My Reading List for 2011

I have been meaning to post this for several weeks! Life has definitely been a little chaotic and every time I think about posting this, I get distracted! Since I am home with a sick kid this morning instead of being able to go to church, I am capitalizing on some free home I didn't know I would have :)
If you know me well, you know that I LOVE to read. I may not have as much time as I used to before children, but I still try to read 2-3 books a month. I follow several blogs, read the newspaper and several magazines. I used to buy books with abandon and frequent bookstores salivating over what I would purchase. These days, I try to borrow books from the public library or trade with friends as often as possible! There are a few authors I still request as gifts or buy for myself and if we ever build a house, I am DEFINITELY going to have a small library/study lined with bookshelves!

Here is my list for 2011:

1. House Rules - Jodi Picoult - I have read several of her books in the past two years. I cannot say that I always agree with some of the issues and stance she takes personally. But I like that her books force me to think about issues in a different way and make me ask questions about topics that are not always in the forefront of my mind.

2. Decision Points - George W. Bush - My mother-in-law loaned me her copy after she and my father-in-law read it. I recently read Laura Bush's autobiography, Straight from the Heart, and it was very insightful and poignant. It was fascinating to learn some of the behind the scenes information about major events in our lives.

3. Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks - This is one author that I always read. Greg gets me his new book every year at Christmas and I CANNOT believe I have not devoured it yet! My only defense is that I had checked out a stack of books from the library and there were a few from my list from last year that I wanted to go on and read!

4. Condoleezza Rice's biography by Elisabeth Bumiller - This was on my list last year. I just read this two weeks ago! It was insightful, particularly about the area and times Ms. Rice was raised in down in Alabama. She was exposed to some of the most historical events of the civil rights movement. I also didn't realize the extent of her involvement in the first President Bush's presidency.

5. Knit the Season - Kate Jacobs - This is a third book in a series. I read her first two and loved the lightheartedness and easy to read style. The first book was The Friday Night Knitting Club. I recommend it if you are looking for an easy read!

6. Crazy Love - Francis Chan - this is a book I purchase last summer and still haven't read all of it. I hope to read this soon. I have heard so many good things about this book and I know it will forever change my way of looking at things, specifically God's love for me and for others!

7. Choosing to See - Mary Beth Chapman - an amazing story of how one mother coped with the loss of her child and how she has continued on in her journey. I am so anxious to read this book, though I know it will move me to tears!

8. In the Company of Others - Jan Karon - I have long been a follower of Jan Karon's. I have read every book in her Mitford series. This book is the second in her "Father Tim" series. She continues to follow the life of Father Tim, a retired minister. These books are always quaint and the characters are alive in my mind and heart!

9. So Long, Insecurity - Beth Moore - Our girls' bible study group has been going through this book for about six months. I hope to finish this in the next few weeks! It has been a great book for me to read.

10. Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis - I am reading these wonderful stories to the boys at night. My mom gave Blake a copy of all seven stories bound in one large volume. We have already poured through The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. We are currently about halfway through Prince Caspian. They BEG for this every night. On nights when I am not home and Greg puts them to bed, they don't read them because they know I want to read them with them! Greg reads something else.

11. Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy - This is another author I have followed since high school and Circle of Friends came out my junior year. My friend, Noel and I read all of her books! This book is supposed to be out in March 2011 (JUST in time for my birthday!).

12. The Confession - John Grisham - This is another author I have been reading since high school. My first novel I read by him was The Firm. I have read every book he has written since then!

13. Obama's Wars - Bob Woodward - This is a book that was recommended to me by a friend of my husband's who is in the military. He said it is very insightful. I currently have this checked out from the library.

14. Port Mortuary - Patricia Cornwell - I love reading her books, but they COMPLETELY freak me out! I cannot read these if Greg is going to be gone overnight or I simply will not sleep!

15. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother - Amy Chua - I heard this book being discussed on one of the Sunday morning talk shows. It sounds like an interesting read. She proposes that unless mothers in America become more demanding of their children's performance and success, America as we know it will cease to exist.

16. Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah - This was another book on my list from last year. I finally checked it out at the end of 2010 and it is sitting in my pile to read. It is supposed to be good - it is still on the Bestseller list.

17. HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET - by Jamie Ford - A friendship between a Chinese-American boy and a Japanese-American girl in Seattle during World War II.

OK - I know there will be more books. Last year I continually ran across books I wanted to read or re-read. I will certainly add a few titles to these as I go. I hope to "review" the books as I read them as well.

What books are you all reading right now?