As a burnt out former English Major, I decided to reKindle (ha) my love for reading by setting a 2023 New Year’s resolution to read 24 books.
I’ve read a whopping 64 (as of today—the month is still young).
I started to enjoy reading again in November 2022, when I got the flu and felt overstimulated by any other source of entertainment. Since then, I’ve been reading voraciously. Granted, most of what I’ve read could not be classified as dignified literature. But I’m just grateful to have stumbled across books that have made me love reading again.
So here’s a roundup of my favorite and least favorite books (just my personal opinion, sorry!) from each month. I’ll also share some tips and tricks I used to form my reading habit.
January
Favorite: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Why: This book struck the perfect balance between humor and heartbreak. It’s a study on empathy. I love Backman’s poignant, yet simple style of writing.
Least Favorite: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Why: Albanese has terrific style, but I did not feel emotionally connected to this book. I felt as though the book was written from a more detached perspective and the narrative was hard to follow at times.
February
Favorite: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Why: I never watched the movie because I can't handle violence and gore on screen. But I know it's a classic, so I wanted to give the book a try. This book was insane. Absolute bonkers. A beautifully written, poignant, perverse rollercoaster ride.
Least Favorite: I’m No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts by Kristin Chenoweth
Why: I only read this book because I love Chenoweth and she came to my local book store for a book signing. It was cute, but read more like a compilation of aesthetically pleasing quote posters than an actual book.
March
Favorite: Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Why: This book is a classic for a reason. It's irreverent and charming and heartbreaking, even with the language barrier.
Least Favorite: The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider
Why: I actually don't have anything negative to say about this book. I just happened to read a lot of amazing books this month. This is basically just BBC Merlin fan fiction, but it's a great deal of fun.
April
Favorite: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why: The audiobook version is amazing. I really felt like I was listening to interviews of real rockstars. Miss Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write a book you can't put down. The show was pretty good, too.
Least Favorite: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Why: This book was way too long, but I did enjoy the deep dive character studies and the build up of suspense. But boy, did the ending fall flat.
May
Favorite: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Why: I loved every moment of this book. This was an easy 5-star read for me. I felt like I got punched in the gut. I go back and forth, but this might be my favorite book of this year.
Least Favorite: Untamed by Glenn Doyle
Why: This is on almost every "Best Self-Help Books for Women" list, but it just fell flat for me. It just felt like a regurgitation of feminist platitudes I hear on TikTok. But it had some inspiring moments for sure.
June
Favorite: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Why: This book was so stinking weird. But I loved (almost) every second. Armfield is a great writer and she really hooks you into this strange, suspenseful world.
Least Favorite: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Why: This book features some of the most decadent, beautiful writing I've ever read. But underneath that opulent veneer, I felt like there was no real substance.
July
Favorite: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Why: Short, but devastating. A story where not much really happens, but it feels like a small world is crumbling apart. I was moved.
Least Favorite: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why: This is a run-of-the-mill cheesy romance. It's good fun and a breezy read, but nothing standout.
August
Favorite: Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Why: This was one of my favorite reads of this year. It was an almost perfect novel and I felt really connected to the characters, especially the ones in the historical timeline.
Least Favorite: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Why: I was genuinely shocked and impressed by the twist at the end of this book. Unfortunately, the characters felt a little flat and I didn't really care about what happened to them.
September
Favorite: Marvel Masterworks: The Silver Surfer, Vol. 1 by Stan Lee
Why: I've been an MCU nerd since 2018 and the Silver Surfer is my new favorite superhero. I mean, come on, it's a dorky silver guy floating around space on a surfboard, constantly grappling with an existential crisis.
Least Favorite: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Why: I tried reading a few Colleen Hoover books this year, but I'm just not a huge fan of her writing style. The main character was likeable, but everyone else was kind of boring.
