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Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to share our top ten books of 2023 this week. I got bogged down early in the year with a couple of long books that really did not catch my attention but I refused to give up on them. That put me in an odd sort of reading slump. I read a few standouts (including the ones below) but overall, this felt like a very lackluster reading year for me. As always, most of these were not published in 2023 but I did read them this year. I’ve noted if links go to my review; if I didn’t write one, the link goes to Bookshop.org.
Shubeik Lubeik, written, illustrated, and translated by Deena Mohamed (Link to my review)
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, read by Kimberly Farr
How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Rebecca Green (So good, I read it twice back to back!)
National Parks, written and photographed by Clyde Butcher
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra, translated by John Cullen
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro (Link to my review)
Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation, written and read by Cokie Roberts
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, read by Scott Brick
Bonus: My Husband’s Top Three Books of 2023
My husband doesn’t really consider himself a reader but he has a consistent goal to read one book per month. He surpassed his goal for the first time this year, reading 15 books! Considering that the median number of books read each year by Americans is four, I think he’s going to have to start calling himself a reader now. These are his top three picks for the year.
Circe by Madeline Miller (Link to my review)
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
That’s my list! Have you read any of these? Which books were your favorites this year? Link up every Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl!
40 Comments
I loved Endurance and Addie LaRue. I hope this year is better for your reading!
Thank you!
When Women Were Dragons and I Must Betray You are on my list to read in 2024! I hope you have an amazing year of reading in 2024 🙂
I hope you enjoy them when/if you get to them!
I LOVE that you included your husband’s favorite books of the year. Mine also isn’t a huge reader, but he always has his favorite books he talks about. How to Be a Good Creature looks immensely adorable but also like it would make me cry.
My Favorite Books of 2023
I *loathe* books where the animals die and How to Be a Good Creature did not make me cry. There were some losses, not gonna lie, but there was healing and hope too.
Oh, good to know!! I think I could manage that!
I’ve only read one book by Ruta Sepetys, but will look for I Must Betray You. I think I have Salt to the Sea in my TBR stacks, too. Loved Circe, and thought The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was pretty good, but not great.
Happy New Year to you two. Can’t wait to see where you head next!
Between Shades of Gray is my absolute favorite book by Sepetys but all her books are fantastic. I loved Circe too but haven’t read Addie LaRue. Happy New Year to you as well! May we all visit exciting places!
I’ve been hearing things about When Women Were Dragons but haven’t read it yet. Sounds like you had a really good reading year. Hope 2024 brings even more wonderful books!
My TTT: http://lifewithnoplot.com/2024/01/02/teasers-top-tens-january-2-2024/
It was so good, especially on audio!
I enjoyed I Must Betray You and Endurance. I also love everything William Kent Krueger.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Anne – Books of My Heart
This Tender Land was my first William Kent Krueger but won’t be my last!
I love that you added your husband’s favorites, too! Happy reading 🙂
Here’s my my Top Ten Tuesday
I like to give him guest appearances on here when I can. He’s usually a hit!
I really liked both I MUST BETRAY YOU and ENDURANCE. The former, especially, was so atmospheric that it has really stuck with me.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I highly recommend all of Sepetys’s books if you haven’t read them already. My absolute favorite of her is Between Shades of Gray.
Three of your top books are ones I really enjoyed: I Must Betray You; Best Strangers; and This Tender Land. I hope 2024 brings you wonderful books.
Thank you!
I still need to read I Must Betray You. It was fun to see it make your list.
I love all of Sepetys’s books!
I’ve heard such great things about I MUST BETRAY YOU. I love Ruta Sepetys; I just haven’t gotten to that book of hers yet.
https://jennielyse.com/top-ten-tuesday-43/
It took me a little longer than I would have like to read it too but it was worth the wait!
Great list! I’m especially interested in How To Be a Good Creature. I’ll have to see if I can find a copy of that one at my library! Happy reading in 2024!
Here’s my TTT post this week.
I truly loved How to Be a Good Creature. I hope you like it when/if you read it!
The Attack and I Must Betray You are recent faves of mine. Nice list!
They’re so good! So much to mull over in both of them.
I’ve been really curious about When Women Were Dragons, though it doesn’t seem like 100% my thing… I always like trying new things. Looks like your husband has great taste, too!
My TTT.
I hope you try When Women Were Dragons if it interests you at all. It was so good, especially on audio!
I haven’t read yours, but I did read Circe and Addie Larue. However, not in 2023!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2024/01/02/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-and-most-surprising-books-of-2023/
I read Circe a year or two ago myself and loved it!
I haven’t heard of any of these but they certainly sound interesting. The cover of When Women Were Dragons caught my eye, I may need to check that one out.
I have enjoyed many of your choices this year including This Tender Land and I Must Betray You. I should look for others you have listed.
How to Be a Good Creature sounds excellent.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
I haven’t read I Must Betray You yet, but it’s definitely on my TBR, I love Sepetys’s work! My TTT: https://www.literacious.com/2024/01/02/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-books-of-2023/
I haven’t read anything by Septys, but I feel I should try her, as I enjoy reading historical fiction. I love that you’ve included your husband’s favorites as well. I hope you have a wonderful 2024.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/my-twelve-favorite-reads-of-2023/
Circe and Pratchett! Your hubby has good taste! I still need to read Ruta Sepeyst and This Tender Land too!
I loved Circe too! I haven’t read any of the others in your list, though I’ve read some of your previous reviews and remember adding these to my TBR. Wish you some excellent reads in year ’24 as well!
I really like the author of This Tender Land. His newest novel is on my TBR.
Happy New Year!
My Favs of 2023
This Tender Land is one of my all-time favorite books. Happy New Year!