The ones with two stars (**) you absolutely must read, at all costs. There is actually only 1 this year, and it happened to be the first one I read. Two stars also means that it would be great if I would read this once every couple of years for the rest of my life. The ones with one star (*) are also excellent books that I recommend reading. One star also means that I would read it again. These are listed in the order I read them.
The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton**
Must be read by everyone. Especially if you believe in God or if you don’t believe in God. I can’t really describe it, though… Let’s just say Chesterton was a smart dude.
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
A difficult book to read because it’s about child abuse and neglect. But those things are real, so it’s worth reading about. It’s incredible what this kid lived through
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
I can appreciate this author. It’s good to look at other cultures and death. Two topics I enjoy.
Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne*
Classic. What else can I say. This guy had such a way of putting things in a child-like, insightful way. It's poetry.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (graphic novel by Stone Arch Books)
Interesting story. More to it than the snippets you hear about in pop culture. And graphic novels are always fun.
Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse*
How can you not? Psmith is one of my favorite Wodehouse characters. He’s just so darn funny.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba*
This guy amazed me—his perseverance in the midst of seeming hopelessness. He had literally nothing going for him except what was in him.
The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne
Just classic again.
Clay in the Potter’s Hand by Dorothy Sun
I don’t usually like testimonial books put out by a publisher no one has ever heard of, but this was a good story and well written. It encouraged me a lot.
The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne*
This author is versatile! For reals, this is good mystery story.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I was drawn to this story because the characters were chosen because of their unique gifts. That always pulls me in because they are a Jesus-type.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
I get sucked in to these juvenile fiction books. What can I say?
Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw
Honestly, I didn’t read this very carefully, partly because I think there were a lot of pop culture references from a time and place not my own. I don’t remember much of it, other than there were points that were ridiculous.
Psmith, Journalist by P. G. Wodehouse*
The author’s name says it all. Seriously.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo
In the genre of 'Lost Toys that Find Their Way Back Home,' this was decent.
Never Sleep Three in a Bed by Max Braithwaite
Very funny book. Some really good stories of this guy’s childhood—hard to believe they really all happened to one person.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sucked me in much more than I thought was possible from a book written in first-person present tense. Who does that? Just think how it could have been if it was written in past tense.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
A guy goes back in time and invents a lot of “modern” innovations. I was shocked by Twain’s breadth and depth of knowledge—city planning, military strategy, business prowess, economic development of society, education, etc.
Crispin (The Cross of Lead) by Avi
Decent story in the juvenile fiction genre. Intersting historical fiction.
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
This book was touted as one of the funniest books ever written. I didn't think that description applied. This guy is not as funny as P. G. Wodehouse.
The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
A perspective of the Cultural Revolution which is quite different from and yet, in some ways similar to “Clay in the Potter’s Hand.” The secular perspective, shall we say.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
I like books like this where two story lines from different eras weave together. This was the 2011 Newbery Winner.
Cookie by Cookie Rodriguez and Nancy Anderson
Biography of a Hispanic woman who became a prostitute and then a very out-spoken witness for Jesus after he rescued her out of drugs and prostitution.
The Inn of the 6th Happiness by Alan Burgess
Really amazing story of a woman who was a missionary in China for many many years. This book is more realistic (read: non-romanticized*) than the movie. (*romance in the classical definition of adventure and heroism, etc.)
Much Obliged, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse*
In case you haven’t gotten the idea yet I’ll just spell it out, if the author’s name is P. G. Wodehouse, you need to read it.
The Mating Season by P. G. Wodehouse*
See previous.
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Apparently this is a classic from some people’s childhood. Anyway, it was pretty entertaining, with a little friendly but fickle sand-monster guy.
The Church of 80% Sincerity by David Roche
This man had some kind of disorder when he was born which caused his face to be badly disfigured and discolored. Because of that, he became a person with inner strength and assurance.
Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildner
A memoir which I felt I couldn’t put down. Well written and very interesting character development. Her world was very unique, as was she herself.
A Smile As Big as the Moon by Mike Kersjes
A P.E.-coach-cum-special-ed teacher manages to get his high school special ed class to go to Space Camp which is apparently an elite competitive experience for the brightest of the bright.
Twilight Children by Torey Hayden*
The author was working as a therapist in a children’s psychiatric ward and recounts herexperiences with three people she met there.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Early horror/mystery writing. A novel length Sherlock Holmes book. Kinda drawn out and melodramatic. More thriller than mystery.
That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis
The third in the so-called space trilogy. This one does not take place in space. Insightful and sometimes prophetic, as Lewis often was.
Messenger by Lois Lowry
Third in the Giver Triology (strikeout) Quartet (thanks for the correction, Wikipedia). I like this because it has a Jesus-figure.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs
Interesting because it was based off of actual vintage stunt photos like a girl hovering above the ground. Good story. Juvenile fiction.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I think I tried to read this as a child and found it too dense. As an adult, I found it very light. Hmm.
