What I Read in 2013

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but having a now very mobile little guy is making it harder to find time to post. Another thing keeping me from posting lately is all the reading I've been doing in the past few months. Hence, the book list!

Also, I read this wonderful compilation of Catholic writers' reading lists, which inspired several of the books I plan to read in 2014.  I am a little late to link up with one of my new favorite blogs Carrots for Michaelmas, but stop by to see her list and some of the other bloggers' lists there for your ideas for 2014.

1. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding- In the beginning of 2014, when my son was newly born, I was constantly reading this book. It was a life saver in many instances! I highly recommend it for all nursing mothers or soon-to-be nursing mothers!

2. Beautiful Babies- This was an informative look at the importance of nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding and for baby's first foods. It also has a bunch of wonderful recipes at the end, several of which I now use regularly.

3. Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese- This book was spiritually enriching as well as intriguing. I love the story and spirituality of St. Therese, and I love Catholic memoirs, so this blend of both is perfect. Heather King relates events in her life and struggles to St. Therese, which is what we should all do in relating to the saints, because they too struggled with faults and hardships; it wasn't all prayerful ecstasy and miracles for them.

4. The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care-  Informative and well-researched, as its predecessor, the Nourishing Traditions Cookbook.

5. My Sisters, the Saints- I loved this book and couldn't put it down. A wonderful look at Catholic womanhood through the lens of Colleen Carroll Campbell. It relates her (re)conversion to Christ and her struggles in reconciling her strong independence as a woman and her newfound faith in living the Catholic Church's teachings by relating to different woman saints.

6. A Mother's Rule of Life- I reviewed it here. http://rosamystica315.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-mothers-rule-of-life.html

Fiction:

7. The Wind in the Willows-  I have been meaning to read this book for years, and I am so glad I finally did! It is a delightfully refreshing, entertaining, British book for children. It had me chuckling out loud many times, and I don't do that often. I love the dialogue, the way the animals talk (in such a very British way), and how they are often drinking tea and going on adventures. Please read this book if you haven't already! Better yet, read it to your children! I truly missed out in not having read this as a child!

8. A Little Princess- This is another book I can't believe I had never read before! It is the sweet tale of a 'princess' who becomes an orphan. I was truly inspired by this book to 'offer things up' and be cheerful despite hardships, because this little girl is almost saintly in her endurance of trials. I love the idea that she considers all girls princesses because we all are! We are daughters of the Heavenly King.

9. The End of the Affair-  I had been meaning to read this book for ages, and finally finished it! It is the story of a love affair gone wrong and the spiritual journey of the lovers. I especially loved this passage written by the woman lover in her journal, and misinterpreted by the man lover to be addressing another lover: "I have no need to write to You or talk to You, You know everything before I can speak, but when one loves, one feels the need to use the same old ways one has always used. I know I am only beginning to love, but already I want to abandon everything, everybody but You: only fear and habit prevent me."

10. Persuasion- I can't believe I had not read this or other Austen novels yet, as I have loved Pride and Prejudice for years. This was a wonderful read, and I loved the main character, Anne Elliot. She inspired me to become more humble and less concerned with what others think; as this book relates her journey in doing the same. She had lost her true love years earlier due to putting too much weight in what others thought or advised her to do. She realizes that her judgement was actually better and she should have done what she judged correct, and not been persuaded by those whose judgement was clouded by other factors. She was also incredibly humble despite being right in many cases; she never argued or tried to be acknowledged by her self-centered and vain family members.

11. Sense and Sensibility- The other Austen book I read this past year. I loved it as well, and learned a lot about virtue, manners, sense and sensibility (haha). Basically it illustrates two extremes which are both inadvisable: either not showing your feelings or affection at all and hoping the other person notices your love anyway, or completely giving into your feelings, thus blinding yourself from judging the person sensibly.

12. The Little White Horse- A charming, little-known book for children about an orphan who becomes a hero. I love the Britishness of the narration and dialogue, the Christian elements and the fantastical elements, especially the thought of a magical white unicorn. I should have read this as a child, and will certainly be reading this to any future daughters I may have! J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, was inspired by this book. I wish to make it more well-known, so please read it to your children and students!

13. Brideshead Revisited-  I loved this book, and am so glad to have finally read it! I must say that watching the 1981 mini-series was what finally motivated me to do it (I know, I should have read it first!) This book is a combination of many things that I love: British period piece, Catholic conversion story and the history of a Catholic family. So many of the conversations that the characters have are inspiring to me, and keep coming to me randomly. For example, during Christmas I often thought about this: Charles says, "I suppose they try and make you believe an awful lot of nonsense." Sebastian: "Is it nonsense? I wish it were. It sometimes sounds terribly sensible to me." "But my dear Sebastian, you can't seriously believe it all?" "Can't I?" "I mean about Christmas and the star and the three kings and the ox and the ass." "Oh yes, I believe that. It's a lovely idea." "But you can't believe things because they're a lovely idea." But I do. That's how I believe."

14. A Midsummer Night's Dream-  We read this with friends aloud one night, the first of what we hope will be many Shakespeare Nights. It was gloriously delightful and so much fun! I love Shakespeare's comedies; they, to me are practically the only comedy I actually find funny.

15. Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy-  This was the first book I read by Rumer Godden, a Catholic convert. I loved it! It is the portrayal of a real order of religious sisters in France who were born out of a prison. Half of the sisters are former inmates, and they have a great devotion to St. Mary Magdalene, the woman who loved much. It focuses on Lise Fanshawe, who works at a Brothel and then serves time in prison, where she encounters the sisters and, through them, God.

16. In This House of Brede- Also by Rumer Godden. This book was a magnificent portrayal of the history of a religious order of nuns and each of their vocational stories and struggles. Each nun described is brought alive in her very real struggles and thoughts. The story was fascinating and I could not put the book down for a couple weeks. I highly recommend it, even to non-Catholics and non-Christians. I also loved the descriptions of the order's living of the Liturgical year. It is beautifully written.

17. Children of Men-  This book was recommended to me by a couple people especially regarding the way things are going in society today. This dystopian novel illustrates what could happen if people were no longer able to have children (which could someday happen given all the problems artificial contraception causes in women's fertility).

18. The Golden Key-  This novella by George MacDonald was magical and inspiring. I'm not entirely sure what everything meant, but some aspects of it seemed to me to be allegories for living the Christian life.

19. The Giver- (Re-read)- Something I read in Children of Men reminded me of this book and so I reread it in one night. It was a favorite of mine in middle school. I especially love the end concerning Christmas and everyone waiting for the baby. :)

20. Rock Crystal- I loved this sweet Christmastime tale of two children getting lost in a snowstorm. The descriptions of this book are beautiful, especially the descriptions of the magnificent scenery and the humble, liturgically-lived lives of the villagers.

Next up, a post on my plan for reading for 2014!