2023 Books I Read #YearInBooks

 

So many books! The reading world is a broad and beautiful place.

This year found me reading almost the entirety of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series (I started it in 2022), and I didn't get to tell you about it because I never did an end-of-2022 recap post! (We were travelling and by the time I came back, it felt very 2023.) I definitely would like to another one (waiting on book 10, Shannon Messenger!) but I was also glad to finish so I could move on with my life! I also read both Fourth Wing and its sequel this year and I liked them along with everyone else in the world, haha. 

Of course, the usual suspects are here - my annual Daniel Silva, a lot of romance novels, heavy on the Jewish content, and a bit of variety. I didn't like some of the books that other people loved and vice versa.

The end of this year was tough in the real world, and after a short slowdown, I was able to find escape in fictional worlds, which I really needed.

So here's the list:

1. An Affair of Spies by Ron Balson
2. The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
3. Everblaze by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #3)
4. Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
5. Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
6. Neverseen by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #4)
7. The People we Keep by Allison Larkin
8. Lodestar by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #5)
9. Nightfall by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #6)
10. Flashback by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #7)
11. Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
12. A Play for the End of the World by Jai Chakrabarti
13. Legacy by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #8)
14. Unlocked by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #8.5)
15. Stellarlune by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #9)
16. Summer of the Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds
17. Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
18. We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
19. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
20. Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
21. Shadows of Berlin by David R Gillham
22. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
23. The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
24. The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
25. Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr
26. Maame by Jessica George
27. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
28. Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
29. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
30. Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
31. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
32. All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
33. Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn
34. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
35. The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
36. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
37. The Red Balcony by Jonathan Wilson
38. Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
39. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs
40. The Postcard by Anne Berest
41. The Change by Kirsten Miller
42. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
43. Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon by Zoe Klein
44. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
45. Kantika by Elizabeth Graver
46. The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder
47. Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
48. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
49. Diary of a Lonely Girl by Miriam Karpilove
50. The Collector by Daniel Silva
51. The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
52. Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
53. Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim
54. Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
55. Happy Place by Emily Henry
56. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
57. Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger
58. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
59. Weyward by Emilia Hart
60. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
61. The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz
62. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
63. Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer
64. Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
65. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
66. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
67. Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova
68. Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
69. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
70. My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
71. The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynne Barnes
72. B'nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern
73. The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
74. All the Broken Places by John Boyne
75. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
76. The Enchanted Hacienda by JC Cervantes
77. The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach
78. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
79. Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels
80. Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith
81. The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
82. The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
83. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
84. Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
85. Cottage on Glass Lake by Amy Pine
86. Hawaii by James Michener
87. Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
88. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
89. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
90. Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
91. What You Do To Me by Rochelle Weinstein

Here are all the mini-reviews:

January Books

February Books

March Books

April Books

May Books

June Books

July Books

August Books

September Books

October Books

November Books

December Books

It's hard to choose favorites (often it's what I'm reading right now) but here is a good list of the ones I liked best:

Secret Book of Flora Lea

Hello Beautiful

Romantic Comedy

Tom Lake

The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

Matchmaker's Gift

The People We Keep

Black Cake

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune

While I'm going to continue tracking on GoodReads, I'm also going to set up a StoryGraph account to track simulatneously. Lots of Goodreads drama, so I'll just dip my toe into something new. Plus I'll share monthly updates here and on the socials so stay tuned.

What do you think I should read in 2024? What are you reading? What were your favorites of 2023?

Previous years' book lists are here:

(I just didn't do it in 2022)

Books Read in 2021

Books Read in 2020

Books Read in 2019

Books Read in 2018
Books Read in 2017
Books Read in 2016
Books Read in 2015
Books Read in 2014
Books Read in 2013
Books Read in 2012
Books Read in 2011
Books Read in 2010
Books Read in 2009
Books Read in 2008

December 2023 Books

 

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman - Oh this was a sweet and somewhat predictable read. That did not stop me from enjoying it immensely.

