I didn’t read as much as in 2010, but it was still a pretty good year of reading. Here’s my list, categorized to highlight those I would most strongly commend to other readers.
I Liked These Enough to Re-Read Them in 2011
To Hate Like This is to Be Happy Forever
An Abundance of Katherines
My Name is Asher Lev
The Gift of Asher Lev
the Harry Potter books
Ten I Highly Recommend
Fidelity
Life Together
Nurture Shock
O Pioneers!
Peace Like a River
Black Like Me
My Life with the Saints
The Return of the Prodigal Son
Winter Light
The Inimitable Jeeves
Very Good Reads
Matilda
Almost Christian
The Hundred Dresses
Bossypants
Everything is Illuminated
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
The American
Everything Happened But Not Like This
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
On Writing
Eating the Dinosaur
The Friendship Doll
A Severed Wasp
The Small Rain
The Group
Emily of New Moon
Lancelot
Engaging God’s World
The Whole-Brain Child
Mere Churchianity
Gulliver’s Travels
Sacred Marriage
Kicking at the Darkness
Still
These Were Good, Too
Practical Theology for Women
Jesus, My Father, The CIA & Me
The American Plague
Falling Together
Generation Ex-Christian
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Juliet, Naked
Half the Church
The Key to the Golden Firebird
Parenting Beyond Your Capacity
Gooney Bird on the Map
The Next Christians
Start Something That Matters
The Grace of Silence
The Tiger’s Wife
Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest
Anna & the French Kiss
I Am Scout
Vietnamerica
Look Homeward, Angel
Might Be Your Cup of Tea (But Wasn’t Really Mine.)
You Know Who You Are
The Apostles Creed for Today
Treasuring God in Our Traditions
Scammed by Society
Young Fredle
The Attenbury Emeralds
You are inspiring, Kristen!
Great list and wowza to you for your perseverance here. I’m both guilted and inspired. :)
Your lists are always organized so well I always find twenty titles I want to read.
Curious as to what you thought of “Practical Theology” (did I miss that on goodreads?) and also why Piper’s book on traditions wasn’t your cup of tea…I’ve been wanting to read that one.
Allison,
I liked Practical Theology, but it’s very basic. I could see using it to teach younger women, maybe high schoolers, people new to the reformed faith or who avoid “theology.”
If I had read Piper’s book eight years ago, I probably would have liked it. It’s just very basic. Lots of personal stories, light on ideas. It might be a good book for someone who hasn’t thought through what it means to have family traditions (being intentional, choosing things with meaning.) I had already read Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman, which I didn’t LOVE, but it does a much better job of helping brainstorm a lot of ideas so you can tailor ones that fit your own family. Basically, Piper describes their family traditions.