~~~
Day’?s Verse:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:20 – 21
~~~

Yes, what follows is actually a list of all the books I read in the last year. Well… more like 98% of them, anyway. I probably missed a few. Comments are included as reader’s notes.

2006
1. Get Shorty — 5/25 – 5/26
Elmore Leonard [Reader’s note: Huh?]

2. The Dante Club — 5/26 – 5/27
Matthew Pearl

3. The Secret Life of Bees — 5/27 – 5/28
Sue Monk Kidd

4. Our Lady of the Forest — 6/7 – 6/13
David Guterson [Reader’s note: Classic Guterson, an excellent read]

5. Dream Thief — 6/13 – 6/15
Stephen Lawhead [Reader’s note: Why do Christian books always turn out totally horrible?]

6 – 11. Harry Potter Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 — 6/18 – 6/27
J.K. Rowling

12. Starship Troopers — 6/27 – 7/1
Robert Heinlein

13. A Thousand Acres — 7/1 – 7/2
Jane Smiley [Reader’s note: King Lear in the midwest]

14. The Bean Tree — 7/2 -7/2
Barbara Kingsolver

15. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil — 7/3 – 7/3
John Berendt

16. The Westing Game — 7/4 – 7/4
Ellen Raskin [Reader’s note: Old favorite]

17. In the Hall of the Dragon King — 7/3 – 7/5
Stephen Lawhead

18. The Warlords of Nin — 7/5 – 7/8
Stephen Lawhead

19. The Sword and the Flame — 7/8 (quit)
Stephen Lawhead

20. The Golden Key and Other Fantasy Stories — 7/9 – 7/9
George Macdonald [Reader’s note: Some of the first sci-fi/fantasy ever written, pioneering the genre as I understand it.]

21. The Gray Wolf, etc. — 7/10 – 7/12
George Macdonald

22. Einstein’s Dreams — 7/11
Allan Lightman

23. The Light Princess — 7/12
George Macdonald

24. The Wise Woman, Etc. — 7/13
George Macdonald

25. Return of Tarzan — 7/14 – 7/15
Edgar Rice Burroughs

26. Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul — 7/15 – (quit)
John & Stasi Eldredge

27. Out of the Silent Planet — 7/17
C. S. Lewis [Reader’s note: If you haven’t read these and you like sci-fi/fantasy, you’ve missed a seminal part of the genre, like failing to read Lord of the Rings.]

28. Perelandra — 7/17 – 7/18
C. S. Lewis

29. That Hideous Strength — 7/19 – 7/21
C.S. Lewis

30. The Kingless Land — 7/22 – 7/24
Ed Greenwood

31. Girl Meets God — 7/24 – 7/26
Laurie F. Winner

32. The Tower of Geburah — 7/25 – 7/28
John White [Reader’s note: More poorly-written Christian fiction… Why must it be this way?]

33. The Iron Sceptre — 7/28 – 7/29
John White

34. The Sword Bearer — 7/29 – 7/30
John White

35. Gall the Conquerer — 7/30 – 7/31
John White [Reader’s note: …and, you may be asking, why did she read all these?]

36. Best Alternate History Stories of the 20th CenturyMisc., anthology

37. Calvin & Hobbes: Revenge of the Baby-Sat — 8/5
Bill Watterson [Reader’s note: Actually read all the Calvin & Hobbes books, but failed to record them.]

38. Anne of Green Gables — 8/5 – 8/7
L. M. Montgomery

39. Anne of Avonlea — 8/7 – 8/9
L. M. Montgomery

40. House of Sand and Fog — 8/7 – 8/11
Andre Dubus III

41. Anne of Avolea — 8/9 – 8/10
L. M. Montgomery

42. Anne of the Island — 8/10 – 8/11
L. M. Montgomery

43. Anne of Windy Poplars — 8/13 – 8/16
L. M. Montgomery

44. Anne’s House of Dreams — 8/16 – (quit)
L. M. Montgomery [Reader’s note: There’s only so much Anne you can take. Trust me.]

45. Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work — 8/16 – 8/30
John Gottman

46. The Eye of the World — 8/19 – 8/26
Robert Jordan

47. The Great Hunt — 8/26 – 9/1
Robert Jordan

48. The Dragon Reborn — 9/1 – 9/3
Robert Jordan

49. The Shadow Rising — 9/4 – 9/10
Robert Jordan

50. The Fires of Heaven — 9/11 – 9/17
Robert Jordan

51. The Lord of Chaos — 9/17 – 9/30
Robert Jordan [Reader’s note: At this point, you wish the series would end. Oh, please, please end!]

52. Miss Misery — 9/21 – 9/23
Andy Greenwald [Reader’s note: Everybody needs a break from the Wheel of Time series some time to preserve a modicum of sanity.]

53. A Crown of Swords — 9/30 – 10/4
Robert Jordan [Reader’s note: Back in the saddle…]

54. Path of Daggers — 10/4 – 10/7
Robert Jordan

55. Winter’s Heart — 10/7 – 10/14
Robert Jordan

56. Crossroads at Twilight — 10/14 – 10/29
Robert Jordan

57. The Language of God — 10/16 – 10/24
Francis Collins

**58. Time Traveler’s Wife — 10/20 – 10/22
Audrey Niffenegger [Reader’s note: Best read of the year]

59. Neverwhere — 10/24 – 10/26
Neil Gaiman

60. Ladies of Mandrigyn — 10/26 – 10/29
Barbara Hambly

61. The Time of the Dark — 10/29 – 10/31
Barbara Hambly

62. The Walls of Air — 11/1 – 11/4
Barbara Hambly

63. The Armies of Daylight — 11/5 – 11/5
Barbara Hambly

64. Icefalcon’s Quest — 11/5 – 11/11
Barbara Hambly

*65. State of Fear — 11/11 – 11/12
Michael Crichton [Reader’s note: Most enraging read of the year]

66. Deepness in the Sky — 11/23
Vernor Vinge

67. Lavondyss — 11/24 ~ 11/27 (est.)
Robert Holdstock [Reader’s note: Most puzzling read of the year]

68. Foucalt’s Pendulum — 11/26 – (quit)
Umberto Eco

69. Temple of the Winds — 11/27 – 12/3
Terry Goodkind [Reader’s note: This series just wants to be the Wheel of Time]

70. The Prophet — 12/3 – 12/6
Frank E. Peretti

71. Justice Hall — 12/9 – 12/10
Laure R. King

72. O Jerusalem — 12/? – 12/16
Laure R. King

73. The Game — 12/16 – 12/17
Laure R. King

74. River of Gods — 12/17 – 12/26
Ian McDonald

75. X-Men (Ultimate) 1-4, 6 — 12/28
Misc.

76. Odd Girl Out — 12/26 – (getting there)
Rachel Simmons

2007
77. Thunderstruck — 1/3 – 1/7
Erik Larson [Reader’s note: More murder, less Marconi]

78. Willa Cather Collected Stories — 12/30 – 1/2
Willa Cather

79. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid — 1/7 – 10/10
Bill Bryson

80. Seed to Seed — 1/11 – (quit)
Author not recorded

81. Night Probe! — 1/19 – 1/19
Clive Cussler [Reader’s note: It’s good to read Clive occasionally to remember how bad bad writing really can be.]

