Immediately added many of these to my list! My favorites of last year were Assembly by Natasha Brown, Ghost Music and I finally read Here Comes the Sun... exquisite
Such a good list! I haven't been able to keep up with the books on my shelf ~and~ exciting new releases since deep, deep pandemic. But every year, I appreciate the blank slate that we get to create for ourselves in January.
Loved reading your reflections! In 2023 I also read and loved Big Swiss (so voyeuristically funny, entertaining, queer…with a really good and psychologically subtle reflection on trauma) and Francisco (beautiful, imagistic writing on a tumultuous and transformative love)
2 of my favorite books last year were Ia Genberg's The Details (a woman reflecting on queer & straight relationships, difficult friendships, and her strained relationship with her mother; truly GORGEOUS writing) and Qiu Miaojin's Last Words from Montmartre (a Taiwanese immigrant in Paris agonises over her past relationships). I wrote a summary of my favorite books of 2023 on my Substack as well ~
I have come to love the DNF-list, and actually keep a list of titles started but not finished. I mean with a lot of DNFs (some I read 50-100 pages in) your actual read-list will be affected over a year, right?
I need to make a list! It definitely affects it, but its been worth it to finish stuff I'm suuuper interested in rather than pushing through. But if I get past the 150 mark, I'll probably just keep going haha
Just added What Napoleon Could Not Do to my TBR! I loved Banyan Moon last year - I still think about it today and I read it in... February or March? A marker of a poignant read for me!
Big Swiss is in the mail to me as I read this and will instantly move to the top of my To Read list based on your endorsement. Thanks!
You'll have to let me know how you like it!
Immediately added many of these to my list! My favorites of last year were Assembly by Natasha Brown, Ghost Music and I finally read Here Comes the Sun... exquisite
Love Here Comes the Sun! I'll have to look into the two you mentioned.
thank you for your sharing.😊
Thank you for reading!
I loved Francisco toooo!! and reading Family Time right now 😭
Great list! I’ve only read Big Swiss but thought the ending was good! What didn’t you like? I’m so curious. Adding the rest to my list.
tbh I can't remember because its been so long but I want to say it felt a bit tidy and strange?
Interesting! Thank you!
Hi Tembe, I'm C.Daley. I love book lists and these seem interesting!
Nice to e-meet you! Thank you.
Needed this! So excited to start Hope :)
Such a good list! I haven't been able to keep up with the books on my shelf ~and~ exciting new releases since deep, deep pandemic. But every year, I appreciate the blank slate that we get to create for ourselves in January.
Me too! It always makes me feel ambitious.
Excited to see that there’s another novel by C. Pam Zhang. I really liked “How Much Gold Is in These Mountains”.
My own 2023 list is here if you’re interested: https://biblioscope.org/issues_51_to_60/issue_56.html
My favourite book of the year was “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt.
You compiled a great list. I read Loot last year as well and really liked it!
Loved reading your reflections! In 2023 I also read and loved Big Swiss (so voyeuristically funny, entertaining, queer…with a really good and psychologically subtle reflection on trauma) and Francisco (beautiful, imagistic writing on a tumultuous and transformative love)
2 of my favorite books last year were Ia Genberg's The Details (a woman reflecting on queer & straight relationships, difficult friendships, and her strained relationship with her mother; truly GORGEOUS writing) and Qiu Miaojin's Last Words from Montmartre (a Taiwanese immigrant in Paris agonises over her past relationships). I wrote a summary of my favorite books of 2023 on my Substack as well ~
I'll have to read yours! Both of those sound interesting and lovely.
So many great books!
I have come to love the DNF-list, and actually keep a list of titles started but not finished. I mean with a lot of DNFs (some I read 50-100 pages in) your actual read-list will be affected over a year, right?
Cheers.
I need to make a list! It definitely affects it, but its been worth it to finish stuff I'm suuuper interested in rather than pushing through. But if I get past the 150 mark, I'll probably just keep going haha
Well, thank heavens. I just gave myself permission to put “Newness” down.
Just curious, what do you do with all of the books when you finish reading them? Also, do you ever read a book more than once?
I rarely read more than once! And I store them all on bookshelves around the house.
The Rachel Incident is also on my top books of last year! So funny and wise
I love a good reading list and the StoryGraph app is bae :) Also thank you for giving me new books to add to my never ending TBR list.
Just added What Napoleon Could Not Do to my TBR! I loved Banyan Moon last year - I still think about it today and I read it in... February or March? A marker of a poignant read for me!