52 Books in 52 Weeks ~ 2014

I seriously didn't think I was going to read anywhere near 52 books this year. Somehow I did ☺ .
A portion of the books are audiobooks, and 2 are picture books - I had to include them on my list as the artwork is superb .  Quite a few of the titles are pre-reads before I hand the book over to Jay or Daisy to read. (Helps when it comes time to discuss the books with them too ☺)

The number beside each book is my personal rating for the book, or audiobook,  at the time of reading with the range being:
(1) = would not recommend,
(2) = some interesting aspects but not one of my recommended reads,
(3) = would recommend.
(4) = Really good (or worthy) read, would definitely recommend
(5) = Excellent book, highly recommend

The next few are ongoing, sip, reads so I will add them here:

A: Letters of Robert Browning & Elizabeth Barrett Vol’s 1 & 2 (pub Harper & brothers)
B: Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens ~ Debra Bell (4++ so far)

The titles in green are books I’ve pre-read before handing them to the children



1.  King Alfred's English ~ White    (still reading this together.  Currently a 5-)
2. Lorna Doone ~ R.D. Blackmore (England. Monmouth’s Rebellion) (audio) (4+) (see my review of this elsewhere on my blog. It does contain content issues)
3. Scaramouche ~ Sabatini  (4+)
4. Captain Blood ~ Sabatini  (audio) (4)
5. Moonfleet ~ Faulkner (4+)
6. The Making of a Marchioness ~ Hodgson-Burnett (3)(slightly odd story!!)
7. Rhiannon (Audio) ~ Grove (1)  ( Y. This one is an avoid at all costs for you n yours!)
8. Mary Queen of Scots ~ Strong  (4-)
9. The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow ~ French (4+)
10. Fire, Bed, and Bone ~ Branford (5)
11. Flame Over Tara  ~ Polland (SL)  (2) (I thought I was really going to enjoy this book. I didn't.  I've read a few of Polland's books and I think her approach to historical fiction, and "christian" world views, for our family just don't gel.)
12. Otto of the Silver Hand ~ Pyle (SLG R/A)  (5-) (contains M.Ages retribution)
13. The Ramsay Scallop ~ Temple  (SL 200) (2) (Too Romance-y and an odd content issue tossed in - a man asking the girl to "lay" with him. Can't understand why SL chose this title. Not for us.)
14. Ivanhoe ~ Scott (3++)
15. Bound ~ Napoli (4++) (editing out needed as a read aloud in our home)
16. Luther in His Own Words ~ Martin Luther (4+)
17. Martin Luther’s “Here I Stand”  (Narrator Max McLean) (5-)
18. The Girl From the Limberlost ~ Porter (5) (favourite. repeat read. Do note: the mother is initially  awful!! Until forgiveness goes to work.)
    
19. The Year 1000 ~ Lacey (audio option)   (4+) (Very interesting content though editing out needed - which was a bit hard to do with an audio ☺ )
20. Little and Friday Celebrations ~ Evans (cookbook) (3)
21. Cousin Kate ~ Heyer (2-) (If you skip this Heyer book you won't be missing anything! It was recommended as a Gothic era storyline to go with works of that era.)
22. China’s Long March ~ Fritz  (SL) (1)
23. The Hallow ~ Christie (4+) (kept me guessing until right near the end)
24. Dead Man’s Ransom (Cadfael Mystery) ~ Peters (4+) (abridged dramatized audio.  Much of the too mature/adult toned content is cut out)
25. The Raven in the Foregate (Cadfael Mystery) ~ Peters (4-) (abridged dramatized audio.  Much of the too mature/adult toned content is cut out)
26. Mansfield Park ~ Austen (3+)
27. Paul Temple and The Van Dyke Affair (audio/radio drama) ~ Durbridge (4+)
28. Paul Temple and The Gilbert Case (audio/radio drama) ~ Durbridge (4-)
29. King James Bible: 1 Corinthians – Colossians (5+)
30. A Glorious Age in Africa ~ Chu and Skinner (4++)
31. Feast: Our Food Out East ~     (4) (an eclectic collection of Eastcoast recipes. Makes for interesting reading))
    
32. Beach, Bach, Boat, Barbecue: The Complete Collection ~ Batchelor and Oliver (5-)
33. The Seven Dials Mystery ~ Christie (4) (abridged dramatized audio.  Much of the too mature/adult toned content is cut out)
34. Save With Jamie ~ Jamie Oliver (3+)
35. Christian Leaders of the 18th Century ~ Ryle (4)  (older, more romantised style of writing)
36. Shakespeare: His Works and His World ~ Rosen & Ingpen (5) (love picture books with artwork by Ingpen)
37. Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu ~ Lewin (4-) (lovely pictures!)
38. The Chronicles of Iona: Exile ~ De Fougerolles (dropped! Detailed retellings of
 coupling acts, pre-marital and adulterous, included for entertainment are not my cup of tea)
39. Beorn the Proud ~ Pollard (2) (Pollard and us don't gel)
40. Famous Men of the Renaissance & Reformation ~ Shearer (3++)
41. Famous Men of the Middle Ages ~ Haaren (3++)
42. Georgette Heyer’s Regency England ~ Chris (4-)
43. Phillippa’s Home Baking ~ Grogan (cookbook) (5)
44. It's Easier Than You Think ~ Seagar (cookbook)  (4+)
45. The Knights Templar  ~ Hodge (4)
46. 1215 : The Year of Magna Carta  ~ Danziger (3+)
47. How the Irish Saved Civilization ~  Cahill (4++)
48. The Hunger Games ~ Collins ( series: 3 books) (2)      (I wanted to see what all the ‘fuss’ was about. My two won’t be reading this series anytime soon :/ )
49. A Minute of Margin ~ Swenson (5) (favourite book. repeat read)
50. The Art of The Hobbitt  ~  Tolkein     Editor: Hammond (4+)
51. Churches ~ Dupre (4)
52. Medicines of The Maori ~ Christina Macdonald (4+) (very interesting book)