At the end of December 2017, I decided I wanted to take Goodreads up on their challenge of setting a goal to get through a number of books in the new year. I picked fifty because a few of my friends said they had done the challenge before and had picked fifty books. At first, fifty sounded like a good amount that I could easily get through. A few months in, I regretted picking such a high number. The Goodreads website has a book calculator to show you how many books you have read, and how many you still need to read to finish. I was behind most of the first half of the year. Then my coworker, Kim, convinced me to start listening to audiobooks. I used to not be a big believer in audiobooks. I believed that if I was going to read a book, I should be actually reading it, not listening to it. Luckily, Kim set me straight and helped me see that audio books are an amazing thing. If I hadn't listened to most of these books, I would definitely be behind on my reading. Instead, I finished two months before the end of the year! I also couldn't have finished if it wasn't for my book club. By "book club", I mean my friend Jacob. We take turns picking a book to read and then discuss it over the app Marco Polo because he lives in Las Vegas. He helped me broaden my reading horizons and keep me on track of my goal.
I thought I would share the books I read this past year with a short review so you can get some recommendations of you're looking for something to read! I'll try to go in order of what I read, but they might be mixed up a little.
1.
The Cider House Rules by John Irving was Jacob's first pick in our book club. It's about a boy named Homer who grew up in an orphanage with a doctor who would perform abortions illegally. Homer moves away to work on a cider farm, falls in love, and learns you can't really leave your past behind. I don't want to spoil anything, so that's where I'll stop. It's a very controversial, and long, book, but I'm glad I read it. 3/5 stars.
2.
Kiss Me in New York by Catherine Rider is about two kids who meet at the JFK Airport. Charolette, who has been recently dumped, has just found out her flight has been canceled. Anthony tried to surprise his girlfriend but got dumped instead. They decide to try to heal their broken hearts together by following a book's ten step guide to heal a broken heart. It's super cheesy and predictable but still isn't the worst I have read. 3/5 stars.
3.
Jesus The Christ by James E Talmage is a book about Jesus Christ's life, miracles, and teachings. It was very long and hard to get through. I took it one small section at a time. I'm very glad I read it. I got to know more about Christ, and his relationships with the people that surrounded him. It helped me know the stories in the Bible better as well. 4/5 stars.
4.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a memoir about Jeannette's life. She grew up with a father and mother who were free spirited and moved around a lot. It's mostly about her relationship with her father who had an amazing imagination and helped her see the world in a different way but also kept her from a lot of the world. It's about her struggle of freeing herself from her parents but also learning it is okay to keep some of the values they taught her. I laughed. I cried. It was hard to read sometimes. I loved it. The movie is pretty good too. 4/5 stars.
5.
Persuasion by Jane Austen is about a woman, Anne, who is destined to die an old maid because she isn't married yet, even though she's only 28. She is the most sensible of her sisters and is left to take care of the house and her hypochondriac sister while her father and bratty sister move to Bath. She then becomes reacquainted with her old love, who everyone believes is pursuing their neighbor. She has to deal with all of this, while still remaining the most sensible person in the book. It is possibly my favorite Jane Austen novel. I had to reread the proposal chapter at least five times because I loved it so much. The movies are good too. 4/5 stars.
6.
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie is about a boy named Peter who lives in Neverland, a place where children do not have to grow up. Wendy and her brothers go with Peter to visit there when Wendy is told she will have to grow up. They encounter Indians, mermaids, and pirates. It is different than the Disney movie, of course, but is still fun. 4/5.
7.
Finding Peace in Our Lives by Joseph B. Wirthlin is a book on how to find more peace in your life. It draws from different talks and stories from Elder Wirthlin from the LDS church. I learned a lot from this book. I'm very glad to have read it. I also love Elder Wirthlin, I was very sad when he passed away a while ago. I would definitely suggest it to those looking to find more peace in their lives. 4/5 stars.
8.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez follows the story of the Buendia family. It starts off with José Arcadio Buendía and his wife Ursula. It continues down each generation until it reaching the great great grandchildren of José and Ursula. Their family is insane and most of them have the same name, so it is kind of hard to keep track of who is who. My friend Santiago recommended it to me. The writing is beautiful, but it is a hard read. It took me a hundred years to read it. I'm glad I did though. 4/5 stars.
9.
Emma by Jane Austen is the story of a young woman named Emma. She has labeled herself a matchmaker and is determined to get her friend Harriet married. She then learns that sometimes meddling in matters of the heart isn't as easy and straightforward as one might think. It is easily my least favorite book of Jane Austen's. It is far too long. Emma isn't my favorite protagonist either. I do like the movies though. 3/5 stars.
10.
Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy was my first pick for the book club. The main character, Dick Dewey, a poor country farmer who sings in the church choir, falls in love with the new school teacher, Fancy Day. It's about his journey to earning her hand in marriage. I liked it, but I think I like the movie more. 3/5 stars.
11.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury mostly follows the character Douglas and his adventures during the summer of 1928. There are some stories told from the point of view of different towns people, but Doug is present in most, if not all of them. It is a quick must-read for Summer. My friend Devin recommended it to me. I absolutely loved it. I will probably read it every summer for the rest of my life now. 5/5 stars.
12.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck was suggested to me by my friend Ben. No offense Ben, but I hated it. It's about a Mormon man named Soren who dies and realizes that everyone gets sent to their own kind of Hell where they have to figure out how to get out. He gets sent to an infinite library where he has to find his life story to be free. The idea was good, but I felt that it was executed poorly. Everything was rushed and ended poorly. 2/5 stars.
13.
Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple is an introductory booklet on, you guessed it, preparing to enter an LDS temple. It basically just explains what goes on in the temple, why it is a sacred place, and how to prepare to enter it. I found it very insightful. It explained a few things a little more clearly to me about the religious goings on in the sacred place. It also helped me see I wasn't quite ready to go through the temple yet. 4/5 stars.
14.
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson has two parts. One is set in modern day, while one is set in the 1920's. During the 1920 time period, Albert Ellingham opened a school for gifted students. Shortly after it opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The kidnappers were never caught. In the modern day, Stevie Bell has been invited go attend the school. She loves mysteries and can't wait to solve this one. I liked it the more I read it. It ended on a big cliffhanger, so now I can't wait for the second book to come out. 3/5 stars.
15.
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai is a memoir on her life growing up in Pakistan. Her dad built schools and encouraged Malala to have an education. As a big influence in women going to school, her father had enemies, mostly in the Taliban. One day they stopped Malala's school bus and attacked her. This is about her educational journey. I don't like nonfiction very much, but this book is amazing. Everyone should read it. 5/5 stars.
16.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck is about a diver named Kino. One day he finds a huge pearl that is worth a ton of money. Some think the pearl is a curse, as it brings bad luck upon Kino and his family. He becomes a different man because of the pearl. It is a short read and entertaining. It also has good symbolism in it. 4/5 stars.
17.
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks is about a "bad boy" named Landon. He gets wrapped into taking Jamie, the "good girl" to a school dance. Obviously they fall in love. She changes his life in ways he never thought possible. The movie is better. 3/5 stars.
18.
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen follows the friendship of Halley and Scarlett. Scarlett learns she is pregnant a little while after her boyfriend dies. Halley starts dating the "bad boy" of the school. She gets caught up in being with him, that she leaves her friend on her own. By the end, she learns what true love really is. It wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessen book, but it was still good. 3/5 stars.
19.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a tearjerker. It is about a boy named Jess who becomes friends with the weird new girl in class, Leslie. Using their imagination, they create a magical kingdom named Terabithia where they are the rulers. It is a very touching story. I am going to cry just thinking about it. The movie is also just as great. 5/5 stars.
20.
Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright is about a woman named Emma who loves Jane Austen. She soon realizes that life is not a Jane Austen story, though. After she finds her boyfriend with another woman, Emma learns she has to work with her ex's brother. She obviously starts to fall in love with him. As predictable as this book is, I did like it. 4/5 stars.
21.
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace was a waste of my time (sorry Jacob). I don't really even know what it was about, honestly. I know there were multiple characters. One was a tennis player. One was someone who liked drugs. One was someone who had depression. It was very long and confusing. Maybe it was because I could only get a copy on the Kindle, and I had the robot reading it to me. I didn't understand a thing going on. 2/5 stars.
22.
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is about a princess named Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee. She is sent to another kingdom for an arranged marriage but is attacked by her maid and some of her knights. She escapes to the kingdom but is afraid to speak out of her true identity when she learns her maid has taken her place. She starts to take care of the king's geese. She earns the trust of the people who help her gain the courage to reveal her true identity to the king. It was a fun read. It is a series, but I didn't like it enough to continue. I thought it was good enough just by itself. 3/5 stars.
23.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is about a Swedish man, called Ove. A few months after losing his wife to cancer, Ove decides it is time for him to join her. Every time he tries to, his nosy neighbors interrupt them. He then learns that people still need him so he can't join his wife quite yet. It is very touching. I wish it was longer because the ending seemed very rushed. Same with the movie. 4/5 stars.
24.
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin is about an Irish woman, Eilis, who moves from Ireland to New York in the 1950s. She works in a shop, goes to school, and soon falls in love with an Italian man. Just as their relationship is starting to move to the next level, Eilis has to visit home because of an emergency. Then it is about her choosing to go back to America or stay with her mother in Ireland. Even though she makes some stupid decisions, I did like the book. The movie is good as well. 3/5 stars.
