A resolution to read more.

If you were wondering where I went, during the month of December I was hanging out at my Advent Blog. Now I'm back and it's time for a new year post.


This year I am going to read more. In 2010 I read some really good books. So 2011 can only get better.












 Here's some of what I read:

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak. One of the best Holocaust/WWII stories I've read in a long time.

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis. I read them for Lent--all the way through. I think it is going to be a tradition.

Lineage of Grace series, Francine Rivers. These little novellas are brilliant.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, Shane Claiborne. I heard him speak at Urbana 2009, so I thought I should see what was up.

O'Malley series, Dee Henderson. This was a re-read, but still wonderful the second time through.

Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught me about Meaningful Work and Service, Mary Poplin. A look at one woman's experience with Mother Teresa and the missionaries of charity.

Julie and Julia, Julie Powell. Loved the movie, so I thought I should read the book. Pretty good.

The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger. Loved the Chicago and Newberry Library references, but took a while to get into.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (and it's sequel, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag), Alan Bradley. Awesome mysteries from the perspective of a brilliant and precocious little girl. There's a third one coming out in Feb.

North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell. Amazing. Hands down.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life, Donald Miller. A fascinating look at what it means to live a good story.

The Rock That is Higher: Story as Truth, Madeleine L'Engle. Another brilliant look at what it means to live and write good stories--from one of my favorite authors.

Wind in the Door; Dragons in the Water; Ring of Endless Light, Madeleine L'Engle. Re-reading some of my favorites. This will continue into 2011. My goal is to re-read all of her young adult fiction. Its some of the best out there.

From Generation to Generation: How to Trace your Jewish Genealogy and Family History, Arthur Kurzweil. I read this in preparation for a Jewish History workshop I led in November. Brilliant look at doing family history before the age of the internet.


What I plan to read (and more, of course):

The rest of L'Engle's young adult fiction.

Be Still My Soul, Elisabeth Elliot

Crazy Love, Francis Chan

Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge 

The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art, Madeleine L'Engle

Re-read Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. And maybe some of her others.