According to Goodreads, I read 210 books this year, and here’s how the numbers break down:
119 books published in 2023
112 old fashioned book books
16 Kindle books
82 audiobooks
It was hard for me to make a top 10 list for this year (and because I am pretentious, I only consider 2023 books for my 2023 top 10– so, even though I read some great backlist titles, they can’t make the cut) because it was hard to pick stand-out books— you know?? Does this mean everything I read was great? Or, does it mean I read a lot of meh titles this year? Hard to say.
I tried to read more than just middle-aged white ladies this year, and I tried to pick romances that didn’t just I feature cis hetero couples. THERE IS EVEN A DUDE ON MY LIST, you guys, and I read at least a handful of books by men this year. Still, I read a ton of books by white women, and many of them ended up on my list—I am going to keep diversifying my book choices in 2024. A Madison Mom readier called me out a year or so ago for choosing romances by white women about white women in a romance roundup post, and I am ashamed to say I hadn’t even noticed that. Since then, I have been applying the same critiques of canonicity and understandings of representation that I know from my academic life to my pleasure reading life. (But also, I am a middle-aged white lady, so I like seeing myself reflected in book pages).
ANYWAY— here are my 10 faves, from least favorite (still a fave, though) to most.
10. Evil Eye by Etaf Rum (old fashioned book book)
9. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (audio)
8. Maame by Jessica George (old fashioned book book)
7. Sam by Allegra Goodman (old fashioned book book)
6. Everything’s Fine by Cecelia Rabess (old fashioned book book)
5. The Guest by Emma Cline (old fashioned book book)
4. Yellowface by RF Kuang (kindle!! Color me surprised!)
3. Somebody’s Fool by Richard Russo (kindle!! Color me surprised!)
2. Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (audio)
1. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (audio— Meryl Streep reads it **chef’s kiss**)
This is Lisa. Dang you read a lot of books! I will come close to 100 which is a little lower than the last 2 years but still a ton of books to read. I can’t imagine doubling it! So way to fit a ton of reading in!
ReplyDeleteI had really complicated feelings about Everything’s Fine. Wow the Goodreads reviews were rough for that one. I could not understand why the protagonist stayed with that guy…
My top book of 2023 was Hello Beautiful. I’m going to post my best books list next week in case the book I am reading now makes the list (The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store).
I could not get into Heaven and Earth, but everyone LOVES it, so I requested it via Libby as an audiobook— I think I will like it better that way
DeleteI also loved listening to Meryl Streep read Tom Lake. I listened to it twice, actually. Also really enjoyed Hello Beautiful. I haven't read the others on your list. I'm currently listening to an older book on my Libby app, Heartburn by Nora Ephron, also read by Ms. Steep. I'm not LOVING it, but will stick with it.
ReplyDeleteI also did not love Heartburn, although listening to it, which I also did, does make it better, since it is Meryl!
DeleteI went through a major Nora Ephron phase, but that was before I discovered the magic of audiobooks
DeleteI use a reading tracker spreadsheet that another blogger (Stephany) sent me and there's a column labeled LGBTQ+, which is not something I truly concentrate on, but now that I'm tracking it, I realize that my reading woefully underrepresents that population. And when I factor in non-white authors, ugh. I am not doing a good job of practicing what I preach!
ReplyDeleteSAME, but I am working on it! I wish I didn’t default to not noticing how white my book world is.
DeleteI am once again awestruck by the number of books you read!
ReplyDeleteOf your faves, the only one I've read is the Makkai, and I really liked it. I have Yellowface but have yet to read it for some reason! I read so many backlist books this year, but if I stick to your rules and choose favorites from among the books published in 2023, I think I would pick Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. Such a fantastic series. I also really enjoyed My Murder by Katie Williams. So well done.
I will check out the Katie Williams book— that was on a saved ”want to read” list that I neglected
DeleteI really liked I Have Some Questions for You, Yellowface and Tom Lake - not sure if any of them but Tom Lake would make my top ten, if I made a top ten (I usually just list all the five-stars, but it would be an interesting exercise).
ReplyDeleteWhat does Color me surprised mean for Kindle?
I decided a few years ago to try to read more non-white women authors. I sometimes forget and have to bring myself back to it. So curious to see how unconscious bias comes in even when you're trying to be more conscious about it!
I just mean I actually HATE reading on the Kindle, but 2 of my ebook experiences were actually terrific— I WANT to like Kindle reading, but I am not there yet.
DeleteI have only read four of your top ten, so I guess I have some books to add to my list! I haven't rounded out my book stats yet, but I am guessing that I probably have 30-40% that are 2023. We shall see! I am not doing a top ten, but going to post the ones I rated five stars, which I think ended up being about 13, and they do include all books read in 2023, not just published in 2023. We have pretty long hold queues and so I have a hard time getting new books from the library sometimes. However, I think if I read the hardback rather than the ebook or audiobook, I may get them faster!
ReplyDeleteI am very competitive with library books. I try to put them on hold in advance of publication and love being the first person to get a library copy. I also stalk the walk-in shelves in Thursday mornings because that’s generally when the new Tuesday books make it to the display. I have an audible subscription and get a new title a month, and I am a book of the month reader, so that’s 12 new titles a year. But the rest are library.
DeleteWow and more wow! What an amazing accomplishment…I too listened to Tom Lake and enjoyed…I was nervous based on the reviews and other bloggers comments but really enjoyed the story and narration (and live in MI so N MI references were fun too).
ReplyDeleteI agree that the midwest angle made it even better
DeleteI am so amazed by the sheer number of books you are flying through. I have not read a single one of your favorites – probably because I don't usually care much about new books – but put several of yours on my TBR. So thank you for the round up. Have a happy new year with lots of great books.
ReplyDeletethanks-- I hope you have a great reading year too :)
DeleteI am so impressed by your reading prowess! And how many audiobooks you listen to - do you listen to any podcasts? Podcasts are forever competing with my audiobook listening time, haha.
ReplyDeleteThe only book I've read on your list is I Have Some Questions for You, which I really liked. I have a lot of these books on my TBR list, though!