The audiobooks I recommend are in bold type. For other recommended audiobooks, check out this link here.
1.Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe– Why do they not write novels like this anymore? Robinson Crusoe is a classic for good reason. I was so intrigued by this plot and while it is hard to believe that a person could survive so long alone, the novel was detailed enough to be realistic. Where it shone for me was Defoe’s ability to weave introspection into the narration. It was beautiful how deep Crusoe’s character was.
2.Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents by Gary Chapman with Shannon Warden– My youngest is now three, so a lot of this book was not applicable to my circumstances; however, it is really good for first-time parents. The advice is solid and sound.
3.The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted by Gary Chapman– From the author of The 5 Love Languages, I thought this book would incorporate those more. It didn’t. It was a good book and had sound advice. I’m a fan of Chapman. What I was looking for were strategies for implementing love languages into marriage so I’ll try another one of his books.
4.Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly– This is one of those rare occasions that the movie is far and away better than the book. The book, Hidden Figures, was written more like a historical text and was very dry; the movie’s characters had depth of character, warmth and the plot was engaging. I’d highly recommend watching the movie and if you like it, I’d recommend reading for the vast information the movie could not incorporate. I applaud Shetterly for doing the research, writing about these amazing women, and bringing the world their inspiring stories.
5.See Me by Nicholas Sparks– Nicholas Sparks is a great author. He does good character development and engaging plots. This was one of my lesser-liked novels of his just because I didn’t connect much with the characters. I felt like it was all a bit far-fetched. If you are new to reading Sparks, I’d recommend starting with some of his more famous novels.
6. Forgotten Legends: Remarkable Figures and Their Impact on Early America by Samuel Johnston– This audiobook gives a short synopsis of 14 people who helped with the Revolutionary War. It highlights unsung heroes such as: Ester De Berdt Reed, Peter Francisco, Sybil Ludington, Phillis Wheatley, James Armistead Lafayette, Mary Katherine Goddard and other heroes. I enjoyed learning about those who have received less recognition but who fought for freedom heroically.
7. The Trust by Ronald H. Balson– So far, the books I’ve read of Balson’s are very engaging, with well-developed characters. I went to Ireland with my grandfather a few years ago and fell in love with its beautiful landscapes and its unique people. My husband has a lot of Irish ancestry and I was interested in reading more about it. This book incorporates a lot of difficult history of the Irish people. It was unique, good, and had it toned down the drama just a bit there at the end would have been a bit more believeable. It’s a great murder mystery set in Ireland and I’d recommend it.
8. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown– Normally, I agree with just about everything Brown writes (I’ve read a few of her other books). In this book, I felt like she has become a bit more liberal-minded than I tend to be. For example she talked about BLM movement and condemns the outlook that All Lives Matter. She justifies this by saying that in America blacks have had it the worst. I think she is forgetting the Native Americans. Also the Japanese Americans during WWII, the Jews, the Mormons, the Quakers, the Amish, and other minorities. Inclusion and love across all races, faiths, etc. is the answer for America to come together. What I did love in this book is that she explained how complex human nature is and explains how best to find commonalities.
9. Miss Robinson and the Unsuitable Baron by Sofi Laporte– I love Sofi Laporte’s books, and this one was no exception. She does a great job of developing a good plot, characters the reader can connect with, and simultaneously making it fun. If you are into clean Edwardian romances, check out Laporte’s books.
10. Choose Greatness by Gary Chapman– This is a great book to have a Christian young man read. Chapman writes to young men everywhere on how best to live life so that they are set up to succeed. I highly recommend having sons and young men read this book.
11. White Sand Volume 1 [dramatized adaptation] by Brandon Sanderson– see review below
12. White Sand Volume 2 [dramatized adaptation] by Brandon Sanderson– see review below
13. White Sand Volume 3 [dramatized adaptation] by Brandon Sanderson– This was a great and entertaining series about two civilizations and masters of sand. It seems like most of Sanderson’s stories end too soon. You just want to continue following the characters and see what happens. I liked that there was very little romance in this plot because it kept time for the overall storyline. The many characters were believable and complex. The one critique I had is that some of the plot started and never did finish. There were some big unanswered questions, but that is okay they were still worth the listen.
14. The Book of Alma in The Book of Mormon– This is an excellent book, inside my favorite book of all, The Book of Mormon; it covers the reign of the judges, the conversion, and the wars between ancient American peoples.
15. Miss Louisa’s Final Waltz by Sofi Laporte– While not available on Audible yet, I read this book and loved it. This book had an intricate and beautiful plot I could not put it down. I loved it! You can tell that Laporte did a LOT of research for this one. I loved learning about the wars, the Corn Laws, and more. I’ve read all of Laporte’s books and can’t wait until the next.
16. Revolution Song by Russell Shorto– I listened to about half of this and did not finish it. It was very dry. While it was full of outstanding and interesting details. However, it was too dry and boring to listen to. Since I made it over halfway through this 19-hour book, I’m counting it as a book I read.
17. Elantris [dramatized version] by Brandon Sanderson- I listened to Elantris in the book form and then visited the story with the graphic audio dramatized format and I liked it even better than in book/prose format. So, I think I’ll listen to the rest of these graphic novels.
18. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey—Out-of-control spending made Dave Ramsey feel fearful and upset about life. He interviewed many wealthy people and figured out the problem was his habits. He outlines a system and road map for getting out of debt, saving, investing, and becoming generous. He is very emphatic about the principles in this book. You won’t get bored or fall asleep listening to this financial book—especially if you listen to it on a loud volume.
19. Secrets of Rose Briar Hall by Kelsey James– I wish I hadn’t listened to this. I read some reviews before listening, as I always do, and none mentioned how inappropriate it was. There were some rated R scenes that I did not like. I always try to read/listen to clean books, and I thought this would be, but it was not. I do not recommend it.
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