25.
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman is based on a true story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski. When Germany invaded Poland, Jan and Antonina hid Jews in empty animal cages, as well as their home. I didn't know it was a true story when I started reading it. As I've said before, I don't do well with nonfiction, so it was a bit of a struggle for me. I'm glad I read it though. It opened my eyes and made the war more real to me. It amazes me the risks these people took to help those who needed it. I hope I can be as good as they were. 3/5 stars.
26.
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is about two demons, Screwtape and Wormwood. They scheme together to try and get the soul of a human. They talk about different ways to tempt him so that the human will end up going to Hell instead of Heaven. It was very well written. It is a quick read. It was an interesting point of view. I recommend that everyone read it. 5/5 stars.
27.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is about two men, George and Lenny, trying to find work. George takes care of Lenny. They have a dream to buy their own land one day and live there where no one can bother them. Lenny gets into some trouble, so they have to come up with a new plan. It's a fast read and so good. It was my second time reading it. 4/5 stars.
28.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is about an Indian Brahman, Siddhartha. He learns that money will not make a happy life and seeks happiness elsewhere. He meets people along the way that help him on his path to find that happiness. I liked it much more the second time I read it. 4/5 stars.
29.
Dear Santa by Ray Bradbury is about a boy who is starting to grow up. He wants to try to understand Santa, so he stands in line to meet him and learns who he truly is. It is a short story. I didn't like it very much 2/5 stars.
30.
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks is a book of short stories. There are a few that follow the same group of people, but mostly they are all random. I like most of them, but he ended on the worst one, which was a shame. Also every story, as far as I can remember, has a type writer in it.
3/5 stars.
31.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is about a man named Charles who travels in the Congo. He becomes obsessed with knowing who a Mr. Kurtz is. Other than that, I don't really remember much. I did like the writing though. 3/5 stars.
32.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones was recommended to me by my sister, Hannah. It is about a young girl named Sophie. She gets cursed to become a ninety year old woman by a witch. Sophie runs away to the wizard Howl's castle and helps him with his duties in different realms. I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. It was a lot of fun. 4/5 stars.
33.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is about a time traveler named Henry. He runs into a girl named Clare who knows all about him before she knows her at all. When Clare was a little girl, she met an older version of Henry. Each chapter is a different place in time in their relationship. Once I got passed the creepiness of a forty-year-old flirting with a twelve-year-old, and some of the graphic intimate scenes, I liked it a lot. The writing and story were really good. 4/5 stars.
34.
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale is about a young girl named Miri, who is not like the other people in her village. One day their village learns all the eligible girls will be taken to a remote place to learn how to be a princess. Once their lessons are done, the prince will come and choose one to marry. It had a good twist that I wasn't really expecting, so that was nice. I liked it more than The Goose Girl. 3/5 stars.
35.
The Siren by Kiera Cass is about a siren named Kahlen. She was in a boat accident but instead of drowning, the ocean saved her to become a siren. When her servitude time is almost up, she falls in love with a boy named Akinli. She must choose between serving the ocean or staying with him. I liked it more than I thought I would. It isn't as cheesy as it sounds. 3/5 stars.
36.
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood is about the life of a woman named Iris and her sister. They grew up in a mansion in Canada. Their father was rich and kept them sheltered from the world around them. Iris is later married off for money. Her sister, Laura, is moved around a lot because no one knows what to do with her. There is a fictional story that we read at the same time that Laura wrote before her untimely death. I really liked this book. It was a tad long, but I was always invested each time I picked it up. There are a few plot twists that I did not see coming at all. The writing was amazing. 4/5 stars.
37.
Paris for One by Jojo Moyes is a collection of short stories. The first one is the best one, which is what the title of the book is named after. Nell has been planning a trip to Paris with her boyfriend for a while. At the last second, he tells her he isn't coming, so she goes alone and finds herself along the way. The rest of the stories were disappointing. They were all just about women who were unhappy in their marriages. 3/5 stars.
38.
The Heir by Kiera Cass is technically still a part of The Selection series, but follows Eadlyn, Maxon and America's daughter, in her own selection process. She doesn't want to get married but agrees to do her own selection as a distraction for the country. She plans to weed out the boys fast and to be as obnoxious as possible so they will want to go home, that way she won't have to marry anyone at the end of it all. I didn't like it as much as The Selection because Eadlyn was an annoying main character. She does get better, but not fast enough. 3/5 stars.
39.
The Crown by Kiera Cass is the next in the series, so obviously I liked it enough to see it through to the end. In this one, Eadlyn realizes that she is falling in love with the boys and would actually be happy to have one of them by her side to rule. The country is getting out of control though, so she has to learn how to help them, as well as herself. It is better than the first one because she's finally becoming a better character. Also the boys are great. 3/5 stars.