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center - I did not mean to read two books back-to-back that were about young widows. It felt a little odd. But anyway, this one was similarly sweet and predictable, and also quite enjoyable. 

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros - I wasn't going to read this. I was annoyed at the long-book-with-cliffhanger-ending of the first one, and I vowed not to read this one. But the hype got to me and I couldn't help it and oh my, did I enjoy it. It was a little too long but it mostly kept my attention and damn if I am not already planning to read whatever she throws at me next.

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper - a fun and silly paranormal romance set in the Midwest. A great quick read, especially after nearly 10 days on Iron Flame! Apparently a series, but I'm probably not reading more.

The Cottage on Glass Lake by Amy Pine - Casual Jewish representation! Shabbat dinners! A Wisconsin lake house! Romance! Delightful!

Hawaii by James Michener - Technically, this is a re-read. I read this in high school, when I was going through a read-the-biggest-books-on-the-shelf phase. Michener's books definitely qualified. I thought I was very grown up. Anyway, I never fact-checked this book back then, but apparently it's quite accurate historically, and was an amazing re-read that I finished as we landed in Hawaii! 

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett - a cozy fantasy that I didn't expect to enjoy but I definitely did!

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson - I am a fan of the older-woman-makes-chosen-family story. I can think of at least two or three others that fit into this category and I liked this one as much as the others (Iona Iverson, Lenni & Margot, Eleanor Oliphant...)

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - Loved it! It felt so real to the pandemic experience of finding joy even when everything seems terrible, and connecting youthful love to married love...sigh. I didn't really want this book to end.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson - One reviewer pointed out that "nothing really happens" in this book, and I am usually a plot-driven kind of reader. And it's true, nothing really happens. But it's a really interesting look at how class and money have a real impact on our interactions and behavior.

What You Do To Me by Rochelle Weinstein - This book is the imagined story of what might have inspired the song "Hey there Delilah" and I liked it. I was also glad for the Jewish represenation, although I think that Sara's parents come off as a little too harsh even though Sara clearly loves her Jewish life. 

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books
August Books
September Books
October Books
November Books

November 2023 Books

 

All the Broken Places by John Boyne - I did not realize this was a "sequel" to the Boy in the Striped Pajamas and as I read it, I slowly realized it. And then I was annoyed. I did not like the main character and it all felt very contrived. 

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan - Summer nostalgia meets romance. It was sweet and fluffy and somewhat forgettable.

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes - this was like the grown up, romance version of Encanto. And therefore I liked it. 

The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach - okay, I'm still not sure what I think about this one. Have you read it? Can you please talk to me about it? It's a modern-day golem in modern-day America, and it can smell antisemitism...and wants to fight it. And there are so many questions here. Totally fascinating and strange. 

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair - a somewhat cozy mystery set in post-war England. A little like Maisie Dobbs but not quite as delicious. I didn't realize it was a whole series, and I liked it but I'm probably not going to read more of them unless one of you tells me that I must!

Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels - classic enemies-to-lovers story based on two sides of the political spectrum. Nice and fluffy romance. 

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith - what would you do if you won the lottery? And what if you felt that you were chronically unlucky? And how would you spend the money? And also, what are the expectations placed upon you by the rest of the world? All these questions...and some sweet answers too. I liked this YA novel and thought it was a really enjoyable read. 

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books
August Books
September Books
October Books

October 2023 Books

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride - Wow, what an incredible look at the way the Jewish and Black communities have been intertwined. The writing is wonderful and the characters are rich. My only real complaint is that nothing really happens in the story until it all suddenly gets wrapped up in the end. But it was an enjoyable read along the way!

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - This was the perfect silly romance novel to get me through some of this terrible month. The title is the story, and, spoiler alert, they fall in love. Okay, now you've got the whole book. 

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - You've got to laugh that this is the fourth book in a trilogy. Seriously, though, I was happy to revisit the world of the Hawthorne brothers, I get a big kick out of them. It was also somewhat ridiculous but therefore enjoyable. 

