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At the start of the New Year in 2019, I had just graduated from college finishing my bachelor’s degree and was for the first time since I was five not spending my days in school and studying. Although, I didn’t want to stop learning. So, I made the goal to read more books, books I wasn’t required to read for school.
I made the goal to read one book for every month of the year. Twelve books in total. I didn’t make any more rules other than that.
I didn’t have to read one book every month, just twelve books total. I also didn’t make the rule of just paper books. I allowed myself to listen to audio books as well.
I didn’t specify on the length or if it had to be fiction or non fiction. I simply wanted to “read” more books. Know the story that is being told. I love learning through stories or simply just being entertained by them.
I kept this goal in my head and completed it with more ease than I thought. Some books I read or listened to in one sitting and others took weeks or months to complete.
Some books I owned, others I borrowed from people, or bought at thrift stores. 2019 was the first time I listened to a book on audio. I started off on a free app (I believe audio books). I got two free books through this app.
Audible
I then switched to Audible with Amazon. I love it. I pay $14.99 a month and get one free credit. Each credit can buy any book. The monthly fee basically pays for a book every month for you to listen to.
Audible also gives you two free books a month. They give you a choice of six titles for you to choose from every month. The titles vary so you can find one or two you like. I have liked most of the ones I have chosen.
One of my favorite things is that you can purchase and download books from your phone. In the past you had to go on a computer to buy books. I love that I can do everything through the mobile app!
Paper Books
The Magnolia Story
The story of how Chip and Joanna became Chip and Joanne Gaines. I love them and all that they have accomplished. I got this book for Christmas and was excited to read it. I got through the first couple chapters quickly but slowly lost interest in the middle of the book.
The book is written by both chip and Joanna. They are going back and forth like they would in the show telling their sides of the story in their own unique voices. I loved this style of writing since we all know the characters so well.
With the book being a short 182 pages I thought it would be a quick read. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book reading all the parts I didn’t know about their story. I got bored when I started reading everything I did know. Hopefully this read for you is better than mine.
Buy this book here.
The Note Book
The love story that has captured every girls heart. We have all seen the movie, but the book? The book was better than the movie. It was a fast read. Everyday I took it with me while I walked the dog.
The movie followed the book very well. A passionate love story that last through the ages. A love so strong it is one that is hard to forget and always brings you back.
Buy the book here.
Three Wishes
A book from my mother-in-law’s book shelf that I couldn’t put down. I am a sucker for love stories and this one is a happy one all the way through. With twists and turns that keep you reading but a feel good story at the heart of it.
A small town girl who endures a terrible accident. As she is in the hospital fighting for her life, she has an out of body experience. She wakes up feeling she is given three wishes. She uses the first one as a test that ends up in a puzzling experience.
Unsure if the wishes are real she continues her journey leaving the last two wishes for her most desired thoughts. All through her process she is not alone. She has a whole town looking out for her and even a new man?
Buy this book here.
Love Overboard
Another quick love story for our hungry hearts. New to town a young girl boards a cruise ship to work as a cook so she can get help to fix up the house she just bought that keeps breaking. She can’t actually cook which draws the attention of the boat owner. On a small boat and tensions high who know what can happen.
A fun book with twists I didn’t see coming. It left me wanting to read more books written by Janet Evanovich.
Buy this book here.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
I loved everything about this book. It is not like any other book I read. It is imaginative and compelling, a unique love story.
This book is about a guy who time travels, involuntarily. Time travel introduces him to his wife when she is six and him thirty six. It twists and builds through their lives as they struggle with his time travel but hold on to their love through it all.
P.S. I loved the book… hated the movie.
Buy this book here.
Divergent
One of my favorites and the only book I read straight through in one day in 2019. This book offers so much to it’s readers, adventure, romance, and creativity to name a few. If you were a fan of the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner Series, this book is for you.
A gripping story about a girl who has to grow up real fast and choose the path she wants her life to take in a world were one choice will change your life forever. A strong girl unlike those around her has to make decisions and fight for her life.
This book was a repeat read for me as I found it at Goodwill. I would to have read the following books to but I don’t own them yet (sad). I highly recommend them all.
Audio Books
The Call of the Wild and White Fang
I consider these books classics and the first two I read in 2019. I love the outdoor adventures through the eyes of the animals. Books are inspired off Jack London’s experiences in the Yukon during the gold rush up in Alaska.
I love the description Amazon offers, “Both novels grippingly dramatize the harshness of the natural world and what lies beneath the thin veneer of human civilization.”
Buy this book here.
