purchased, borrowed, and thrifted - My TBR Pile

Here's the list of books from my previous post on first lines, just in case you're interested! These are books on my shelves, which I have set a goal to read by the end of 2019. I gravitate to and would rather be reading nonfiction (and will carry on) , so this is a bit of a challenge to me. As well, I know I'm going to come across more good reads as the months go by, which will tempt me to push these aside!

 I purchased these at book sales or thrift stores, and several have been gifted or ordered from Amazon. Two of these books are technically not owned by me: my current read is borrowed from our local library, and my daughter has lent me the other. Here they are in order of the 'first lines' given previously:

1. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
2. The Blue Bottle Club by Penelope J. Stokes
3. My Antonia by Willa Cather
4. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
5. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
6. The Bees by Laline Paull
7. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
8. All She Ever Wanted by Lynn Austin
9. The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler
10. Dwelling Places by Vinita Hampton Wright
11. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
12. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
13. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

and an extra, thrown in for good measure: The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin.

I've read many wonderful fiction books over the years and I hope to recommend books from this list to you. Have you read any of these books? Any recommendations or cautions? Do share!

The Pile from my personal library. Not in the correct order! 

Poof! Gone!

Just like the year 2015, my latest published post just up and disappeared on me. Poof! Gone! I still can't figure out what happened there, but suffice it to say, 2016 will be just fine without that post.

I had written about a challenge I had given myself on how to get my 'to read' booklist under control. In a nutshell, I've decided not to purchase any new books in 2016 (except with a gift card, etc). So, I've begun unsubscribing from Kindle ebook deals. It was tough, but sometimes the big guns have to come out. I've got the shakes, but I think I'll be okay. ;)

I made a list of about 21 books I want to complete before I read anything else. These have been set aside for easy access.  In the last two days, I've completed two, so I'm already whittling away.

My fiction to nonfiction ratio is about 2:19, which must be remedied. I need a little more FICTION in my life.  Honey For A Woman's Heart - growing your world through reading great books is a book I already own which I'm planning to refer to once my to-read pile has dwindled.

I'm also going to be ruthless about which books to complete. If it feels like work to get through them, I will add them to my giveaway pile. I feel better already!

Here's to another great year of enjoying and pondering new ideas, old ideas, truths and mysteries, fact and fiction.



Do you have specific reading plans this year? Are you a fiction or non fiction fan?

Reading update 2016

Finished/recommended:
A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards
In Awe of God by Rita Peters

Enjoying:
Two Steps Forward by Sharon Garlough Brown (book 2)
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James

Next in line: 
Farewell Four Waters by Kate McCord

The Book Stack July 2015 Edition

So, it's officially summer break for me, which could translate into lots of time for summer reading. And I'm well prepared...

As you can see, true to form, there aren't a lot of fiction books in this stack. In fact, there is only one. Hello, my name is Aneta and I'm a nonfiction junkie. Always have been. Probably always will be. I'm hopeless.

BUT, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy some good fiction.  I've purchased some for my Kindle recently and I'm looking forward to more bedtime, poolside, or beach reading. I'll let you know if I hit the jackpot with any of them.

Have you read any of these?:

The Curious Case of the Missing Figurehead by Diane Noble

Blue Hole Back Home: A Novel by Joy Jordan-Lake

A Heart Deceived: A Novel by Michelle Griep

How Sweet the Sound: A Novel by Amy K. Sorrells

And if you look closely at this photo, you'll see what's really been keeping me in my cozy chair.  It's not the books..

He's called a lap dog for good reason!