Best and Worst Reads of 2023

[Rusalka, Moderator]

"The time has come", the Walrus said,
"To speak of many things"...

Particularly what were the best five (5) books you read this year, and what were the worst five (5)?
What should we look out for, either to devour or to stay away from?

[Jayme, Moderator]

I was just thinking about this topic the other day. It was hard to narrow down "The Best" 5 books because I read several great ones this year. "The Worst" books of 2023 was a slam dunk.

🎉The Best 🎉
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers - beautiful, charming book
Go as a River by Shelley Read - Best Book of 2023 - amazing debut
The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-by-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyone by Joseph Tychonievich - great gift for a new gardener
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - Gut-wrenching. Powerful. Heartbreaking.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See - -great historical fiction

🥱 The Worst 😢
Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh - constant colloquialism was very distracting
Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair - an old way to look at birth control - rhythm was so last century
The Centurion and the Queen - horrible romance camouflaged as historical fiction
Maame by Jessica George - boring
Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany - junior highish

[Sandra, Moderator]

I love this end of the year tradition!

Meh:
Falling Angels
The Paris Apartment
North Haven
Lessons in Chemistry
Memories of My Melancholy Whores

Loved:
Moxyland
The Winners
Station Eleven
The Secret History
Años lentos (couldn't find an English version)

[Sandra, Moderator]

Jayme wrote: "All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - Gut-wrenching. Powerful. Heartbreaking."

I have to get to this one as soon as possible!

[Amanda]

Loved:
The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
The Lost Metal
The Villa
The Writing Retreat
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Not so much:
The Spare Room
Shoulder Bags and Shootings
Toughest Cowboy in Texas
I Have Some Questions for You
Cave of Secrets

I had to go to books I gave two stars to fill out this list. I only gave one book one star this year.

[Almeta]

This is just too difficult!

The Best
The Penelopiad
The Wizard's Butler
The Summer Book
600 Hours of Edward
Lucky Bones
To Fire Called

Nathan Lowell is my go to SciFi/Fantasy guy. He never disappoints me. If you haven't read him start with Golden Age of the Solar Clipper Series.

The Worst
The Spy: A Novel of Mata Hari
The Big Time
I Kissed Shara Wheeler
Angle of Repose
Will Grayson, Will Grayson

[Sharon]

My top five were
The Library of Legends
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Ruin
The Last Bookshop in London

My Least Favorite
The Ocean In Winter
The Frozen Child: A Riveting Kidnapping Mystery
The Letters: A Lifetime Foreign Affair
Winter Garden
Why Are There Monkeys?

[Esther]

Loved:
Good Morning, Midnight
Light from Uncommon StarsThe Diamond Eye
Rien…
In the Woods
Train d'enfer pour Ange rouge

Not for me:
Yarshagumba
Takes One to Know One
For the Wolf
L'héritage des Cathares
Cimetière d'étoiles

[Sandra, Moderator]

Sharon wrote: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle"

I loved this one, and if you haven't read it yet, I recommend The Haunting of Hill House and the short story The Lottery, both by Shirley Jackson

[Kristie, Moderator]

I always find this so difficult to do and will probably change my mind on these books several times, but these are at least wishing my top books. lol

Best:
A Brighter Flame
Book Lovers
The Wishing Game
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
The Giver of Stars

Worst:
Cursed - I loved the first book and had high expectations for this one, but it was just SO dark and dreary. It made the reader feel hopeless for much of it.
Anxious in Nevada
The Great Catsby
If We're Being Honest
Of Mice and Men

[Sandra, Moderator]

Oh, I loved Of Mice and Men...

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "Oh, I loved Of Mice and Men..."

I don't generally love classics to begin with and (view spoiler)[ the ending was just too sad. I felt so bad for him. The whole story was just unhappy. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sandra, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "I don't generally love classics to begin with and [spoilers removed]"

I know (view spoiler)[It is very sad, and although it is a classic I knew nothing about the plot, so it was surprising too. (hide spoiler)]

[Roz]

I read a lot of books that ended up being meh and got 3 stars. There were some that were better and ended up with 4 generous stars and a very few that ended up (somehow) with 5. I think I should really wait a while after reading a book before rating it to avoid spur of the moment judging. But here goes:

Worst books read in 2023:

The Woman on the Orient Express
The Taster
The Flight Attendant
The Twyford Code
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (possibly the worst, or I'm just too old to appreciate it)

All 2 stars.

