CityChelle's 2013 Challenge

#1 All Creature's Great and Small by James Herriot. Veterinary surgeon James Herriot tells stories of his early years as a country vet in a small British farming community in the 1930s. These stories are sweet, heart warming and at times quite funny. They also inspired a great TV series by the BBC.

Starred so I can follow your reads again this year!

Thanks for reading @TinaV95 !

#2 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. Second book chronologically, but first book written in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I read this book many years ago now, but I've never gone further in the series. Lewis was such a great storyteller. He took timeless and well loved truths and weaved them into a beautiful story filled with wonder and courage and sacrificial love. I still tear up when Aslan takes Edmund's place at the stone table. Now that I've gotten started I am looking forward to finally reading the whole series!

#3 A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King Second book in the Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes Series. Mary is growing up, finishing at Oxford, coming into her inheritance, and trying to figure out the nature of her relationship with Holmes. On the way she becomes involved with the New Temple in God, a feminist religious movement where some of the members have met with unexpected accidents.

This second book was not as good as the first. I felt like the plot setting was an excuse for Mary and perhaps the author, to expound on her theological and political views. Personally, I want to enjoy a good story and I don't really care about the author's personal opinions, especially when it bogs down the reader in details and interrupts the flow of the plot. At the same time, the story moved along and kept me guessing. Holmes and Russell's relationship receives some much needed definition. I enjoyed the story overall and am very curious about the next book in the series.

#4 Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. Greg Mortenson stumbles onto a tiny Pakistani village in the Himalayas after he loses his way while attempting to hike K2, the second tallest mountain in the world. After being treated with great kindness by the people of Korphe and seeing their extreme poverty he vows to build a school for the village's children. This vow leads him on an odyssey of fundraising in America and navigating Pakistani culture. The success of the Korphe school leads to many other schools and humanitarian works.

This was an inspiring although at times tedious read. I didn't love the writing style which I felt included a lot of unnecessary details. It was also quite long. I did love learning about Pakistani culture which was largely unfamilar to me. Unfortunately, about half way through the book I learned that Mortenson was accused of fabricating portions of the story. I hope that's not true, but after reading that, it was hard to enjoy the last half of the book. Regardless, I think educating children and especially girls is a wonderful pursuit and I hope that the children are benefiting from these schools whether or not the author has been completely truthful.

Used to read those James Herriot books at school. Thanks for the reminder, i might include one in my own 50 attempt

I read the first Herriot book last year and will be getting to the rest sooner rather than later. A belated Happy Reading in 2013 to you.

#5 Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley. The latest installment of Flavia de Luce's adventures is one of the best. Eleven year old Flavia's detective and chemistry skills are put to good use when the church organist's body is found in the crypt of a famous saint. She expertly ferrets out each clue much to the chagrin of the local police! Bradley does a great job at keeping the clever Flavia's adventures fresh and exciting with each book. Now I just have to be patient until the next one!

#6 God's Ultimate Purpose by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Lloyd-Jones may have been the greatest preacher of the last Century. I always enjoy his writings and come away from them with a greater understanding of God and a joyful heart. In God's Utlimate Purpose, Jones gives a full and detailed exposition of Ephesians 1. The book is doctrinally rich and heavy at times but filled with practical Spirit filled wisdom to apply these great truths to daily life.

#7 The Great Bridge by David McCullough. Once again McCullough makes history come alive. His story of the Brooklyn Bridge is a fascinating tale of science, courage, ingenuity and the American Spirit. There are plenty of good guys and bad guys, conflict and perseverance against great odds which keep the story exciting. There were plenty of technical engineering details which although they were a bit over my head did not lose me entirely. McCullough explains them in simple terms but even when I didn't' understand I could still appreciate the expertise and responsibility that were required to build one of my favorite places in NYC.

#8 Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller. Great book on viewing your work through a Christian worldview. Keller ecourages the reader to find his/her identity in Christ rather than career. By being faithful in our respective fields we participate in God's care and provision for His world.

#9 The Subversive Copy Editor by Carol Fisher Saller. Helpful introduction to the field of copy editing.

#10 The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. The sparkling, vivacious and beautiful, Undine Spragg, cunningly weaves her way through the upper echelon's of New York Society. She uses her good looks to charm anyone caught in her cross-hairs leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. Will she ever learn? The reader often concurs with her mother's opening statement, "Undine Spragg--how can you?"

