2023 was the year I did the most voluntary reading in my adult life. Having teenagers and driving a lot for work (audio book time!) certainly gave me more time that I could use to read than I have had at other seasons. Goodreads tells me that I’ve read 71 books so far this year - and there are still a few weeks left! I didn’t track my reading at all until 2016 - I think the thing that convinced me was having re-started more than one book and realizing that I had read it before. It’s nice to have everything saved there to refer back to.
The more I read, the more I realize what I like and don’t like - like food, everyone likes different things for different reasons and at different times. The books I am most likely to rate 5 stars, I have found, are non-fiction books written by women between 1920-50. Who knew? I also tend to read seasonally, and I think that is reflected in my list, too. Here are my top reads for this year, and why they made the top of my list - hopefully there will be something that catches your interest, too.
For the visual experience:
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - in 1906 Edith Holden kept a nature diary, with poems, quotes, notes about the weather and things that took place, and her paintings of the natural world. Apparently, it sat unread on a shelf until the 1970’s, at which point someone found it and had it published, and it was a worldwide bestseller. The BBC made a dramatised video version in 1984, which I borrowed from the library - honestly, even I found it too boring to commit the time to watch. I watched the first few seasons of the year, and I loved when specific plants were highlighted. But that wasn’t enough for me to finish watching the whole thing. The book, though, is such a delight to sit down with - her paintings are incredible, the descriptions are lovely, and the verses she includes are just so seasonal and timely - I loved it. It is beautiful and delightful and celebrates nature in her personal way - it was never intended to be published which I think gives it part of its charm.
Fiction:
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: I read this while solo camping this summer. I somehow managed to live for 42 years and missed this absolute gem of a book (and I still haven’t seen the movie!) It’s one of those children’s books that has so much to say to adults - it’s beautifully yet straightforwardly written, the characters are completely compelling and the setting is magical (literally, ha!) I absolutely loved it, and it is now in my top 5 of all time. It was actually because someone shared the introductory paragraph about August on Instagram this summer that I made it a point to read it, and I am so glad I did.
“The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.”
As I’m assembling this post, I’m realizing that all of my fiction choices have an element of the bizarre. Elevation by Stephen King was the first fiction book of his I’ve read- (I read On Writing at the beginning of the year and enjoyed it so much that I made a point to try out some fiction) but the length of most of his books is completely daunting. So I started with this short one and really enjoyed it - I had no idea what to expect and was happy to be carried along for the story as I listened to the audio book (which he narrates). It’s short, the characters are compelling and the premise keeps you wondering. Reading and enjoying this
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier was one that I have had on my list for YEARS (since 2016, I believe) and I finally listened to the audiobook this fall. It was lovely and strange and disturbing by times and at the end I was glad that every part had been included to - it all came together to make for a really great story.
Memoir:
West with the Night, Beryl Markham: Beryl Markham trained racehorses, had a zebra for a pet, her dog saved her from a leopard I think it was in the middle of the night as a child when she lived in Kenya, and oh, she was also the first person to fly nonstop from Europe to America (Cape Breton even makes a cameo in this memoir!). And as if that wasn’t enough, Hemingway said that he was ashamed of his writing after having read hers. I’m realizing I need to read this again. This was an incredible story of an exceptional life, perfectly written. 10/10, and ALL of the stars.
Tracks: Robyn Davidson: Wow- I never thought that I would be so invested in a story including camels - this is another excellently written solo-female adventure story that I could not put down. I loved learning about Australia and the outback, and I feel a bit more prepared should I ever need to treat a camel’s infected foot. What an incredible story!
Surrender by Bono. This was a long one, but I LOVED IT. I definitely recommend the audiobook - I think a lot would be missed if it was read on paper. Bono narrates it and there is lots of musical and audio magic included - the stories behind 40 of U2’s songs is the structure of the book, and it is a GEM.
I hope there’s something here that you will pick up and enjoy. Happy Reading!