Books Completed in 2012

Here is the list of books I completed during the calendar year 2012. My goal is a minimum of 12 books completed per year, or an average of one per month. If I start a book in one year, and finish it in the next, it counts in the year it was completed. My sights are set low, but this way the goal is attainable. (Obviously, I am not shooting for stars and hoping for the moon: I am settling for clouds.)

Caveats: 2012 was a difficult year, and I had great difficulty focusing on anything deep, difficult, or serious outside of work, which accounts for the proliferation of novels on this year’s list. Yes, I do feel a bit sheepish that the novels I read were more on the side of escapist fiction than classic literature, but I think G.K. Chesterton had it right here, here, and here.

I also previously posted on books read in 2011, 2010, and 2008/2009.

Cover Her Face, by P. D. James
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
The Summer Tree, by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Wandering Fire, by Guy Gavriel Kay
Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein, by Shel Silverstein
Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly, by Gail Carson Levine
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling
Graphic Design: The New Basics, by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips
The Chronicles of Amber, Volume 1, by Roger Zelazny
The Chronicles of Amber, Volume 2, by Roger Zelazny
Hannah Coulter, by Wendell Berry
The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum
The Bourne Supremacy, by Robert Ludlum
The Bourne Ultimatum, by Robert Ludlum
100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson
Dandelion Fire, by N. D. Wilson

Books Completed in 2011

Here is the list for 2011. My goal is a minimum of 12 books completed per year, or an average of one per month. If I start a book in one year, and finish it in the next, it counts in the year it was completed. My sights are set low, but the goal is attainable. (Obviously, I am not shooting for stars and hoping for the moon: I am settling for clouds.)

I try to read some books that my kids are reading, because I love to read young adult fiction, and I love to read what my kids are reading, as it makes for great conversations. I prefer novels, as I have been reading fiction since my earliest memories of reading. I also enjoy reading essays and theology. The problem with the latter is that I am very slow. Oh well. Novels help me attain my yearly goal.

I also previously posted on books read in 2010 and 2008/2009.

Wayfaring: Essays Pleasant and Unpleasant, by Alan Jacobs

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One, by Rick Riordan

The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, by Jennifer Trafton

The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two, by Rick Riordan

The Titan's Curse: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Three, by Rick Riordan

The Battle of the Labyrinth: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Four, by Rick Riordan

The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Five, by Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero: Heroes of Olympus, Book One, by Rick Riordan

The Fiddler’s Gun, by A. S. Peterson

The Fiddler’s Green, by A. S. Peterson

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr. & E. B. White

Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Dragon's Tooth, by Nathan D. Wilson

Holes, by Louis Sachar

The Monster in the Hollows: The Wingfeather Saga, Book Three, by Andrew Peterson

The Son of Neptune: Heroes of Olympus, Book Two, by Rick Riordan

Crazy U: One Dad’s Crash Course in Getting His Kid into College, by Andrew Ferguson

Living in God's Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture, by David VanDrunen

Grilling Equipment Recommendations

Recently, a buddy of mine told me that he wanted to buy a grill and asked me what he should get and if there were any accessories he should look for. The following were my recommendations for him.

The Grill

To begin with, there is only one charcoal grill: Weber. The line of Kettle style grills has various flavors, but the classic is the 22.5" Kettle Grill, which can be purchased at HomeDepot, Target, or most hardware stores. This is the same grill that I have had for the last ten years.

If money is less of a problem, the next step up the line is nice because the ash holder is cleaner to use. It is the same grill, but with a few extra features. There are Weber charcoal grills with more features than, but the price keeps going up. Really, the bottom of the line grill is perfectly acceptable for almost all home grilling.

However, lately, I have been dreaming of getting a different style grill, mostly because I like cooking for larger groups, and my beloved Weber is not big enough, even if I got the biggest (26.6" diameter, ash holder, and thermometer), which is too expensive. I would like to explore longer, slower, smokier, cooking, so I have my eyes on something new.