Miss Spragg is certainly not Wharton's most lovable character. She's shallow and vain and doesn't care for anyone other than herself. I think that Wharton intends the character as a social critique, demonstrating the problems of the social climbing nouveau riche. It's hard to tell though. Undine's flaws are obvious but I had a hard time figuring out how the author felt about her. I kept waiting for Undine's blunders to lead her to a "more enlightened path" but she is true to form until the end. After a while I got tired of putting up with her.

#11 On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. The first in a trilogy written by one of my favorite singer/songwriters. This is a fun adventure story for older kids. There are a lot of silly jokes which will make both kids and adults smile. The writing is so-so but overall an enjoyable read.

#12 North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson. Book Two in The Wingfeather Saga has the Wingfeathers on the run from the Fangs of Dang and they will have to go through many perils as they make their way to the safe haven in the Ice Prairies. While the first book was a little tough to get into, the second is action packed and lots of fun. I love the way Peterson weaves beautiful and timeless truths into a great story. This would be a wonderful series to read as a family.

#13 Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson. The third installment of the Wingfeather Saga is the best so far. The Wingfeathers think they're safe and sound in the Green Hollows, only to find danger in surprising places. While the threats from outside are scary what's more scary are the dangers that they find within themselves. Hopefully Peterson will hurry up and finish writing the Fourth Book so I can find out what happens next!

#14 Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry. From a poor farmer's daughter to war bride to war widow to grandmother, Hannah tells the story of her life in rural Kentucky. The book is written as a beautiful memoir and a treatise on the value of living what some would call a "small life."

#15 Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul Great book on how to read the Bible. Sproul writes for the average Christian in a way that is simple and clear. He gives invaluable guidelines for understanding and applying God's Word. I have a feeling I'll be reviewing this one time and again.

#16 Wonder by R. J. Palacio Sweet and inspiring story of a boy who was born with a facial abnormality. August is entering the fifth grade and going to school for the first time. Palacio tells the story from August's point of view but also switches to other character's view points from chapter to chapter. This is a thoughtful and inspiring read but also heartwarming and funny. Really enjoyed it.

#17 What is the Mission of the Church? by Greg Gilbert and Kevin DeYoung. This book thoroughly answers the question posed in the title. Every pastor/church member should read this.

#18 Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. Old school fantasy from the 1920's. Nathaniel Chanticleer's world begins to crumble when his son is discovered to have eaten fairy fruit!

#19 Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. This book is an excellent piece of journalism based on thorough and in-depth on the scene reporting. Boo spent several years in Annawadi, a slum of Mumbai, India. She vividly captures the lives of it's residents and follows their stories as they attempt to eek out an existence under harsh and impoverished conditions which constantly threaten to pull them under. She does not caricature there lives or make sweeping judgments. Their words stand well on their own without embellishment. The book is written as narrative non-fiction. The style reads like a novel although the stories are not at all fabricated. Boo also does not insert herself into the story until the Author's note at the end where she explains how the book came to be. I appreciated the style as it makes the book accessible to a wider variety of readers. I would not call this a heartwarming read. As an American I can't even imagine what it would be like to live with this kind of poverty, injustice, and extensive government corruption. If nothing else this book makes your heart break and opens up your eyes to what is going on in other parts of the world. It also makes me extremely grateful for what I've been given.

#20 God's Way of Reconciliation by David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Jones exposits his way through the second book of Ephesians. His verse by verse insights are an invaluable asset to the Christian's walk.

#21 What is Reformed Theology? by R. C. Sproul A concise but thorough introduction to the basics of Reformed Theology

#22 The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama. Retired Mr. Ali is making his wife crazy, so he opens up a marriage bureau to occupy his time. This is a charming story and very informative concerning Hindu and Muslim culture in India. It has a slow pace but is an easy and enjoyable read.

#23 How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer. A Critique of Western Civilization from Rome onward. Schaeffer writes from a Christian worldview and shows the breakdown in society and culture as a result of the loss of absolute truth in today's world. Very interesting book. I wish Schaeffer had spent more time defining his terms as some of them were new to me and I got a bit lost at times. While insightful, the book was written in the 70's and could use an update dealing with today's technology and world events. Overall a good introduction and a subject that bears further study.

