I hadn’t done much writing the last half of 2012, but I had been doing some good reading. I enjoy seeing others book lists to get ideas for myself, so I hope you find a few here!

I picked up Unbroken not really knowing much about it. I had heard it was really good, but I didn’t even know if it was fiction or nonfiction, until I started reading it. This is an amazing true story of a POW in the time of World War II, his life story, and a story of redemption. This book is a MUST READ and one of my new favorite books.

This book was absolutely lovely. Check out my little review of Hannah Coulter. I see more of Wendell Berry’s books in my future.

I had seen quite a few people recommend A Girl of the Limberlost, so I finally  picked it up from the library. I am so glad I did. This book is a new favorite. The story of a girl overcoming her situation, living out forgiveness, and finding love, are all things that I love about this book. I also loved the amazing descriptions of the setting and nature.  This book is free on Kindle, but definitely a good one to keep on the shelf too.

I read A Daughter of the Land right after the previous book. It was a good story. The book had many different twists and turns that I didn’t expect, but I think Gene Stratton Porter will be a new favorite author of mine. This book is also free on Kindle.

Check out my review of A Meal with Jesus.

The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education: I use some classical elements in our homeschool, so I thought this book would be helpful to me and it was. I especially enjoyed how she teaches geography and hope to implement her map drawings into our homeschool this year.

What Alice Forgot: Alice bumps her head and forgets some of the current years of her life. Forgetting some major changes in her life, she tries to grasp why her life and attitude toward it has changed so much. This book made me ponder what would happen if I forgot a certain number of years of my life and how all these circumstances change and mold the person that I am. I had a hard time putting this book down.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: I really enjoyed this book. Written in the time period following World War II, you read the story through reading letters written between the characters of the story. It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but I remember feeling the need to write more letters after reading this.

The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set: I enjoyed reading through these. It was a very gripping story and I literally couldn’t put it down, in fact I think I set a reading record for myself. I also am looking forward to the next movie to come out.

The Great Gatsby: I really disliked this book. I wanted to read it because I heard they were making a new movie of it. It’s also considered a classic, so it must be good, right? No, a waste of my precious reading time. I just did not enjoy the story, it seemed very hopeless.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story was recommended all over the place a year or two ago. I think this was the first book I may have read this year, so I don’t remember a whole lot from it. I gleaned a few things from it, but wasn’t as taken with it as others were.

Love Does is a book I first heard about in the above Donald Miller book and it sounded intriguing. Then I entered a contest on Narrow Paths to Higher Places and won this book. Bob Goff has lived an amazing life and he shares many of his journeys in his book. I am sure you will enjoy this book and Bob’s adventurous spirit will be contagious. His story will make you want to do what love does.

Have you read any of these? What was your favorite book of 2012?

This post contains affiliate links.