B'nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern - This was a fun Jew-y romance novel and it followed the romance novel formula perfectly. 

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom - This book was an intriguing concept but I'm not sure if it worked for me as a book. I'm still thinking about it, though, so maybe that part was successful.

What are you reading? 

September 2023 Books

 

Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok - Not bad, but not my favorite Jewy romance novel. I wanted it to move faster! And I wanted to see how they'd "mix" their Jewishness. 

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood - Loved this science-themed romance! Especially since we're also watching the Big Bang Theory, so it dovetailed with some of that too. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross - Honestly, did not love this one. It has been all over the bestseller lists so I was excited for this fantasy enemies-to-lovers book, but I found it fairly forgettable. As in, I almost can't remember finishing it!

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova - I adore this Disney-themed romance series. This one was Little Mermaid inspired, and I was not disappointed. 

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley - Loved this author's first book, and I also really enjoyed this look into the Native community in Northern Michigan. I love the cultural and linguistic insights in the characters and the story of reclaiming stolen artifacts was intense and heartbreaking. 

What are you reading?

- 

August 2023 books #MyLifeInBooks

 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - This has been on the top of the best seller lists and I haven't read a lot of fantasty lately. This one was great - it reminded me of the Dragonriders of Pern books (loved those) with a nice dose of romance. The world-building was interesting but a little uneven (it bothered me that they used our swear words - I like when a fantasy book comes up with swear words that fit with the culture) but overall, I look forward to the sequel!

Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger - A good twist on the immigrant tale, featuring a pair of sisters who end up going to Cuba instead of the USA when leaving Russia. The way that Cuba imprints differently on them, and how the Jewish community in both Cuba and the US help them to land with their older sister - a well-told and interesting read. 

Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton - A ridiculous and fun fantasy-historical romance. If that sentence piques your interest, this book is for you. It was both silly and delightful. 

Weyward by Emilia Hart - Slightly magical tale of three generations of women and the way that they each survive abusive relationships. A powerful story, but it was a hard book to read because of the subject matter.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley - I wanted to love this book but I just found it a little confusing and disjointed. I didn't quite get how all the pieces came together and ultimately, it didn't work for me. 

The Donut Fix by Jesse Janowitz - A sweet middle-grade story about a kid who moves from NYC to a small town and decides to start a donut business. Enjoyable, but could someone please explain to me why this was a PJ Our Way selection? I missed any Jewish content in this book.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter - This book didn't quite know what it wanted to be - it was a mashup of a spy novel with a romance novel, and I'm not sure that either story really held up. But I did keep reading and I didn't hate it. 

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer - I loved this one. Such a fun read, the story of a kosher bakery and its cross-the-street rival; enemies-to-lovers with a few interesting twists relating to chronic illness. And the rabbi! Oy! I couldn't stop reading and I giggled with all the Jewish and baking puns. (We won't talk about the one glaring "full moon on Rosh Chodesh" gaffe though, right?)

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books

July Books #MyLifeInBooks

The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder - I really wanted to love this, it's magic and a Bat Mitzvah put together into a book. I didn't feel like it quite hit the mark with me. I did appreciate that the rabbi wasn't terrible.

Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb - really liked this author's first book and I really liked this one too! A musical mystery uncovering a secret about a (fictional) "great American composer." Even though the story is all fiction, it feels like it could have been totally true. 

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton - I strongly disliked this book. Not because of the potential environmental nightmares it left me with, but because I just didn't understand the magical element and felt like it actually took away from the story. (I usually really like magical realism, I was just confused by this one.) Extra props for a character named Phyllis, though. 

Diary of a Lonely Girl, or the Battle Against Free Love by Miriam Karpilove (translated by Jessica Kirzane) - The Yiddish version of Bridge Jones' Diary....published serially in 1916ish in Yiddish and brought together into a book. It wasn't a "fast" read and I think it was a little draggy because it was originally published serially. But I was fascinated by the idea of an "independent woman" in this particular era, and her arguments against "free love" were pretty compelling (it's really only beneficial to the men, she says). 

