My reading year in review

Happy holidays!

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably a bookish sort of person. And, if you’re a bookish sort of person, you probably read a lot of books this year. And, because the end of a calendar year can cause some people — bookish or not — to become reflective, here’s my attempt to encourage you to reflect on the books you read in 2023.

I’ve never been one to log all the books I read, although I respect folks who do. Still, I often wonder exactly how many books I’ve read in a year. I know it’s several hundred when you include all of my reading from board books through adult.

This year, I decided to create some categories and see which books were top of mind. Here’s what I came up with.

Best new baby shower book to give: BRUNO BUILDER BAKES BREAD by Nelleke Verhoeff. This is a vibrantly colored flip book where you can pair people doing certain jobs with an activity not normally related to that job, like: “Fay Florist spins a pirouette.” Or: “Terry Teacher fights fire.” It’s great to see all the different matches you can make and recognize that people can have all sorts of unexpected skills.

Book that gave me ideas for more books to read: BOOKS MAKE GOOD FRIENDS by Jane Mount. This is a picture book celebrating the love of books, and Jane Mount incorporated titles of tons of modern and classic children’s books into her gorgeous art. I spent more time checking our her illustrated stacks than it took me to read the book. And, while I did, I was mentally tallying which titles I hadn’t read. I highly recommend you do the same.

Holiday book that made me wish I lived in Iceland. THE CHRISTMAS BOOK FLOOD by Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss. This book, which also has really gorgeous art, is based on a real Icelandic tradition of giving books as presents on Christmas Eve and then spending the day reading them. That totally works for me.

Book I loved with a movie adaptaion I did not: RED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston. The book had great banter, wonderful side characters and a layered relationship between the two leads. I read it multiple times. The movie did not have any of those things. And, it made what I thought were weird casting choices like changing the queen of England in the book to a king for no notable reason and casting two people as Alex Claremont Diaz’s parents who could never have biologically produced anyone looking remotely like the actor playing Alex. And, the lighting throughout the movie was just strange. Note: My sister, who’s very smart, read the book and still liked the movie, so I could be wrong. (But I’m not.)

Book I bought based on a recommendation that I haven’t read yet: GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir. Riley, my sister’s 23-year-old, bounded up to me in a bookstore with this book in hand and told me I had to read it. At first glance, the cover does not look like my sort of thing. But … Riley is smart and creative and has taste. And, the last time I thought I didn’t want to read a book, it was THE HUNGER GAMES, which I ended up adoring. So, I bought it. And, I will read it. Someday.

My favorite nonfiction picture book: WHAT ROSA BROUGHT by Jacob Sager Weinstein and Eliza Wheeler. This book was a “Wow” on so many levels. Wonderful, personal story from Jacob’s family history paired with incredible art from my friend Eliza Wheeler. (You’ll think her art is incredible even if she’s not your friend.) I liked this. My husband liked it. My daughters liked it. And, so did my sister and Riley.

My favorite subtly funny picture book: THE WELCOME HOME by Amy June Bates. Initially, based on the art, I thought this was going to be a sweet story about stuffed animals. Instead, it’s a subtly funny story about Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle who need “something” in their life. But, what could it be? As the couple compiles a wish list of traits that “something” should have, the child and adult reader are screaming: “A PUPPY! YOU NEED A PUPPY!” But, that answer is not obvious to this clueless couple. So funny and unexpected.

The book that’s sad and hopeful at the same time: THE WISHING MACHINE by Jonathan Hillman and Nadia Alam. There’s a lot going on in this sweet book. A mom and a child have to move out of their apartment to live in a trailer with their grandfather because they can no longer afford the rent. The child makes wishes on a coin-operated washing machine at a laundromat hoping to not have to move. While the laundry spins, readers meet friends, find out what other folks wish for, learn a lesson about honesty and are reminded of the importance of love. Whew! My sister read this book and said, “That was sad.” And, it is. But, it’s also hopeful and affirming.

Book with the art I admired most: IN EVERY LIFE by Marla Frazee.

Book I read once and decided I wasn’t overly impressed with, then read again and realized I was wrong: THE SHORTEST DAY by Susan Cooper and Carson Ellis. This is a gorgeous poem about the winter solstice. I don’t know where my head was at the first time I read it. So glad I gave it another try.

Genre I got hooked on: Hockey romance. So many hockey romances. Do I watch hockey in real life? No. Have I ever looked at real hockey players and admired their hotness? Also no. But, for some reason, I like hockey romance. And, I’m not alone. Apparently, it’s a whole thing. I’m not questioning it. I’m just gonna go with it.

Book I read straight through on one plane flight: NOT AN EASY WIN by Chrystal D. Giles. This is a middle grade novel about Lawrence, who’s gotten into some trouble that isn’t totally his fault, but still has consequences and how he finds a way to grow and succeed in a new place with a new hobby — chess. I was rooting so hard for Lawrence throughout this book. And, he didn’t let me down.

Two books I bought as gifts for my sister and her family: ACCOUNTABLE: THE TRUE STORY OF A RACIST SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND THE TEENAGERS WHOSE LIVES IT CHANGED by Dashka Slater (who also wrote THE 57 BUS, one of my all-time favorite reads). And, GIRAFFE MATH by Stephen R. Swinburne and Geraldo Valerio.

I hope you had a happy reading year full of fun and surprises. I’d love to hear about books that stood out to you.