my 2018 booklist

I love to read, and, over the last few years, it has been a goal of mine to read more books! As this year ends, I thought I’d let you know what I’ve been reading (although I wasn’t keeping track the first half of the year) in one giant review post. 

I do think I was helped in my reading goal, because, when we moved into our house, we didn’t have internet for 2 months, so there wasn’t really much to do once baby fell asleep. So I read all the books. Ten of them, to be exact. Enough of me preluding, here’s my reviews for my 2018 reading list:

Simplicity Parenting

Kim John Payne, M. ED., with Lisa M. Ross

Oh, my gosh. You guys. This book is going on the shelf, right next to the Holy Scriptures, and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (which I also re-read this year). They have so many great ideas, and really support and build upon the kinds of home life/parenting that my husband and I are trying to cultivate. I will definitely be re-reading it, and I would highly, highly suggest that all parents read this book.

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen

Joanna Faber & Julie King

Before these first two books, I hadn’t read a parenting book since I was pregnant, so I was long overdue—I really felt like I needed direction in some areas. This was the answer. They have loads of great suggestions for different ways to communicate to your child in each situation they bring up. Both myself, and my husband—after I read him some of my favourite bits—use their suggestions on the regular now. I particularly like how they have given me a way to exit the bedroom when baby is latched on (“I’ll be right back”), and their idea for keeping a running wish list for each child, among many other ideas. Everyone, go read it.

The Danish Way of Parenting

Jessica Joelle Alexander & Iben Dissing Sandahl

Don’t let the 3 stars fool you, this is a really good book. I particularly liked how they talked about strict no-play education is not a thing at all in places like Denmark, and their children al grow up to be well-adjusted. So, maybe we need to just let kids play, and be free, a bit. The rest of the book, though, had nothing new to offer, since I’d read Simplicity Parenting, and How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen first. If you were unsure about gentle/hands on parenting, this would be a good primer, but it is a little redundant after those other two books. There’s a good chance I’ll Kon-Mari my copy.

The Wise Man’s Fear

Patrick Rothfus

The second installment (still awaiting the third and final) to the Kingkiller Chronicle was just as fantastic as the first. It’s just a tremendous story, and I love how the ‘cool’ protagonist is basically only ‘cool’, because of experiences he’s happened to have, and how he’s cunning enough to use them to his advantage. Docked a star, because I didn’t need a few hundred pages about his sex life. It’s not graphic at all, just brazenly poetic.

Oathbringer

Brandon Sanderson

I mean, it’s Brandon Sanderson, so obviously it was amazing. 4 stars just because there were several points when I thought, “This is for sure the end, how am I only half-way through?” Not that it was boring—never a dull moment in the Stormlight Archive books (this is book 3). The ending was super fulfilling, and I obviously cannot wait for the next one.

Less: a Visual Guide to Minimalism

Rachel Aust

I’m a hardcore Kon-Mari-er, but I’ve been looking for more ways to keep my home minimal and put together, so I picked this little book up, after seeing people post about it in my minimalist facebook groups. It was a very easy read, and super aesthetically pleasing. I really appreciated the art of the content. There are diagrams showing suggested, say, kitchen tools, which I liked, because, it there’s a category where you’re not sure what you need, this book helps you along. It also discussed some minimalist interior design, and purging items by room (instead of the Kon-Mari by category way), which I may try, as I’ve Kon-Mari’d 2.5 times now. Would recommend. Will keep.

Last Child in the Woods

Richard Louv

Great content, and great suggestions for making the natural world an integral part of your child’s life. We’ve been doing so as I’ve read this book, and I would like to proudly announce that I—a historically super indoorsy person—actually feel a need to be outside now, since we’ve made it a habit. The author clearly knew his stuff, and had boggling amounts of studies, and anecdotal evidence to back up his theories and claims. Only 4 stars, because, even thought I liked all the content a lot, I had the hardest time reading more than a handful of pages at once. A bit dense, but I would highly recommend it to parents, or anyone in charge of children.

Crazy Rich Asians

Kevin Kwan

I bought this, because I had it marketed to me a lot, and it was a bestseller with a movie, and I was interested in reading a book by someone different to myself about people different from myself. I definitely got that. I have absolutely no context for half the plants and clothes he spends thousands of words talking about, but I think it’s good to read something that’s not familiar. Despite being about 500 pages, I clipped through it quickly, and even read 2/3 in a couple of days. I originally thought it was good, but I wouldn’t need the sequel, but after that ending…yeah, I’m gonna need to read that sequel, thanks. Only 4 stars, because there is language, and some characters are a bit crude. Regardless, still a good read, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one asap.

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Margareta Magnusson

I was originally excited to get my hands on this book, because, as I Kon-Mari’d more, I had decided that, for hard items, I would ask myself if my kids would want it; and if they probably wouldn’t, and I felt lukewarm, out it went. It was exciting to discover ‘my idea’ was an actual thing. This book is written by white the lovely spitfire—an elderly woman. her humor was delightful, and her logic peaceful. Several points she made really resonated with me (such as “but I don’t want to dust”). Being such a Kon-Mari/minimalism fanatic, though, I didn’t learn a lot from it, hence the 4 stars. Will probably still keep this book, for those interested in decluttering, but wanting a gentle methodology that is also a quick read.

Edgedancer

Brandon Sanderson

The little aside happens before the third installment of the Stormlight Archive, Oathbringer. Honestly, I just wanted to read my Crazy Rich Asians sequel (where the people are flamboyant, but still just people), so I wasn’t actually super keen to jump back into people with ‘superpowers’. However, after a few chapters, I was into it enough. How could I not be, Brandon Sanderson is a writing wizard. The main character is funny, and I was glad to have the intense plot play out in under 300 pages. I would definitely recommend to those reading the Stormlight Archive.

There you have it. I think I’ll keep a running stack next year, and do the same thing—I’m always keen to hear reviews good on books, before I buy them. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Any I should put on my list for next year?