A Year of Books

2023 was the year that I began my recovery from the post-pandemic reading slump. The “cure” was less the quality of the books (although this was a GREAT year based on quality), than just making it part of the routine. The pandemic TV binge watching finally slowed, so the time was available to read. I made a conscious decision to do that. Once I re-established the routine, I was off and running. My reading rate took off in the last quarter of the year. I’m excited to carry that forward into the new year.

With that said, I did not end the year with a long list of books read. The total is a mere 14. My goal each year is to be around 24, a minimum of two per month. That’s will sound like slacking to some people, but it works for me. It’s a solid, achievable goal with lots of room to expand.

I don’t end many years with too many books in the one or two star rating. I’ve reached the age where I’m not willing to spend a lot of time with books that are not engaging me, or that have serious technical issues. A bad movie will waste a couple of hours of my life. While that bad book will steal days from me. The last book I finished I didn’t like was “Humboldt’s Gift” by Saul Bellow. You do not want to get me started on this one.

So, the lowest rated books I had this year were three stars. Which means it’s a solid book and worth your time. There were three books at three stars. One needs to be in its own category. As part of my learning about watercolor painting, I looked at “Edward Hopper” by Carol Troyen. I wanted it more as a picture book than a book for reading. Glorious pictures of Hopper’s amazing work. If I’m being fair, I can’t judge the writing, because I read little of it. If you’re interested in one of America’s painting icons, I can recommend it.

The other two books had some issues, but I still enjoyed. The first is Brent Spiner’s debut novel “Fan Fiction”. It’s a fictional mystery based on the Star Trek: Next Generation actor’s real life. So, there are fun appearances by his co-stars. The storytelling and writing had some clunkers in it. But it’s Brent/Data, and fans will forgive a lot. The other book is David Sloan Wilson’s sequel to Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”. In “Atlas Hugged”, Sloan offers a different, more humane future. He also offers writing quality that Rand could only dream about. There are some odd choices made in the storytelling that I found annoying. Otherwise, a solid read and a brilliant response to the older novel.

There were also three five-star books, so there is a balance in my reading universe this year. All three are classics in three different categories. In 1938, Ernest Hemingway published a collection of his early short stories. You’ll find the book under several titles, “The Short Stories“, “The First 49 Stories”, and as a collection with his only play “The Fifth Column”. Included are some of the iconic titles, including “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. Explore his love for Africa, Spain, and his time serving as an ambulance driver during the Spanish Civil War. Here is the master honing his minimalist style to a fine point. Wander through 49 stories of brilliance.

The second book is a classic of war, espionage, and the dying days of 20th Century colonialism in Viet Nam. In “The Quiet American“, Graham Greene weaves the tensions of the war that drove the French from Indo-China, American political naivete, and the self-indulgent lifestyle of a middle-aged English reporter. It is a story of power politics at the local level, cultural racism, and betrayal. There are no heroes here.

Last but absolutely not least, is the horror icon “Dracula”. I made it into late middle age before I read the book for the first time. Through the amazing approach at “Dracula Daily” I got to experience the story in much the same way as the characters. What I discovered is a story that is more nuanced and terrifying than most versions I’ve seen on screens, either large or small. What a brilliant book.

This year goes into the books (you should pardon the expression!) as a great year of reading. Even with the low total number, I’ve read some fabulous books. Add to that, I’ve re-energized my love of reading. I can hardly wait till I report back in a year.

What was the best book you read this year?