Books read in 2023.

With 2023 firmly behind us, I thought reviewing my year in books would be a cool idea. 2023 was the year I managed to get back into reading.

In 2021, I only managed 13 of my pledged 24 books. It started strong, with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dan Brown, and Jussi Alder-Olsen… some of my favourite authors. But I couldn’t keep up with the number I needed/wanted to read. We also moved in 2021, and towards the end of the year, I was looking after my children full-time instead of part-time. My munchkins invaded my quiet reading time.

In 2022, I failed even more epically, reading only five books when I pledged to read six. And an epic failure, it most certainly was. Looking after my children and working from home drained most of my energy. When the children were in bed, and I had finished my day’s chores, I didn’t want to read anymore.

I even wondered if pledging to read a certain number of books was detrimental to my desire to read. It almost felt like a chore. So, in 2023, I pledged to read only six again. Less than six seemed silly to me.

It is safe to say I read much more. I ended 2023 on a book count of more than 20. Which I am quite pleased with.

Granted, others may read hundreds of books per year. I have friends and family who have read close to 200 books in 2023. However, I can only focus on two, maybe three, books at a time. One e-book and one physical book (maybe two physical books if one is nonfiction).

While driving to work in early 2023, I would listen to an audiobook too. It was nice to change from the overplayed pop hits you hear on the radio. However, having returned to full-time telecommuting, I don’t have the right mindset to listen to audiobooks.

In 2023, I also read many nonfiction books about my professional reconversion, which is interesting. It’s hard to self-teach a new skill, but so rewarding too.

I also discovered graphic novels, a medium I hadn’t explored before. And I do enjoy the change. It’s cool to understand a story through pictures and not just words.

You can find my reviews on the website, although I haven’t finished writing all of them. (I’ve got some serious backlog, especially in the graphic novel department).

Without further ado, here’s a recap of what I read.