What I Read in a Year: One Book Per Month

For the past two years, I’ve made it my goal to finish at least one book per month. In 2023, I managed to read 16. In 2024, I almost doubled that at 31!

The goal is to *finish* at least one book per month. That means I can start it at any time in the previous month. I try not to be too strict about what constitutes a full “book,” either—longer short stories, like “Leaf by Niggle” and “The Light Princess” count in my book (pun intended). So do children’s books. The majority of what I read this past year, however, were full-length novels or works of non-fiction. (Some of C.S. Lewis’s collections of sermons and essays were quick reads, too). The point is, don’t burden yourself with trying to read 500-page books every month. Read what you like to read.

If one book per month is too much for you, try one every two. If one is too little, aim for two per month. It’s a loose goal that helps me not only read more, but also keep track of what I read. I have every single book I’ve read in the last two years written down, and it’s fun to look back and remember what I enjoyed most.

A few helpful tips:

1. Get a journal specifically designated for writing down what you read.
2. Plan ahead a little—keep a physical or mental list of what’s on your TBR (to-be-read) so you’re always ready to start something new.
3. If you don’t have access to a lot of books, get a library card!
4. Bring your book with you everywhere—appointments, coffee shops, work, etc. You never know when you will have some spare time to read instead of scrolling on your phone!

Every Book I Read in 2024

Here is a list of all the books I read last year, in 2024. You’ll notice a bit of a pattern. I finally started reading C.S. Lewis’s nonfiction works at the beginning of the year and found I couldn’t get enough. Then it seemed like the perfect time for a reread of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit! I really soaked in all the Tolkien and Lewis last year, and it was wonderful. It wasn’t quite time for a reread of the Narnia series yet, or that would have made the list as well.

January: 1. Surprised by Joy 2. The Screwtape Letters

February: 3. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness 4. Adorning the Dark 5. Mere Christianity

March: 6. Reflections on the Psalms 7. The Weight of Glory 8. The World’s Last Night 9. North! Or Be Eaten 10. The Great Divorce

April: 11. The Monster in the Hollows 12. Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools 13. Leaf by Niggle

May: 14. The Four Loves 15. The Warden and the Wolf King 16. The Fellowship of the Ring

