30 Books I Read in 2016

2016 was an amazing year for reading for me. Last Christmas I asked my father-in-law for a Kobo e-Reader to get back into the hobby of reading. It made everything so much easier - I could rent library ebooks from my bed and never had to buy a book again, nor worry about returning them to the physical library. Having the Kobo really opened doors for me and helped make something I wanted to do, easy to do. They run around $100 and I highly recommend them!

 

I also got back into thrifting towards the end of this year, and have been able to find a lot of great titles that were already on my to-read list. Most of the time, I prefer borrowing a book (or ebook) from the library, but the odd book is worth owning whether it's one you'll read again and again, one I want to share with friends or one day, my kids, or those certain books that are just so beautifully designed (I'm looking at you, Modern Lovers).

Here's the list of books I read this year. They're not in chronological order, nor order of ones I liked best (and I'm often reading several books at once!). A lot of people have asked me how on earth I find time to read so much, and I assure you I'm not a particularly fast reader. The obvious secret: I don't watch TV. I'll watch the odd movie (like, less than 10 per year) and certain series on Netflix (The Crown!) but it's not in my regular nightly routine. You'd be surprised how much time you have when you give it up!

1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? - Mindy Kaling
2. Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling
3. Snobs - Julian Fellowes
4. Past Imperfect - Julian Fellowes
5. The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
6. Unveiling Grace - Lynn Wilder
7. All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
8. Bonhoeffer - Eric Metaxas
9. Miracles - Eric Metaxas
10. Thank you Jeeves - P G Wodehouse
11. Servant's Hall - Margaret Powell
12. The Royal We - Heather Cocks
13. Bringing up Bébé - Pamela duckerman
14. David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell
15. Praying Together - Megan Hill
16. The Nest - Cynthia Sweeney
17. Missional Motherhood - Gloria Furman
18. 7 Great Men and the Secret to Their Greatness - Eric Metaxas
19. Brooklyn - Cólm Tobin
20. None like Him - Jen Wilkin
21. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
22. The Course of Love - Alain de Botton
23. Family Driven Faith - Vodie Bachman
24. Below stairs - Margaret Powell
25. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
26. The Birth Order Book - Kevin Leman
27. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus - Nancy Gutherie
28. The Power of the Praying Parent - Stormie Omartian
29. Bossy Pants - Tina Fey
30. Yes, Please - Amy Poehler

This doesn't include cook books, though I kind of think it should! The best cook books, and the only ones I buy are ones with lengthy backstories behind recipes and act as biographies of sorts. Smitten Kitchen and Molly on the Range and definitely this style. I also read a lot of blogs, and not just the kind that are picture and lifestyle heavy. I read The Gospel Coalition daily for lengthy theological writing, among others. I should post a list of my favourite blogs soon! And I'll definitely share a list of my 2017 book goals in the weeks to come. Until they you'll probably find me curled up reading as we spend time with family over the holidays :)