25. The Nightingale**** Beautiful story, well told and gripping. But soooo sad! This was a re-read for me because people kept talking about it and I knew I had read it before but I honestly couldn't remember any details. 4 stars
26. Essentialism: The Disciplined pursuit of less*** interesting and helpful ideas...but could have been a pamphlet or an essay. Biggest takeaway is to ask myself WHY am I committing to or doing certain things...because I want to or because I feel like I'm supposed to. The main idea of the book is you REALLY don't have to do as much as you THINK you have to do. 3 stars
27. Hello Beautiful*** I liked so much about this book and was intrigued by the idea that there could be so much drama and sadness...but no one was REALLY the bad guy. Life is just hard but still so many places to find joy and beauty. BUT, it was also too long and didn't really got anywhere so...3 stars.
28. The Anxious Generation***** Must read for ALL parents... heck for all adults. Loved the information and the reasonable call to action. 5 stars
29. Choose FI*** could have been summarized into half the length of the book. 3 stars
30. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vol. 1**** Just pure joy and delight! SOOOO happy there are 8 of these. 4 stars
31. Be Ready When the Luck Happens - Ina Garten's Memoir**** I new basically nothing about Ina Garten but heard her interview on NPR and was so intrigued I reserved the book at the library. when it came I couldn't put it down. Her life and determination is FASCINATING. 4 stars
32. The Small and the Mighty**** I liked it...then I didn't, then I did. It was a bit bumpy for me but by then end I was a total fan. The phrase, "do the next needful thing" has become my mantra. 4 stars
33. The Book of Mormon***** Love it every time I read it. It's the word of God, it's true, and it strengthens me every time I read it.
34. The Word is Murder**** Fun Sherlock Holmes type mystery. It took me a few chapters before I realized that the author had put himself in the story...which was a fun literary trick. 4 stars
35. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vol. 2**** Yes. Just absolutely yes. 4 stars
36. The Reading List**** I really enjoy books that are like love letters to books, book lovers, and libraries. This checked all the boxes for me and it made me think what would be my own personal recommended reading list to give to others. I tried to limit it to 10 and it;s currently at 17... 4 stars
Best book of this batch (not counting the Book of Mormon because it is of course the best) is...actually really hard. I think "Anxious Generation" is a must read for all parents, Ina Garten's memoir was FASCINATING, and I am absolutely OBSESSED with Emma M. Lion. I really wish she was real and that St. Crispians was a real place and that I could go there.
I LOVE reading and it was fun to learn about and immerse myself in so many different worlds this year.