October
Favorite: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Why: I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. It's cheesy, it's trite, but it's doing something right. I was moved by this story of two women from disparate backgrounds just trying to navigate their lives.
Least Favorite: Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin
Why: The plot of this book was disjointed and confusing. I may have been doing this novel a disservice by listening to the audiobook version, but the narrative doesn't follow any one character long enough for you to actually become invested.
November
Favorite: Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Why: This novel was so beautifully and poetically written. The plot was a little slow in the first half, but the snappy dialogue, charming characters, and moving relationships really pay off in the end.
Least Favorite: Still Me by Jojo Moyes
Why: This was the third installment in the Me Before You series and definitely the least interesting. I do not think Me Before You needed a trilogy, but the main character was just so charming that I wasn't ready to let her go.
December (so far)
Favorite and Least Favorite: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Why: I have so much admiration for Britney Spears. She's a wonderful performer and such a strong person for being able to live through such traumatic experiences. I respect her courage and authenticity in putting her story forward. But I felt like this book was way too short. I totally understand that it would be incredibly difficult to relive trauma through writing, but this memoir felt like a superficial sweep of major events in Britney's life, rather than a thoughtfully composed, insightful memoir. I felt like it didn't live up to its potential.
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How I started reading again:
Reading during meals alone
To be clear, I wouldn’t universally recommend this trick. I do think the healthiest way to eat is in silence and undistracted. I also do not read or look at my phone when I’m having meals with other people. But for me, reading during my meals alone has been an absolute game changer. I feel like I’m nourishing my body and my mind in one go.
Audio books during commute
Depending on the severity of traffic, I have between a 45-minute and 1.5-hour long commute to work. I used to dread the drive, but now I find it a peaceful pocket of time to gear up for the workday or decompress when it’s all over. I try to read at least an hour of an audio book, usually between 2x and 3x speed, before switching to music or a podcast.
Setting page requirements
I’m usually reading 2-3 books at once, depending on where I am. I read 5-10 pages of a book about writing first thing in the workday, when my brain still needs warming up. I also try to read 10-20 pages a day of a nonfiction or difficult fiction read each evening. Sometimes I’ll get sucked in and want to read more, especially if I’m almost done with the text.
Limiting video time to 2 hours a day
I went through a huge K-Drama phase at the start of the year and was spending all of my free time binging these addictive shows. I starting imposing a 2-hour daily limit on movies, TV, and social media combined to make room for more fulfilling activities. This has worked wonders for me. Reading and practicing music and seeing friends and going on walks have filled up that extra time.
Embracing cringe
As an English Major, I wanted to leap back into classic literature and poetry, but I knew I’d have a hard time reading those genres casually. I stopped trying to impress my peers by reading high-brow books and just gave into some easy beach reads. These books wouldn’t help anybody studying for the GRE, but they were a lot of fun and gave me the momentum I needed to read tricker books. I think I’m a lot less pretentious about books than I used to be too. Breezy reads are not inherently inferior to the classics!
Join a book club
This year I joined the book club for a local book store, which challenged me to read out of my comfort zone. One of the best books I read this year, Horse, was actually for the club! I would not have picked up that book otherwise, but I’m so glad I did. Plus I’ve made a few friends from the group who I meet to write with every few weeks.
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In 2024, I’ll set a goal of reading 50. That might seem timid considering what I’ve read this year, but that’s just how I prefer to set goals. I aim for a number that I know I can realistically achieve, while accounting for life events that might distract me or changes in motivation. Plus, if/when I meet my goal early, I’m usually energized and motivated to keep pushing the barrier and setting new benchmarks.
I want to incorporate more reads, fiction and nonfiction, that are intellectually stimulating. There are a good number of classics that I’ve never touched. I also want to pick up some easy French texts to help revive my high school skills.
If you’re interesting in following along on my reading journey, I frequently update my GoodReads, which you can find here. I love to connect with fellow bookworms!
Here’s to another year of wonderful reads!
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