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
morphing into an audiobook glutton,
