Me Thinks

 Books read in 2024:

1. *Prophets See Around Corners by Sheri Dew (Liked it! Great points, would recommend).
2. These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine by Nancy E. Turner (I liked this book. Though most of it is fiction, some of the dates and events are factual, and the main character is based on the author's relative)
3. Secret Santa by Anne Osborn Poelman (I really enjoyed this Christmas story, set during the Depression. The main character, Tom, is hard-working and unselfish. He provides Christmas for his family).
4. Original Grace by Adam Miller (Deep! There was much to learn and think about. Suffering is not a punishment. We are offered grace all along the way.)
5. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman (a short book of the generational effects of a grandfather having dementia)
6. Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict (I enjoyed this novel, knowing it could not end as I hoped, and it didn't. Historical fiction)
7. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Selected Poems (I enjoyed this book. What a talented man! He wrote several long story poems which were new to me)
8. The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (I had heard reference to this poetry for years and finally read it. I think Longfellow is such a gifted poet. He incorporated Indian stories, appreciation for nature, and human emotion)
9. Girls on the Brink by Donna Jackson Nakazawa (The message of this book is critical—social media harms young women! The author spends a lot of time scientifically proving her point. I especially liked the section of the book where she shares tips on raising young women)
10. Women Holding Things by Maira Kalman (I liked her art! Amidst the family stories there were nuggets of wisdom)
11. Doctrine and Covenants (As I read, I was specifically looking for things about God and how He works)
12. The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons (Eudora spends her life trying to make her mother happy and is deprived of happiness, independence and self-fulfillment.  She contemplates ending her life but instead stays to nurture new relationships)
13. Tracy's Tiger by William Saroyan (A different little story, an allegory. I wanted to read something else by William Saroyan)
14. The Pearl of Great Price (I was looking for information about God and I found it!)
15. Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherin Ryan Hyde (Hmmm...there were parts of this book that I liked and parts I didn't. It is a story about teenage boy that befriends an elderly lady in his apartment complex).
16. *The Art of Being a Healing Presence (This is the first assigned book I read for my chaplain course and I thought it was excellent. Great insight!)
17. *Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (I have read this book before, but I was assigned to read it for my class so I read it again. Wonderful thoughts as to finding meaning and purpose in life).
18. *A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine & Church History, Laura Harris Hales, Editor (This is an excellent book! Each chapter is written by a different gospel scholar.  The premise of the book is that the editor wanted to have deep discussions with her children about subjects that come up in the church that often create division or questions. I learned something from each chapter).
19. Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen: (I liked this book because Jennie speaks so clearly.  Name your emotions and let them come to the surface).
20. *To My Friends: Messages of Counsel and Comfort by Jeffrey R. Holland. Elder Holland is such a masterful writer. (It is as if Elder Holland is writing a final book of counsel for his posterity and I was lucky enough to read it.  I loved it! A compilation of excerpts from his addresses along with added words of explanation and depth.)
21. Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy by J. William Worden. (This book was very informative and helpful to me in my chaplain training).
22. The Life of our Lord by Charles Dickens (the story of Christ's life as told by Charles Dickens.  He wrote this book for his ten children).
23. *Where is God When it Hurts? by Philip Yancey (Excellent! The purpose of adversity and how to help those who are suffering)
24. Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder (The story of Dr. Jim O’Connell’s mission as a doctor to the homeless population in Boston)
25. Advent of Disciples by Tess Frame and Lorren Lemmons (The authors do a study of some of Christ's closest disciples, including Peter, James and John, Mary and Martha, Thomas, etc.)
26. The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Power of Meow by David Michie (This is a meditation and Buddhist guide set to a story. I learned about meditation and the power of mindfulness).
27. *Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary Confinement with the Bard by Laura Bates (A fascinating book! Not only does Laura teach Larry about Shakespeare, but she teaches several others, and Larry excels in his study, writing several workbooks and commentaries on Shakespeare)
28. The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen (A spiritual counselor's guidebook. Informative)
29. The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg (recommended by a nine-year-old granddaughter. A fun mystery!)
30. It's Very Simple: The True Story of Civil Rights by Alan Stang (I did not care for this book at all. It was an expose as to the possibility of Communism infiltrating the United States. Written in 1965).
31. Real Moments by Barbara DeAngelis (required for school. Main theme is mindfulness).
32. Creating Love by John Bradshaw (I had to slug my way through this book.  It seems like this is writing therapy for Mr. Bradshaw and he shares intimate details of life, many of which I would not have chosen to know.  He makes good points throughout but I would not recommend this).
33. *Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (What a marvelous book! C. S. Lewis has included so many great thoughts. This is a treasure.)
34. *Changed by His Grace by Brad Wilcox (This was a wonderful book about grace and the love the Father and the Son have for us)
35. *The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine (An excellent parenting book!)
36. The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (An interesting fictional book and a fast read.  It was not easy being an Asian in the US in the late 1800s).
37. *The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos (I really liked this book! Over and over, Hadley has seen people near death communicate with people who are there to greet them).
38. *You are Loved: Inspiring Messages for Women by an assorted authors (Loved it!)
39. Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge (Even though this is written specifically for the purpose of understanding men, there are principles which are applicable to both men and women).
40. *The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley (I really enjoyed this book! Great points about you being the author of your own happiness, and about how past hurt can lead you to not allowing people into your life).
41. *The Art of Listening in a Healing Way by James E. Miller (Another great book by Mr. Miller! It is not a long book, but full of wisdom on the subject of listening).
42. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay (Though I do not agree with all of the claims Ms. Hay makes regarding our ability to cure our physical ailments with positive thinking, including cancer, I did agree with much of what she wrote. Our attitude and outlook make a difference).
43. To Sir, With Love by E. R. Braithwaite (I respect Mr. Braithwaite and the way he respected the students and lifted them to a higher level of learning and character).
44. How to Stitch an American Dream by Jenny Doan(I enjoyed reading about the life story of Jenny Doan, the founder of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. Jenny is creative and bright, resourceful, patient, and kind).
45. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (This book had a slow start for me but then really picked up. I'm glad I read this classic).
46. *The Holy Invitation: Understanding Your Sacred Temple Endowment by Anthony Sweat (A short but beautiful book on the temple. I recommend it!)
47. *Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal by Rachel Naomi Remen (I really liked this book. Dr. Remen shares dozens of stories and examples and shares wisdom along the way).
48. Hidden Worldviews by Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford (I found this book very interesting and informative. The authors are not talking about eight different religions, but eight cultural worldviews).
49. *Book of Mormon (I always enjoy reading this book because truth is dispensed and light is abundant)
50. *Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie (This was perhaps the most surprising book I have read this year. Savannah shares insight about leaning on God and having faith in Him).
51. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell (A good fictional story about a man and his wife who serve a very long mission in China)