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26-ish books for 2023

767 replies

Tinkhasflown · 01/01/2023 13:15

A shiny new thread for 2023. There didn't appear to be one do hope it's ok that I have created it this year.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 3 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

OP posts:
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8
Yuja · 26/08/2023 16:06

15 - The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O Farrell
I love this author so was pleased to really enjoy this beautifully written story.

BobDear · 27/08/2023 15:39

16: The Talented Mr Ripley - Patricia Highsmith
Had (thankfully) forgotten the plot from film adaptation, but did remember enjoying it and this has been on my 'to read' list for years - but low down. i REALLY enjoyed it.

drspouse · 27/08/2023 23:37

21 The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. I think if you liked Lessons in Chemistry you'd like this.

22 The End of Gender by Debra Soh. I'm not a fan of evolutionary psychology and I feel she trips herself up a bit in her attempt to be all things to all people BUT she has some good bits as well.

23 Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch. Loved this. Very evocative but also hilarious in places (and doesn't pretend like Alexander McCall Smith to know what it's like to be a middle aged African woman when you are in fact a Scottish man).

I am feeling well enough that I am not counting audio books any more but still a bit exhausted!

Wildernesstips · 28/08/2023 17:33

16 - Flight of the Falcon by Daphne du Maurier
(I was inspired by a PP's list). I wasn't sure what to make of this at first, but du Maurier is such a good novelist that I was completely hooked in no time. It would be a great read if you were holidaying in Italy.

thefinaltwist · 29/08/2023 16:41

Book 22 The Book of Souls by James Oswald

toffee1000 · 01/09/2023 01:08

I finished #9: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo and #10: My Farming Life by Emma Gray. #10 was a non-fiction memoir rather than a novel, by a woman who lived on a Northumberland farm (although she lives on the island of Bute in Scotland by now) who mostly works with sheep and is really good at sheepdog trials. Apparently she’s been on TV a few times. It was pretty interesting, you learn a lot about farming and sheepdog trialling. I got it as part of a Willoughby Book Club subscription, they sent it to me because I said I like James Herriot.

Scout2016 · 01/09/2023 17:13

25. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. Wasted on me unfortunately. Took me a long time to get into, then so long to read that I don't think I could reasonably make any comment. Can't work out what went wrong. Maybe I just picked a bad time to read it.

GalileoHumpkins · 01/09/2023 17:19

55 None of this is True by Lisa Jewell
56 Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

Amdone123 · 04/09/2023 13:13

@GalileoHumpkins was Lisa Jewell 's new book good ?
I've just read The Serial Killer's Sister, Alice Hunter. I really enjoyed it. My sister gave me The Serial Killer's Wife, same author - she loved it.
I'm now reading between you and me, Lisa Hall. My sister read this in a day, she said it's brilliant.

GalileoHumpkins · 04/09/2023 13:42

was Lisa Jewell 's new book good ?

Yes, I really enjoyed it and was reading it when I really should have been doing other things!

Amdone123 · 04/09/2023 14:09

@GalileoHumpkins 🤣 great thanks. I'll buy for my holiday.

Amdone123 · 05/09/2023 21:04

Between you and me, Lisa Hall.
Really good.

Orangebadger · 05/09/2023 21:44

12) And then there were none. Agatha Christie. My first Christie book and I loved it! A fantastic page turner.

Scout2016 · 05/09/2023 22:43

26 A Long Way From Verona by Jane Gardam. I really really loved this.
At the end there's blurbs for other books and one (Faith Fox) is recommended by Victoria Wood. Which fits, because Gardam has that sort of humour and precise but matter of fact language, odd turns of phrase, with small and huge dramas given equal attention, and several odd bod characters.
The narrator is a 12 year old girl who is not inclined to conform and has a knack of getting in fixes even when she does try to. Set in the North East during the second World War.

Scout2016 · 07/09/2023 09:46

27. Soonchild by Russell Hoban illustrated by Alex's Deacon. Not the sort of thing I usually read but Soonchild was featured in a book I read on children's picture books and I was intrigued. Deacon also did Beegu, which I love. That is definitely a kids' book. Soonchild was marketed as YA fiction I think, but I think there's crossover and I'm not sold on the YA appeal given the themes.
Anyway, it's set in the icy North and based on Inuit mythology. The protagonist is a shaman called sixteen face John. He's been slacking on the shaman work though. His wife (No Problem) is heavily pregnant but the baby (Soonchild) is refusing to come.
This is a beautiful book. The illustrations are somewhat strange and all in monochrome. The book is increasingly heavily illustrated as the story gathers momentum, the story follows John through trials and trances as he tries to put the world right to entice his baby to come. I'm attaching a couple of photos to give a flavour in case any one fancies reading it, or giving it as a present maybe.
Mr Ugly is a whalebone carving John made.

Orangebadger · 08/09/2023 11:58

13) Becoming by Michelle Obama. Brilliant!

TrustPenguins · 09/09/2023 23:20
  1. The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

Very slow going, not much happening, then a twist bringing things nicely together, slightly random ending... Not the best. 2 out of 5.

thefinaltwist · 10/09/2023 08:39

Book 23 Dead Mens Bones by James Oswald. Really enjoying this series since I found book 3 in a charity shop

Amdone123 · 10/09/2023 14:38

I'm reading How To Kill Your Family, Bella Mackie. I'm loving it - it's really funny / dark.

GalileoHumpkins · 10/09/2023 15:26

57 The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Breathmiller · 11/09/2023 21:42
  1. Gilead - marylinn Robinson
  2. The Return of Faraz Ali - ammina ahmed
  3. A River in Darkness - masaji ishikawa

Thoroughly enjoyed all 3 of these.
(Gilead is nothing to do with Handmaids Tale.)

Going to have a look through for ideas for my next one.

Nordicmom · 12/09/2023 01:17

I have not finished my last book by Stephen King ;” Billy Summers “but I’ve started on another the new “ Holly “ . Generally I haven’t read so much this summer so hoping to get back into this fall !

BaconAndAvocado · 12/09/2023 17:57

Breathmiller · 11/09/2023 21:42

  1. Gilead - marylinn Robinson
  2. The Return of Faraz Ali - ammina ahmed
  3. A River in Darkness - masaji ishikawa

Thoroughly enjoyed all 3 of these.
(Gilead is nothing to do with Handmaids Tale.)

Going to have a look through for ideas for my next one.

Breathmiller Are you a Radio 4 Good Read listener?
Your first 2 choices featured in the same episode I think.

GalileoHumpkins · 12/09/2023 19:26

58 Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
59 Such Small Hands by Andrés Barba

Breathmiller · 12/09/2023 20:37

Yes! Its great isn't it? I also bought a poetry book off a recommendation from the programme. Its worth a listen for those that don't know about it. You can listen to it on BbC Sounds.