed 2017 🙂
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Get yoiurself Cold Comfort Farm and read it all in one glorious, laugh out loud, revel in the satire, live in the prosiac angst-deriding joy and fear not what lurks in the woodshed x
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Aw! I wish I could see you in Oregon for the kids’ wedding, but they’re planning to have it in Texas. All of us parents will be doing the traveling. 🙂
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I don’t know anything about any of your lovely books except the one at the top of the list — you are such a good reader, and a deep reader. I’m still working on a few “Cat Who” books, which is about the lightest fare out there 🙂
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Although you may not have read as much, you have done some beautiful writing this year. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and the beauty you see around you!
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What was up with the difficulty reading for me and for you?! That has never happened to me before! My husband accuses me of a frantic pace, and surely that is true, but I always fell to reading as a respite. One thing I did accomplish, as I try to every year, is reading through the Bible. That comforts me. As does the fact that you, too, put down as many books as you picked up. I do love that you read Seventeenth Summer, though, a book which has always charmed me somehow. And who doesn’t love Tolkein or Doig? Fabulous authors!
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Ah, you have reminded me that I have All The Light… in my queue but had lost interest as other library books have come off hold. I’m going to read your review for some motivation.
I’m with Lisa (above) when it comes to no-guilt-DNF. In fact, for some books, I feel downright happy that I didn’t bother to finish!
Blessings to you for a happy 2017, my friend.
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I think it will be a big guilt-preventer to leave that Currently Reading box off my sidebar. It was a constant nag, asking me, Are you really still reading ___? or Come on, now, admit it, you are a lazy reader! etc etc. You are so right, that we should be happy not to spend our precious time on unfruitful pursuits!
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Heck, I can’t even make it all the way through the 3-4 blogs I follow. I get interested in something, and soon enough I’m off in pursuit, leaving the post half-read or just open for rereading. Meanwhile the stack of library books keeps growing so I have to take one or two from the bottom in order not to block the light from my lamp. I might worry about a tendency towards hoarding if it weren’t for the nice library person who sends me notes about bringing books back. Do I read all that stuff? I wish! I am learning to skim, read selectively, and put a book down when I feel full. I no longer have to “clean my plate” as instructed way back when.
I did get the gnosticism book. Thank you. I’m fascinated – never considered the influence of Puritan thinkers and leaders on the formation of our democracy, and the evolution of American Protestant-isms into a kind of secular religion, that our version of government has become a kind of religion, wow! I’m taking my time and trying not to drive family and friends crazy with my new discoveries about church and state. So thanks again, Gretchen. I’ll return the book back in time (not too long) along with possibly one or two that you might like.
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