My Year in Books | 2023

My reading continues to be eclectic and fun. I find joy in discovering new favorites and discussing books with friends. This was the year I fell for Ann Patchett, encountered my first Stephen King, and completed a sampling of graphic novels. It was also by and large the year of the audiobook as I was completely won over by the format! I'm sharing some fun stats and my 5-star ranked reads for the year -- all 25 of them!!

Highlights: 
- 68% female author 
- 40% nonfiction 
- 31% BIPOC author
- 5% 2023 releases
- Listened to over 35 books on audio
- Read over 12 graphic novels 
- Read one play
- Went to West Seattle's Silent Book Club for the first time
- Went to two Seattle Art & Lectures events (Ann Patchett and Tom Hanks)
- Continued my personalized monthly prompts, and attendance in multiple Book Clubs :) 
- Read 13/16 books on my initial reading list for the year

My subjective 5-star ratings are based on how much I enjoyed the reading/listening experience, which is usually a direct correlation with how enthralled I was by the writing/language. How much the story and themes stick with me, and how enthusiasticly I recommend to others helped determine my top 5 favorites. 

FAVORITE FICTION

#5 A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin🎧
regency romance // fun, for Austen fans

#4 Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

literary pandemic story // sweet, for theater-lovers

#3 Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid🎧
historical fiction // mesmerizing, full-cast audio

#2 Rules of Civility by Amor Towles🎧
historical fiction // glamorous, engaging

#1 True Grit by Charles Portis🎧

classic western // funny, memorable 

FAVORITE NONFICTION
#5 The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green🎧
essays // informative, uplifting

#4 Nobody Will Tell you This But Me by Bess Kalb
memoir // touching, unique

#3 This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett🎧
essays // literary, insightful

#2 The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel

biography true crime // jaw-dropping, fascinating

#1 A Heart that Works by Rob Delaney🎧
memoir // emotional, heartfelt 

ADDITIONAL FAVORITES
101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith🎧
kid lit // lovable, quirky

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
memoir // sad, heartbreaking

DUCKS Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton

graphic memoir // distinctive, bleak

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe🎧

historical fiction // lyrical, coming of age

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl🎧

kid litt // zany, imaginative

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White🎧

kid lit // enjoyable, soothing

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 🎧
literary fiction // character-driven, sprawling

Maus I & II by Art Spiegelman
graphic memoir // harrowing, important 

Positive Discipline for Preschoolers by Jane Nelsen parenting // helpful, practical

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

graphic memoir // stunning, poignant

The Long Answer by Anna Hogeland🎧

literary fiction // motherhood, reflective

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead🎧
historical fiction // eye-opening, hard

The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes
poetry // academic, rhythmic

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

graphic memoir // historical, educational

Untamed by Glennon Doyle🎧
memoir // open, indulgent 

My Year in Books | 2022

morphing into an audiobook glutton,

- SJW

Winter Party

I love an excuse for gathering friends and tonight we hosted a Winter Solstice Party with the same group we celebrated the first day of fall. NLW was very excited and expected it to snow. :) Fortunately we had a little snow kit that we received as a party favor earlier in the year. It was a hit! We made this soup and had a dance party to this festive song to mark the occassion.

While I've loved the foggy mornings and stunning sunrises of these late fall days, I'm so looking forward to sunsets that creep past 4:30pm.

Season's greetings,
- SJW

Colorful Clothes Make me Happy

Bucket hats, trenchcoats, ascots, turtlenecks, tall boots. The outfits on Netflix's Emily in Paris are filled with prints, patterns, and most of all, color! Emily's perky positivity combined with her PR pitches and the soapy drama of it all makes it a fun watch. I like watching Lily Collins on screen and the show's funky fashion recently inspired a shopping spree of my own to add more color to my wardrobe :) 

Here are some of my favorite looks from the first three sesasons -- 

Season One

Season Two

Season Three

Spin the color wheel,
- SJW

Purposeful Playlist | Favorites from Year 5

We have a predictable approach to screen time: on the weekends and special occasions. This has automatically made the weekends extra fun. :) In general, we try to join NLW for his first viewing -- to experience it with him and to see his reaction for any scary scenes. We've watched a lot of the classic animated Disney films, and can easily say these were his favorites/on repeat: 

Favorite Movies
- Aristocats
- Robin Hood 
- 101 Dalmatians (CCW's favorite)
- Lady and the Tramp
- Mary Poppins
- Cinderella 

I love introducing a movie with the soundtrack and often we'll listen to that on weekdays leading up to a new movie...and then daily for weeks on end :) So many breakfasts have been accompanied by one of these:

Favorite Soundtracks
- 101 Dalmatians

- Peter Pan

- Mary Poppins

- Charlotte's Web

- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

As for shows, I think they'd likely enjoy anything we put on, but we've really only opted for the following up to this point:

Favorite Shows
- Frog and Toad
- Bluey (EDW's favorite)
- Puffin Rock
- Pupstruction
- Mr. Rogers
- The Busy World of Richard Scarry

Music, stories, and audiobooks are a welcomed entertainment throughout our day and especially midday for NLW since he no longer naps. Flights equal unlimited screen time :)

Next year I'd love to introduce Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Pixar, and some of the live-action Disney classics. We might even venture into the world of kid podcasts. There's so much out there to consume and/or avoid -- I welcome recommendations and suggestions! 

- SJW