What I Read in 2018 - aka The Brief Resurrection of My Blog
I'm publishing a blog post--a Christmas Miracle! It likely won't happen for another year, but I might never forgive my bibliophile self (and you might not either) for skipping this year's official record of my reads, so here it is!.
I thought my list was relatively short this year, but discovered the opposite after going through my my titles: the standard WWII collection, fiction and non, audiobooks, kids stuff, spiritual reads--the whole enchilada--with my totally subjective ratings, content analysis, and the briefest of reviews (wink) I could manage for each.
Fiction // Historical Fiction // Based on True Story
New concept WWII book about a trio of German women whose husbands perish in a failed plot against Hitler, exploring how their lives play out. Phenomenal writing style - I literally stopped a few different times to marvel at a sentence or phrase simply for its beauty and creativity. Initially I didn't love the setup (sort of flash-back-y, honing in on specific, then glossing over further action/resolution, and skipping ahead in time), but eventually I saw the scope being covered--and that the author did intentionally return to each event to fill out the story and characters in a unique way. Recommend with reservations for specific content: suicide does factor in, some mention of sexual crimes and violence but not too descriptive, minimal language, overall not very graphic. 8 out of 10 on cleanliness.
A quick young adult WWII read about a girl coming of age who discovers a Jewish boy hiding in their new "new" house. Mediocre writing (but obviously simplified for YA audience), some redeeming themes; focus of young love and marital infidelity but not descriptive or graphic. 9 out of 10 on cleanliness.
Very quick but intriguing story overall of one woman hiding three different groups without their knowledge in WWII Poland. Extremely short with very little detail or description, which gives it a detached, even YA-type feel--I read it in a single 2 hour plane ride--but it was also perfectly clean. Great premise, maybe not the best author. 9.5 /10 on cleanliness.
WWII flashback fiction/whodunit/love story of an Italian pilot who crashes in the Italian countryside and goes into hiding, and in the present day, his grown daughter trying to uncover the truth of the past. I read this because it was the same author of another mildly entertaining WWII whodunit that I read last year (In Farleigh Field). I think this was a better book. A bit cheesy on the love stories and angsty self-discovery, 6/10 on cleanliness (violence, sexual content, minimal language), still enjoyable overall and an interesting look at the collective Italian attitude toward the war.
Okay but not my favorite. Decent quality writing and interesting concept, looking at the struggles and attitudes of an occupied French village in WWII. Character development could've been better, especially with main character; seems like she was supposed to demonstrate the complexity and conflicted nature of a woman walking through suffer, but her development wasn't as thorough so it ended up feeling slightly more flat and annoyed by her/lacking a cohesive theme. Also seemed to meander a bit throughout with slight lack of closure. 7/10 on cleanliness in reference to sexual content, violence and some language.
Sigh. The summary had me hopeful but it was a total crash and burn. Basically a trashy romance marketed as a WWII novel... while also attempting to be a soul-searching whodunit? Annoyingly pop-culture-y to add a sour cherry on top. Writing wasn't the greatest, the plot kept dragging on, and certainly not the cleanest by any stretch. Heavy on language, sexual content, and semi-pointless themes with few redeeming qualities. 3/10 on cleanliness.
Surprisingly clean WWII thriller that kept me turning the pages. Decent quality writing as well. Plot does open with main character contemplating suicide, but not very graphic at all despite being intriguingly descriptive. Ending a little predictable but well-timed (really the whole way through). 9/10 on cleanliness.
Flashback style novel about a boy born with red eyes. Some redeeming themes of forgiveness, acceptance of self and others, and an amazingly balanced take on the Catholic faith from a blatantly secular standpoint. Some annoying pop-culture references and soul-searching drama, with an extra plot twist squeezed in that kept the book going a little too long in my opinion...but it still kept me turning the pages. Cleanliness: 5 /10 on language, sexual content, violence, and language, with redeeming themes throughout.
Amazing true story of a Jewish family who all managed to survive WWII separately in different harrying ways. 6/10 on writing and organization, 7/10 on cleanliness and content.
Meandering but pleasantly entertaining memoir-ish story; an English couple moves to Provence, France, and this is their month-by-month account of the first year experience. Still making my way through on and off. Good writing, and I enjoy all the French references but it's both light and episodic so it just doesn't hold my attention as well as other genres. 10 on cleanliness.