#24 How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu. Catchy title, eh? I thought so, which is why I rescued this book from the sidewalk. Unfortunately the title was the best part of the book. This semi-interesting novel is about a self-loathing time machine repairman whose troubled relationship with his family has lead him to remain in a timeless state until he is confronted with his future self who propels him on a journey of self discovery. The book is replete with seemingly endless philosophical monologues. There is a touch of sarcasm as the title would suggest, but this doesn't add enough humor to make the book worth reading. Too bad. I guess the old adage about judging a book by it's cover turns out to be true, but in this case the cover was better than the content.

#25 Note to Self by Joe Thorn. Great little book about "preaching to yourself." Each chapter is a reminder about an essential truth of the Christian life written as a note to "Dear Self." Very encouraging.

#26 To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl. The subtitle of this book is "Or How Anglomania Really Got Started." Apparently we aren't the first generation of Americans to be obsessed with those lovely Brits. The Gilded Age was the heyday of the American heiress, young and rich with marriage to a Duke on her mind. This book will give you all of the historical background for an Edith Wharton novel or the cult-like devotion to Downton Abby. How did Cora and Lord Grantham find each other? This book spells it out. Unfortunately not all of those pretty American heiresses or their titled husbands found happiness. My childhood, "I want to marry a Prince" fantasy took a real beating here. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and will probably appreciate my next Gilded Age novel a lot more. I do not however recommend the Kindle edition. The print book is styled more as a guide book which translates poorly into the Kindle version so go with a paper copy in this case.

#27 Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Hardy was a master of prose and it is easy to see why his works have endured. In, Far from the Madding Crowd, he has crafted a moving story with tragedy and triumph woven throughout. The characters are full of life and you like (or dislike) them more and more as the story unfolds. The young, beautiful and impulsive, Bathsheba Everdene has inherited Weatherbury farm and it's not long before she finds herself with three lovers: the faithful and good Gabriel Oak, the outwardly placid but inwardly turbulent, Farmer Boldwood, and the dashing and irreverent, Sergeant Troy. For a woman with a fair amount of common sense, she certainly makes some foolish choices when it comes to men. Her impetuous nature wreaks unintentional havoc and the consequences come following after. I really enjoyed this story and I thought that the writing was beautiful and well worth the reading.

#28 The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers Small booklet on how love for God and the gospel can defeat the desire for sin.

#29 The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom. First book in the Mobile Library Mystery Series. Israel Armstrong, chubby, Jewish, vegetarian from London finds himself as the new librarian for a mobile library service in Northern Ireland, much against his wishes. As he struggles to acclimate himself to his new home, he is tasked with the job of finding out what happened to all of the library books. Could 15,000 books be overdue or perhaps they were stolen?

As far as mysteries go, this book has very little to offer. It was more of an introduction to the characters that will appear in the series, which hopefully will be better than this first book. However I didn't find the characters that interesting either. I am curious to see if things pick up as the series goes on though so I may give it another go.

#30 Desiring God by John Piper. This one is a little tough to wade through. Piper has coined the phrase "Christian Hedonist," meaning someone who pursues pleasure in God. He does a great job at highlighting God's glory and explaining why we should find our joy in him. His writing can be a little difficult, however, and I had a hard time getting over the term "Christian Hedonist." Overall, a worthwhile read.

#31 People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Hanna Heath, book conservationist, is called to Bosnia to repair the famous Sarajevo Haggadah, a rare Medieval illuminated Hebrew manuscript. As she does her work she discovers a butterfly wing, salt, a wine stain and white hair within its pages. Will these clues help her discover the secrets of the mysterious book and it's survival over the last 500 years?

The concept and basic plot for this book was actually quite clever and I liked the way the story moved back and forth in time to relate the Haggadah's history. Despite that I actually, really disliked this book. The story was tedious, depressing and a little far fetched at times. What could have been an inspiring story was not enjoyable due to the characters that Brooks uses to relate the story. They are all deeply flawed with very little to redeem them. I really disliked almost all of them. This is one of those cases when I should have put the book down about 100 pages in but instead I wasted a week's commute trying to figure out how it would end. Definitely do not recommend this one.

#32 Art and the Bible by Frances Schaeffer. Great and very short book on the value of art and what it means to create and evaluate art from a Christian worldview.