** Sorry new Worst Book: Look Alive Twenty-Five 1 star.

Best books read in 2023:

Lessons in Chemistry (hit me at the right time and I like characters who are misfits and quirky)
The Last Devil to Die (last in the series and the best)
The Librarian of Burned Books (we're discussing it in my RL Book Club next year)
A Gentleman in Moscow (loved it)
Exiles (I enjoyed the entire series)

All of these were 5 stars for me. But the best of these was probably A Gentleman in Moscow. Read that one if you haven't already.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I don't generally love classics to begin with and [spoilers removed]"

I know [spoilers removed]"

I am the complete middle of you two. I read it at school (view spoiler)[ I found the majority of the book meh. I loved/hated the ending. It was horrific but has stayed with me with the sheer intensity of the emotion conveyed. A terrible ending but done in the most empathetic/sympathetic writing. (hide spoiler)]

Taught me you don't have to like something to realise it is well written, which is important at 16. Still dislike Steinbeck, I can't forgive him for The Grapes of Wrath

Edit: I just saw I rated it years ago at 1 star. I think that is unfair now. I would give it two.

[Jayme, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "Jayme wrote: "All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque - Gut-wrenching. Powerful. Heartbreaking."

I have to get to this one as soon as possible!"

Yes! My book club read it in Jan/Feb and I was like "I'm not in the mood for a classic." Now one of my 2024 goals is to read more classics!

[Jayme, Moderator]

Esther wrote: "Loved:

Light from Uncommon Stars
.."
I have Light from Uncommon Stars, but just keeping putting it off. I may have to move it up a bit in 2024. :)

[Sharon]

Sandra wrote: "Sharon wrote: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle"

I loved this one, and if you haven't read it yet, I recommend The Haunting of Hill House and the short story [book:The ..."

I have read them both! I am a Shirley Jackson fan. I have no idea how I missed this one! I think we must have wonderful taste. 😉

[Esther]

Jayme wrote: "Esther wrote: "Loved:

Light from Uncommon Stars
.."
I have Light from Uncommon Stars, but just keeping putting it off. I may have to move it up a bit in 2024. :)"

I think it is a love it or hate it book, no middle ground.

[Jayme, Moderator]

I am currently reading The Spy Coast and think I may have to change one of my "Best Book" of 2023. It is so good!!

[Janice, Moderator]

I was just thinking about this tradition when I was writing my review for the book I just finished. Ragged Company will likely be my final 5 star read for this year considering there were only 3.

What else?

Best of the year...
Ragged Company
Salt to the Sea
The Weaver and the Witch Queen
Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Worst:

The Great Catsby
Vampires of El Norte
Homicide at Whiskey Gulch
Where Waters Meet
The Legions of the Mist

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Jayme wrote: "I am currently reading The Spy Coast and think I may have to change one of my "Best Book" of 2023. It is so good!!"

This is exactly why I wait until the 1st to post mine lol

[Almeta]

Kristie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Oh, I loved Of Mice and Men..."

I don't generally love classics to begin with ...]"

Took the words right out of my mouth!

[Roz]

Rusalka wrote: "Jayme wrote: "I am currently reading The Spy Coast and think I may have to change one of my "Best Book" of 2023. It is so good!!"

This is exactly why I wait until the 1st to post ..."

I should have waited to post my Worst Books of 2023. I went back an amended my list. Look Alive Twenty-Five wins the prize this year with 1 star.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "I am the complete middle of you two. I read it at school [spoilers ..."

I get what you mean. I like Steinbeck in general, and also own a copy of [book:The Grapes of Wrath|18114322] I'm always hoping to "read soon".

