2017 Reads in Review

2017 Reads in Review

Posing with my all-time favorite after completing an emotional pilgrimage. Forgive me- this was in 2016. 

An essential component to many of my adventures is a good book. An account of my adventures would be incomplete without tribute to one of the most enriching aspects of my life. There were no more beautiful moments this year than those spent immersing myself in pages shortly after sunrise on a camping trip to southern Utah, or while hanging over 8 feet of snow between two trees. These moments, though incredibly serene, were unfortunately pretty rare this year. One of my goals for 2017 was simply to read more, and I accomplished that. This year, I want to read more, read deeper, read wider. I've found so much value in increasing my breadth of experience through reading. I embraced many genres this year- biography, history, non-fiction, memoir, and as always historical fiction. As a person I know that I am incredibly incomplete, and the pieces of the world that I pick up while reading fall into the cracks of who I am, and are beginning to form a more complete me- more capable of empathy, opinion, testimony, conversion, love, and change. 

To my count, I finished 25 new books this year. Pretty pathetic, but still better than last year. For a comprehensive list (as if anyone cares about all 25) of all them, refer to the bottom of my post. My 5 must-read books of 2017 were:

1. To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson

Heidi Swinson 

This book changed me more than any other book I have ever read outside of holy writ. Just to read the record of a life so completely dedicated to serving others was humbling to the point of tears. I wept reading this book. Over and over and over and over. I learned so much that I found interesting- President Monson was one of the only American citizens to enter Soviet occupied Germany for decades. The stories (miracles) are incredible. This was the one book that I begged all of my friends to read this year. It instilled in me a deep desire to become more like my Savior, along with a deep love for the man who currently guides His church. 

2. The Help

Kathryn Stockett

Absolutely everything a person could want from a book. It changed me, challenged my perceptions, and hopefully taught me something. I laughed almost the entire time, and learned to love characters unexpectedly. The world would be a better place if there were more novels like this one. 

3. The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

My weak spot is a good World War II historical fiction. So much has been written because it was such an incredibly tragic and defining era of humanity. This book was the best I read of all of them this year- and there were about a dozen. It was the page-turner-book-club-read that I was looking for, and it was a wonderful read. (I truly hate comparison but because the bandwagon loves to compare these two, in my opinion Nightingale is far, far better than All the Light we Cannot See. There. I said it)

4. The Infinite Atonement

Tad R. Callister

It is difficult to describe this book. It is one that I will read over and over again for the rest of my life. The spiritual insight that can be gleaned from this work is remarkable, and I believe that I still have innumerable things to gain from reading it. Reading this book brought me closer to Jesus Christ and filled my soul with joy and awe. It has a home on my shelf next door to my scriptures. 

5. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time

Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Rellin

Disregarding the author's questionable credibility that I learned of after the fact, this book was so up- lifting. The experiences described are able to soften hearts and expand views. As a future teacher, I think it is so important to echo the message of this book... that better education leads to higher outcomes such as peace. I truly believe that a world better educated would be a world with far less global violence. Learning how these difficult solutions are implemented is important for anyone who desires to change this world for the better, which is ~hopefully~ everyone. 

Complete List, in no particular order:

1. I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring

Robert L. Eaton and Henry J. Eyring

2. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time

Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Rellin

3. Women and the Priesthood: What One Mormon Woman Believes

Sheri Dew

4. The Holy Temple

Boyd K. Packer

5. We're with You: Counsel and Encouragement From Your Brethren

Compiled- Council of the Twelve Apostles

6. The Continuous Atonement

Brad Wilcox

7. The Infinite Atonement

Tad R. Callister

8. All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

9. The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

10.  The Help

Kathryn Stockett

11. To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson

Heidi Swinson 

12. The Book Thief

Markus Zusak 

13. The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

14. The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies

Andrew D. Olsen

15. Out of my Mind

Sharon M. Draper

16. Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle 

Spencer J. Condie

17-22. Children of the Promise Series #1-5

Dean Hughes

23. Lilac Girls

Martha Hall Kelly

24. Journey to the Veil 

John Pontius

25. On the Wings of Faith

Frederick W. Babbel

Happy Reading!