The Collector by Daniel Silva - My yearly date with Gabriel Allon was perfect. It did not disappoint. It followed the usual formula and it's like slipping on a favorite sweater. 

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabelle Allende - I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read by this author. It was very readable, but I was disappointed that it felt a little too preachy instead of story.

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim - A sweet book of magical realism. I commented that it felt like an early Sarah Addison Allen, but set it in the Chinese community of San Francisco. Plus it made me very hungry for Chinese food!

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal - I liked the Minnesota folksiness, but I didn't connect with all of the characters and found some of them mystifying. I liked the author's earlier book better.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon - I mean, I didn't hate it. But it was just sorta meh. A sweet romance between two casual Jews. My favorite thing about her books is the casual Jewishness. It's just there, which I appreciate.

Happy Place by Emily Henry - I think this is my favorite of her books so far. It's a romance, yes, but it's also a lovesong to friendship and I thought that part was especially lovely.

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books

June 2023 Books #MyLifeInBooks

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley - This is in the "found family" genre of stories and I am all here for this. I love sweet, heartwarming books where people step out of their regular lives and create magical found family communities. (Other books in this genre include The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot...)

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - A readable and engaging story about a particular kind of magic. A little slow in places, but I was compelled to read to the end.

The Postcard by Anne Berest - A novel based on the author's family story. The various narrative styles were a little confusing to read (perhaps this was a function of reading on the kindle) and I felt that the "mystery" wasn't as compelling as the story itself. Overall, however, I think this was a good addition to the story of French Jews during the Holocaust, especially as it traced the modern survivors. 

The Change by Kirsten Miller - Oof, this was a powerful and gut-punching one. I love magical realism (if you don't, you may hate this one) and it packed a strong message about how the world views women of all ages. Many reviews said it was too long, but I didn't notice.

Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon: New Jewish Stories by Rabbi Zoe Klein - such a fun set of original Jewish stories. A few didn't quite work for me, but overall I really love the way they felt new and also ancient. (And I bookmarked a few to work out a telling...)

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - I liked her first book better, but this was a solid romance read that I enjoyed!

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - Wow, this is definitely going to make it into the top 10 for the year. A gorgeous story with just the right mix of joy and sorrow. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end, although I found the ending to be just right.  

Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - I really appreciated this family saga of a Sephardic clan, and the paths they took throughout history. Based on the author's family, it had real family photos even though the story was fictionalized, which I appreciated.

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books

May Books #MyLifeInBooks

 

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld - Loved this romcom that took off on the idea of the writers' room at SNL (well, a fictionalized SNL) and then moved over into those first scary days of covid isolation. Couldn't put it down!

All of Us Villains by Foody and Herman - a YA novel similar to Hunger Games, with a magical element. Did not love that it is a "duology" because I'm not sure that I need to read the next book! A little gory for me. 

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes - If you watched the show, this is SO boring. If you haven't watched the show, skip the read and just watch! There was almost no new information gleaned here that wasn't in the show. 

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Mejia - This was on my holds list forever! It's a dystopian-type novel about a Handmaid's Tale-like society with strict roles and rules. I wanted to love this but it was a little too...simplistic in some of its telling. (Also this is YA)

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson - One of the best books I've read all year. WOW. What an incredible back-and-forth telling of a family secret - I loved every minute of this book. 

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Henry - I really liked this story of two sisters evacuated from London during the Blitz, and the family mystery that it left behind. I liked the plot twist!

The Red Balcony by Jonathan Wilson - 1933 Palestine doesn't have a lot of fiction written about it! The plot was a little tricky to follow but I loved the historical setting and the writing was compelling.

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books

April 2023 Books #MyLifeInBooks

 

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr - This author lives in my neighborhood so it's always fun to find the tiny local details in her story that spans generations and continents! Art scandal, romance, intrigue...it's all here.