82. Mother of Winter — 1/20 – 1/21
Barbara Hambly

**83. Cryptonomicon — 1/21 – 2/11
Neal Stephenson [Reader’s note: Recommended author]

84. Clear and Present Danger — 1/22 – (quit)
Tom Clancy

85. Rogue’s Bride — 2/4 – 2/9
Leslie LaFoy [Reader’s note: After reading this, we started describing raising an eyebrow as LaFoying]

86. Blue Like Jazz — 2/11 – 2/17
Donald Miller

87. Daughter of the Empire — 2/17 – 2/23
Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts

88. Servant of the Empire — 2/23 – 3/3
Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts

89. Mistress of the Empire — 3/3 – 3/11
Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts

**90. Life of the Beloved — 2/23 – 3/15
Henri Nouwen [Reader’s note: Best theology]

91. Magician: Apprentice — 3/12 – 3/16
Raymond E. Feist

92. Alias Grace — 3/17 – 3/17
Margaret Atwood

93. On a Pale Horse — 3/18 – 3/19
Piers Anthony

94. For Love of Evil — 3/20 – 3/23
Piers Anthony

95. First Book of Swords — 3/24 – 3/25
Fred Saberhagen

96. Second Book of Swords — 3/25 – 3/29
Fred Saberhagen

97. Third Book of Swords — 3/29 – 3/31
Fred Saberhagen

98. Phantom Tollbooth — 3/31 – 4/4
Norton Juster [Reader’s note: Best children’s book ever]

99. Five Little Pigs — 4/5 – 4/7
Agatha Christie

100. A Treasury of Great Mysteries vol. 1 — 4/7 – 4/15
Misc., anthology

101. A Treasury of Great Mysteries vol. 2 — 4/15 – (quit)
Misc., anthology

102. The Red Tent — 4/16 – 4/21
Anita Diamant

103. My Sister’s Keeper — 4/21 – 4/22
Jodi Picoult

104. Magician: Master — 4/27 – 4/29
Raymond E. Feist

105. Silverthorn — 4/29 – 4/3
Raymond E. Feist

106. The Highest Tide — 5/3 – 5/5
Jim Lynch

107. The Hobbit — 5/6 – 5/10
J.R.R. Tolkien [Reader’s note: Revisiting an old friend.]

108. Snow Falling on Cedars — 5/13 – 5/14
David Guterson

109. Dune — 5/16 – 5/19
Frank Herbert

110. Jurassic Park — 5/20 – 5/23
Michael Crichton

111. A Walk in the Woods — 5/24 – 5/27
Bill Bryson [Reader’s note: Funny enough that you don’t want to read it in public for fear of embarrassing yourself.]

112. In a Sunburned Country — 5/27 – 5/31
Bill Bryson

113. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister — 5/31 – 6/1
Gregory Maguire [Reader’s note: Meh.]

114. Ender’s Game — 6/2 – 6/3
Orson Scott Card

115. Ender’s Shadow — 6/3 – 6/6
Orson Scott Card

116. Around the World i Eighty Days — 6/6 – 6/8
Jules Verne

117. And Eternity — 6/9
Piers Anthony

118. Soul of Fire — 6/9 – 6/11
Terry Goodkind [Reader’s note: More faux-Wheel of Time; as I read this, I grimace in distaste, yet I continue.]

4 thoughts on “A Year of Books

  1. i need to get a library card. i keep rereading books i find around my house. although i am reading 1984 right now, which i have never read.

  2. Heard somewhere that a huge percentage (I want to say it was at least 80) of Americans over 18 had not bought or read one book in 2006. Thanks for doing your part to counter that statistic.

    And thanks for helping my head return to proper size – I was starting to feel a little too proud of my tackling Ms. Rowling’s books in a few weeks’ time.

  3. Dear little Katie, I remember when you were 2 years old and would snuggle for hours on the couch beside your dad or me as we read aloud to you. I remember when you “read” more than 500 picture books over a 5 month period during kindergarten… you certainly caught the reading bug early and have been infected ever since. Keep up the countercultural activities!
    Mom

  4. (Hey, my computer finally works!)

    Well, you certainly put me to shame. I’ve been nibbling away at Justin’s Apologies, but other than that, I’ve been getting behind on reading.

    Hmm, maybe I’ll try keeping track this year, to guilt myself back in gear.

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