[Sandra, Moderator]

Sharon wrote: "I have read them both! I am a Shirley Jackson fan. I have no idea how I missed this one! I think we must have wonderful taste. 😉"

I think we do. Lol

[Margo]

My best books:
Fangirl
The Amusements
The Wolf Den trilogy
Sea of Tranquility
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels

I didn't really read any bad books this year as I DNFed quite a few few, but my most disappointing reads were:

A Flicker in the Dark
The Women Could Fly
Daisy Darker
Book of Night
Mexican Gothic
Starling House
Wolfsong

Looking back at the disappointments list I see that most of these were over hypted books, will I learn anything from that for next year? Probably not lol

[♞ Pat]

Best for me this year ~

The Great Believers
American Dirt
The World Played Chess
Eternal
Oona Out of Order
Hang the Moon
Demon Copperhead


DNF Worthy ~

Love Medicine (this is the 3rd of her books that I've tried, and I've decided she's just not an author that I identify with enough to enjoy. I'm not going to keep trying.
Amazing Grace Adams
The Collected Regrets of Clover

The last two were ok - not horrible - just trite and uninteresting. I couldn't care about the MC or the storyline in either one.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "My best books:"

Mexican Gothic was also kind of meh to me.

[Sandra, Moderator]

♞ Pat wrote: "Best for me this year ~ "

Demon Copperhead was one of my book club reading this year, but I couldn't get to it on time and missed the discussion. Everyone liked it though, so I plan to read it in summer, maybe.

[Cherie]

Sandra wrote: "Margo wrote: "My best books:"

Mexican Gothic was also kind of meh to me."

I gave Mexican Gothic four stars. I tried the audiobook, but it was not for me, so I read the textbook from my library. (view spoiler)[I was fascinated by the whole mold thing. It gave me the creeps but was such a "character" in the story that I could not stop reading to find out what was going to happen next. The old man was gruesome, and it was so gross waiting for him to die. I liked the ending because I am a sucker and always hope the underdog comes out - well, at least alive. ;o) (hide spoiler)]

[Marnie]

I kept a shelf for Best/Worst this year just for this thread.

Best
The Wishing Game
Our Kind of People
The Frozen River
Red Queen
Sycamore Row
Bonus : Newcomer

Worst
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive
Portrait of a Murder
The Twyford Code
In the Lives of Puppets
You Shouldn't Have Come Here

[Janice, Moderator]

I have The Frozen River in my Audible cart. It looks so good. I was also disappointed by In the Lives of Puppets.

[Margo]

Cherie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Margo wrote: "My best books:"

Mexican Gothic was also kind of meh to me."

I gave Mexican Gothic four stars. I tried the audiobook, but it was not for me, so I read ..."

Yeah, the narration wasn't great and that obviously affects my enjoyment of a story, howevermuch I try to stay more objective. As you enjoyed (view spoiler)[ the mould aspect I would recommend you try The Ghost Woods. IMO a better story
(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Marnie wrote: "I kept a shelf for Best/Worst this year just for this thread.

Best
The Wishing Game
Our Kind of People
The Frozen River
Red Queen
[..."

I've added [book:The Wishing Game|62926992]

[Sandra, Moderator]

Cherie wrote: "I gave Mexican Gothic four stars. I tried the audiobook, but it was not for me, so I read ..."

I worked exactly the opposite to me. (view spoiler)[It was a 5 stars until the mold issue was revealed. I was loving the atmospheric setting and story, but the mold thing didn't work for me. I don't know why, but it ruined the plot. (hide spoiler)]

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh I am with Cherie. But I live with an amateur (view spoiler)[ mycologist. I have photos of wonderful buildings, art, churches, landscapes of Germany when we went there in 2018. Lexx has photos of mushrooms. I am not even joking. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "Oh I am with Cherie. But I live with an amateur [spoilers removed]"

LOL!! I have a friend who has discovered mushrooms and has been posting picture after picture of her walks in the rainy, damp woods of the Pacific Northwest.

[Cherie]

I just reviewed my book listings and with the exception of one book, the lowest star rating I had was 3 stars, but mostly four and five.
I have to say though, they were mostly series driven books, including the 32 books in the Commissario Brunitti series by Dona Leon - all four and 5.