Something New by P. G. Wodehouse*
Author’s name says it all.
Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong*
Biography one of Sudan’s Lost Boys who escaped from the soldiers to a refugee camp and eventually made it to the States and ran in the Olympics for the U.S. Gripping and incredible storyby a very humble and, above all, grateful guy.
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young
Biography of a woman who had severe learning disabilities, but exercised her brain to overcome it and established a school for others with learning disabilities.
Beatrix Potter: the Story of the Creator of Peter Rabbit by Elizabeth Buchan
This woman was unusual in her time and society and therefore very interesting.
In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon
A fictional book about following Jesus into serving others instead of self. I was surprised by how much it touched me despite its moralistic flavor.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell*
Some people can just make anything seem interesting and they end up writing New York Times Bestsellers. Stories from all areas of thought and study on what causes ideas to catch on--to tip. The memorable part to me was the segment on the NYC police chief revolutionizing the city and greatly reducing crime by attacking minor infractions of the law like graffiti.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Doctors harvested cells without permission from a black woman who was dying of cervical cancer. They became the first cells that were successfully sustained and reproduced in a lab. They were(and are still) used to develop treatments for countless numbers of diseases—all without the knowledge or permission of the woman’s family. This is the story of the woman and her family.
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robinson*
An autobiographical account of a man with Asperger’s Syndrome who had a very interesting life—he programmed light effects for KISS, developed and designed electronic toys, and many more fascinating things, while struggling with social skills.
The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker (audio version)
Honestly, this was boring and slow. The idea of the book is good, but it took way too long to develop. Maybe it should have been a magazine article. I can say it in one sentence: “If we were more excited about Heaven, we would be doing a lot better on earth.”
The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers translated by John Brownjohn (audio version)
A weird book like a dream-journey or a wacky brainstorming session that pumped itself up to be a lot more interesting that it really was. It didn't have a whole lot of plot, just descriptions of things that would be weird.
Tinkers by Paul Harding
Pulitzer Prize winning book, but I don’t exactly know why. I suppose it was beautiful, albeit, ethereal. I guess it just wasn’t my style.
My Dyslexia by Philip Schultz (audio version)
Why is this guy a Pulitzer Prize winning poet? I’m not jiving with these Pulitzer people. Or maybe I should switch to material books instead of audiobooks.
The Indiscretions of Archie by P. G. Wodehouse*
The hero of this story is not quite as lazy as some other of Wodehouse’s heroes. And this one involves a sweet, cute marriage with a non-domineering female. (The females that Wooster runs into are usually domineering.)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
I finally finished it after a year!! I’m so proud of myself. Really awesome book that made me feel kinda out of the loop in regards to history and politics and philosophy and military and many other things. But it was worth the year I spent on it.
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
A lot of good thoughts about life and death.
26 Fairmont Avenue, Here We All Are, On My Way, What a Year (4 books) by Tomie De Paola (audio version--read by the author)
In case you don’t know, this guy is an excellent children’s author and illustrator. These books areabout his childhood, very funny. He was a precocious, creative child, to say the least.
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
The original (I think?) graphic novel. Really good.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Creepy book that made me afraid of psychotic family members and made me decide to do several background checks on all family members before I get married.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
I kept seeing scenes in my mind of the cartoon version I watched as a child, which really augmented it nicely. You have to be able to hear their British accents as they say, "Moley, ... Ratty, ... Toady, ..." Very nostalgic.
Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
1947 Newbery Award Winner. Cute story about a doll made of wood who has to make friends and find a new place to live when her girl goes away to school.
Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout
The format of this book is very visual: interesting backgrounds and typography. Lots of archive photos, newspaper clips, interviews with various figures of the era.
Persuasion by Jane Austen*
Maybe one of my favorite of Austen's. A young girl had been persuaded to break off an engagement to a man and years later they meet again. Will they or won't they?? I think this may be shorter than some of her other novels.
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Sachar is good at deeply understanding people and presenting characters who are well yet subtlely developed.
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
This guy is a Aspergian genius whose most famous accomplishment was memorizing however many digits of pi that one could recite in 5 hours. He has synesthesia which an ability to sense through 2 sensory channels what most people sense through 1 channel. In his case, he "sees" numbers as having textures, colors and motion. He was able to memorize umpteen digits of pi because he viewed the numbers as a connected landscape of colors and textures. He also did other things in the book.
Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C. S. Lewis*
There is no Malcolm. But Lewis wrote letters of his thoughts on prayer which are very good, and he had to address them to someone, so he made up Malcolm.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Juvenile fiction. Kinda cute story. Not much of a mystery.
Autobiography of Ben Franklin
This guy was amazing. He came up with the first volunteer fire fighter system, public library, farmer's almanac. He was just a genius who was positively bursting with ideas. He was right guy in the right time and place to get this country going.
The Talk-Funny Girl by Roland Merullo
A great story of overcoming abuse, becoming your own person, standing up for yourself, and making something of what you have to work with.
…But don’t take my word for it!
