So did you like how neither of us were here at all in December? And most of November too? We planned that. Really. Okay, so we suck, get over it. We're busy college students. BUT we've been talking and we're both hopeful to get more reading done this year and write more about what we're reading. Hey, I'm even sucking up my pride and showing you exactly how badly I did in 2013...
My reading goal for 2013 was to read more books than I did in 2012, so 187 books. How many did I read? 56. 15,764 pages. Almost a 4th of what I read last year. I am ashamed. But I'll do better this year!
The first book I read in 2013 was Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome, and the last book I finished was the 9th volume of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya.
Because I read so little this year, it was painfully easy to narrow down the Best Of list to 14 books. And most of them were during RAMFAP month, and have thus been mentioned numerous times already... but I'm sure y'all can get over it.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKS
The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton
Maybe I'm biased (I know the Tauntons), but this is such a good book. Mr. Taunton skillfully weaves the story of Sasha into the effects of Christianity and grace, and I was never bored by the story or the lessons. Definitely a book to study in detail a second time through. Nonfiction/Religion
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Easily the best war novel I've ever read. Not only is it interesting, but I also found it enjoyable. The writing is amazing, and the story gripping. What really makes it brilliant is the fact that it's told by German soldier. Historical
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
It's both serious/thought-provoking and funny/light-hearted. The light tone is maintained all throughout the story, whether the main character is discussing philosophy or bugs. Definitely a book I'll read again and again, always finding something new. Science fiction
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Oh my gosh this book. OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK. Classic
A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken and C.S. Lewis
Normally I don't get super excited about biographies and memoirs, but this is simply beautiful. Vanauken's writing is gorgeous and I'm pretty sure he's kind of brilliant. Anyone who has been or is in or thinks he/she's in love should read this. Nonfiction/Autobiography
I think I've mentioned this book before. Zombie/Romance
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
I just don't get tired of Shenfu and Mara and Egyptian revolutions. Historical
Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George
While it doesn't quite live up to the brilliance of Dragon Slippers, the sequel is still pretty dang good. Getting to meet a bunch of cool new dragons basically saved the somewhat ridiculous plot, and let's not forget Jessica Day George's magical ability to write perfect endings. Fantasy
Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce
I love almost everything about this book, especially the world and the characters. How can you not like a pudgy, lazy, pacifistic 12-year-old main character? And I'm still shouting for a movie with Gary Oldman as Hotspur. Fantasy
Everyone knows this is one of my all-time favorite books. Fantasy
Another old favorite. Road trips, Norse gods, punk angels, mad cow disease . . . this book is basically irresistible. Fantasy/Surreal
Yet another book that everyone has heard me talk about. Franklin' adorable, that's all I have to say. Fantasy
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
A very very old book on depression and grief in the Christian life. It's amazing and beautiful, and I wish it was more well-known because I think everyone should have access to this. Nonfiction/Religion
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
I wasn't sure what to expect from the third book in the Seven Kingdoms series, but I was not disappointed. In fact, I was seriously scared, and could not put it down. Kristin Cashore amazes me yet again. Fantasy
**HONORABLE Mentions**
Ouran High School Host Club series (Bisco Hatori); The Passage (Justin Cronin); The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom); Maid-Sama series (Hiro Fujiwara); I, Claudius (Robert Graves); Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters (Lesley M.M. Blume); Fruits Basket series (Natsuki Takaya).
BOOKS TO VIOLENTLY AVOID READING
Eh, y'all remember this absolute gem, I'm sure. Fantasy
Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serraillier
Boring. Not painful to read, but only because it's an easy read. Basically, it's just boring as heck. Historical
Ancient Rhetorics by Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhee
Well, it's a textbook. And it's not written overly well. And it was for a writing class. Nonfiction
I seriously hope your 2013 was better than mine.
--Persy
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