It kept me turning the pages, it was surprisingly clean...and it was basically an overly-descriptive, painfully pop-culture-filled summer chick flick in book form (tapping and swiping and buzzing of phones, oh my!) that hit all the bingo squares: family secrets, dead relatives, self-discovery in a backwoods hometown after leaving the big city, heartache, heartbreak, and love. But, as one binges on Hallmark movies, I also admittedly binge-read this and enjoyed large chunks without too great an emotional investment. Insert blushing emoji. 9/10 on cleanliness.
Re-read this before watching the movie. Fun to relive-the characters and little-known history of Guernsey during WWII, but also reminded of why epistolary novels are so hard to pull off even when the author is great; the writing seemed to lose its original wit and precision and unravel a bit toward the end. 9/10 on cleanliness.
Audiobooks
[I listened for free on the Hoopla app]. I thought I would hate it because I knew the premise was a lonely, miserable old man (White Christmas reference anyone?) who keeps trying to escape his situation via suicide and failing. But I finally caved after several friends raved--and my goodness. It just drips poignancy and redemption under the tough, sardonic, hilarious exterior. I laughed, I cried...two thumbs up and four stars (docking one for language but unexpectedly clean otherwise-8/10).
[Also free on Hoopla]. A really enjoyable novel, written from the point of view of music, about a music star gone too soon whose friends and fans reminisce as they gather for his funeral. (If you've read The Book Thief written from the grim reaper's point of view, this is a similar concept and really well done). Such a fun audiobook too because author Mitch Albom narrates it himself along with several other incredible voice actors to make a good book into a fabulous listen. 8/10 on cleanliness.
It started out promising but went downhill quickly. Far too graphic, and needlessly so. No themes of redemption, all darkness and repulsively descriptive content (highly sexual overtones, violence, death, hallucinations, I could go on). I finally stopped listening because hello nightmares. 1 on cleanliness.
Kids' Books/Audiobooks
[Also free on Hoopla] This book was simply magical. It centers on three children of different nationalities overcoming challenges in the wake of WWII, and the amazing harmonica that ties them all together. The audiobook version is an absolute must (trust me on that!) because it features music that is integral part of the book - I found it for free on Hoopla. I listened to it first to make sure it was okay for the kids (and sat in the car for 10 extra minutes on several occasions to listen to more!); while there are some small moments of suspense and the darkness of war, it's a great choice for kids 7or 8+. 9.5 /10 on cleanliness for minimal violence and talk of death.
It's Narnia, so - obvs just great to listen to in general and the kids loved it. I will say, while slogging through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, that I got the feeling good ole' Clive gave up and smashed all his underdeveloped ideas for different worlds/plots/novels into one long, drawn-out episodic snooze a la The Odyssey. Thankfully the rest are still wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening back as an adult, though I did cringe a little at some expressions of some very non-PC sentiments that seemed to come through in a few select segments. 9.5/10 on cleanliness for scenes of violence/injuries.
I love this epic novel series with endearing animal characters and fantastic themes of honor and virtue. This book was my favorite (and best, in my opinion) yet. The audiobook narration was also wonderful. S.D. Smith left us with another cliffhanger of course -- torturous for the whole family! Please hurry up and finish Book 4, S.D.! 9.5/10 on cleanliness for minimal violence/injuries.
Mother-Daughter Book Club
[My daughter and I started our own little book club and are reading a few books together out loud when we find the time - it's delightful!]
A WWII novel about a London girl finding freedom from her own afflictions in the midst of Great Britain bracing for the London blitz. Lovely themes thus far. Simpler writing but a great level for probably 9 and up. 9/10 on cleanliness for some abuse and injuries.
An African-American girl and her family are trying to survive the Great Depression and overcome all that life throws at them. Incredibly well-done themes on true humility, tenacity, and hope within sobering experiences of prejudice all the different layers of human complexity. Beautifully strong, high-quality writing for a YA book, and the character development is just fantastic. 9/10 on cleanliness for some violence and injuries.
Non-Fiction
We visited the Hornet during our trip to San Fransisco because it was the ship my paternal grandfather was assigned to during WWII. He was a fighter pilot who flew Hellcats in the Pacific theater; I never met him since he died before I was born, so it was just the most meaningful experience to walk the same decks he did and imagine him there I picked this book up at the Hornet gift shop and it's surprisingly interesting/entertaining thus far - especially the part about the first crazy guys to try flying (and subsequently landing) and airplane off of a ship deck!
A fab and funny memoir by Jen Fulwiler on motherhood, virtue, and dreams not being mutually exclusive. I got this forever ago and put it down because #life; I'm expecting to tear through it when I finally start up again because it started out on fire.
