2012: My Year In Books

My books from 2012:

• Twelve Clean Pages by Nika Maples ~ Loved this book and LOVED the story about the boy with the moths. Her story is incredible, terrifying at times, and truly inspirational. And how cool is it that I go to church with her? :)
• The Other Bolyn Girl by Philippa Gregory ~ One of my guilty pleasure readings for the year. Although, hey, it is historically based. Sucks you in and makes you glad you wern't royalty in the 16th century. 
• Serving With Eyes Wide Open by David Livermore ~ Very informative reading about short-term mission work. As I hope and plan for many more opportunities to go to Haiti, I want to educate myself on the most effective ways to offer the little help I can. A must-read for anyone considering as well.
• On That Day Everyone Ate by Margaret Trost ~ I loved this brief personal account of a woman whose quick trip to Haiti led to creating a program that feeds 7,500 Haitian children regularly. Inspiring!
• The Guernsy Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shafer ~ I always enjoy reading novels from the WWII time period for some reason, and this was such a great story. I couldn't stop thinking about the guy with the contraband radio.
• Sister by Rosamund Lupton ~ I liked about 75% of this psychological thriller. The way the author describes the sister relationship was heart-wrenching at times and is a page turner. But I wasn't crazy about the ending.
• James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore ~ Oh I can't even explain how much I enjoyed this study. I hadn't really ever studied the book of James. And I'm convinced I will never be same since. I absolutely loved it and would actually like to go through it again. "In order to be full of mercy, we have to feel mercy."
• These Is My Words by Nancy Turner ~ This took me awhile to get into, but I could not put it down during the last 2/3. And there is a total surprise moment that I did not see coming. Loved it and again glad I didn't live as a pioneer woman during the turn of the century!
• 7: Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker ~ Loved it even though it absolutely messes with your head and how you view your time, things and stuff. Funny, convicting, and inspiring all at the same time.
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn ~ A lot of people really love this murder mystery. I did not. I still finished it but was really annoyed at the end. When you spend that much time on a book, you want to like at least one of the characters.
• Love Does by Bob Goff ~ A great read at the end of the year about living out your faith with purpose, adventure and "whimsey." 

Pretty much all of the books I read are from recommendations of other people, so I want to return the favor for anyone else looking. Here are my lists from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007. Or find me on Goodreads.

I almost always have some novel from the '50s or '60s time period. What happened? Any good ones out there? Some others I have on my to-read list for 2013: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Cutting For Stone, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, need to re-read Parenting With Love & Logic, The Last Town On Earth, the Benjamin Franklin biography I've said I would read for years, and The Tenth Circle. 

Would love to hear any other recommendations!