#33 Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. Journalist Joshua Foer chronicles his journey to compete in the U.S. Memory Championship. What sounds like a real nerdfest is actually pretty fascinating. Foer details the history of mnemonics from ancient Roman times through today's mental athletes. He also gives an insightful commentary on the value of memories and includes interviews with people who have lost their ability to remember through trauma as well as gifted savants who can't stop remembering. His style is accessible and engaging and I really enjoyed it.

#34 American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever. An account of the literary world of Concord, MA in the late 19th Century. Ralph Waldo Ermerson gathered an eclectic group of Transcendentalist writers and thinkers around him which included notables, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott among others. Cheever tells the story of how their lives intersected and influenced one another. Not the most exciting read but good background for understanding the period and works of these great authors.

#35 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This volume had a faster pace and for some reason I liked it better than the previous stories that I've read. I was a little disappointed in "The Final Problem." I don't remember Moriarty being introduced in any of the previous stories so I was a little surprised at his sudden appearance. Perhaps I missed something or maybe I've just seen too many Hollywood versions.

#36 Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead. The King Raven Trilogy, Book #1. Prince Bran ap Brychan of Elfael's father has just been murdered along with his entire army. The invading Normans have seized his lands and he is now on the run for his life. Should he escape to his Northern relatives or stay to help his people? Wounded and stumbling through the Greenwoode he is discovered by a mysterious old hag who sees a greater future for him than he could imagine.

Stephen Lawhead retells the Robin Hood story but with a new take on the legend. Removed from Sherwood, and set in the forests of Wales, Robin Hood becomes Rhi Bran or the Raven King. This new telling has all of the basic elements of the original but with enough twists to let it stand on it's own. Lawhead has done quite a bit of historical research, and although his characters are fictional there is plenty of 12th century Welsh history to add a dash of authenticity. I enjoyed this version, but still missed some of Robin Hood's original flair. The book had action, but I felt like I was waiting for something big to happen as if this first book was setting up for the next one. Overall though, I enjoyed it and will definitely read the next one.

#37 Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead. The King Raven Trilogy, Book #2. Will Scarlet is languishing in the Sheriff's prison. In order to stave off his execution, he recounts the story of how he came to join King Raven's band of outlaws and the adventures that led him to his prison cell. While the Sheriff hopes to get information that will help him capture King Raven, Will just wants to stay alive as long as possible. So through him we hear the continuing story of Bran ap Brychan and his quest for justice and the return of his lands.

In some ways I liked this one better than the first. The action was better but I wish he wouldn't have told the story from Scarlet's perspective. We missed out on a lot of details. I was especially disappointed that there was so little dialogue or interaction from Bran or Merian. Where was the romance?!? It seemed like he was using Will as a device to speed up the story and I felt like the reader lost something as a result. Nevertheless, I am itching to find out the conclusion in book three.

#38 Tuck by Stephen R. Lawhead. The King Raven Trilogy, Book #3. Bran and and his Grellon of followers determine to finish off the Freinc invaders once and for all. This book was a great end to the series. Lots of action and of course Friar Tuck, who graces the title, plays a key role in the series conclusion.

#39 Does Prayer Change Things? by R. C. Sproul Clear and concise as always, Sproul answers the titular question concerning prayer in this quick and helpful read.

#40 How to Write a Sentence: and How to Read One by Stanley Fish. Really enjoyed this book on what makes a good sentence.

#41 The Church by Mark Dever. Simple and easy to understand explanation of the doctrine of The Church and why it's important.

#42 Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson. Miss Buncle writes a book. She needs the money so she writes the book. Since it is her first attempt at writing she writes what she knows and observes which includes the lives and loves of her neighbors in the village of Silverstream. Needless to say, when the book is published it causes quite a stir as people recognize themselves and wonder at the identity of the author, John Smith, who is Miss Buncle's pseudonym. And all poor Miss Buncle can do is stand back and watch as the book wreaks havoc among her neighbors. The end results are often quite revealing and very funny.

I really enjoyed this light and fun read. Great book when you don't want to think too deeply and are ready for a few chuckles.

#43 Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson. A poetic retelling of the Arthurian Legend. Wow. This was a tough one, but I plodded through and managed to come out on the other side. I hate to disparage Tennyson's genius but poetry is just not my forte.

#44 Future Grace by John Piper. "The just shall live by faith." Piper shows how a forward looking faith in the grace that God has promised in Scripture allows the Christian to live a joyful life in Christ and defeat the power of sin that comes from unbelief in God's promises. Piper's writing is always a little heavy to wade through. This was a great book but I feel like I would need to read it a second time in order to fully grasp some of the concepts. I recommend reading slowly and in small chunks in order to get the full benefits.

