Let’s take a look at some exceptional reads from 2023. Revisiting some classics and getting to know a few new additions, last year brought many great reads.
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To get myself in the spooky way, this October I piled on the scary books. Though I am sure these selections may be considered only mildly creepy by some, to me, they are chilling. They are all under 300 pages, written by women, and perfect for a light, literary fright.
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On my reading journey, I have found that podcasts can sometimes serve as the reading community I need. They can be the perfect balance to going at my own pace and having my understanding of the text broadened. Literary podcasts can also fill in the gaps on my shelf or inspire me to try something different.
Here are four literary podcasts that are the perfect listen for those who love good books in company.
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There is something inherently reflective about measuring a year in books. Each binding contains seeds of thought and perhaps even little mirrors to help us better see ourselves. New stories can introduce new awareness and fresh perspectives. Rereads can remind us of discoveries once made or show us our own growth by way of changing responses over time. Either way, a year well read is a year well spent.
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Jane Austen’s final completed novel, Persuasion, is often ranked by fans near the top of their list. But on my most recent re-read to prepare for the upcoming Netflix adaptation (July 15), I realized upon completing it that my dissatisfaction could not be shaken. My recent read left me with three reasons Persuasion no longer ranks at the top of my Austen list.
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Most books are ones we read in solitude and select with little regard to others’ opinions. The coffee table book, however, is of quite a different nature. These selections are inviting, intending to be perused (or at least skimmed) by guests and residents alike. Perhaps they are chosen as a way to say something about yourself. Or maybe their presence can help you discern something about others. Either way, the coffee table read is a statement.
This week, we will take a peek inside the homes of some amazing southern women who share their selections with us.
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High school reading lists are the subject of debate, outrage, and, frequently, chagrin. Everyone from teachers to preachers to parents to politicians have strong opinions on what teenagers should or should not be required to read in school. Rather than haggling about titles and content, students want to know two things:
How long is the book?
Is it remotely interesting?
Despite finding the movie Young Frankenstein hilarious, I suspect it, along with the many other parodies and adaptations of the monster I had seen in pop culture, contributed to my aversion. The story seemed to be totally outside of what would compel me. I assumed it had no character development, thin plot, and an oversized dose of horror. By the time I learned the author was a woman, my ignorant opinion on the matter was fully formed and unassailable; that the monster’s father was actually a woman meant nothing.
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Though I have always held devoted reader as a defining part of my identity, truth be told, in recent years I have allowed the demands of life to steal away this part of me. In October 2019 I cast a line to see if I could find anyone willing to read a book along with me and just like that a book club took root. The next year brought me up to 12 books and this time last year I resolved to read 24 books in 2021, partly wondering (with a house rehab and later a wedding to plan) if I had it in me. The ebb and flow of life still knocked me about a bit, but I still fought to find time for this thing I love. Some months I read 2 or 3 and others I read none. In the end I fell short of my goal, but I am so grateful that I made it as close as I did!
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