I barely read anything of worth last year. What a way to start a post right? I used to read all.the.blessed.time. And now I don’t. I could blame it on everything from raising a large, active family, to writing more than reading, to pure laziness, to the internet. Yes, the internet. I bet if I took a poll, many of you would say the more you read on-line, the less you actually read. And I’m not just talking about reading for pleasure. I don’t. Well, I do read for pleasure, but I don’t read fiction which many would say is the only reading for pleasure. My mind is extremely sensitive and can be overactive; I don’t need someone else’s story to fill my imagination with their problems and struggles, I can do that in my own thank you very much.
I miss reading. I miss the discipline of reading. And I’ve purposed to change that this year. I pulled books from my shelves that need to be read. I ordered a few on my wish list. And I’m only going to whisper this because I’m not sure I want to actually commit to this but…I don’t plan on buying any book this year, gulp. I have books I haven’t read that really, I need to read before buying anymore. If I’m trying to be a good steward of what I have been given and have-I need to read the books I already own. I may need some accountability, please.
My 2017 reading list is large. I’m ok with that. I’m ok with no finishing them all and moving some to the next year. What I’m not ok with is not reading hardly anything. IN an effort to set some accountability measures in place, I pulled the books down from theire respective shelves and put them together on one shelf, I also wrote myself a list. Of course, I need to actually move it into my planner or I will lose the blessedly long list. And, I’m sharing my list here as an accountability tool. As I read, I’ll probably come back in and update. I’m also putting together a goals post for email subscribers of The Littlest Way. What?! You’re not a subscriber? Let’s fix that right now, click here to subscribe to The Littlest Way newsletters, posts and access to the free resource library. Quickly speaking of the access library, my sister and I have both been bitten by the planner bug. There are so many lovely planner goodies out there, but very few Catholic planner goodies. We are collaboratingĀ on some dashboards, printables, and charms for planners. We will sell some of these, but many will end up in the resource library for email subscribers! Stay tuned for what I’ve purposed to use for my planning systems this year.
Ok, back to books. Although this list is long, I’m almost embarrassed to tell you there are still some books on my shelves that didn’t make the list and haven’t been read. Maybe I just need to donate them? I don’t know, that’s almost like considering getting rid of one of my children! So without further explanation or excuse, here’s my over-eager ultra-ambitious 2017 reading list. These are all Amazon affiliate links. If you click on them and purchase anything, not just that one particular book, I make a little referral change. This all adds up so thank you; my family and I appreciate it more than you realize.
2017 Reading List
Click here. This link will take you to a dedicated page for my book list.
Below you’ll find a couple of the books that are my daily companions.
Dominic Adams says
What a wonderful list! Appreciate your recommendations. Must say you certainly started the year with one of my favorite authors and I’m finishing the one on Mercy. If you haven’t read Searching for and Maintaining Peace of Heart which you probably have…you’d probably love it given your list. Also, if you have others you have already read that we should add to our list, we would appreciate any advice. Our website http://www.discoversuccess.info recommends good books most available at the library that are free from anything offensive. We are very weak in the books for Moms and Dads and looking for recommendations. Thanks for considering this request!
Jenny says
Searching for and Maintaining Peace was my first introduction to Jacques Philippe. He’s such a great author. It sounds like you are doing a good work. I will check out your site.
Dominic Adams says
Thank you!
Wendy says
That really IS an ambitious list! I’ve found that I keep better track of what I want to read, am reading, and have read with the Goodreads app. I love it for that purpose! Also, I made a similar pledge just two days ago to not buy any books for this year for the exact same reasons. We can hold each other accountable!
Jenny says
Sounds like a great idea Wendy!
Michelle says
Are you kidding? You have read the most important one of all! And how about the one you wrote? Perhaps if you were reading that big stack(s), you would not have accomplished His good plan for you and for us.
But really, I could have written this post, except for the excellent grammar and spelling part. I also whisper. I also consider donating almost all of them! And they are my babies too. But when it comes down to it, I want to honor God and his will for me in this department. I accidentally downloaded a kindle book last week and suspected it may not have been accidental at all.
In it, the author writes this:
“No reading, nor any other exercise can sanctify us except in so far as they are the channels of the divine influence. Our whole science consists in recognizing the designs of God for the present moment. All reading not intended for us by God is dangerous. It is by doing the will of God and obeying His holy inspirations that we obtain grace, and this grace works in our hearts through our reading or any other employment. Apart from God reading is empty and vain and, being deprived for us of the life-giving power of the action of God, only succeeds in emptying the heart by the very fullness it gives to the mind.”
Lastly, when we offer our memory to God, we are trusting that he will bring to mind and heart the very important things that we have read and need in the present moment.
Jenny says
Michelle, I love everything about this comment. Thank you for including the quotation, it gives me lots to think about when holding myself to accountable trying not to buy any new books this year.
Dominic Adams says
What an inspiring quote! Thanks!
Laraine says
Thank you for sharing your list. I added many to my list.
Jenny says
You are very welcome Laraine š