52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 32-45: The Final Wrap-up

Well, once again I'm coming to the end of the year falling a bit short of the 52 book goal, but I'm less concerned about that than I was last year.  Lately I'm becoming more concerned about the quality of the books I'm reading than the quantity.  I started out the year with a goal of reading 12 classics and completing the Educated Mind Challenge, and can only count "A Midsummernight's Dream" and maybe "To Kill A Mockingbird" (is that one considered a classic?) toward the 12 classics.  Oh, well.  A new year, is a new chance to begin again.

Here are the books I've read over the last few months:

The Lost Books - By Ted Dekker

This is a series of 6 Young Adult novels that go with the Circle books.  They are quite good.

Heaven is For Real - By Todd Burpo

I picked this up out of curiosity, to see if it would clear up my ambivalent skepticism about this family's story.  It didn't.  Interesting read, though.

To Kill A Mockingbird - By Harper Lee

I really can't explain why I'd never read this classic novel before, except that I grew up in the Midwest.  Maybe it just isn't considered as significant there as is in the South.  But, if you haven't read this, you're doing yourself a disservice.

The Litigators - By John Grisham

It's been awhile since I read this, and I've honestly forgotten quite a bit of it.  I remember that it was entertaining, but not as good as "The Confession".

The Bride Price - Tracey Jane Jackson

This is an historical fiction/romance novel set in the civil war.  It's the first a series & it was a free on my Kindle.  It was OK - I like historical fiction, but I'm not a big romance reader.  I haven't gone back to fork out real money for the sequel. 

Entangled - by Barbara Ellen Brink

Like the Bride Price, this was another free Kindle Book that is first in a series, and I haven't gone out to buy the sequel.  Not yet, anyway.  I did like this one a little better because it was  a mystery/crime novel, and that's a little more up my alley.  But, it was pretty predictable and the protagonist was not a very likable character, so, I'm still undecided about paying for the next one.

Ryann Watters and the Kings Sword & 

Ryan Watters and the Sheild of Faith - by Eric Reinhold

These are two absolutely fantastic children's fantasy novels written by Eric Reinhold, whose goal is to engage children in biblically based, family friendly fiction.  He has done a phenomenal job in these two books about 12 year old Ryann Watters who, in the first book is given a task by the angel Gabriel to visit the mythical land of Aeliana to retrieve the missing King's sword.  The books are very well written and thoroughly engaging for children from around the age of 7-8 & possibly up through the teenage years.

These first two books are currently being made into a movie ( or movies? ) and there are 5 more books planned, I believe.  You can get more information about these books & the movie plans at this website.

Mary's Son - by Darryl Nyznyk

This was an entertaining little Christmas story that I would say is more of a children's story.  It was another free Kindle book & wasn't advertised as a children's book, but that's the general feeling of the story. A man named Nicholas shows up around Christmastime & intervenes in the lives of some very unhappy people.  He makes no secret of the fact that he is Santa Clause.  Some people think he's crazy.  Others truly believe...

Well, there it is.  It's right around 9:00 pm EST on December 31st, 2011 & I'm finally getting my last post of the year up. 

Happy New Year!

Sojourner