Audio Books Listened to in 2011

Links are to my other blog Live, Learn, Love where you can see the actual book reviews.

(In this list I often include a few things I want to remember about the book, just in case I want to return to the book at a later time.)

1. Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder-Great! Excellent source for what farm living was like in the late 1800's.  Laura is not in this book.  It is about her husband's childhood.  FYI there is some bullying and fighting in this book.
2. Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery- Great!  I have read and listened to this book since my fourth grade teacher read it to my class.  Unforgettable.
3. On the Banks of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Great! Though my husband has pointed out that these books have no real plot/conflict/climax for the whole book each book does have a plot.  It's more of story of daily life in the 1800's on the farm. This is actually the book in the Little House series that left the biggest impression on me from my childhood.  I remembered the blizzard, and tying a rope to the house so they could get to the barn.  I also remembered the grasshoppers.  Ick.  But good book
4. Here Lies the Librarian, by Richard Peck-  My first book by Peck...will definitely be reading/listening to more by this children's author.  I really enjoyed this book!
5. By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- I love each of these books.  In this Little House book, the Ingles family needs to move to a homestead, but much gets in the way.
6. Between Sisters, by Kristin Hannah-  Despite the language and sexuality, this was a good book about the relationship between two sisters...how they got to be so distant and how they over come issues of the present.  
7. The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Great, but difficult.  This book documents how the Ingalls family and their town was out of meat, flour, and everything else by Christmas.  Blizzards lasted for a couple of days, with only a one day break in between the blizzards.  This is a sad story.  You literally get to read of a family starving.  However, there is incredible bravery and strength told in this book and well worth the read (or listen to).
8. Her Daughter's Dream, by Francine Rivers- Great, in some ways, but LONG.  This is book 2, and in my opinion both should be read, but it could stand alone.  This book concludes the 5 generation saga of how parents' choices influence for good and for bad.  This really made me think about the interactions between generations, especially as a mom.  Mild language.  Both books deal with some sort of rape....can be discouraging as a parent, but definitely eye-opening.
9. Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren - Great!  Fabulous children's book.  Keep in mind that Pippi does struggle with lying.  Her mother is also "an angel in heaven" and her father is a "cannibal king."  Pippi lives without any authority figure, but I still love this book.
10. The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum-  I had never read this book, but was quite impressed with it.  I also think the movie followed fairly closely (though it's been years since I've seen the movie).
11. A Lady of High Regard, by Tracie Peterson -  A historical romance with heavy on the history.  Very enjoyable.
12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows- EXCELLENT!  Post WWII, a must-read!
13. A Walk to Remember, by Nicholas Sparks -  I had watched the movie years ago (and immediately recognized some of the Christian music artists that I enjoyed back then).  It was a good movie and a good book.  Definitely some "missionary dating" happening, but a good book.
14. Little Town on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls  Wilder- Loved it, but did you expect anything different?
15. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender- Different.  Pretty enjoyable.
16. Dewey, the Small Town Library Cat, by Vicki Myron
17. These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Wonderful.  Laura and Almanzo finally marrry!
18. Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer Holm- Great depression YA read.  I didn't love it, but I did like it.
19. Season of Gifts, by Richard Peck
20. Room, by Emma Donahue- Not my normal read.  I really enjoyed it...though rather disturbing to think of being locked in an 11 foot square room...and all that happend there.  I think the author thought of everything!
21. The First Four Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- This book was very different than the others, in my opinion.  Laura stated (repeatedly) that she hated farming.  Almanzo asked her to give it three years.  She did.  And during that time the crops didn't grow, tornadoes struck, she lost a baby, and their home burned down.  WOW!  That's a lot for anyone...and at the end of the book, Laura was willing to stick with farming despite all of this, and she had hope for the future.  This last book may have been a bit darker than the other Little House books, but it's still age appropriate.  (Though for my 4 year old I was glad she didn't hear all of it...but she is just 4.)
22. Fudge Cupcake Murder, by Joanne Fluke- Good mystery, and clean too!!
23. Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne- I liked it as an audio book.  Different voices to help a child understand character changes.
24. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder, by Joanne Fluke- Decent mystery, clean.  
25. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett- Eye opening.
26. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by CS Lewis- Finally shared this with M!
27. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley-Very good.  Mystery and great characters!
28. Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay- Very good, definitely recommend.  
29. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, by Alan Bradley
30. Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt--OH!  So good!
31. Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder- I thought I'd listened to them all in the past year, but this was not familiar.
32. Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder AGAIN
33. A Red Herring Without Mustard, by Alan Bradley
34. The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford -WOW
35. Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard Atwater
36. Saavy, by Ingrid Law- Loved it!