June: 17. The Two Towers 18. The Light Princess

July: 19. The Return of the King 20. Bridge to Terabithia 21. Watership Down

August: 22. The Hobbit

September: 23. This Homeward Ache 24. The Wind in the Willows

October: 25. A Grief Observed 26. Mama’s Bank Account

November: 27. The Problem of Pain 28. Out of the Silent Planet

December: 29. This Beautiful Truth 30. Perelandra 31. That Hideous Strength

Book Descriptions

1. Surprised by Joy—The closest thing we have to an autobiography by C.S. Lewis, this book describes his journey from boyhood to an Oxford don and the tastes of “Joy” which helped lead him out of staunch atheism into a firm (but reluctant) belief in God.
2. The Screwtape Letters—A dark venture into the imaginary counsel of one demon to another regarding the tempting of a young Christian man, by C.S. Lewis.
3. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness—The first in Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga. A bit slow and difficult to get into until the last few chapters.
4. Adorning the Dark—A beautiful meditation on culture, creativity, and the Kingdom by Andrew Peterson.
5. Mere Christianity—A collection of C.S. Lewis’s talks on the BBC radio, compiled into a methodical progression of reasonable and thought-provoking arguments for Christianity.
6. Reflections on the Psalms—A short compilation of reflections on the Psalms, which provide several unique perspectives you may or may not agree with.
7. The Weight of Glory—A compilation of addresses by C.S. Lewis on various topics related to Christian life.
8. The World’s Last Night—A compilation of essays by C.S. Lewis on various topics related to Christian life.
9. North! Or Be Eaten—Book 2 in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. The story begins to pick up here and becomes more exciting.
10. The Great Divorce—An allegory of Heaven and Hell by C.S. Lewis. This book inspired me to write my own allegorical story, “You Must Behold” https://jennaleighdesigns.com/2024/07/18/you-must-behold/
11. The Monster in the Hollows—Book 3 of the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, and his best, in my opinion.
12. Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools—A book all about prayer, including practical help and personal experience, by Tyler Staton.
13. Leaf by Niggle—Tolkien’s most famous short story about a painter named Niggle who can’t seem to perfect (or even complete) his work.
14. The Four Loves—C.S. Lewis’s treatment of what he would categorize as the four different kinds of love—affection, friendship, romantic love, and the love of God.
15. The Warden and the Wolf King—Book 4 and final in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. Garners mixed reviews from fans.
16. The Fellowship of the Ring—Does this book need an introduction? Books 1 & 2 of The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
17. The Two Towers—Books 3 & 4 of The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
18. The Light Princess—An amusing and thought-provoking story by George MacDonald about a princess who had no gravity (literally, and figuratively).
19. The Return of the King—Books 5 & 6 of The Lord of the Rings bring Tolkien’s masterpiece to a beautifully satisfying close.
20. Bridge to Terabithia—Katherine Paterson’s most famous novel about a young boy’s first experience grappling with grief, loss, and guilt.
21. Watership Down—A harrowing adventure by Richard Adams about a group of bunnies who must fight tooth & nail to make a new home for themselves.
22. The Hobbit—Tolkien’s first foray into Middle Earth; a children’s book about Bilbo Baggins and his adventures with dwarves, trolls, and a dragon named Smaug.
23. This Homeward Ache—Memoirs by Amy Baik Lee, tracing her story of aching for home from childhood to motherhood.
24. The Wind in the Willows—A delightful children’s tale by about several animal friends and the adventures they share. A great read to teach children about what kind of friend they can be.
25. A Grief Observed—C.S. Lewis shares his private journal entries after the death of his wife, Joy. A poignant look into the gritty realities of facing life with loss.
26. Mama’s Bank Account—A short, lighthearted memoir of a Swedish family “fitting in” as immigrants in San Francisco.
27. The Problem of Pain—C.S. Lewis’s attempt to explain the Christian understanding of pain and suffering in light of a good and sovereign God. As his brother, Warren Lewis observed: “Nobody (including my brother) has ever offered an explanation of the problem of pain that”.  Still, it is a thorough and well-thought out treatise on the subject.
28. Out of the Silent Planet—Book 1 in C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, which he began as part of a wager between himself and Tolkien. This book features the adventures of Ransom, a philologist, as he is kidnapped and taken to Mars. It is the slowest-moving book in the series, laying a foundation for the story to unfold.
29. This Beautiful Truth—Sarah Clarkson’s memoirs about how God showed Himself to her through beauty in the midst of her suffering.
30. Perelandra—Book 2 in the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. This book features Ransom’s adventures in Perelandra, or Venus, as he is sent there to help prevent the spiritual corruption of the planet.
31. That Hideous Strength—Book 3 in the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. Lewis brings his trilogy to a magnificent close in this fast-paced, dialogue-driven science fiction story about an evil scientific organization, fueled by demonic forces, bent on taking over England and the world.

13 books by C.S. Lewis

5 books/stories by J.R.R. Tolkien

5 books by Andrew Peterson

Other authors: Tyler Staton, George MacDonald, Richard Adams, Amy Baik Lee, Kenneth Grahame, Katherine Paterson, Kathryn Forbes, Sarah Clarkson

It was a rich year of reading, filled with classic works by my favorite authors, meaningful books for children, beautiful nonfiction works by newer authors, and a few delightful short stories.

My Favorites & Least Favorites

I think choosing a favorite is a bit unfair to those authors whose names don’t end in “Lewis” or “Tolkien.” Therefore, omitting all the works by Professors Tolkien and Lewis (which does narrow down the playing field quite a bit), I will choose Adorning the Dark and This Beautiful Truth as my favorites. Both are enjoyable, insightful, truthful works of nonfiction that inspired me and stirred me in my spiritual and creative life, and I would highly recommend them.

My least favorites (I hope this doesn’t cause any controversy!): On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and Bridge to Terabithia. The former is just too slow-moving, and it’s hard at times to tell what’s going on or where the story is heading. The latter has more to do with personal taste—it’s sad and a little too gritty for me, bringing back memories of watching the movie as a child (though who didn’t love Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb?). I actually had the privilege of hearing Katherine Paterson speak last year at a conference, and she was delightful, talking about children’s literature and finding wonder in the ordinary world. I admire her and her prolific success as a children’s book writer—and I do intend to read more of her books!—but Bridge to Terabithia isn’t for me.

Now It’s Your Turn!

Finishing at least a book a month may not be feasible for you in your season of life. But I encourage you to try, or to set a different goal that works for you. Reading is good for your mental and emotional health. It is restful. You can do it anywhere, really. And it enriches your inner life in a way nothing else can.

I hope this post inspires you to read, to explore the literary world, and to enjoy the works of authors old and new. Whether you read at night before bed, or in the quiet of the morning, or with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, or for short snatches here and there in the chaos of a busy day, may you foster a love of reading that will last a lifetime.