Travel Through Books

"Books are the plane, the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home." -- Anna Quindlen

bibliophile -- (n) a person who loves or collects books

As this new year begins, I am revising my blog. I am, in a way, returning to my roots. Before I was able to actually pack up and travel on these journeys I have been on over the last few years, I went to those places by opening the covers of books and jumping in. Books are my original travel itinerary, and I continue to visit far away places and times long ago via printed pages. I will still be writing about my actual journeys (Summer trip announcement coming soon!) but want to also include my journeys through the written word.

Based upon the requests of several readers, I am going to start posting about my latest read. I will also be sharing book recommendations. I also hope to include you, the readers, as you comment about your favorites, latest reads, TBR lists, and where you are traveling when you open your books.

I have been writing down every book I read since I was a sophomore in college, so I have a large stack of book journals. I began by simply notating the title and author of each book but have gradually increased my notations to include when I read the book, where I got it, a short summary, my opinion of the book, and sometimes a few Golden Lines. I highly recommend keeping some kind of book journal; if only to keep you from rereading a book that you didn't really enjoy. Goodreads is an excellent online medium for keeping track of what you've read, what you want to read, and what your friends are reading and recommending. Goodreads also has a yearly Reading Challenge to spur you on in your reading goals. My goal for the year 2020 is to read 50 new reads (which does not count all the rereading I do because I love to revisit favorite characters and stories).

My January reading stack. 

Here are some titles just to get you started as you begin your reading journey this year:

Most favorite overall book -- Anne of Green Gables

Favorite Historical Fiction -- Hadassah: One Night With the King

Favorite Historical Fiction (YA) -- Goodnight, Mr. Tom

Favorite Classic -- Jane Eyre

Favorite Classic (YA) -- The Secret Garden

Favorite Historical Fiction Series -- Zion Covenant Series

Favorite Series (YA) -- Betsy-Tacy Series

Favorite Historical Fiction Mystery Series -- Maisie Dobbs Series

Favorite True Crime -- Bitter Blood and Mississippi Mud (It's a tie, and I can't break it.)

Favorite Fantasy Series (YA) -- Chronicles of Narnia

Favorite Fantasy (YA) -- The Phantom Tollbooth

Favorite Memoir -- An Invisible Thread

Favorite Non-Fiction (History) -- The Day the World Came to Town

Favorite Non-Fiction (Christian) -- Polishing God's Monuments

Favorite Fiction (Non-Historical)  -- Girl in Translation

Favorite Family Chronicle -- Papa's Wife

Favorite Christian Allegory -- Hinds' Feet on High Places

Favorite Book that Made Me Cry -- Sarah's Key

Favorite Book that Made Me Laugh -- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Favorite Book About NYC -- Apple of  My Eye

Favorite Narrative Non-Fiction -- The Last of the President's Men

Favorite Teacher Book -- The Vocabulary-Enriched Classroom

Favorite Christmas Book (Kids) -- Christmas Tapestry

Favorite Book for Writers -- The House on Mango Street

Favorite Fiction Book Written Through Letters: Daddy Long Legs

Favorite Classical Historical Fiction -- The Scarlet Pimpernel


*Notice that I just make up my own categories when I can't make a decision between certain books! (Blogger's prerogative!) I can come up with many more favorites but made myself stop here. (as difficult as it was to find a stopping point)

More to come with a review of my first January read...

Don't forget to comment below and share some info about what you're reading!