40.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is about a young woman named Esther. Esther is very talented and has a lot of things going for her. Esther slowly descends into insanity and at one point tries to commit suicide. It then goes into her recovery process. It is very real. I suggest that everyone read it to get some sort of understanding of what people are going through. 4/5 stars.
41.
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander aka J.K. Rowling is an encyclopedia on mythical beasts. I honestly thought it would be a narrative, but I was completely wrong. It really is just an encyclopedia on different types of beasts in the Harry Potter universe. It was interesting, but a little boring. 3/5 stars.
42.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is about a teenage African American girl named Starr who is the only witness to one of her childhood friends get shot by a police officer. Starr lives two lives. She learns that she has a voice and needs to speak out against the injustice done to her friend, Khalil. I couldn't believe that this was Angie Thomas's first book. It is amazing. I wanted to cry pretty much every time I picked it up because of how real it is. 5/5 stars.
43.
The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan is about an author named Charlie who steals things on the side. He gets caught up in a murder and has to help clear his name by solving it. I normally don't read a lot of mysteries, but I enjoyed this a lot. The characters are funny and there are a few plot twists that I didn't see coming. It is a series, so I will be looking into reading more of it. 3/5 stars.
44.
Perfect Set by Melanie Jacobson is about a sports writer named Bree. She gets assigned to write a story on a boy she is already determined to hate, Kade the professional volleyball player with a sketchy past. He doesn't like her digging into his life, but the romantic tension is undeniable. He eventually lets her write her story, mostly so she will agree to date him once her story is done. It is definitely just as cheesy, if not cheesier, than it sounds. I just can't help myself from reading the lame LDS romances. 3/5 stars.
45.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is about a teenager named Wade who lives in a futuristic world where most everyone spends their days online in a place called "The Oasis". The man who created the virtual reality game has left behind his whole fortune to whoever can find his Easter eggs and get past the three tests. Wade is determined to win so that the crappy cooperate companies don't. I loved this book. It is very original and well written. It is also relevant to the time we live in now. 5/5 stars.
46.
The Book of Mormon written by ancient prophets, translated by Joseph Smith is another testament of Jesus Christ. Like the Bible, this book is a historical record of people coming to know God and Jesus Chrirst but set in ancient America. I know this book contains the truth, and I challenge others to read it. 5/5 stars.
47.
Educated by Tara Westover is about Tara's life growing up in a small town in Idaho. Her father wouldn't allow the children to go to school and was always preparing them for the end of the world. Tara did grow up Mormon but learned when she eventually attended BYU that her family practiced their religion very differently than others. This is her journey to discovering how much an education can change someones life. I loved this book and can't believe how amazing she turned out growing up the way she did. It is very similar to The Glass Castle. 5/5 stars.
48.
The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Instead of telling it from the point of view of Aurora, the story starts off with dwarfs going to visit a queen in a neighboring kingdom to Aurora's. The dwarfs find out Aurora's kingdom has been cursed for the last seventyish years and that the curse is spreading. They decide to go on a quest with their queen to end the curse. It is a short story. I normally like Neil Gaiman's books, but this retelling wasn't my favorite. I do like that he took a different approach to the story, though. 3/5 stars.
49.
Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany's by Julie Wright is about a woman named Silvia who is trying to become one of the best movie editors Hollywood has ever seen. She has three different men in her life: her lazy boss, the suck up assistant, and her old coworker. As her relationship with Ben, her old coworker, starts to turn into something romantic, their jobs start to come between them. They have to choose between their love for each other, and their love for their work. I liked her other book, The Lies Jane Austen Told Me, more than I liked this one. It was still a fun read, though. 3/5 stars.
50.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer is about an authoress named Juliet who is looking for her break through story. She learns about a literary society on Guernsey that took place during the war. The members of the society convince her to come visit and tell her their stories of what the war was like for them. It is told through the style of writing letters, not in a normal narrative format. I really liked it and wish that the last few chapters were told in a normal narrative format, but you can't have everything. It was a lot of fun. 4/5 stars.
If you made it to the end of my long list, congratulations. I hope you have found something that might peak your interest. What books are you reading? What books would you recommend? Let me know because I'm always looking for something entertaining to read!
P.S. I just realized I actually read 51 books, so here's the extra book I read this year.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is about a woman named Margaret who has been charged by the famous author, Vida Winter, to write her life's story. Vida's life is an amazing story. She grows up a twin and was orphaned at a young age. I don't want to give a lot away, but you don't see the twist at the end coming. I love this book and was so glad to read it a second time. 5/5 stars.
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