“I love the way that each book — any book — is its own journey. You open it, and off you go…” – Sharon Creech
I mentioned in my 2022 post on my favorite books that I’d set a goal of 100 books for 2023. I completed 107. One of the few goals I can say I’ve achieved this year.
I lean towards mysteries and historical novels. I can’t get through a book with a lot of foul language. I don’t care for romantic novels. So, from my conservative point of view here are my highest rated reads from 2023 in the order of ranking:
5-star books
Only 1 this year: Love Not the World by Watchman Nee
4-star books
- The Star and the Shamrock by Jean Grainger
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Story of child growing up in Alaska. Difficult to hear abuse from a child’s POV but good story.
- The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb. Based on the true story of one of the strangest murder trials in American history–the case of the Greenbrier Ghost. Sudden ending but I liked the story. I couldn’t stop listening.
- I Found You by Lisa Jewell Good story. I didn’t want to quit listening. A few bad words but not too many.
- The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Good story showing perspectives of both Jewish POW and Nazi officer during WWII and the aftermath in their later lives. Very long story.
- Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. WWII events in Italy; very good but very long; took me a bit to get into the characters.
- Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger. I ended up reading the entire Cork O’Conner series. Some were better than others. Some had more foul language than others. My favorites were Blood Hollow and Thunder Bay. I really appreciate books that highlight native Americans and their plight.
- Pay it Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Excellent book.
- Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth.
- The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson. Excellent!
- The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowel. Excellent!
- Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig. Excellent – slow start but loved it in the end.
- The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.
- Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim by Lisa Scottoline. So funny!
- My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space by Lisa Scottoline
- Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. Such a sad story; Excellent writer.
- Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
I ended the year going back through the Chronicles of Narnia series. Those will always be 5-star reads. I’ve also started several books at once on the Apostles.
Goal for 2024? I think I’ll just aim for 52 this year. We’ll see how it goes.
