My Six 5+ Star Reads of 2018

In 2018, I reviewed six 5.5-star books. There were many other lovely books, but these were the best of all the 350 books I read last year. :) I am listing them by alphabetical order. (By the way, four of these ebooks are free, and the first one is only $1.28. ;) )

1. “Admirable” by Sarah Holman.

“William returns home to find his family threatened with attack from a neighboring Earl. Will he be able to protect his sister and the rest of his family from this threat? Will he be able to trust God no matter what? A prequel story for ‘Adventures & Adversities.’” (from Amazon)

This book was so good. I loved William and the message really hit home—I struggle with the same issue as William does. Also, isn’t that cover lovely?!

{My Review}

2. “Around the World in Eighty Days” by Jules Verne

“Pragmatic gambler Phileas Fogg has made a gentlemanly wager to the members of his exclusive club: that he can circle the world in just eighty days, right down to the minute. Fetching his newly appointed French valet, Fogg embarks on a fabulous journey across land and sea—by steamer, rail, and elephant—to win the bet of a lifetime. Inspired by Jules Verne’s own sea travels and his fascination with circumnavigating the globe, the avid dreamer’s picaresque voyage inspired generations of adventurers who were eager to best Verne’s challenge—from nineteenth-century journalist Nellie Bly to Monty Python’s Michael Palin.” (from Amazon)

I loved this book so much. It completely kept me on the edge off my seat (how on earth would Fogg ever win the wager? Who was the real thief? It couldn’t be Mr. Fogg—and yet... argh!!!) I loved Fix. I loved Aouda. I laughed so at Passpartout. I revelled in the Englishness and Frenchness of the book. And I was so satisfied at the end. <3

{My Review}

3. “Emma” by Jane Austen. 

“When her former governess finds happiness as the bride of a local widower, the brilliant and beautiful Emma Woodhouse—one of Jane Austen’s immortal creations—flatters herself that she alone has secured the marriage and that she possesses a special talent for bringing lovers together. The young heiress next busies herself with finding a suitable husband for her friend and protegé, Harriet Smith, setting off an entertaining sequence of comic mishaps and misunderstanding in this sparkling comedy of English-village romance. Beneath its considerable wit, the novel is also the story of a young woman’s progress toward self-understanding. ‘Emma’ abounds in the droll character sketches at which Jane Austen excelled. In addition to the well-intentional heroine and her hypochondriacal father, the village of Highbury during the Regency period is populated by an amusing circle of friends and family—kindhearted but tedious Miss Bates, a chatterbox spinster; ambitious Mr. Elton, a social-climbing parson; Frank Churchill, an enigmatic Romeo; Mr. Knightley, Emma’s brother-in-law and the voice of her better nature; and a cluster of other finely drawn, unforgettable personalities. The author’s skill at depicting the follies of human nature in a manner both realistic and affectionate elevates this tale of provincial matchmaking to the heights of scintillating satire. A classic of English literature that has delighted readers since its 1816 publication, the novel is now available in this high-quality, inexpensive edition sure to charm a new generation.” (from Amazon). 

Ahhh this book. The genius of it. The 1800 Englishness. The wit. The wisdom. I loved it so much. I loved the  characters. It’s just so good! <33

{My Review}

4. “Home Fires of the Great War” by Rebekah A. Morris. 

“Thirteen-year-old Maria Mitchell, known to all as Ria, and her friend Lydia have been assigned to write a report on a hero or heroine of the Great War (World War I) for a school project. Instead of picking some well known figure, the two friends decide to search for someone forgotten or unknown. When asked to help, Emma Mitchell, Ria’s Mom, brings out old letters she and a cousin wrote during the war. The girls are sure the letters hold the key to their success of finding a forgotten hero! But will they? It that all that these letters bring to light? Join Ria and Lydia, Mrs. Mitchell, an old neighbor called Corporal, and others as they re-live the years of home life during the war.” (from Amazon) 

This book was so good. It lived up to its title so well. It provided me with so many characters to swoon over and so many scenes to laugh out loud at. It was just so good. ^_^

{My Review}

5. “Secrets of the Woods” by William J. Long.

“In ‘Secrets of the Woods,’ author William Long vividly ‘word sketches’ the lives of the wood-mouse, otter, kingfisher, red squirrel, partridge, deer, and other wood folk. Through many fascinating anecdotes, ‘Secrets of the Woods’ shares with the reader what can be learned of the habits of animals through keen observation over a long period of time-details that elude the casual visitor to the woods. William Long is a great nature writer who manages, through ‘Secrets of the Woods,’ to teach valuable lessons from nature to children in an interesting story format. The stories are those that Long personally saw and experienced in the wild.” (from Amazon) 

I love all of William J. Long’s books that I have read so far. They are so woodsy and beautiful! But this is one of my favourites of all those lovelies. <3

{My Review}

6. “The Settlers in Canada” by Fredrick Marryat.

“‘The Settlers in Canada’ is a children’s novel written by Frederick Marryat, and published in 1844. The novel is set in the wilderness of Upper Canada in the 1790s. It describes the adventures of an immigrant family who settle near Lake Ontario, despite the threats from the native people and wild animals.” (from Wikipedia)

Oh, how I love this book!! I have read it over and over many times, but I believe I only loved more with each reread. Definitely one of my Top 5 Favourite Books Ever.

{My Review}

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So there you are—my six 5+ star reads of 2018. I hope you'll check at least a few of these books out. <3 Let me know if you have/will read them!