Annual Roundup: My Books of 2023

By the end of the year I will have posted reviews for a little over 80 books. Robyn has added around half as many reviews again and will offer up her recommendations before year end. What we have here, then, are the books that truly resonated with me – the ones that, when I look back through my monthly updates to remind myself what I read, I remember as having the Wow! factor, making me want to give kudos to the talented authors.

What makes a book a good read? Obviously this is subjective once we have gone beyond basics such as spelling, grammar and continuity. As a reader I seek variety – in subject matter, structure and use of language. This puts me off certain popular genres. There are however still times when what I seek is a straightforward, immersive and beautifully written story.

Let’s start by looking at some of these. The three books selected do not challenge social preconceptions or the supposed rules of literature. They are, quite simply, seamlessly engaging and entirely satisfying, the sort of books I would buy for family and friends.

    
That They May Face The Rising Sun by John McGahern, published by Faber
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, published by Grove Press
The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers, published by Bloomsbury

Often I do like to be encouraged to think about social issues. This next selection is a somewhat eclectic mix but all made me consider unconscious prejudice, from within a well told story that often travelled in unexpected directions.

    
Piranesi by Susannah Clarke, published by Bloomsbury
God’s Country by Kerry Hadley-Pryce, published by Salt
Close to Home by Michael Magee, published by Penguin

    
In Defence of the Act by Effie Black, published by époque press
The Shape of Guilt by Lisa Fransson, published by époque press
Boundary Road by Ami Rao, published by Everything With Words

   
The Unheard by Anne Worthington, published by Confingo
Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin, published by Fourth Estate

I must also include a highly unusual but entertaining story that challenged many literary pretensions.

Death of the Author (in Triplicate) by Marc Nash, published by Corona / Samizdat

I haven’t read as much translated fiction this year as I normally would. Although most I have picked up have been enjoyed, this was a standout story.

Confession by Martín Kohan (translated by Daniel Hahn), published by Charco Press

Short stories are such a skill to produce and a favoured format of mine, especially when reading time is limited as they can easily be rationed. These two collections provided particularly good reading.

   
The State of Us by Charlie Hill, published by Fly on the Wall Press
The Pre-War House and Other Stories by Alison Moore, published by Salt

I don’t read as much poetry as I would like but put forward one collection here that is well worth seeking.

Bunny Girls by Angela Readman, published by Nine Arches Press

It is rare for me to pick up a graphic novel but this one still has me thinking about the story months after reading.

The Book of Niall by Barry Jones

I enjoy a great many of the non fiction books I read. These were stand outs from a good year.

 
Earth by Chris Packham and Andrew Cohen, published by Harper Collins
Real Dorset by Jon Woolcott, published by Seren

 
Are You Judging Me Yet? by Kim Moore, published by Seren
Elowen by William Henry Searle, published by Little Toller

So there we have it, 21 books I am happy to recommend. To find out more you may click on the cover, or on the title to read my review.