In 2025, I read 342 books! I listened to audio books, read e-books, and read book-books.
46 audio books 126 e-books 170 books July 2025 was my best reading month with 37 books read. August 2025 was my best reading month for number of pages read!
The first book review of the year: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer! The last book review of the year was the NASB 1977 Inductive Study Bible!
I mostly-mostly read books I enjoyed or LOVED, loved, loved.
1 book was 1 star
5 books were 2 stars
89 books were 3 stars
112 books were 4 stars
135 books were 5 stars
I reread 80 books while 262 were new-to-me!
79% of the books I read were from the library! (Other sources being bought, gifted, review copy, or read online from Project Gutenberg, etc.)
My genres:
Bibles 5.1%
Christian fiction 7.4%
Christian nonfiction 10.8%
speculative fiction 15.1%
historical fiction 8.0%
romance 0.3%
realistic/general fiction 3.7%
poetry 1.1%
play 0.3%
picture books 21.3%
board books 7.4%
nonfiction 5.4%
classics 5.1% early readers/early chapter books 5.7%
graphic novels/comic books 2.0%
mystery 1.7%
My top ten books
 The Blue Castle. L.M. Montgomery. 1926. 218 pages. [Audio book, Library, 5 Stars]
Kidnapped From Ukraine Under Attack. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch.
2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, mg realistic fiction, mg
fiction, survival, war stories]
Kidnapped From Ukraine #2 Standoff. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2025.
288 pages. [Source: Library] [realistic fiction, family, drama, war] [5
stars]
Pocket Bear. Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Charles Santoso.
2025. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, J fiction, J fantasy,
animal fantasy, toy fantasy]
Stitch: Reimagining Frankenstein. Padraig Kenny. 2025. 208 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars, mg speculative fiction, mg fantasy]
Skipshock. Caroline O'Donoghue. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library]
[5 stars, YA dystopia, YA speculative fiction, YA romance]
The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum. Thornton W. Burgess. 1914.
139 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, classic, children's classic,
animal fantasy]
The Tides of Time. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 368 pages. [Source:
Library] [5 stars, time travel, adult romance, historical fiction]
The Secret of Honeycake. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2025. 368 pages.
[Source: Library] [j historical fiction, j fiction] [5 stars]
Becoming Real: The True Story of the Velveteen Rabbit. Molly Golden.
Illustrated by Paola Escobar. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5
stars, nonfiction picture book, book about books, author biographies]
Honorable Mentions:
Wolves at the Door. Steve Watkins. 2024. [December] 288 pages.
[Source: Library] [MG historical, MG fiction, world war II, 5 stars]
19. My Wonderful World of Slapstick. Buster Keaton with Charles
Samuels. 1960. 340 pages. [Source: Library] [adult biography, adult
autobiography; film-making, show business, comedy]
Death in the Jungle. Candace Fleming. 2025. 346 pages. [Source: Library] [YA nonfiction, nonfiction, true crime, 5 stars]
Echoes of the Sea. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 320 pages. [Source:
Library] [5 stars, adult romance, adult historical, proper romance,
clean romance, time travel]
Westfallen. Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares. 2024. 384 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars] [MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction,
MG dystopia, TIME TRAVEL, alternate history]
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
In December, I read twenty-two books! Quite a few were audio books!
Books Reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews
121. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1919. 227 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]
122. Anne of Windy Poplars. L.M. Montgomery. 1936. 288 pages. [Source: Bought][4 stars]
123. The Blue Castle. L.M. Montgomery. 1926. 218 pages. [Audio book, Library, 5 Stars]
124. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1932. 238
pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, children's classic, j historical,
audio book]
125. Peter Pan. J.M. Barrie. 1911/2008. Penguin. 207 pages. [Source:
Library book][mg fantasy, j fantasy, children's classic, 4 stars]
126. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Douglas Adams. Illustrated by
Chris Riddell. 1979/2021. 289 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars,
speculative fiction, humor, science fiction, audio book]
127. Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1935. 335 pages. [Source: Bought] [children's classic]
128. Westfallen. Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares. 2024. 384 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars] [MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction,
MG dystopia, TIME TRAVEL, alternate history]
129. Letters From Father Christmas. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1976/1999. 160 pages. [Source: Library]
130. On the Banks of Plum Creek. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1937. 340 pages.
[Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, children's classic]
