The World's Common Tater

It was a very down year for me in reading. I didn’t think I could do worse than I did in 2020, but here I am 4000 pages lower than the 2020 total I need to get back on track and read instead of vegging out in front of the TV.

Ten Best Books I Read in No Particular Order

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – I probably would not have read this book if not for book club. I’m glad I did. I think I get Hannah confused with someone else so I never considered her books. I will try to remember to add more of her books to my 2023 reading list.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I read this one after my daughter read it and loved it. I also loved it, We are looking forward to the Netflix movie.

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Bachman – This is another one I would not have read if not for book club. I’ve known about the book for years but never considered reading it. I guess it’s a good thing I joined this book club.

The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman – The Thursday Murder Club is a very good mystery series and it gets better as it goes.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo – I read this one after it won awards at ALA. The Youth Media Awards are my favorite way to find new YA books to read.

The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman – I’ve been a fan of Klosterman for years. I’m always happy to have more from him.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris – Sedaris is another author I should have read but never did. I think he is another one I confused with someone else. He’s very funny.

The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry – I love Barry’s work and this one was very good. Murder and alternate worlds. A good combination.

The Dime by Kathleen Kent – I almost read the second book first after reading a good review in the Washington Post. I figured it out and read this one first. A very good addition to my list of mystery/thriller series I read.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright – It’s Jason Reynolds. That pretty much guarantees it will be on my best list.

Book I Would Most Recommend

I think I would go with The Nightingale. I always forget how much I love a good historical fiction book until I read one and remember how much I love them. This one was very good.

Worst Book I Finished

Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight. I hated every character and it was one of those books where the entire plot revolved around people not talking to each other.

Book I Dustbunnied

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler. It took me too long to figure out I didn’t care about the Booth family and I finally quit reading it.

Final Thoughts

I discovered that when you read less it is harder to come up with a top ten. I usually also do honorable mentions but it was hard enough to list ten this year, Here’s hoping for a better reading year this year.