Worst - because I DNF'd it
The Island of Sea Women

Not bad but not great - Neil Gaiman's InterWorld Tilogy
InterWorld

Best (not counting the above series):
The Kurdish Bike
The Librarian of Burned Books
Independent People
The House of Mirth
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone I am currently relistening to the audiobook again this week.

[Margo]

Cherie wrote:"

Worst - because I DNF'd it
The Island of Sea Women"

Ooh, I LOVED that when I read it last year!

Another friend who I usually rely on for ratings has let me down in this thread: Sandra, Lessons in Chemistry was a 4.5 star read for me lol

[Fiona]

Oh I love this. Let's see.

Best:
From Lukov with Love
Red, White & Royal Blue
Covet
Book Lovers
Fourth Wing

Worst:
Shoulder Bags and Shootings
Finsternis im Wunderland
All Systems Red
Out of the Blue
The Turn of the Screw

[Roz]

I agree with you, Margo, about Lessons in Chemistry. I really liked that one, but I have some friends that struggled to get through it. Maybe I just like characters that are a bit odd and quirky and don't care too much about what people think of them.

Glad to see someone else liked Sea of Tranquility, not just me.

[Esther]

Roz wrote: "Glad to see someone else liked Sea of Tranquility, not just me."

Definitely not the only one. It was a 4 stars for me.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Margo and Roz, I'm definitely in the minority with LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY! I'm glad you enjoyed it, though.

Margo, I hope I don't disappoint you again at least until next year! Lol

[Margo]

Yes Sandra, let this be a warning - better luck next year LOLOL

[Jackie]

This is a mix of books as I tried to have nonfiction, young adult, Christmas, and historical fiction. I only had three 2-star books this year.

Best Books

Have You Seen Luis Velez?
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
Miss Marley
Horse
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Not That Great

Collection of Poems
Sleeping with Paris
I Feel Free: Real Short Stories From The Magical World Of Music Festivals & What They Teach Us About Living Purposeful Lives

[Roz]

Jackie wrote: "This is a mix of books as I tried to have nonfiction, young adult, Christmas, and historical fiction. I only had three 2-star books this year.

Best Books

Have You Seen Luis Velez?..."

Oh yes. Horse was terrific. I haven’t read a Geraldine Brooks book I didn’t like.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Yes Sandra, let this be a warning - better luck next year LOLOL"

Lol

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Okay okay okay, I have finished my readings and reviews for the year. Ready to play!

Best
Home Fire - first read of 2023 and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Have gone and bought a whole heap of Kamila Shamsie's other books.
Iep Jaltok: Poems from a Marshallese Daughter (Volume 80) - POETRY?!? Who am I? This collection had some of the most memorable and impactful poems I have ever read.
Red Seas Under Red Skies - just fun adventuring con men with the most elaborate plotting
Old God's Time - beautiful, lyrical writing where I am still not sure what truth is.

I can't work out how to separate four other 4 star books to choose one... so maybe I just move on.

Worst
My Name Is Salma - not a bad book per se. Just didn't care about the main character who was a bit to mopey for me. And she had reason to be, but she needed a good shake and to be told to get herself together. And therefore I didn't understand her decisions.
The Girl from the Well - creepy Japanese folklore horror until it went very very stupid.
The Maidens - I was super excited to read this as it sounded a lot like The Secret History but at Cambridge. Instead it was a book of force feeding you psychoanalyic babble and very laboured foreshadowing and "hints" that were less subtle than being hit over the head with a hammer.
Inland - I don't care about American frontier stories, sorry. Just a part of history that I am not interested in. And this book just did. not. enndddd. I ended up listening to every podcast I could find instead of going back to it. I didn't care. I liked the camels though.

And the worst of the worst: Fanny Hill, or Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure - bad, male gaze, 18th C porn. So bad, it went in the bin. I wasn't subjecting anyone else to that drivel.

[Margo]

Rusalka wrote: "Okay okay okay, I have finished my readings and reviews for the year. Ready to play!

Best
Home Fire - first read of 2023 and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Have gone a..."

Sebastian Barry is one of my favourite writers but I couldn't get into Old God's Time. Maybe I should give it another go.