Books Reviewed at Young Readers
110. A Christmas Sonata. Gary Paulsen. Illustrated by Leslie Bowman.
1992. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars][Christmas, historical,
family drama]
111. The 13th Day of Christmas. Adam Rex. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, Christmas]
Books Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible
78. Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores) Julie Klassen. 238 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, adult romance, christian romance, historical romance, christian fiction]
79. Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. Brant Hansen. 2015. 214 pages. [Source: Library, 3 stars]
80. Spirit-Filled Singing. Ryanne J. Molinari. 2025. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, Christinan nonfiction, worship]
81. Christmas in Wisconsin. Linda Byler. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christmas, Christian romance, Christian fiction]
82. Whispers at Painswick Court. Julie Klassen. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, Regency historical romance, Christian fiction]
83. Ryle on the Christian Life: Growing in Grace. Andrew Atherstone. 2025. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy, 4 stars, christian biography, theology, christian nonfiction]
84. A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions. Charles H. Spurgeon. 2024. 144 pages. [Source: GIFT] [4 stars]
Bibles Reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible
 16. 435E1B Paragraph Bible, Holy Bible, King James Version. Local Church Publisher. 1950 pages. [Source: Gift] [5 stars]
17. The New Inductive Study Bible. NASB (New American Standard, 1977). God. 1992. 2296 pages. [Source: Bought] [5/5 stars]
Totals for 2025
| 2025 Totals |
| | Books read in 2025 | 342 | | Pages read in 2025 | 91,458 |
|
| | January 2025 |
| | Books read in January | 30 | | Pages read in January | 7,020 | | February 2025 |
| | Books read in February | 30 | | Pages read in February | 4,782 | | March 2025 |
| | Books read in March | 34 | | Pages read in March | 8,595 | | April 2025 |
| | Books read in April | 34 | | Pages read in April | 8,293 | | May 2025 |
| | Books read in May | 31 | | Pages read in May | 7,698 | | June 2025 |
| | Books read in June | 32 | | Pages read in June | 6,072 | | July 2025 |
| | Books read in July | 37 | | Pages read in July | 10,460 | | August 2025 |
| | Books read in August | 31 | | Pages read in August | 10,711 | | September 2025 |
| | Books read in September | 25 | | Pages read in September | 4,038 | | October 2025 |
| | Books read in October | 18 | | Pages read in October | 8,409 | | November 2025 |
| | Books read in November | 18 | | Pages read in November | 5,433 | | December 2025 |
| | Books read in December | 22 | | Pages read in December | 9,947 |
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
130. On the Banks of Plum Creek. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1937. 340 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, historical fiction, children's classic]
First sentence: The dim wagon track went no farther on the prairie, and Pa stopped
the horses. When the wagon wheels stopped turning, Jack dropped down in
the shade between them. His belly sank on the grass and his front legs
stretched out. His nose fitted in the furry hollow. All of him rested,
except his ears.
I love Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series. I do. And On the
Banks of Plum Creek, while not my absolute favorite--that would be The
Long Winter or possibly These Happy Golden Years--is worth rereading
every few years. One thing I hadn't noticed until this last reread is
that the Ingalls' family celebrates three Christmases in this one book!
Plenty of things happen in On The Banks of Plum Creek:
- the family moves into a sod house
- the family moves into a wooden house with real glass windows
- the family gets oxen and horses
- the girls start school
- the family attends church
- crops are planted and lost
- Pa leaves the family behind twice to go in search of work
- hard weather is endured
- Laura gets in and out of trouble (she almost drowns in this one)
On The Bank of Plum Creek opens when the Ingalls family arrives at their
new home. They have bought a place, and their first new "home" is a
dugout. They are buying it from a Norwegian man, Mr. Hanson, who is
moving further west I presume. This is just temporary. Charles (or "Pa"
as he's referred to so often it's hard not to join in) has promised to
build them a real house, a real home just as soon as he can. The book
opens with promises and hopes and dreams. But most of the book will see
those hopes and dreams delayed. What Pa needs--what they all need--are
good crops, good wheat crops. What Pa gets is grasshoppers. The Ingalls
family does struggle a bit in On The Banks of Plum Creek. But they do
settle in and get comfortable. Mary and Laura, for instance, start
school. It is the first time for them to ever attend school. And they do
meet up with some town folks like Nellie Oleson.
Overall, this
is a more than enjoyable read. Some of my favorite chapters are "Nellie
Oleson," "Town Party," "Country Party," "Going to Church," and
"Surprise."
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
129. Letters From Father Christmas. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1976/1999. 160 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Dear John, I heard you ask daddy what I was like and
where I lived. I have drawn me and my house for you. Take care of the
picture. I am just off now for Oxford with my bundle of toys--some for
you. Hope I shall arrive in time: the snow is very thick at the North
Pole tonight. Your loving Father Christmas.
