It’s the end of 2023, time to look back on the top books of 2023. What did you read this year? What was your go-to genre? Do you favor mysteries, action-thrillers, romances, fantasies, memoirs, self-help books, or the classics?
When Jay Speyerer and I started This Awful Awesome Life, one of our goals was to encourage people to read more. We wanted to make people fall in love with books and reap the many benefits of reading.
Reading:
· Reduces stress. It requires concentration and focus and can take your mind off stressful situations in your personal or professional life.
· May help you sleep better – it’s a great way to unwind.
· Improves your vocabulary
· Expands your worldview by letting you experience other lands and cultures
· Keeps your mind sharp, slows mental decline, and may reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
· Can improve your relationships by making you more empathetic.
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward – Follow the struggles of Annis who is sold by the white enslaver who fathered her. As she journeys South to her new fate in a forced march with other enslaved people, Annis draws strength from the memories of her mother and her mother’s stories about their African homeland.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – Raised in a house silenced by tragedy, William falls hard when he meets the vivacious Julia during their first year of college. Julia and her three sisters are inseparable, and William enjoys being part of a loving family. When the darkness from his family threatens to jeopardize his and Juia’s plans for the future, will her family be strong enough to save them?
Tom Lake by Anna Patchett – When Lara’s daughters return to the family orchard in Michigan, they ask their mother about her acting career and relationship with a famous actor during their years at the Tom Lake Theater. As Lars reminisces, her daughters examine their own lives, the many facets of love, and love after love.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig – Tom Hazard moves back to London to start a new life as a high school history teacher. When he meets the beautiful French teacher, his prospects for settling down seem bright, but Matt has a dark secret. He’s centuries old, and his life is protected by the Albatross Society. The one rule he must never break is falling in love, but what will happen if he does?
Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond by Henry Winkler – The Emmy-award winning actor, author, comedian, director, and producer opens up about his life behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand – Streisand reflects on her acting and singing careers, the great loves of her life and her political views.
No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox – Fox reflects on his astonishing career and his Parkinson’s diagnosis at age 29. In his previous books, Fox has discussed how he came to terms with his illness. In this memoir, he shares observations and persona stories about aging with an illness, the strength of family and friendships, and how our perceptions about time affect our attitudes about mortality.
Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney – Cheney presents a gripping first-hand account of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the villains and heroes, and the dangers we still face.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover – After being released from prison, Kenna returns home to reunite with the daughter she never had the chance to parent only to discover that her family wants to keep them apart. Will the mistakes of her past always haunt her? She turns to her one remaining friend, the local bartender, Ledger Ward. As they grow closer can Kenna find a way to convince her family she’s finally learned from her mistakes?
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah – After losing her mother and battling breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois. Alone in her isolate cabin in the woods, she encounters a mysterious bruised and barefoot girl named Ursa who claims to be from the stars sent to Earth to witness five miracles. With the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabe, Jo tries to unravel the mystery of this child. Who is Ursa and what are the five miracles she must witnesss?
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