{"id":7053903,"date":"2026-09-01T13:34:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T13:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/the-books-i-read-in-2025-maggie-whitley-designs\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T13:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T13:34:15","slug":"the-books-i-read-in-2025-maggie-whitley-designs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7053903","title":{"rendered":"The Books I Read in 2025 \u2013 Maggie Whitley Designs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As I gathered my old journals to compile this reading list, I was reminded of the joy that comes from having a hobby. Reading is a delight to me. I enjoy learning new things and experiencing different perspectives. I had a harder time reading and keeping focus last year, but I greatly enjoyed what I read.<\/p>\n

Below is a list of the books I read in 2025.\u00a0<\/em>There were a couple of books I ended up scratching off my list, a personal reminder that if a book isn\u2019t keeping my attention, I close it and begin something new. No guilt!<\/p>\n

If you are looking to incorporate more reading into your personal routine, or perhaps to grow as a household, don\u2019t overlook the influence\u00a0<\/strong>that modeling<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0has on a family.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading is the gateway to learning! We keep books (shelves or baskets) in every room of our home, and my children maintain a rabbit trail of bound books. If you create opportunities throughout the day and week for your children to read, I\u2019m confident they will pick up the habit \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Books are also a great tool for developing their artistic skills (drawing, painting, building tree forts, etc) and pursuing personal hobbies. I cherish our local libraries and the inspiration they bring.<\/p>\n

Scroll on for the books I read in 2025!<\/em><\/p>\n

BOOKS I READ IN 2025:<\/h2>\n
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  1. The Whistling Season<\/a> <\/em>by Ivan Doig | fiction<\/li>\n
  2. Mere Motherhood<\/a> <\/em>by Cindy Rollins (re-read) | homeschooling<\/li>\n
  3. Leaving the Saints<\/em><\/a> by Martha Beck | memoir<\/li>\n
  4. Susanna \u2013 Mother of the Wesleys<\/a><\/em> by John Kirk | Christian living<\/li>\n
  5. Laura Ingalls Wilder, A Family Collection<\/a> <\/em>by Laura Ingalls Wilder | biography<\/li>\n
  6. The Secret Life of Bees<\/a><\/em> by Sue Monk Kidd | fiction<\/li>\n
  7. The Frozen River<\/a><\/em> by Ariel Lawhon | historical fiction<\/li>\n
  8. Being Elisabeth Eliot<\/a> <\/em>by Ellen Vaughn | biography<\/li>\n
  9. The Meaning of Maggie<\/a><\/em> by Megan Jean Sovern | memoir<\/li>\n
  10. The Color of Water<\/em><\/a> by James McBride | memoir<\/li>\n
  11. The Kitchen House<\/a> <\/em>by Kathleen Grissom | fiction<\/li>\n
  12. My Dear Hemlock<\/a><\/em> by Tilly Dillehay | Christian living<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Two books from 2025 that were outstanding: <\/h2>\n

    The Whistling Season<\/a><\/em><\/em> and The Color of Water<\/em><\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n

    The writing style in The Whistling Season<\/a><\/em><\/em> was a lovely mix of curiosity and western-living narrative. This is my first book of Ivan Doig\u2019s, but I am hooked. If you\u2019ve read anything by Wendell Berry, you\u2019ll enjoy Ivan Doig\u2019s writing style. <\/p>\n

    The second, The Color of Water<\/em><\/a><\/em>, is a memoir about a man whose mother was white (Jewish) and father was black, and the experiences and complexities his family endured growing up as a large family in New York in the 1920s to the present day. It was a total page turner for me.<\/p>\n

    PS. I also GREATLY enjoyed The Meaning of Maggie<\/a><\/em> and The Kitchen House<\/a><\/em>. Even though I was slow to read last year, I greatly enjoyed each book I read. I loved the variety and the personal application I gleened from each title.<\/p>\n

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Share with me a favorite book you\u2019ve recently read?<\/p>\n

    xx, Maggie<\/p>\n

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