Becoming
A women who has left her mark on us all has left one more thing for us. An inspiring biography about her life. This story was compelling and shocking.
I learned so much about her past, education, family, and time in the white house. It was interesting to hear everything straight from her. The audio book was amazing as it is read by Michelle Obama herself.
Buy this book here.
If you only knew
Jamie Ivey is a successful Podcaster (The Happy Hour), author, and leader in the Christian community. I have loved listening to her Podcasts every Wednesday. When I found out she had written a book about her testimony, I just had to listen to it.
Ivey reads her own audio book and describes her walk with Christ in a way that points people to Jesus. Using her own stories and relating them to successful acts of God from the bible, she helps grow a picture of who God is. A great read and new Podcast for you all to listen to.
Buy this book here.
The Boys in the Boat
I loved this book and learned so much. This book was recommended by several friends of mine and they did not disappoint. A true story about a group of boys who broke all the odds to win the 1936 gold medal in rowing.
Rowing was the most popular sport at that time and it is sad how little we know about it now. A very descriptive book about what life was like back then, how rowing worked, while following histories most famous events.
Buy this book here.
Girl, Wash Your Face
This book is so popular I had to listen to it. I listened to it when I worked out. It is a motivating self help book. This was my first self help book. I thought it was well written, but decided I’m not a huge fan of self help books.
Each chapter of this book is titled with a lie that Rachel believed. With in each chapter Rachel illustrates to her readers how to learn the truth about your life through stories of her own experiences.
Buy this book here and the squeal (Girl, Stop Apologizing).
Running For My Life
I love this book. One of my husband’s favorites as well. This true story of how a Lost Boy from Africa became a U.S. Olympic Runner. A story so powerful I will never forget it.
Lopez does an amazing job telling his story about how he was separated from his family and captured to be forced to be a child soldier. After he miraculously escaped to a refugee camp, Lopez had to fight for his life to eat and even fight to play soccer.
Trust me, read this book to learn about his journey to the states, how he starts his running career, and shocks the nation with his results. This is one story that will stay with you.
Buy this book here.
Wild
I was really excited to read this book. The author and I are from the same area and I was excited we had something in common. I heard good things about this book from roommates and Gilmore Girls.
Although this book was interesting, I was a little bored when listening to it. Her back story was very interesting and not what I expected. I did expect more from the hiking sections.
Cheryl Strayed tells her first hand experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with no experience in backpacking. She decides to take this adventure after her downward spiral with the loss of her mother and a hard divorce. An interesting story of a girl trying to take control of her life in an unexpected way.
Buy this book here.
Buried Deep
I love short captivating listens when I take road trips and this is one that caught my attention.
A police investigation has re-opened up about a women who had died over 20 years ago. After Maggie discovers her husband is the suspect, she starts to investigate the murder herself. She learns some deep secrets from her husbands past and even a deep secret about her self she needs to come to terms with.
Buy this book here.
The Sisters
Another short listen story about a murder story. Two sisters both trying to build their careers in the criminal justice world. A case that could change both of their lives. An exciting listen from two different perspectives.
Buy this book here.
My Sister, The Serial Killer
This is one of my favorite story that I have listened to. I’m not the only one to think so either. My Sister, The Serial Killer is the winner of the LA Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller and a finalist for the 2019 Women’s Prize.
A dark but fun story about two Nigerian sisters who have close but strained bond. An older sister must protect her younger sister after she develops a repetitive nature of killing her boyfriends.
Soon tension rises as the younger sister develops an interest with her older sisters crush. Things start to unfold for all the secrets being kept and the feelings in the air. Along with the pressure of keeping her sisters secret, the older sister must then decide whether to protect her crush or her little sister.
Buy this book here.
Sakina’s Restaurant
One of the free books I have acquired from Audible. Only an hour long this long time old story told in a new way about a group of immigrants chasing after the american dreams in New York.
Buy this book here.
Proof of Love
I admired this short one hour listen about a women who finds out her husband is cheating on her. We listen to her thoughts about herself, her husband, and his mistress. She reaches out and talks to the mistress.
She is looking for any small sign her marriage isn’t a scam. She is looking for proof of love.
Buy this book here.
Screwball
This fun take on the story of Babe Ruth’s success had me smiling when I was on my run. This short one hour story tells the story of how an orphan who can throw a ball over a building gets a crack at the minor leagues.
He is paired with another rookie on the team to help navigate their way. Tension rises as Babe out shines his partner. One things leads to another and Babe is found deep in trouble. There is only one person who can get him out of it, his partner, but will he?
Buy this book here.
