A Book List, for your enjoyment.

So a year or two ago, my younger sister and I started making a list of books we had read that we enjoyed. It's saved in a word doc on my computer so that I can share it at a moments notice with those who would like to use it. And trust me it's getting quite big.
Unfortunately, I've found that being a mom, I have a lot less time to read now than I did pre-baby. But I still love books, and there are some that I can't tell you how many times I've read, they're that enjoyable to me. So I thought that for my post this week, I'd share some of my very favorites, as well as (if I can figure out how), link my word doc on here.
A preface though, on the types of books on the list. Firstly, my sister and I have been raised to have good personal standards and morals, and that extends to the books we read as well. Nothing on the list is anything that I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending to her, and she's a bit younger than me. Some of the books have context that may be too advanced for younger readers, but not more than that. If you see the title of a book you have enjoyed or even loved, I highly recommend the rest of the list to you! Also, I absolutely love fairy tales. Part of me refuses to grow up, and I embrace that by finding as many retellings to read as I can. And there a lots of those out there. So, without any further mumblings on my part, the books.

 Book List   (Yay me! I figured it out!)

Some of my very favorites, both on the above list, and not.

Little Women- Louisa May Alcott, one of my very all time favorites. I think there are almost as many covers for this book as there are people to read it. What's a better read than four very different sisters growing up? This is one of those that I couldn't even tell you how many times I've read my copy, I love it that much.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow -Jessica Day George; This one is an interesting story about a girl with no name, her quest to save a favorite brother, a prince in disguise, also involving trolls, a gargoyle, a centaur, a satyr, a silkie, a nymph, and other assorted creatures of fable. One of my very favorites on the book list.

I also have enjoyed just about everything I've read by Robin McKinley. A few of those are:
The Blue Sword (This one also has a companion book that I don't think is on my list yet, called The Hero and the Crown).  Also, Rose Daughter and Spindle's End  are fantastic!

I also love the Once Upon a Time series. There are several authors that have contributed to this one, and lots of books in the series. All of the ones that my sister and I have read to date are on the book list above.  :)

Other books not on the list that I highly recommend:
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
Bloomability - Sharon Creech
Persuasion - Jane Austen.  My very favorite of the Jane Austen books. Also, both versions of this movie are fantastic!
The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine. 

Wildwood Dancing. On previous occasions, I've described this book as a mash-up of the twelve dancing princess (except there are only five), the frog prince (who isn't really a prince), with something else. And, it's one of the best books ever! The sequel is just as great (it's called Cybele's Secret) and I personally am holding out for a third in the series!

Princess of the Midnight Ball - Jessica Day George. This one is a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. There's also a sequel called Princess of Glass that's a retelling of Cinderella with one of the younger sisters. Personally I'm hoping that the author continues using sisters to retell more fairy tales!

A couple of footnotes, mostly for the book list:

• The third book of the Graceling series by Kristin Cashore has been out for awhile now. It's good, but much darker than the previous two. It's called Bitterblue. I highly recommend these if you liked the Hunger Games. Michael also like both series as well.
•  Matched  by Allie Condie has a sequel out call Crossed. Hopefully she gets the third one out before some of us die of anticipation on that one!

One last comment from me, I'd just finished watching Mirror, Mirror before I did this post, so I was feeling a little giddy, and girly, and princessy. Sorry if I scared you!
I think that's all for this week. Please share what you think of the above books and the book list! Enjoy and happy reading!