Maame by Jessica George - a story of a Ghanaian immigrant family in London, the main character is so lovable that this book was delightful! Her growth arc in the story is wonderful - what a special novel. 

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher - A mashup of fairy tales but with a dark edge, and I loved this one. 

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim - I am really not sure if I liked this book or not. It was well-written and interesting, even though it was heartbreakingly sad. A group of people are all joined together by their association to a terrible accident - and the big question is "what would you do to protect the people you love?" 

Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire - another installment in the Wayward Children series, I find these books to be so haunting and beautiful. 

Attack of the Black Rectangles by A.S. King - I liked this middle grade novel about censorship in a middle school. My 12-year-old listened to this as an audiobook, and then he also listened to The Devil's Arithmetic, which is the censored novel in the story. We both enjoyed this one a lot!

March Books #LifeInBooks

 

Here's what I read in March:

Shadows of Berlin by David Gilham - an interesting look at the life of Holocaust survivors in the immediate aftermath of the war. This wasn't my favorite read, but it made for an interesting discussion with our book group. 

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibert - a cute little enemies-to-lovers romance, with a nice British twist. 

The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges - I liked this one, a sweet story with a bit of magic. 

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear - From the author of the Maisie Dobbs books, which are my faves, I loved this one so much! I just love her writing and her storytelling. This one bounced between the two wars and the post-war period, and it was so good! Will there be more stories in this series? I would definitely not complain about that!!!

January Books
February Books

#BlogExodus #ExodusGram 5783

 Rosh Chodesh Nisan is Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Passover beckons us. It calls....it reminds us....spring is coming. Renewal is coming. We are, all of us, a people with a future. The cycle continues. And, as always, Passover is here to offer a respite. I know that many people don't see Pesach in this way, as a resting moment, but I believe that it offers us just that - an opportunity to step back from the ordinary and to focus on something special, wonderful, and beautiful. 

It's easy to get caught up in the Pesach prep and to feel a bit of drudgery, a taste of the hard work imposed upon the Israelites. But there is spiritual preparation too, and that, I believe, is where BlogExodus and Exodusgram come in. 

So what is this really about? #BlogExodus and #Exodusgram are really what you want to make of it. I've provided topics for the first 14 days of the month of Nisan. What you do with it is up to you -- write a blog post, tweet, Facebook, tumblr, or something that I haven't even thought of yet! Use the hashtag to share your post (I put it into the title of each post). It's a great way to kickstart a blog or rejuvenate your languishing blog or just get yourself ready for the holiday of Passover! Maybe this year, someone will get #BlogExodus trending on tiktok!

Maybe you don't have a blog? Maybe you could just post your thoughts, photos, comments, or haikus on your Facebook page. Maybe you're a yogi? What about a photo of a different yoga post each day related to the theme of the day? Creativity is endless.

There aren't any rules, so maybe you don't like the order of the topics? Maybe you want to write on only a few of them? It doesn't matter. It is what you make of it.

Whatever you do, don't forget to tag with #BlogExodus and/or #Exodusgram so we can all share.

Grab and share my graphic and just jump right in!

The themes are really up for your own interpretation. I was thinking broadly and openly about what makes Passover special and interesting to me. I hope it will translate into creative and inspirational posts from all of us!

Are you going to join in? Leave me a comment here or send me a tweet or just...jump in! If I miss your posts, let me know so I can go back and be inspired by what YOU have to say!

#BlogExodus #Exodusgram topics for 5783
1 Nisan - Launch
2 Nisan - Exalt
3 Nisan - Rise
4 Nisan - Cleanse
5 Nisan - Seek
6 Nisan - Retell
7 Nisan - Read
8 Nisan - Expand
9 Nisan - Perplex
10 Nisan - Join
11 Nisan - Celebrate
12 Nisan - Reveal
13 Nisan - Welcome
14 Nisan - Thank

 *Yes, I know that I put the Shabbat dates there. I don't blog/tweet/Facebook on Shabbat but I will post on Fridays before Shabbat and on Saturdays after Shabbat is over. You can, of course, do it any way you like!

