15 Books I Loved in 2023
Here’s the current version of my bookshelf!
Dear Witchy Writer,
I quit social media in January 2023. The impact of social media on my emotional health wasn’t great. I was constantly waiting to be validated by total strangers, and this did not work well for me. So I finally let it go, deleted my apps, and waited to see what would happened.
To my surprise, the change stuck. And I found I didn’t even miss it, even though I had tried to quit so many times before and had kept returning to the dopamine hit of notifications. I think the big difference this time was that instead of scrolling on apps I started reading more…and more…and more!
By June I realized I had read more books than I have ever read in a year, except for maybe when I was kid and spent most of my spare time reading. The more I read, the happier I was, and I stopped thinking about social media at all.
As I look back at 2023 I see a year of joyful reading, and I thought it would be fun to share 15 of the books I loved. These are books that interested me, that had a fun reading experience, and that I still think about long after I put them down.
15 Books I loved reading in 2023
*Notes: These are books I read in 2023, but they weren’t necessarily published in 2023. Also, I loved all of these equally, so the order they come in the list is irrelevant. And I note whether I read a book in Audio or print.
The Tiger: A true story of vengeance and survival by John Vaillant (Audiobook) A narrative nonfiction about a man-eating tiger in the Russian far East in the 90’s. I particularly enjoyed the blend of story telling with the geo-political history of the Russian Far East.
The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft by Fire Lyte (Audiobook) A nonfiction instruction book about how to get into witchcraft when you’re a beginner. I particularly appreciated Fire Lyte’s explorations of cultural appropriation, scammers, and financial privilege in the witchcraft community.
Rooted: life at the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Print book) A series of nature essays about how to connect to the earth in the time of climate change. I particularly enjoyed Haupt’s ability to draw me into a sense of wonder.
Rainbow History Class by Hannah McElhinney (Pring book) A queer and trans history through the ages. I particularly enjoyed the vibe of this book. It felt like a romp through queer and trans history form ancient Egypt to today.
Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas (Audiobook) A humorous coming-of-middle-age memoir in essays. I particularly enjoyed how funny this book was, paired with many poignant and thoughtful passages.
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (Audiobook) It’s 2019 + 2020 and Tookie is haunted by the ghost of her least favorite client at the independent bookstore where she works in Minneapolis. I particularly enjoyed Tookie’s strong and thoughtful character. I loved being in the space of her mind and heart.
The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers (Audiobook) Five aliens get stuck at a rest stop on a barren planet. There is nothing to do but wait while the officials fix the problem. I particularly enjoyed these lovable characters. I missed them all when the book was over.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (Print book) It’s 1922 and Count Alexander Rostov is put under house arrest at a hotel in Moscow, for life. I particularly enjoyed the Wes Anderson vibes of the hotel and the Count’s mischievous character.
The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (Audiobook) Linus is assigned to investigate a home for magical youth, and he discovers beauty and love. I particularly enjoyed the narrative voice, with it’s fairytale quality, and the laugh-out-loud moments with the kids.
Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes (Print book) A coming -of-age novel about a young black boy, Sandy, growing up in a small town in Kansas in the 1930’s. I particularly liked seeing the world through Sandy’s eyes, as he began to see the truth in the world around him.
Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller (Print book) It’s Vienna in the 1880’s and Maria Wallner is reviving her family-owned hotel during ball season, but she is interrupted by spies, conspiracies, and love. I particularly enjoyed the vibe of the hotel and the cast of characters who worked there.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (Print book) An epic fantasy with dragons, witches, queer romance, and multiple-intersecting story lines. And, of course, the world needs to be saved from the nameless one. I particularly enjoyed the multiple, intersecting plot lines and the in-depth world-building.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray (Audiobook) A house-party murder mystery with all the major players in Jane Austen’s books. I particularly liked how each chapter was from a different character’s perspective. I enjoyed being in the head of each of these well-known characters.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (Print book) This is the scientific diary of Emily Wilde as she studies faeries on an island off the Norwegian coast in the early 1900’s. I particularly liked how good Emily Wilde was at her job. I love a story about a smart, successful woman.
Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec (Print book) George Dupin is a super cranky detective, but there is a murder in Brittany and he is on the case. I particularly liked the sense of place, with beautiful Brittany as one of the stars of the show in this novel.
Disclaimer: This blog is a resource guide for educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring a life coach, a therapist, or of seeking medical attention. No information on this blog creates a coach-client relationship between us. You are fully responsible for the decisions and actions you take in regard to your life and affairs.