15 books I shall read in 2016

Every year I make a dumb resolution to stop buying books until I’ve made my way through the stacks I already have.

That resolution lasts about two weeks. So this year I’m not even doing it. I’m just mentioning I would like to read all the great books on my shelf before I go buy more. It might happen. It might not. I do know I will read these in the coming months so if you’d like to read one or two also, so we can talk about them as we read them (or after we’re done) that would be super fun.

This is my really lazy version of a book club. I have plans in 2016 to have an official book for all of us to read and discuss together, but I don’t want to tackle all my best ideas in January so I’m pacing myself. Or something like that.

Here’s what is on the agenda for 2016:

The Girl You Left Behind
by Jojo Moyes

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
by Elizabeth Gilbert

Landline
by Rainbow Rowell

Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul
by Jennie Allen (I had this on my list for December, but didn’t get to it.)

Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel
by Russell Moore

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

Open Your Bible: God’s Word is For You and For Now
by Raechel Myers & Amanda Bible Williams (It’s a Bible study I’ll do when I’m done with my current one.)

Grace-Based Parenting
by Dr. Tim Kimmel

Boy Toy
by Barry Lyga (I read this a few years ago but have it out to read again. This isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s super creepy and eye-opening.)

The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
by Mark Batterson

Somebody Up There Hates You
by Hollis Seamon

Beneath a Meth Moon
by Jacqueline Woodson

Liar & Spy
by Rebecca Stead

Inexcusable
by Chris Lynch

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory
by Caitlin Doughty

This isn’t it. There will be other books. I might accidentally find myself at the bookstore where I buy a few books before these all get read. I could possibly come across a good deal on my e-reader home page and buy a book. I take the girls to the library and might find myself wandering out of the kids’ section and suddenly check out seven books. Plus, there are about thirty more books currently in my office waiting to be read that I didn’t feel like typing because who wants to read a list that long? Not I, said the fly.

My first read of 2016 was The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. It is a YA mystery novel with a ghost twist I wasn’t expecting (Even though it says it on the back of the book, so I’m not sure how I missed it. Reading things is hard sometimes, I guess.). That review will be up in April. Yikes, that sounds like a really long time away. Sorry, if you need immediate thoughts, go to my Instagram book account. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until April because I read books too quickly and only post one review a week.

I’m currently reading Rising Strong by Brene Brown, and it’s challenging me to be brave through some recent failures. This year I’m trying tobalance fiction and non-fiction a little better; the list above is non-fiction heavy but that’s because I tend to gravitate toward fiction more. So I’m pushing myself outside of my comfort zone a little this year. Look at me growing and challenging myself. I’m such a mature adult.

What are you planning to read this year? Or tomorrow or next week? Tell me something you’re interested in or looking forward to reading.

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