What I Read in 2023

 

2023 was filled with many memorable books and quite a few duds as well if I am being honest. lol I read (and listened) to a total of 63 books this year. Here is what they were...

What I Read in 2022

 I read a total of 45 books in 2022 and wanted to share my list of what I read, what I loved, and maybe what I didn't love as much. I laughed, I cried, I was inspired. Here are the 45 books I dove into....

March // What I Read

Felicity 

by Mary Oliver 

This book had peaked my interest for quite some time because I had heard various people talking about it and the beautiful cover also drew me in. I must say that although a few of the poems were mildly entertaining, as a whole, I was quite disappointed. I also understand that this is a very unpopular opinion so we can agree to disagree. Maybe I don't have much of a poetic soul but I just found most of the poems to be hard to understand and wasn't touched deeply at all...if any. 

January + February // What I Read

I thought it was high time that I introduced the "What I Read" series again! I did this year before last and it seemed like a lot of people enjoyed it so here it goes again! I am really trying to read more in 2019. I read a total of 55 books in 2017 and then slacked off in 2018. I really missed reading so now that I am home with a baby, I am trying to squeeze in more reading time when I can. It's so relaxing and rewarding! So for what I read in January and February...

What I Read in 2017

I began this past year with a book challenge for myself to read a book a week. I actually exceeded that challenge by reading a total of 55 books in 2017.

I grew up surrounded by books and reading was a huge pastime in our family. During road trips through New England, we'd often stop by our favorite bookshops to stock up on books to add to our library.

I ended 2016 a little disappointed in myself because I realized I had hardly read anything that year and I decided to challenge myself by reading more in 2017. At times it has been a struggle to keep up. I doubted myself that I could do it but I am so glad I stuck with it.

I experienced some amazing reads in 2017 and I was so happy to write mini book reviews on each one. Feel free to search for them on my blog! I wanted to share a few of my favorites and a few of my not-so-favorites with you. Maybe I can suggest some new reading material to you for 2018!

November // What I Read

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter 

by Kate Clifford Larson 

My first book for November was about an iconic Kennedy. I had never known much about Rosemary and after reading this book I now understand why. Rosemary was born with a mental defect and learning disability that left her limited in social situations and stunted her overall development. The story of her birth was very telling as the midwife did not feel comfortable delivering the baby until the doctor arrived. In so doing, she did her best to push the baby back into the womb prohibiting her natural birthing experience. It is believed that this aided in her mental deformity. 

October // What I Read

Murder on the Orient Express 

by Agatha Christie

I have wanted to read this book for awhile now and then when I found out that they were making a movie based on the book I added it to my October book list. 

This is a suspenseful read about a murder on a luxurious train filled with a group of very diverse passengers. Everyone is a suspect. It's up to the reader to search for the truth...and to discover if they are right.

July // What I Read

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly 

I love studying World War II and the Holocaust so this book was right up my alley. Lilac Girls is the story of three women and their vastly different perspectives of the Holocaust. This book unfolds the stories of a New York socialite helping with the war efforts in France, a Polish teenager working for the underground resistance movement, and a German doctor assigned to Ravensbruck, one of the most notorious concentration camps for women in Germany. Based on real people and true events, this book revealed things that happened during that dark time in history that I never knew. I love when a book intertwines stories of characters and plot lines and this book does a wonderful job of that. Be sure to read the note by the author on what inspired her to write the book, and her efforts in penning what I believe is a modern day masterpiece. 

May // What I Read

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 

I had heard a lot of things about this particular book and then when I saw that Hulu was making it into a television series I just had to read it. 

Set in a futuristic world that at one time was the United States, women have been diminished to nothing more than domesticated servants, prison guards, and child-bearers. With the rapid-decline of fertility, especially among the women of the higher government officials, a select few have become "handmaidens" and are used only for the purpose to provide the population with offspring.

April // What I Read

The Prodigal's Sister by John Piper 

Piper did an amazing job with this narrative of the prodigal son's sister. I felt deeply sympathetic toward the sister and how she must have felt torn between her two brothers. The book provided me with a new perspective on the story of the prodigal son and how his journey affected his loved ones. 

February // What I Read

Looking back over this past month I realize I've read a lot of dark material. I am not sure how that happened. I reckon bad planning on my part. This month definitely had a couple duds in my opinion, but I am glad I got the chance to finally check them off my reading list. Read on to hear my thoughts on the books I read that were thrilling, earned several yawns, wanted me to slap the main character silly, and broke my heart...

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

I was super excited to read this book since two of my best friends had recommended it to me and they themselves had given it a five-star rating. But I must say, I was extremely disappointed and found myself, especially closer to the last third of the book, bored to tears. I appreciate the concept of the story and that was what drew me in to begin reading it in the first place. I had seen the movie several years before and although it was extremely sad I came away from the film very reflective on the characters and the intense love they had for one another. In all fairness, maybe if I hadn't of seen the movie first I would have a different opinion of the book but I would definitely have to say I enjoyed the movie immensely more.

January // What I Read

As I mentioned before, I began this year determined to read more books. I have always enjoyed reading and expanding my ever-growing library but in the last few years I have gotten away from the hobby. I decided to make a goal for myself: read a book a week. I have always been a slow reader so the goal was a little daunting to me but I've stuck with it and it's actually been a lot of fun! I created a Goodreads account and my OCD side has loved organizing and keeping track of what I read. Each month I will share with my readers what I read that month and give mini reviews of each book. If you are a reader than I'd love for you to follow along (and hear from you!) and if not, than just skip these monthly posts and I'll see you on the next one.

 

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I started off the new year reading an old favorite. I still have some of the loveliest memories of my mom reading the Anne books to my sister and I as we made the long trek to Prince Edward Island and wherever our travels took us.

This book to me is a treasure of a classic. If you have never read it than treat yourself to the magical world of Anne. I found myself laughing out loud at Anne's often hilarious and over-the-top conversations with Diana, misfortunes with Mrs. Barry (both of them) and Rachel Lynde, and then tearing up as I saw her relationship with Matthew and Marilla deepen into a beautiful bond. Reading the book was like visiting the Island all over again and I constantly saw pictures or scenes from the movie (a must-see!) flashing before my mind. A beautiful, beautiful novel.