Accessories: A few essentials

Chimney Starter. This is an essential tool for starting a fire without lighter fluid. Never use lighter fluid. This is way better and it will last for years. Just add newspaper, charcoal, and fire. 

Regarding charcoal, you can get some at any grocery store. The best brand is Kingsford, in the blue bag. Don’t get any charcoal with lighter fluid built in—it is not needed and it screws up the taste.

Get a good grate brush and simple food tools. There are fancier and more expensive tool sets, and there are cheaper sets, but these have been my favorite. They are light-weight, which makes them easy to use and clean. They are sold by Target for Weber (already on the shelves), but you can see them at this Amazon link.

Grilling book. This is a great book to start with. It helps you understand how to start a fire, tell when the fire is hot enough, judge the cooking heat, and gives you tips on cooking, as well as a bunch of great recipes. Basically, you can not go wrong if you get a grilling cookbook by Jamie Purviance.

And of course, an Apple fanboy like me can’t live without a Weber iPhone app, which is only $4.99 and all the recipes are from Jamie’s books.

Finally, at least one glove is necessary. Cooking with live fire can get hot, and it is nice not to worry about burning your arm hairs. A glove is not essential, but handy. I have this one, but I want this one.

I use this stuff day in and day out (tonight were more barbecued buffalo wings; new recipe, super hot). Don’t be fooled by the weekend warrior grillers who have all the fanciest gadgets. Simple, light, clean, and easy so you put more energy into great food.

Books Completed in 2010

Not much, I know, but it is better than 2008 and 2009 combined.


Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor, by D. A. Carson
The Return of the King, by J. R. R. Tolkien
Fidelity, by Douglas Wilson
The Chestnut King, by Nathan D. Wilson
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carrol
The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians (NICNT), by Gordan D. Fee
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Wingfeather Saga Book One, by Andrew Peterson
Planet Narnia, by Michael Ward
North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga Book Two, by Andrew Peterson
The Odyssey of Homer, by Homer, Translated by Richard Lattimore
Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), by Philip K. Dick
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J. K. Rowling
The Tales of Beedle the Bard, by J. K. Rowling
Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carrol
The Consequences of Ideas, by R. C. Sproul
Leepike Ridge, by N. D. Wilson
The Freedom of a Christian, by Martin Luther

Books Read

I know of a prominent Christian pastor/speaker/blogger/writer that has been reading about one book per week for decades. The wife of one of my pastors set a goal this year to read 52 books, again the one book a week thing.

I, however, set my sights a bit lower. The old cliché says to aim for the moon, and you will at least hit a star. I just went for the stars immediately.

With the dawn of 2008 I determined to try and finish a minimum of 12 books a year, or a measly one book per month. Mostly, I have accomplished this. Here are my lists of finished books for 2008 and 2009.

Books completed in 2008

That Hideous Strength, by C. S. Lewis

The Abolition of Man, by C. S. Lewis

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

The Chronicles of Amber, Volume 1, by Roger Zelazny

The Chronicles of Amber, Volume 2, by Roger Zelazny

Trumps of Doom, by Roger Zelazny

Blood of Amber, by Roger Zelazny

Sign of Chaos, by Roger Zelazny

Knight of Shadows, by Roger Zelazny

Prince of Chaos, by Roger Zelazny

Recalling the Hope of Glory, by Allen P. Ross

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide, by Ellen Lupton

Books completed in 2009

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkein

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky

100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson

Dandelion Fire, by N. D. Wilson

The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien

On Stories and Other Essays on Literature, by C. S. Lewis

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, by Patrick Lencioni

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin

Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God’s Spoken World, by N. D. Wilson

The Key-Lock Man, by Louis L’Amour

The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkien

2010 has been a much more successful year in terms of total books read, but who’s counting? I will post that list in early January, since I am still reading.