Favorite Books of 2023

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I've been thinking about this list for a while and having trouble making a commitment.

As I reflect on the books I read in 2023, there are no titles that continued to visit me throughout the year - you know, those stories and characters that pop into your mind at random times or that you find yourself mulling over when you first wake up.  Sometimes I even think, how would "so-and-so" character handle this situation.  Oh, you don't do that?  That's weird.

Even so, I read some great books in 2023.

favorite books 2023; white mug next to stack of books with glasses
tea & books are always a good idea; image by Wallace Chuck via Pexels

Favorite Books of 2023

(in no particular order)

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  • This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
    An interesting and lovely way to write a sci fi novel.  I loved the style and the story.  This is probably my favorite of the year.
  • The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
    The Last Queen was a historical imagining of the life and struggles of the last queen of the Sikh Empire in India. I loved the character building, rich culture and historical perspective.
  • Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Tulshyan
    Inclusion on Purpose provides guidance and perspective on how everyone - from employee to manager - in a professional setting can and should be inclusive of all.
  • Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
    Phantom is my favorite musical - yes, because I like the beast + beauty combo.  The original tale was a gothic horror, light on romance and high on creepy.
  • Betting on You by Laurie Ruettimann
    I'm a big fan of Laurie Ruettimann and her honest approach to HR and leadership.  Betting on You was like having an honest career conversation with Laurie.  She takes a relevant, realistic and non-chalant approach.
  • All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
    I didn't know Netflix was creating a series based on the book, but I can see why they did.  It was a sad and lovely book set in France and Germany during World War II.
  • Sword-Sworn (Tiger & Del Book 6) & Sword-Bound (Tiger & Del Book 7) by Jennifer Roberson
    This was a favorite series as a teen.  I loved, loved, loved Tiger & Del and had forgotten all about them. There were three books I hadn't read!  I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading the series in 2022 and catching up on their story in books 6 & 7 in 2023.  It's not high-fantasy, not an epic, not a best seller - it's great characters, an enjoyable story, and good memories.  Book 8 is on 2024's TBR list.
Didn't see any Beauty and the Beast titles on my favorite list?  Yep.

Favorite Beauty and the Beast Book of 2023

I added 7 books to the Beauty and the Beast fan-fiction list this year, and while none of them made it to the favorites of 2023 list, one was particularly fun with a different spin - Beauty in the Beast (A Shattered Fairytale) by Tea Spangsberg.  Recommended.  I think you'll enjoy it.

How do you pick your TBR?  It looks random.

Yes, it is.  I don't read on trend.  I read what hits my fancy or looks interesting at the time.  My TBR (to be read) list is long and random.  I favor sci fi & fantasy, but try to read a variety.  I did a fair job of that in 2023.  I also like to have a business, leadership or professional development book going.  I didn't do a great job at that this year.

Further reviewing the list, I noted more "funsie, no-thinking-involved" titles.  Sure, there's a place for those, but it caused me to asses my mental capacity.  It was a hard year, and easy was needed… but maybe not 6 in a row.

Now that I think about it, there are two books that came back to visit throughout the year, but didn’t come to mind for the top 7 list:  Shards of Earth and Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky.  The post-earth world and character building is interesting and worth adding to your sci fi list.

In 2024, I have two reading intentions:  1) read books I already own and have not yet read and 2) re-read the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series in full.  I stopped somewhere around book 6 or 7 when they were popular in the 1990s.

What's on your TBR list for 2024?  Any favorites from 2023 I should add to mine?

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