2023 in Books

This year I finished 75 books.

Most were audio books, though I read more print books than usual, because I have more free time since we moved to Utah.

23 were re-reads. I’m pretty sure it’s the most books I have re-read in one year ever. I even re-read “The Wind in the Willows” multiple times just this year, though I’ve only counted it once.

I read aloud to the kids 8 chapter books.
This is better than usual, and I’m really happy about managing to read aloud to them so much more. (I hardly ever remember to write down picture books.)

Kids’ Favorite:
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson

Ending surprised me AND I loved it:
“The Chosen” by Chaim Potok

Funniest:
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie **caution this book does have a fair amount of jr high boy locker room humor, which would have been shocking to me when I was in high school. So I’m not saying that every kid should read this book.

Felt the truest:
“A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman

Most outside of what I usually read:
“Upstairs at the White House” by JB West
Fascinating learning about the personalities and lifestyles of 12 First Ladies

Book I changed my mind about upon re-reading:
“Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens

Took the most notes:
“Irreversible Damage” by Abigale Shrier
I have 5 pages of single spaced, typed notes on all the falsehoods, exaggerations, manipulative and contemptuous language, and hypocrisy used by this author in this book. It outraged and disgusted me, and I felt like it damaged my soul to read it. This book was recommended to me by an extended family member when my child came out as non-binary. I read the introduction and dismissed the book as inflammatory hate mongering. But then, a trans-person I love told me their parent tried to coerce them into reading it, and another friend claimed that it was “a great book that everyone should read.” So I decided I had better have a more thorough explanation for why I didn’t like it. This book refers to trans-people on every page as “an epidemic” as “a craze” and as “a contagion.” The only thing this book will do for the trans-person in your life (if they read it) is make them feel suicidal. The only thing it will do for you as a parent/grandparent (if you read it uncritically) is fill you with fear and self-righteousness. AVOID

Made me the Happiest to read:
“The Forgotten Beasts of Eld” by Patricia Mckillip

“A Girl’s Guide to Heavenly Mother” by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding is