Feb 20, 2020

2019 Books

Here's the rundown of the books I finished in 2019!

Really enjoyed:

Whiskey In a Teacup- an enjoyable read with some recipes that I'd like to try.
The Trumpeter of Krakow- my Grandpa suggested this book to one of my siblings years ago; I decided it was high time I read it. Such a great piece of historical fiction!
Catholic Baby Names for Boys and Girls: 250 Ways to Honor Mary
Make My Life Simple: Bringing Peace to Heart and Home- I would love to have coffee with Rachel Balducci, pick her brain, and have a nice, long chat.
Good Enough is Good Enough: Confessions of an Imperfect Catholic Mom- I find Colleen so relatable and encouraging! I highly suggest this one.
Cozy Minimalist Home- Myquillyn Smith's writing so enjoyable, and I really like her design aesthetic.
The Gown
The Great Influenza- long but super compelling, especially with how much WWI & influenza were tied together.
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic-- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World- kind of slow in parts but interesting overall. I found the author's opinions at the end a bit eye-rolling- 'family planning clinics are good things to have in cities!', while simultaneously acknowledging the birth rates of many countries being below replacement levels.
Hey Ladies! The Story of 8 Best Friends, 1 Year, and Way, Way Too Many Emails- I LOVED every bit of this satire!
The Egg and I- Betty MacDonald's humor is just so good.
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta- really good but honestly painful to see how long she experienced the dark night of the soul!
Black and Pro-life in America: The Incarceration and Exoneration of Walter B. Hoye II- a very good read, plus heartening to hear about strides being made to spread the pro-life message in black communities.
The Highly Sensitive Person- I wanted to cry while reading this! I never thought HSP applied to me until I read Anne Bogel's "Reading People" and could relate to her experiences being a HSP. There are some kooky ideas sprinkled in, but overall so helpful for me and glad I picked it up.
The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency- fun first book of the series; definitely reading more.
Be Brave in the Scared: How I Learned to Trust God During the Most Difficult Days of My Life
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir- love all of Ruth Reichl's books!
Things You Save in a Fire- definitely a good chick-lit/ beach read.
The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good- I'm not one to turn down a book that discusses style or personal wardrobes, so I eagerly picked this up when it came to our library! I thought there was a really good balance between practical tips (basic mending techniques, how to wash things properly) and eye-opening information about the clothing industry.
Tears of the Giraffe- second book of No. 1 Ladies' series.
When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People
Audrey Style- covers Audrey Hepburn's life. So many great photos!
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
Christmas Shopaholic
Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I- this is written all in letters; good absorbing, historical fiction.




Liked:

One Day in December- I loved that this took place in Britain but really struggled with the main love interest. I just did not find him really decent or likeable.
The Printed Letter Book Shop- does there exist a book about bookish things that does not reference  or quote Pride & Prejudice to the hilt, like it is the sole identifying book of bibliophiles? (And I completely love P&P!) It just feels like some books (about bookish things, like this one) reference it quite a bit and therefore use it as a crutch.
The Accidental Beauty Queen- fun chick-lit, but kinda the same deal as above (with Harry Potter and P&P).
China Rich Girlfriend
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Summer of '69- I really enjoyed all the historical events that played out in this read. Didn't *love* the characters but liked it overall. So much really did happen that year!
Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave
Can You Keep a Secret?
Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea, and a Whole Lotta Jesus
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time



Meh:

The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes- a bit too melancholic for my taste.
My Italian Bulldozer- just placing this here because when I finished I truly felt like, "What even happened in this book?".
Becoming Us
The Hating Game- Yikes. I liked the story over all, but way too much sexual stuff.

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