Here are my mini-reviews of the books that I read in 2016.
- The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey (I prefer the original Jane Eyre to this retelling, set in the 1950’s and 60’s.)
- The Book of Mormon (It’s a winner 😉 )
- Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini (Meh.)
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Couldn’t put it down)
- The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown (Well written!)
- Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Eric D. Huntsman, and Thomas A. Wayment (This was a 5 1/2 month study. I am so slow at this, but this was a good resource book for the New Testament.)
- The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (Loved it.)
- Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (Recommended for adult readers. Lots of strong language and an explicit attempted rape. This book explored the life of an elderly immigrant, sharing her story with a troubled teen.)
- Somewhere Safe with Someone Good by Jan Karon (I have always loved Father Tim but I miss the old characters who have died.)
- Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (Worth the length.)
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (I mostly liked this.)
- Dressing Your Truth by Carol Tuttle (The author is a salesperson trying to get you to buy her program. Her approach to fashion is an interesting combination of psychology, energy levels, and physical features. I am very much a Type 4.)
- Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (Very typical Thomas Hardy: a flawed heroine and a simple, honorable man; strong imagery, tragedy, but a happy ending. I liked it.)
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (Everyone should read this. Everyone.)
- The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton M. Christensen (Very good.)
- The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (Worldly, not recommended)
- Seven Women and the Secret to their Greatness by Eric Metaxas (a second reading; for inspiration)
- An Invisible Thread: The True story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Shroff and Alex Tresniowski (Warm and fuzzy but also some tough realities.)
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson (So British, with some true satire. I loved the main character.)
- The Book of Mormon (Just keep reading, just keep reading…)
- As Iron Sharpens Iron: Listening to the Various Voices of Scripture edited by Julie M. Smith (I took my time on this one. I truly enjoyed the mental and spiritual exercise. My two favorite dialogues were between Nephi and Joseph, and Luke and Mark.)