Do I write about reading too often? Probably. But I am deeply passionate about books, and I love this end-of-year reflection ritual.

Books are a gift that we give ourselves, and reading allows us to grow and learn in the seclusion of our homes. When we choose what and when we read, we educate, enlighten, and evolve privately and on our schedule. Why wouldn’t we want this?

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

Anaïs Nin

When I saw Anaïs Nin’s quote about risk, pain, and blossoming, it stopped me momentarily. It reminded me of how busy we all are, and bettering ourselves can be a low item on our ‘to-do’ lists; for some, this includes expanding our worlds through literature. But not reading keeps us insulated from modern thinking. When we don’t read, we become tightly wound and rigid in our charity; we shield ourselves from outside possibilities, including human hope, original thought, and growth through understanding others’ comedies and tragedies. Reading a variety of works provides a path towards blossoming in the soul.

If you are not a regular reader, then my wish for you in 2024 is to become one! I know how busy we all are and that there is never enough time to do the things we want to do, especially for ourselves. It also takes little time (15 minutes before turning the light out at night before bed, for example) to read even just one book over time. You can do it!

When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.

Thomas Edison

In 2023, I discovered some new authors I will follow for a long time. With each gentle nudge on my character, I am grateful for these and all the books.

In total, I read twenty-five books this year. The titles below represent the top of my list for 2023 (not in a particular order):

1. Foster by Claire Keegan, and
2. Small Things Like These, also by Claire Keegan. Keegan has been highly praised by some of my favorite authors (George Sanders, for example), won the 2022 Booker Prize and the Davy Byrnes Award, and is one of the Times’ Top 50 Novels published in the 21st Century. I loved both of these books. Short enough to read in a day, long enough to make an impact forever. These poetic stories are tragic yet sweet and thoughtfully written at a slow and delicious tempo, allowing the reader to slow down, be present, and savor every word. Claire Keegan was my most gifted author this year.

3. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. Historical Fiction at the Top of the Game: The Marriage Portrait re-tells the true story of 16-year-old Lucrezia di Cosimo de Medici, historically known to have been killed by her much older and vicious husband. O’Farrell brilliantly tells Lucrezia’s coming-of-age story while weaving details of the period and landscape with its churches, palazzos, gardens, and royal courts. This book is hauntingly beautiful while illuminating the history of violence against women and the strict traditions of family life in Florence in the 1550s. O’Farrell is a masterful writer. 

4. Grace by Cody Keenan. Penned by President Obama’s chief speechwriter, Cody Keenan reflects and enlightens us about what happens behind closed doors in the White House. I loved this personal and politically current non-fiction work. A memoir of two unforgettable weeks of Obama’s Presidency, Grace goes deep and gets intimate about the lives of White House staffers and, in particular, the pressures of political speech-writing. And Keenan knows what it takes, being arguably one of the best speechwriters our country has known. History buffs will devour every word.

5. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shefak. A breathtaking love story set in war-torn Cyprus, Shefak surprisingly dons a fig tree as one of the main characters. Feuding neighbors, familial relationships, trees, wasps, loyalty, and home… a lot is happening here. This book changed how I look at and (now) talk to my plants, trees, and shrubs! Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and Turkey’s most widely-read female author. This story unravels beautifully, helping us understand the price families pay when countries conflict, how love transcends, and how nature always watches.

6. Lost Cat by Caroline Paul. Could there be a sweeter cat-human love story? A lovely meander through the complicated relationship we have with our fur babies. We, too, are in love with our cat, Totoro, so this short and true story (with brilliant and funny illustrations) was a welcomed gem.

I also want to shout out to local author and friend Carol Cronin. After too long on my nightstand, I finally read Cape Cod Surprise, which I loved. Set off the coast of New England (of course), this windy YA novel was captivating and delightful; a great story. Carol has also penned a few other books, which will move onto my list for 2024.

What is Life for? It is for you.

Abraham Maslow

I live my life with literature as a devoted partner. As author Dan Zadra says, “If you want trust, trust others. If you want respect, respect others. If you want help, help others. If you want love and peace in your life, give them away. If you want great friends, be one. That’s how it works.”

I have something for you this year. I created a PDF list of my favorite books over the past 15+ years. It’s a great list to augment adult reading and gives ideas for next-level gifting. If you want a copy, e-mail me at homeschoolcoachclub@gmail.com so I know where to send it!

On a personal note, thank you for reading along here and allowing me to blather on about things. I appreciate you. Have a wonderful, fulfilling Holiday Season and a thoughtful, blooming 2024.

* buy these.

Full list of books I read in 2023:

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell; The Red Pony by John Steinbeck; Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck; Mercury Presents by Anthony Marra; Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni; Cape Cod Surprise by Carol Newman Cronin; Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney; Born to Rise by Kim Fuller; Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano; Newportant People by William Heydt; Trees (poetry) by Joyce Kilmer; Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand; Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson; Grace by Cody Keenan; Foster by Claire Keegan; The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shefak; The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams; Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan; So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan; A Modern Proposal by Jonathan Swift; The Importance of Being Ernest (play) by Oscar Wilde; Believe by Dan Zadra & Kobi Yamada; Lost Cat by Caroline Paul; Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh.

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