I might be biased because I was humbled to take part in a tiny way by contributing our story to this book that Laura and Franco birthed out of their own grief... but I honestly believe it's the best Catholic resource to miscarriage out there that every couple who's experienced this heartbreaking loss deserves to have. It's full of unadulterated straight talk, resources, real stories, and deep truths of our faith; everything I so desperately needed but didn't have at my disposal after our own losses. Praying it makes it into the hands of all who need it.
Spiritual Reads
[Many of these are $1 or less for the Kindle version! No sponsor or affiliate links, I just like good deals-ha].
My top pick of the entire year (and that's saying something, since as a rule I like fiction better!)
Remember the movie the Passion of the Christ directed by Mel Gibson? They based much of the imagery and cinematography on this book. "Book" is a loose term; all it's essentially a collection of visions from Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, (which were organized into different collections). This might sound boring but I honestly cannot find words to describe how compelling, more than any fiction page-turner, it was to read what felt like a behind-the-scenes of the Gospel from the descriptions of plates and bowls they were using to the clothes they were wearing to the unbelievable realness of the entire Passion itself. It felt like I was right there in it; I stayed up at night to read more and more, and the timing of reading this just before Holy Week was no coincidence... as a result, this was easily my most fruitful Holy Week to date.
Autobiography of a formerly self-centered young lady whose initial concern with appearance and love of frivolity laid the foundation, after her conversion of heart, for her to be able to reform the sin of those within the Church from the inside out.
[Fun story: I remember finding a worn copy of this book in the rectory library one Sunday after church at college, turning to a random page in the middle, and getting sucked in. Years later I still desperately wanted to go back and read the whole thing, but had forgotten the title even an image of the rest of the cover was seared in to my brain. So last year at our ten year reunion we returned to my old church, I visited the same library, and had almost given up on finding the book--when suddenly, there it was! I promptly took a picture and went searching for it online; the paper copy is out of print but to my knowledge, this is the same content (maybe republished?) in digital form. Making my way through slowly because it's so rich!]
A simple yet stunningly beautiful read: a sort of lyrical allegory of a girl and her rescuer, the Good Shepherd, who helps her face the painful circumstances and hurtful characters in her life--then leads her through adventures in the dark and dangerous wilderness of the valley in order to reach the safety and beauty of the mountaintop. I think I'll be re-reading quite often in coming years.
Interior Freedom - 5 Stars
Another short, simple, easily-digestible yet utterly profound winner from Fr. Jacques Philippe, spiritual ninja extraordinaire. Go read this and all of his stuff if you haven't yet. Life-changing.
Longest title ever, most amazing collection of letters from St. Therese's family: a wife to her husband, a mom to her children, all actually normal people who became saints and give the rest of us all sorts of hope!
A more readable take on Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Still reading but rating with confidence because I'm pretty sure Peter Kreeft is my spirit animal when it comes to spiritual/any writing - he's both entertaining and sarcastic enough (I laughed out loud several times in the first two chapters) to thoroughly keep my attention yet jaw-droppingly enlightening and profound. I made my husband stop what he was doing to read several portions so I had someone to laugh hysterically with.
Inner locutions of a Benedictine Monk while in Adoration from our Lord and Lady. Still reading and no doubt will be reading several times over. Also rating with confidence because it's also already life-changing. Go read! (Better yet, take to adoration with you)!
An autobiography of a priest exiled to Siberia during the Cold War. I'm making my way through slowly, on and off, and putting it in the spiritual reads category because in between bits of action it delves deep into his reflective nature and a sort of processing of events through spiritual lenses - great content, but it's taking me a little more time to digest than a standard historical autobiography.
An amazing friend sent this to me with a 3rd class Mary Magdalene relic when I got her as my random saint last New Year's. I have to admit, a year later I'm still only a few chapters in - but still amazed to learn all the tradition behind her later life lived out in France and looking forward to unpacking the rest.
33 Days to Morning Glory / Marian Consecration for Children - both 5 Stars
Used for our Marian Consecration renewal - I get something more out of 33 Days each time we use it and the children's consecration book by Carrie Gress was the best addition. We did it as a family each night and us kids at heart got just as much out of it as the little kids. Highly Recommend!
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Quick Reference WWII list from previous years
Previous Annual "What I Read" Posts
And that's a wrap! You know the drill, friends. Share your favorite reads from this year with the class so we can enjoy them too, and I wish you all happy, fruitful reading in 2019!
Guernsey was finished by a different author. I always credit the unraveling toward the end to that.
ReplyDeleteMeghan, have you read anything by Ruta Sepetys? She writes historical fiction and her best work is set in WWII, "Between shades of grey", and it's really Amazing!!! You should definetely give it a try
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