#45 Can I Know God's Will by R. C. Sproul. Another great, short read on a vital topic. Sproul spells out the basis for determining God's Will in a general sense and then diverges into the practical applications of knowing God's Will for the two most prominent subjects in people's minds, vocation and marriage.

#46 Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope #1 in the Palliser Series. Alice Vavasor goes from one bad decision to another. With an uninvolved father and a moderate but independent fortune, Alice is free to be her own mistress. Her first decision, breaking off her engagement to her cousin George, is good. Her second decision, breaking off a second engagement to the perfect and handsome John Grey, is not as good. While Alice's intentions are noble, her judgement is not always right and her meddling relatives make sure she knows it. But after all is said and done will she be forgiven?

I really enjoyed this classic Victorian novel by one of my favorites, Anthony Trollope. This particular novel was the first in the Palliser series, a spin off from The Chronicles of Barset. Trollope's novels tend to be on the slow side but the excellent writing, dry wit and interesting characters make up for it. Some of the antiquated attitudes toward women will generate some severe eye rolls form modern readers. Nevertheless, I forgave Alice and am looking forward to seeing how she makes out in the rest of the series.

#47 Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. Just lovely. Dandelion Wine is my first Bradbury novel and it did not take long for me to conclude that Ray Bradbury was a masterful writer. His twists and turns with the English language and charming colloquial style were absolutely delightful.

The book centers around Green Town, Illinois (based on Bradbury's hometown of Waukegan) and it's most exuberant resident, twelve year old, Doug. While 1920s small town life certainly has it's ups and downs, Doug takes in every moment and puts it down for posterity in his nickel tablet. The doings and happenings, wits and witticisms of his sage and sometimes eccentric neighbors are observed and noted with keen insight that far outpaces his twelve year old mind.

At first I struggled to adapt to the author's rhythm and esoteric feeling. He plays with words in a dreamy way that makes the book feel out of touch at first. Nevertheless, I could see the strength in his writing so I pressed on until I was sucked into Green Town and transported to a bygone era. Once there I was glad that I stuck with it and am putting this one into the favorites category. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves beautiful writing.

#48 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This may be Holmes' most famous adventure and it's no wonder. This was certainly the most suspenseful that I have read so far. I was a little disappointed that Watson was the center of the story for so much of the book though as I like to see Holmes in action more.

#49 The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes is back and just in time to take care of the last of Moriarty's friends amongst other various and exciting cases.

#50 The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges. Good book on sanctification but I enjoyed his other book, Transforming Grace a lot more.

#51 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. I decided to add some theater into my reading this year, and of course, who better than Shakespeare? This comedy is full of mistaken identities, drunken uncles and various mishaps in usual Shakespearean fashion.

#52 Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I read this back in February or March but forgot to add it to my list. It's similar in theme to a lot of other books that have come out recently concerning gospel-centered living and resting in Christ but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's been a few months now, but if I remember correctly, I enjoyed it.

#53 A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King. Mary Russell Holmes and her now husband Sherlock set out to investigate the death of a friend and amateur archeologist who had recently gifted Mary with an ancient manuscript reportedly authored by Mary Magdalene and carefully placed in a small jeweled box. Could the document be the reason for her death or is there something more sinister at work?

Russell and Holmes continue to make an excellent and a rather unusual but somehow appropriate married couple. I have to applaud the author on her excellent use of Holmes character. She accurately captures Doyle's character but also adds just the right amount of spice and the perfect partner in Mary. It's not every author who can successfully build on such a classic character. This latest adventure continues the excitement and intrigue well.

#54 Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper. This book was excellent preparation for the season of remembering Christ's birth. I'll be pulling this one out again in years to come.

#55 Quest for More by Paul David Tripp. What better way to end the year than to put off the selfishness of the past and focus on God and others for the future? Tripp's book is a great challenge to get your eyes off your self and put your hope in the great things that God is doing in the world. This was not Tripp's best book. The writing was very repetitive and each chapter was essentially the same with a slightly different emphasis. Nevertheless, the message was good and I hope to take it to heart in the coming year!

And that's a wrap! Happy New Year!

Posts for 2014 will be found here http://www.librarything.com/topic/163314