2018 book reflection

I started the year with a hefty goal to read fifty books in 2018.  I have never tracked my reading before so I had no idea how attainable this goal would be.  I did not meet the goal, but I believe I was definitely encouraged to read more knowing that I was working toward a goal.  I read 30 books in 2018!!  Below is a list of those books in no particular order.  You can see a star beside my top 10 favorites.

1. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas  ⭐
2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
3. Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakeable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens ⭐
5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
6. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
7. Break the Line by Allison Mullinax 
8. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
9. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom ⭐
10. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough
11. The Lucky Few: Finding God's Best in the Most Unlikely Places by Heather Avis
12. Lucky Us by Amy Bloom
13. And When She was Good by Laura Lippman
14. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believeing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
15. White Houses by Amy Bloom ⭐
16. The American Marriage by Tayari Jones
17. Educated by Tara Westover ⭐
18. That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam
19. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil  by John Berendt
20. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ⭐
21. The Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood by Jen Jacob, Mardra Sikora
22. What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons
23. I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
24. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
25. American Housewife by Helen Ellis ⭐
26. There There by Tommy Orange
27. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller
28. The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir Ruth Wariner ⭐
29. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman ⭐
30. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah  

Several things I learned about my reading life this year:

• I need to read more nonfiction.
• I love a good WWII/Holocaust novel.
• I enjoy memoirs.
• Kristin Hannah is my new BFF favorite author.
• I should keep a book journal.  SHOULD.  

What helped me boost my reading life?

• PODCASTS:   1.  "What Should I Read Next?" and end up with new TBR books on my list every episode.  The host is Anne Bogel and she is delightful.  She is also fun to follow on Instagram (annebogel and whatshouldireadnext).  2. "From the Front Porch"  Annie is a young bookstore owner (The Bookshelf) located in south Georgia.  Her podcast centers around conversations on books, small business, and life in the South.  She is also a fun follow (anniebjones and bookshelftville).
• GOODREADS: This is where I set my reading goal and kept track of my progress.  I like that I can add books I "want to read".  Goodreads also keeps track of days you begin and finish a book.  I have the app on my phone for easy access.
• PUBLIC LIBRARY: If you have not discovered the beauty of the public library request/hold system please drop everything and do that today.  If you need help finding how to request materials from your local system I will be happy to help you!

Happy New Year & Happy Reading!