Favorite Books Read in 2023 (published in any year)
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Anonymous
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Let's share our favorite books of 2023, with no requirement that they were published in 2023.
If you like, share a little about the book. I think it helps everyone know if it would appeal to them. |
Anonymous
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Favorite “new” books
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy - love story set in the Troubles in Northern Ireland Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - finally tried this and was surprised how much I loved it! Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth - challenging look at abuse, spare writing, grew on me I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai - appealed to me as a fellow woman who grew up in the 90s, look at what we used to accept as "normal" in male/female interactions Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - a book with a talking octopus? I thought it would be too cutesy, but absolutely loved it. The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donaghue - page turner set in the 1918 flu epidemic in a maternity ward Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - beautiful story of mother/daughter relationships set with the covid pandemic in the background The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng - historical fiction set in Penang that revolves around Somerset Maugham and his interaction with a couple in that city. One of my favorite authors. Favorite “classics” Anne by Constance Fenimore Woolson - little-known American woman author - I LOVED this book and flew through it to find out what happened to Anne To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (reread) - no one does stream of consciousness and imagery better The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (reread) - charming Finnish book about a crabby grandmother and her young granddaughter Irretrievable by Theodor Fontane - German book about a failing marriage in a beautiful setting Persuasion by Jane Austen (reread) - probably my favorite Austen, that letter . . . A Dream in Polar Fog by Yuri Rytkheau - a little out there, the story of an American explorer who gets stranded in Russia with the Indigenous Chukchi people. As he assimilates to their culture, he finds a beauty in their interactions and can't imagine returning to his previous life. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (reread) - the most youthful, fun Austen novel In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden - a novel about nuns! And I loved it! Beautiful look at relationships within a closed circle. I can imagine rereading this. Favorite Non-fiction Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King - racism in Florida during the Jim Crow Era, shocking and disturbing and necessary reading What Matters in Jane Austen by John Mullen - fun series of essays for dedicated Austen readers Know My Name by Chanel Miller - a rape survivors manifesto, must-read These Precious Days by Ann Patchett - lovely series of essays, works really well on audio read by the author |
Anonymous
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Wow, thank you! Used to LOVE to read, kids and life got in the way and I’m determined to do better. I’ll start here!
Loved the Dutch House by Ann Patchett - my only contribution to the beautiful list, unfortunately |
Anonymous
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The Covenant of Water
Hello Beautiful |
Anonymous
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Search by Michelle Huneven -- A wonderfully nuanced and funny novel about a restaurant critic who serves on her Unitarian Universalist church's search committee for a new senior minister. Huneven hits every note of what it's like to be part of a theologically liberal faith community where (almost) everybody really has their heart in the right place. Extra points here because the story also features the main character's happy marriage of many years and sustaining, though sometimes challenging, intergenerational friendships. Plus, Huneven, who was a restaurant critic and food writer for the LA Times includes recipes -- Pledge Drive Chicken, anyone?
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- Another beautiful story of a community that comes together to protect the weakest among them against oppression and cruelty. The book is also something of a heist story and is hilariously funny. Again, I loved the portrait of friendships-- some improbable, but rich in loyalty and love, and of marriages in which each party believes they are the lucky one. McBride also weaves in some klezmer and jazz history so vividly that a reader's toes will start tapping. |
Anonymous
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The wishing game
Hello beautiful |
Anonymous
| Lessons in Chemistry and Demon Copperhead |
Anonymous
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Fiction: Tom Lake and Demon Copperhead
Non-fiction: You Can Make This Place Beautiful |
Anonymous
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My top books read in 2023:
Demon Copperhead Fourth Wing Five Star Weekend Carrie Soto is Back Atomic Habits Remarkably Bright Creatures |
Anonymous
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Hello Beautiful - Ann Napolitano
Tom Lake - Ann Patchett Foster - Claire Keegan (I think published in 2010 and more of a short story but so good) Next up, Lessons in Chemistry |
Anonymous
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Demon Copperfield by Barbara Kingsolver
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Con/Artist by Tony Tetro The Monk of Mokha byDave Eggers The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston Homecoming by Kate Morton The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer |
Anonymous
| I admittedly didn’t read a ton of books but I really enjoyed The Wager. Kind of a you can’t make this stuff up kind of crazy book. |
Anonymous
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Horse
Remarkably Bright Creatures The Light Pirate Bottle of Lies Yellowface |
Anonymous
Also, The Measure |
Anonymous
Plus 1 to Hello Beautiful |