52 Books in 52 Weeks

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For months I’ve seen the 52 Books in 52 Weeks  challenge on Kristen’s blog.   For years I’ve wanted to be organized enough to record the books I read so that I could remember where I’d read this or that.  Well, now, when there are few weeds in the garden and very little to harvest yet; when we do not yet have the two new puppies that are coming; and when we’ve met our weekly decluttering goal of 5 boxes, I have a few moments to start this project.

The goal, obviously, is to read 52 books in a year, starting in January 2010.  Since it’s fine to join anytime, I’m joining now, with 29 books read.  Some of them I have reviewed or plan to review, and others I’m just listing.  I’m including books we’ve read aloud.

Although it’s difficult to remember every book this year, here is my list.  If I’ve reviewed them, there’s a link to my review.

The Butterfly and Lifespan Nutrition, The Cortical Monkey and Healing, The Ghoraa and Limbic Exercise, all three by Majid Ali, MD. I read these to help me understand The Canary and Chronic Fatigue, recommended by my Christian MD last year.  These books are a bit alternative, but not in a new age way, and they give me some helpful insights into getting well. It took a lot of reading to understand them completely, but I’m glad I took the effort. 

It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh, my annual decluttering read.  It was alright and had a bit more psychology than is usual in a decluttering book.

Safe Uses of Cortisol by William Jefferies, MD.  This is another book recommended by my doctor.  After reading it, I still was not interested in taking cortisol, but instead I’m now taking extra pantothenic acid, a B vitamin that is necessary for the body to produce its own cortisol.

Freckles and Freckles Comes Home by Gene Stratton Porter.   Nice, emotional stories with lots of nature scenes.  Good to relax with.

Happily Ever Laughter from Focus on the Family, edited by Ken Davis.  A collection of funny stories and helpful insights about marriage.

The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews, an interesting historical novel that leaves me with some serious questions.  

Idelette by Edna Gerstner, a book about John Calvin’s wife.  I’ve longed to read for this years and recently got it from my daughter, who bought it from my friend at a used book sale.  I will review this sometime in the future, after rereading it.

Outliers: The Story of Success  by Malcolm Gladwell.  Fascinating study of the uncontrollable factors in success.  Discusses sports players, wealthy people, summer learning, and more.  I highly recommend this book.

The Sword, The Ring, and The Parchment and The Quest for Seven Castles, volumes 1 and 2 of the Terrestria Chronicles by Ed Dunlop. Quality allegorical youth fiction.  

Finding Educational Activities in the Most Unexpected Places by Angie Kauffman, a book full of fun activities to do with your children, using things most of us have lying around. 

Real Food on a Real Budget by Stephanie Langford, a wonderful, practical, inspiring book.

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell, an informative, opinionated, delightful guide.  

Introduction to Whole Grain Baking by Sue Gregg, a cookbook packed with information.

Bobby’s Friends by Phia ven den Berg  An amazing children’s story about an engineer’s family in Pakistan.  I hope review it  after reading it aloud to the children.  

Heroes of Castle Bretten by Margaret S. Comrie.  An exciting novel of loyalty and betrayal in castle times for teens. I’m planning to review this soon.

Gluten-Free Baking with the Culinary Institute of America by Richard J. Coppedge Jr.  The recipes look great, but they use various combinations of several different flour mixtures that you have to mix up in advance.  This is very impractical.  There are a few recipes I want to convert from flour mixtures to ordinary ingredients.

Robert Ballantyne’s Hudson’s Bay or The Life in the Wilds of North America, written in 1848.  I read this out loud to all the children, omitting the grisly bits.  This is a vivid autobiographical description of travel, life, class distinctions, and waterways from Manitoba to Quebec.  Highly recommended as a living book for teens and adults.

De Pruikemaker en de Prins, by W.G. van der Hulst, a gem of a story with incredible illustrations, but only available in Dutch.  I read it out loud to all the children.

Robin Hood by  Howard Pyle.  I read this out loud to all the children, skipping the last sad bits and one unhappy chapter in the middle.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Gray, another classic read aloud. 

Spring with the Moodys, Summer with the Moodys, Fall with the Moodys, and Winter with the Moodys, all by Sarah Maxwell.  I read this series of uplifting, funny, and happy family stories to Miss 10 and Miss 7.

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The last read aloud in the Little House on the Prairie series for little children;  subsequent books are better for older ones.

This post is linked to 52 Books in 52 Weeks.