Happy New Year, everyone! 2023 was such a great reading year for me, so I wanted to share some of my favorites. (I read over 50 books, so we're not going to talk about them all.) Here are my 10 favorite reads, in alphabetical order because I cannot rank.
The Great Divorce C. S. Lewis This little book could probably be read in a day or two. But I took weeks soaking in this masterful allegory of Heaven and Hell and was very sad indeed when it ended. Somehow Lewis' sparsely worded observations are stunning--he was a genius, everyone. I highly, highly recommend this book! (I read this with a mentor friend, and I can't express how delightful that was. :) ) Little Dorrit Charles Dickens I already talked about this one in a previous post, so . . . this was fun, complex, thought-provoking, and very long. Amy and Arthur are the best. Phantastes George MacDonald This was . . . not what I was expecting. ("Never assume!") It kind of lacks a strong plot. But the writing is so poetic and descriptive, and there were some little moments that took my breath away. And the end moved me deeply. I've read the book that baptized C. S. Lewis' imagination! How neat is that?? Pride & Prejudice Jane Austen Jane and I properly met each other at last this summer! I've been wanting to read her books for years, so when I finally started this one, I was very afraid it wouldn't hold up to its reputation. And, to be completely honest, it kind of dragged at the beginning. But when I closed the book on the last page, I wanted to read it again--right away. The character development is to die for. Real Christianity William Wilberforce Okay, so I read a modern language version revised by Bob Beltz. I much prefer original text, complete and unabridged, etc., but oh well. Wilberforce had such a heart for God and people, and this book is very convicting. The Runaway Patricia St. John Patricia St. John has been one of my very, very favorite authors since I was twelve. I never tire of her writing. It's been a while since I've picked up one of her books, so I was excited to read this. It's a middle-grade biblical fiction, and at first I was afraid it would be a repeat of Twice Freed, my favorite St. John book. Philo, the protagonist, did seem a little too similar to the protagonist of Twice Freed, but the book held its own. Not my favorite, but very good. Have I mentioned that I love Patricia St. John?? Reading this rekindled my admiration and adoration of her stories, and now I must re-read Twice Freed. A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens I have no words. Mr. Dickens has destroyed me. Things We Didn't Say Amy Lynn Green This epistolary novel set in WWII is one of the few recently-released books I read this year. It was a similar experience to P & P: the beginning wasn't gripping (well, except for the prologue), but the characters and their arcs drew me until I couldn't put the book down. And, wow--this is the author's debut novel. Up From Slavery Booker T. Washington This autobiography of slave-turned-national figure was incredible. Booker T. Washington was so determined and so humble. (He was also very practical. Mr. Meagles would approve.) And his writing is approachable and engaging. Everyone would benefit from reading this! Young Whit books 4 & 5 Dave Arnold and Phil Lollar I finally finished the Young Whit series!! (These books have been a long time coming.) Book four was a little bland, in my opinion; book five was crazy, but oddly satisfying. Except for those really atrocious INCONSISTENCIES. Um, I have strong opinions when it comes to AIO, so I better stop here. SPOILERS Oh, but can I just say it was immensely satisfying when Johnny and Jack finally met? Not only have I been predicting it since book one, but also, it's Jack Allen!! END SPOILERS Well, that's that! Have you read any of these? What were some of your favorite reads of the year? (I also read C. S. Lewis' Space Trilogy, which was crazy, and re-read the Chronicles of Narnia, which was awesome. Both of those series should have been on this list, but I think the Space Trilogy deserves its own post sometime . . .)
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