February 2023 - Books I Read

This was a great month for books! What are you reading?

A Play for the End of the World by Jai Chakrabarti - We discussed this one at our synagogue book group and all agreed that it was quite interesting. A play staged in the Warsaw Ghetto by orphaned children is now, many years later, being staged in India. In both cases, the play represents the tragic situation of the time, and I think it's a powerful commentary on the importance of art even when the world feels like it's crumbling.

Keeper of the Lost Cities 8, 8.5, and 9 by Shannon Messenger - Okay, I thought I was headed into the END of the series but I didn't know there is a 10th book coming out sometime this year. I hope. Now I really want to just know what the ending is!!!

The Summer of Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds - This was a little bit of a prequel to Eight Nights of Flirting (same universe). I liked it, the teen romance was a little messy (as teen romances often are) but the intertwining stories about the history of this Jewish family on Nantucket Island was interesting and a little bit unique. 

Answers in the Pages by David Levithan - I loved this middle grade novel about banning books and standing up for what you believe in. It had three intertwined stories, and I gasped when they all came together. A quick and sweet read.

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman - A story of two life-long friends as one of them is dying in hospice. It's beautifully written and heart-wrenching, but boy oh boy, I did not need this book. It was deeply, terribly, horribly sad. Even though I also laughed. I just wanted it to be over. Because it was so sad. And that's my review.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray - A really cool historical story about a young (secretly) Black woman who worked as JP Morgan's librarian for his own library. Interesting idea, r e a l l y s l o w moving, and also I was a bit irritated by the first-person narrative. It started out well, but I felt like the later chapters just weren't as interesting. I really wanted to love this since so many people have recommended it! After I finished it, I looked up her life and the book was quite true to it, which I do appreciate!

Thistlefoot by GemmaRose Nethercott - Let me start by saying this book isn't for everyone. It's a little dark and odd...and I kinda loved it. It is a revisiting of the Baba Yaga tales (Eastern European Jewish folklore) but with a modern twist, and my favorite parts were when the house itself (Baba Yaga had a house on chicken legs) told its story. The way this story demonstrated, through magical abilities, inherited trauma was intensely powerful and moving to me. I'm not sure who should read this one, but I liked it.  

January Books

January 2023 - Books I Read

 

Welcome back to a new year and some great new reading!

Here are all the books I read in January, 2023

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Books 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 - They're delightful - a rich and beautiful world of magic and intrigue between a team of teens, their grownup allies, and their dark and shadowy enemies. Annoying, each book ends wtih a total cliffhanger, which means I just want to keep going! (I will say that the cliffhanger for book 7 was slightly less compelling to me, so I read the first chapter of book 8 and now I'm taking a short break!) Each one is over 600 pages, so I've read a LOT of pages this month!

An Affair of Spies by Ron Balson - this was not my favorite of his books. Perhaps the dialogue felt a little too modern? Or the whole thing felt a smidge too simplistic? Obviously, a book about spies in Nazi Germany shouldn't be simplistic, but it just didn't work for me. 

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama - I really enjoyed hearing her voice come through again, and I didn't listen to an audiobook! But I could almost hear Michelle speaking the words. A lovely and heartfelt memoir.

The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman - I don't know how I never got to this one in 2022, but I loved it. This is my favorite kind of story - one that spans a lifetime and has just a tiny hint of magical realism. I didn't want this book to end. 

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro - I'm often spoiled in January, as I read everyone else's "best of" books from the year before. This one did not disappoint me - the interlinked story of children, parents, and spouses - really an excellent and engrossing read. 

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin - I loved the characters and the journey they took together. It reminded me a little of that Natalie Portman movie - "Where the Heart Is" and I saw April as that young Natalie Portman character who finds her way to a chosen family. Definitely enjoyed this one!

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner - I loved this sweet book about a London bookstore post-war, and the women who work there. The characters interact with all sorts of real-life famous people, and it was cozy and lovely.