ETA: I listened to this on audio read by Derek Jacobi! It was AWESOME. Cannot overstate it. Absolutely recommend this audio. There are other voice actors for the polar bear and I believe another recurring character.
Premise/plot: The earliest letter from 'Father Christmas' to the Tolkien
children is 1920. The latest letter is dated 1943 to his daughter,
Priscilla. The letters speak of Father Christmas' affairs--his
adventures and misadventures. Little details about the Tolkiens slip
through, of course. He refers to their letters in which they mention
pets and toys, etc. He speaks of Polar Bear, his greatest assistant. He
speaks of red elves--some. But Father Christmas has a war to fight of
his own--against the goblins! (Christmas is almost sabotaged several
times!) My thoughts: How quickly time flies! These letters capture
moments. I suppose that's as good a way as any to describe this one. We
don't get to see the children's letters to Father Christmas through the
years, but, we do get to see Father Christmas's letters to the Tolkien
children... But children don't write letters to Father Christmas
forever, one by one they grow up and grow out of belief. Still these are
moments where we catch glimpses of Tolkien as both loving parent and
creative artist.
Near the North Pole
Christmas 1925
My dear boys,
I
am dreadfully busy this year—it makes my hand more shaky than ever when
I think of it—and not very rich; in fact awful things have been
happening, and some of the presents have got spoilt, and I haven’t got
the North Polar bear to help me, and I have had to move house just
before Christmas, so you can imagine what a state everything is in, and
you will see why I have a new address, and why I can only write one
letter between you both.
It all happened like
this: one very windy day last November my hood blew off and went and
stuck on the top of the North Pole. I told him not to, but the North
Polar Bear climbed up to the thin top to get it down—and he did. The
pole broke in the middle and fell on the roof of my house, and the North
Polar Bear fell through the hole it made into the dining room with my
hood over his nose, and all the snow fell off the roof into the house
and melted and put out all the fires and ran down into the cellars,
where I was collecting this year’s presents, and the North Polar Bear’s
leg got broken.
He is well again now, but I was
so cross with him that he says he won’t try to help me again—I expect
his temper is hurt, and will be mended by next Christmas. I send you a
picture of the accident and of my new house on the cliffs above the
North Pole (with beautiful cellars in the cliffs). If John can’t read my
old shaky writing (one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five years old)
he must get his father to. When is Michael going to learn to read, and
write his own letters to me? Lots of love to you both and Christopher,
whose name is rather like mine.
That’s all: Good Bye
Father Christmas
Cliff House
October 31st 1931
Dear Children,
Already
I have got some letters from you! You are getting busy early. I have
not begun to think about Christmas yet. It has been very warm in the
North this year, and there has been very little snow so far. We are just
getting in our Christmas firewood.
This is just
to say my messengers will be coming round regularly now Winter has
begun—we shall be having a bonfire tomorrow—and I shall like to hear
from you: Sunday and Wednesday evenings are the best times to post to
me.
The Polar Bear is quite well and fairly
good—(though you never know what he will do when the Christmas rush
begins.) Send my love to John.
Your loving
Father Nicholas Christmas
Glad Father Christmas has wakt up. He slept nearly all this hot summer. I wish we kood have snow. My coat is quite yellow.
Love Polar Bear
Cliff House,
near North Pole
Christmas Eve 1940
My Dearest Priscilla
Just
a short letter to wish you a very happy Christmas. Please give my love
to Christopher. We are having rather a difficult time this year. This
horrible war is reducing all our stocks, and in so many countries
children are living far from their homes. Polar Bear has had a very busy
time trying to get our address-lists corrected. I am glad you are still
at home!
I wonder what you will think of my
picture. “Penguins don’t live at the North Pole,” you will say. I know
they don’t, but we have got some all the same. What you would call
“evacuees”, I believe (not a very nice word); except that they did not
come here to escape the war, but to find it! They had heard such stories
of the happenings up in the North (including a quite untrue story that
Polar Bear and all the Polar Cubs had been blown up, and that I had been
captured by Goblins) that they swam all the way here to see if they
could help me. Nearly 50 arrived.
The picture is
of Polar Bear dancing with their chiefs. They amuse us enormously: they
don’t really help much, but are always playing funny dancing games, and
trying to imitate the walk of Polar Bear and the Cubs.
Very much love from your old friend,
Father Christmas
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
Books read and reviewed in 2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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