By my count I finished 34 books this year, not counting ones read with my kids. These are 4 of my favourites, in no particular order: a biography of eccentric mathematician Paul Erdos; a self contained SFF epic about the future of religion; a fascinating look at bird intelligence; and a moving Australian sci fi story of virtual reality and the gap between those who embrace it and those who reject it #BooksOf2023#Bookstodon@bookstodon
My 41st #BooksReadIn2023 - while still wading through weightier tomes I wanted to read something quicker and easier… which it may be in some ways, but not others. Inspiring, depressing, exhausting… not as good as for example Rebirding but a grounding reminder of the need for action.
#BooksOf2023 #1: #KeeperOfTheLosCities #3: Everblaze. My kids have enjoyed getting into a new series after we finished the #WingsOfFire books last year. These magical adventure books are perfect for our next series together. 📚 📕
#BooksOf2023 #2: Louise Penny’s A World of Curiosities. Yet another great Gamache mystery. This series is one of my all-time favorites and the latest book (#18 in the series) doesn’t disappoint.📚 📕
#BooksOf2023 #3: David Pepper’s The Wingman. Second in a political thriller trilogy, this one was a bit slower than the first, but I’m looking forward to the third in the series. His nonfiction “Laboratories of Autocracy” is an excellent read.
#BooksOf2023 #5: Chris Pavone’s Two Nights in Lisbon. While he still hasn’t matched his debut novel, The Expats, this mystery/international kidnapping story is timely and leaves you guessing.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023 #6: Rich Blood by Robert Bailey. This legal thriller, similar to Grisham’s novels, follows an ambulance-chaser straight out of rehab who’s thrown into his first criminal case when his sister is accused of putting out a contract for her husband’s murder.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#10: Francesca T. Royster’s Black Country Music. This was a great dive into the history - and present - of how Country music has a much deeper Black history than many people realize. It’s an excellent companion to Marissa R. Moss’ fabulous Her Country.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#11: Keeper Of The Lost Cities #6: Nightfall. This series keeps developing and my kids have really enjoyed each of the books so far. They also keep getting bigger with this book hitting 790 pages and the next hitting 845.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#12: The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff. This was an excellent read all about modern work and how having a “good enough” job that you can do well, but also gives you space to live your life.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#13: American Whitelash by Wesley Lowery. This was an excellent book detailing where our country has turned over the past 15 years and relates it to America’s racist past.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#14: A Question of Holmes by Brittany Cavallaro. The 4th and final book in the Charlotte Holmes series, this book very nicely wraps up the story of Sherlock’s modern-day descendant. A great mystery read!
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#15: Saving Democracy by @DavidPepper. This follow-up to his Laboratories of Autocracy, is more of a user’s manual for both small and large steps individuals can take to help save democracy in the US.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#16: Robert E. Lee and Me by Ty Seidule. As someone born in the south and whose extended family still lives there, this book opened my eyes to some of the ways the “lost cause” is baked into southern culture. A must-read for anyone from the south or anyone who wants to learn more about the U.S.’s (particularly the South) continual struggle against racism.
@bookstadon#BooksOf2023#17: Fixit by Joe Ide. The 6th book in the IQ mystery series pulled together lots of threads from the previous books, but the story plodded along slower that I would have liked. I’ll keep reading the series, but the first two books remain the best.