Hey everyone, It’s time for my favorite end-of-the-year newsletter: the one where I tell you about all of the books that I read this year. I won’t bury the lede: this was the year that I read War and Peace. Yes, I really read War and Peace. My way into the book was, naturally, a musical:
Amazing list and congrats for taking on War and Peace? Have you read All Down Darkness Wide? It’s a beautifully written queer memoir - sentence level perfection - but it does describe a lot of plants LOL. I read Brian Washington’s Family Meals this year and am very interested in the casualness of his style, the honesty of the relationships, and all the food details. The Whale Tattoo was a favorite of mine this year. I followed you on Goodreads.
I love hearing your recommendations and thoughts on books, and would welcome hearing them as often as you are inclined to post. I was wondering if you ever listen to audiobooks, or just read paper and kindle? I ask because one of my favorite times to “read” is while I’m cooking, when I am cooking alone. (I listen to music if there are others around). Also, I was trying to figure out if you do, or do not recommend My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I gather it is a wild ride, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good ride or a bad one. I’m trying to find the will to make it through Anna Karinina-- I am about a third of the way but I’m stalled. The book I love the best last year was the Sentence by Louise Erdrich. I think I liked it very much because it was so true to life of living through the pandemic and George Floyd Protest-riots in Minneapolis, though even without her exacting reflection of that time in my personal local history, I stand by Louise Erdrich as being one of the best novelists of our time, and would mention the Night Watchman as another example. Her novels capture both the tragedy and triumphs of Native lives and experiences and also the experience of living in Minnesota and North Dakota (both urban and small town/rural) and in way that I think would be interesting for people out of this area to read because it is just spot on it, capturing the way life is and who we are here, how we eat, how families operate, etc. She is just amazing at characters and great storyteller--she belongs on everyones’s bookshelf.
I do recommend My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but it's very much my speed: I like very dark comedy and it's definitely that. Thanks for the Louise Edrich rec... I've been meaning to read her forever.
Hello! I love a book list. I would also recommend HORSE. In addition to WELLNESS by Nathan Hill, TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, HOPE by Andrew Ridker (with my favorite book cover of the year), just to name a few.
Thanks for your list, I've already wait-listed for a couple at the library. My favorite books of 2023, without even a close 3rd, were 'My Friend Anne Frank (by Anna Pick-Goslar)' and 'The Measure (by Nikki Erlick)'. I so highly recommend both of these beautifully written and meaningful books.
'Horse' by Geraldine Brooks. Certain to become a major motion picture, it's a two (and a half) track story of a physical anthropologist in modern Washington DC and a racehorse with his devoted groom during the Civil War and immediately after. The book covers art, veterinary medicine, slavery and race with a little mid-century art scene thrown in. Jackson Pollack makes a cameo appearance.
Amazing list and congrats for taking on War and Peace? Have you read All Down Darkness Wide? It’s a beautifully written queer memoir - sentence level perfection - but it does describe a lot of plants LOL. I read Brian Washington’s Family Meals this year and am very interested in the casualness of his style, the honesty of the relationships, and all the food details. The Whale Tattoo was a favorite of mine this year. I followed you on Goodreads.
I love hearing your recommendations and thoughts on books, and would welcome hearing them as often as you are inclined to post. I was wondering if you ever listen to audiobooks, or just read paper and kindle? I ask because one of my favorite times to “read” is while I’m cooking, when I am cooking alone. (I listen to music if there are others around). Also, I was trying to figure out if you do, or do not recommend My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I gather it is a wild ride, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good ride or a bad one. I’m trying to find the will to make it through Anna Karinina-- I am about a third of the way but I’m stalled. The book I love the best last year was the Sentence by Louise Erdrich. I think I liked it very much because it was so true to life of living through the pandemic and George Floyd Protest-riots in Minneapolis, though even without her exacting reflection of that time in my personal local history, I stand by Louise Erdrich as being one of the best novelists of our time, and would mention the Night Watchman as another example. Her novels capture both the tragedy and triumphs of Native lives and experiences and also the experience of living in Minnesota and North Dakota (both urban and small town/rural) and in way that I think would be interesting for people out of this area to read because it is just spot on it, capturing the way life is and who we are here, how we eat, how families operate, etc. She is just amazing at characters and great storyteller--she belongs on everyones’s bookshelf.
I do recommend My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but it's very much my speed: I like very dark comedy and it's definitely that. Thanks for the Louise Edrich rec... I've been meaning to read her forever.
I am down with dark comedy. Also will enjoy the NYC setting--thanks!
Thanks for the recommendations, you gave me some ideas. Three of my favorite books I read this year:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Hello! I love a book list. I would also recommend HORSE. In addition to WELLNESS by Nathan Hill, TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, HOPE by Andrew Ridker (with my favorite book cover of the year), just to name a few.
I'm impressed and also grateful for the recommendations, Adam. Happy New Year!
I enjoy reading your dates for how long it took you to read a book! And the reviews!
Have You Seen Luis Valdez? by
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Thanks for your list, I've already wait-listed for a couple at the library. My favorite books of 2023, without even a close 3rd, were 'My Friend Anne Frank (by Anna Pick-Goslar)' and 'The Measure (by Nikki Erlick)'. I so highly recommend both of these beautifully written and meaningful books.
'Horse' by Geraldine Brooks. Certain to become a major motion picture, it's a two (and a half) track story of a physical anthropologist in modern Washington DC and a racehorse with his devoted groom during the Civil War and immediately after. The book covers art, veterinary medicine, slavery and race with a little mid-century art scene thrown in. Jackson Pollack makes a cameo appearance.