the list, part one...

Okay, here it is. My new year's resolution is to read 75 books this year and I'm 1/3 of the way there. So, here is the list of the first 25 books that I have read this year.

1. The Bright Forever, by Lee Martin
This one was about a community where a little girl is kidnapped.
2. The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn, by Janis Hallowell.
A story about a girl who thinks she is the mother of Christ, set in modern day.
3. Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters
I read a few of these in high school, but never the whole collection. Very good.
4. Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hunard
This is one I've read before, but it is always a great read. Allegorical about the Christian walk.
5. On Fortune's Wheel, by Cynthia Voigt
Another re-read, one of my favorites. About a girl who runs away from home to find herself.
6. Son of a Witch, by Greggory Maguire.
Sequel to Wicked, this one continues the story of the son of the Wicked Witch of the West. Not as good as the first one, but good just the same.
7. The Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis
One of the Narnia books, one of my favorites. The story of Eustuce and Jill where they free the son of Caspin from a wicked queen. I love this one!
8. The Last Song of Dusk, by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
A new book on my shelf, I enjoyed this one about an East Indian couple. If you have never read a book about Indian marriage, don't start here, but I did like it.
9. A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly
A story about a maid and the things she learns about a woman who is killed at the hotel where she works. A young adult book but very good.
10. A Great & Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray
Another YA novel and a new read. I enjoyed it. If you don't like the idea of traveling between realms, don't bother.
11. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
This was my second time reading this one and I loved it even more this time.
12. The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picolut
This one makes the third book by Picolut I've read. I liked this one the most of her books so far. It's about a girl may have been date raped and how her community responds. Very good!
13. And Only to Deceive, by Tasha Alexander
A lovely book about a woman who falls in love with her husband by reading his journals. And while she is at it, she figures out a mystery about an art ring. I enjoyed it greatly.
14. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, by Hannah Green
This is another re-read for me, I've read it many times before. A great story of a teenage girl who struggles with mental stability and the seductive world of madness.
15. The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards
This is one I'm "group" reading with Dara. It's about a doctor who sends his newborn baby girl to a group home because she has Downs. But the nurse he sends decides to keep the baby and raise her as her own. And then there is the twin brother that the doctor keeps. Wonderful.
16. The Alchemist's Daughter, by Katherine McMahon
I had a daughter theme going on. Another new read for me, about a young girl who grows up knowing science but no the way of the world. A story of her journey, very interesting.
17. The Camel Bookmobile, by Mash Hamilton
I got this one from FirstLook. It is about a woman who goes to Kenya to run a bookmobile for the nomadic tribes. Very good.
18. The Dark Tower & Other Stories, by C.S. Lewis
This is a Lewis one I had not read, didn't even know about it. It's several short stories and an incomplete manuscript. Very good, as always. I expect the best from Lewis.
19. Showdown, by Ted Dekker
This is the fourth book by Dekker that I have read. He takes a while to show you the story, but it is always worth it. A great story about a little town in Colorado and a great little experiment that pits good vs. evil and the terrible strength of freewill.
20. Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L'Engle
A re-read. I've read this one at least ten times before and it never gets old. A great book about space travel and time travel and more good vs. evil. Never gets old.
21. Wind in the Door, by Madeline L'Engle
The next in the Time Quartet. More good vs. evil and the Murry children. I love it.
22. A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeline L'Engle
The third book of the Quartet. Another great story about the Murry kids and righting wrongs, making choices, etc.
23. The Thrall's Tale, by Judith Lindbergh
For a book that took ten years to write, it wasn't worth the time it took to read it. More good vs. evil wrapped up in the Norse culture. A bit over the top.
24. An Acceptable Time, by Madeline L'Engle
I had never read this one by L'Engle. I didn't enjoy it as much as the Quartet, but it was a good read none the less. More time travel and a visit to the People of the Wind from previous books.
25. Mercy, by Jodi Picoult
A great read. Picoult has a great gift for characters that you really like, even if you don't want to. And this book dealt with mercy killing and forgiveness. Loved it!

So, there you have it. 25 books. I'm right on track to have 75 by the end of the year. Leave a comment and let me know what books you recommend!