My 4-Star Reads in 2023

Since I’ve been reading “slush” for Orca Literary magazine this year – lots of poems and short stories and some creative non-fiction submissions, which it would be unprofessional for me to talk about much –

Because of that slush reading, I haven’t been able to read quite as many books this year as in the past. I’ve read (or listened to) “only” 50 books or magazines so far this year, and while I might be able to add a couple of more to my list by the end of 2023, there is no way I’ll match last year’s 84 reads.

Fortunately, this makes it easier for me to identify the reading I enjoyed most over the past almost-12 months. Here they are in no particular order.

(Other) Magazine:

All-Worlds Wayfarer Magazine – I am very slowly working my way through the back-catalogue of this speculative literary magazine, enjoying many stories in the two issues I have read this year.

Books:

Greeks Bearing Gifts – A Bernie Gunther Mystery – by Phillip Kerr – I found a copy of this at a free library in the city and thought hey I definitely need another book to add to my book pile and to-read list, why not take this home? (There are literally 100s of books on my to-read pile already, in case you haven’t guessed.)

As far as I remember, I’ve never read a Bernie Gunther novel before. I am favourably impressed. It was mostly fun, it blatantly ripped off old movies for parts of the story, it had lots of nice hardboil-y lines, it had humour, and even though I got worried now and then it was going to get a bit too history-preachy, it was over all, a quite nice historical-mystery summer read. If I see another Bernie Gunther lying around, I’ll pick it up.

The Woman in White ­ – by Wilkie Collins – This was an assigned reading through my regional library’s Classics Book Club. I was fortunate enough to be able to find a copy for purchase from a local-ish used book seller, and therefore could take my time in reading through the text.

It did take awhile, and the language certainly slowed me down as it’s not as easy to read today as it presumably once was, but I enjoyed it. There were some twists that caught me unaware. There was an underlying sense of humour that was fun, and while the final happily ever after ending seemed a bit inevitable, I was rarely ever bored with this lengthy read.

The End of Vandalism­ – by Tom Drury– Unfortunately I didn’t make any notes on this book after I read it a few months ago, although I did give it four stars, and I can no longer remember why, exactly I did – this is a funny-sad-funny romance and slice of life story set in the Midwest, which takes a moment to get into but holds you there once you find the rhythm – or perhaps the rhythm finds you.

The Stars the Govern Us­ – by J. R. Alcyone – I got a free copy of this book from the publisher to read and review, and it proved to be a pleasure. Set in 1950’s Australia, there were times when I didn’t like, or didn’t particularly believe in, the main character, and there were a few scenes that seemed to be leaning fairly closely into contrivance and melodrama. However, over all, I quite enjoyed this story. I admired especially it’s ability to bring together fictional characters and circumstances and historical medical progress within a strongly detailed setting. Once it settled into the story, the pacing was compelling and the story ends on a highly satisfactory note.

Swing Low: A Life ­– by Miriam Toews – it’s official, I have now read every book by Miriam Toews, some more than once. This is a memoir she wrote of her father, and also a story about a small town and the people who live and die there, and the people who escape and don’t escape and don’t need to escape.

The Valley of Sage and Juniper – by Shay Galloway – another book I was able to snaggle for free with the promise of a review, this is a “new western” with a lot of energy, set during the Depression, following the adventures of two complicated sisters as they try and keep the family ranch going, despite “holy” men who are not too holy, and the occasional inconvenience of a touch of supernatural ability. I didn’t always like these characters, but this debut novel promises much more from Ms Galloway in the future.

Demon Copperhead­ – by Barbara Kingsolver – Yes, it’s David Copperfield, only set in Appalachia now. There’s no way for me to deny Kingsolver can write, and I will continue to read anything she puts out. However, I am rounding up this book to this four star rating, as I felt there was something of a failure of imagination in the second half (and a fall back on stereotypical situations) but the story kept me engaged and wanting to know it all turned out.

Busman’s Honeymoon – Lord Peter Wimsey series – by Dorothy L. Sayers – this book, which is the last in the series of books following the adventures of an aristocratic amateur detective contemporary to the 1920s and 30s, surprised me quite a bit – it’s not really a mystery story, although there is a mystery, it is more an exploration of a rather wonderful and mature romance. It might have been written largely to please Lord Wimsey fans, but even if it is fanfic, it is good fanfic. (I’ve previously read Murder Must Advertise which comes earlier in the series – eventually I may get around to reading all of them.

Audiobooks:

OCDaniel – written by Wesley King, narrated by Roman De Campo – a story about a boy in middle school who does not understand he’s experiencing what we label OCD – he just wants to get by at school, at home, on the football team, and impress the pretty girl… and he also has a mystery to solve. This story was sometimes quite sad, and I feel that a lot of people won’t read or listen to it because it’s “a kid’s story” – but it has lots for adults too!

Blacktop Wasteland – written by S.A. Cosby, narrated by Adam Lazarre-White – This audiobook was a lot of fun. Very cinematic. A story about a getaway driver who thought he was done with that life… but we all know he’s not done with it. And of course, he agrees to one more job. At the end of the audiobook I downloaded, there was a brief interview with the author, and they mention the film Hell or High Water, and I went, oh yeah, that makes sense.

Non-Fiction:

Stolen Focus – Why You Can’t Pay Attention  – by Johann Hari – I noted an amusing number of typos for a book that calls for focus – but over all this is a book worthy of attention.

Strange book that I’m currently reading:

Being a Human – Adventures in Forty Thousand Years of Consciousness by Charles Foster

There’s always room for another title on my to-try-reading list, what would you recommend? What were your favourite reads of the year?