Book Talk #6 - 2023
2023 was a surprising reading year for me. I did not think I would (or could) read 100 books in a year. In 2022, I read 93 books and that felt like a sprint to the finish. And in 2023, life was so busy and stressful at times that I doubted I could keep plowing through but strangely enough, I think it was because of how full my plate was that I took to books to make it through. Between planning a wedding, some family strife, an extended honeymoon, getting pregnant and slogging through my first trimester, work demands, and continuing my education with my first post-graduate course at Harvard, my reading became an escape for my brain and soul.
The year started out slow, without many books capturing my complete attention. I got worried that I wouldn’t find my groove or even enough books to fill a top ten list with. And then things settled in and it turned out to be a rich and rewarding literary year. I (unintentionally) read far more “serious” books this year than ever before, and I can feel the toll of it on my mind. I will certainly be looking to sprinkle my 2024 reading with more lighter fare as I slide into my third trimester and look forward to finishing work and welcoming our son to the world in the spring.
Every year, I pick a word that will anchor and guide my year. In 2023, my word was “celebrate.” In 2024, my word will be “savour.” I intend to savour every single thing that comes my way in 2024 - the good, bad, ugly, magical, hard, joyous, and beyond - and I intend to apply this to my reading life too. My TBR list is long, but I plan to tackle it intentionally and be judicious with what I choose to devote my attention to, especially once our little guy is here with us. Beginning to build his library and read to him will be something to savour as well!
With all that said, here is my 2023 reading year in review!
My top ten reads of 2023, in the order in which I read them:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Such a delightful book. I was entirely unsure of what to expect but knew that this book topped many a favourites list in 2022. I felt so deeply for Tova and Cameron, but most so for Marcellus. It is amazing how the author created such a compelling character out of an octopus in just a few short chapters throughout the book.
Good Morning, Monster by Dr. Catherine Gildiner
I couldn’t put this one down! The stories were so powerful and I found Dr. Gildiner’s insights and reflections into her time with these select patients to be exceedingly thoughtful and wonderfully written.
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting a Generation Up for Failure by Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff
Read this whole book on the plane to Rome for our honeymoon. I am a big fan of Haidt’s work generally and I think he presents a well-reasoned and researched approach to ideas that are, strangely, becoming counter-cultural. I hope that his message gets through to my generation as we become parents and hopefully we can turn the tide on fear-based parenting that is setting kids up for failure and the inability to think critically and independently.
In a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviero
Took me two starts on this book but once I was in, I was IN. I could not have predicted any of the plot and Livierio’s writing had me totally hooked. Upon finishing, I immediately downloaded another of her historical fiction books.
Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia by Hadley Freeman
I tore through this book on my honeymoon (not a light beach read but reading it on a beach in the Gulf of Naples was memorable). The way Freeman wove her personal story of anorexia with current research and the history of the disease was masterful and engaging.
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage that Saved the Monarchy by Sally Bedell Smith
Simply wonderful. I was so sad when this book was over; I wanted to spend so much more time with everyone in it. It is so interesting how we as a society tend to frame the British monarchy and Royal Family in only our present day and rarely stop to think about context over hundreds of years. We are fickle in our judgements, loving them when times are tough and we remember why having state figures outside of elected officials is meaningful, and then tearing them to shreds when they fail and reveal their flawed humanity. However, history has looked kindly upon George VI and Queen Elizabeth and I think that’s right. They stepped up to a challenge and a life neither of them anticipated.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Pulitzer Prize winner for a reason. Powerful, compelling, funny, deeply alive characters. Would recommend this one to anyone.
The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk
Mounk was a guest on one of my favourite podcasts, Pantsuit Politics, and after that conversation, I knew I had to read this book. It’s a searing look at the identity politics of our time, the history behind how we got here, and what to do next for those of us who do not want to take part in this increasingly reductive, dangerous, uncaring, and unproductive way of categorizing and engaging with fellow human beings.
All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum and Me by Patrick Bringley
What a beautiful book. I have spent many an hour in the Met so I could envision every single exhibit and room Bringley was talking about throughout. The Met was always a safe haven for me while I lived in New York (and after), and it was soothing to read Bringley’s story of it being a safe haven for him too.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Took me a little to get into it but wow, what a story! A true tour de force of a book with incredibly engaging characters and vivid imagery. I’m only about a decade late to the party on this one, but I understand now why there was a party in the first place!
And the honourable mentions:
Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page
A beautiful, honest, charming, and sad look at a lifetime of a couple born after the first World War and changed by the second. I was surprised and also satisfied by the ending.
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
Internet Stranger Friends (ISF) Book Club pick. It was heart-wrenching and sad and hopeful and I just wanted the very best for the main character, April, the whole time. A beautiful story.
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Thought-provoking and helps explain how a more right-leaning/conservative rhetoric connects with people more consistently than the left-leaning/liberal.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This was a tough read at times because of how vividly it is written. Hannah truly is an incredible story teller. I will never tire of her beautiful characters and heart wrenching stories.
Foster by Claire Keegan
Beautifully written and so compelling in such a short read. Keegan is one of my favourite new authors.
Search by Michelle Huneven
ISF Book Club pick. Could not get enough of the characters. It is fiction but reads like a memoir.
Survivor Cafe by Elizabeth Rosner
A powerful and poignant look at what it means to be a “survivor,” primarily through the context of the Holocaust and Rosner’s parents, who were both imprisoned in concentration camps.
Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Marriage that Shook Europe by John Guy & Julia Fox
This book turned a lot of commonly held thoughts and stories about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on their heads. There’s such a simple narrative that has come to be around these two people and in reality, things were so much more complex, and of course they were because they were complex people! I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
I had no idea where this book was going and the mystery, suspense, and interesting characters had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The Full List (by genre):
Fiction
Dear Evelyn by Kathy Page
The Shortest Day by Colm Toibin
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Sixth Wedding by Elin Hilderbrand
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel
Stay Close by Harlan Coben
Advika and the Hollywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti
Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
A Room With a View by E.M. Forster
In a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviero
A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Foster by Claire Keegan
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
The Second Mrs Astor by Shana Abe
Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead
Search by Michelle Huneven
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
November 9th by Colleen Hoover
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Euphoria by Lily King
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
Non-Fiction
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders
Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Maternal Instinct by Abigail Tucker
Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff
Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia by Hadley Freeman
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital by Elise Hu
Expecting Better by Dr. Emily Oster
Bumpin’ by Leslie Schrock
The Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk
Memoir & Biography
Down and Out in Paradise by Charles Leehsen
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
A Billion Years by Mike Rinder
Paris: the Memoir by Paris Hilton
Forgiveness: A Gift from My Grandparents by Mark Sakamoto
The Jane Austen Remedy by Ruth Wilson
Good Morning, Monster by Dr. Catherine Gildiner
Beyond the Wand: the Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton
Bad Mormon by Heather Gay
Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy by Sally Bedell Smith
Honey, Baby, Mine by Diane Ladd & Laura Dern
Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson
Dear Girls by Ali Wong
All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
Survivor Cafe by Elizabeth Rosner
Hunting the Falcon by John Guy & Julia Fox
Mengele: Unmasking the “Angel of Death” by David G. Marwell
CBK: Caroline Bessette Kennedy: a Life in Fashion by Sunia Kamir Nair
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Personal & Spiritual Growth
Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
The Life Council by Laura Tremaine
101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber
What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Bruce D. Perry
Real Self-Care by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin
How to Be Here by Rob Bell
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May
I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown
10% Happier by Dan Harris
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth by Lindsey Bliss
Poetry
Goldenrod: Poems by Maggie Smith
