Auntie Annex: Top 5 Books of 2023
A monthly overview of what is on MY shelf
Surprise hello! This is a bit of a bonus episode that will kickstart a monthly series I am dubbing “Auntie’s Annex” in dedication to my gorgeous and brilliant best friend and book-loving sister (she is the Auntie in question). Today is the extra special launch date because it is her birthday and we all deserve to be spoiled. My mom says that from the moment she was born, it was obvious that she was mine to take care of, and that my purpose on this planet became apparent - I am here to take care of (other people’s) babies. She has always been my best friend, my confidant, my playmate, and my partner in petty crime. She is the one who makes me laugh the hardest, work the hardest, and find my best self. We take care of each other and I wish I could give her the whole world.
Imagine a cozy tucked away corner of the library, far from the screams of the kids section, near a window, and a miraculously well-tended plant. There is a cozy high-backed chair, and you can sip on your latte while reading. This is Auntie’s Annex — a dreamland I may visit again someday. Happy birthday Aunt TT!
LIT TIP
Auntie Annex is also for you, dear parents and caretakers, though instead of a quiet retreat in a corner, your reading space may be standing at the kitchen counter between referee sessions while you simultaneously pretend to be Princess Leia. Or it is an audiobook while doing dishes and sweeping the floor. Or it is stealthily flipping pages while your toddler naps in the car because it is the ONLY place she will sleep (how did I become this parent?!?). Because, if there is one thing you can do to ensure your littles will become readers, it is to show them how much you love to read. Read your own books adjacent to their imaginative play. Carve out the time and make it a priority. Kids always want to do whatever you are doing. Let them catch you reading.
TOP HITS OF 2023
Fort Auntie Annex’s maiden voyage, and because it is nearly the last day of the year, I thought I would start with a “Top Hits” list for you all. I read an astounding 75 books this year (I even impressed myself with that number). Is it on purpose that all five of my favorite books of 2023 are written by females? No! But considering how many years of my life were spent reading (and loving) dead white males (thanks to public school education), I feel like this is a win for balancing out the scales.
A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING by Ruth Ozeki
Half set in Japan where we meet Nao, a sixteen-year-old victim of bullying intent on committing her grandmother’s life to the page before taking her own, and half set in the glorious PNW on a remote island where a struggling writer named Ruth discovers washed-up treasure in a Hello-Kitty lunch box one day, perhaps remnants of a 2011 tsunami. This book is about humanity, about art, about hope, and despair. There are hints at quantum concepts and nuggets of magical realism that left me with a floating feeling - like I was uncertain of what just happened, but I liked it, and I wanted to do it all again.
THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O’Farrell
A fictionalized telling of the story of Lucrezia di Cosimo de Medici, who at 15 was somewhat abruptly thrust into a marriage for the sake of politics. She finds herself in a castle and court unfamiliar and has to determine which face of her new husband (if any) is the one to trust. Maggie O’Farrell writes with such force and saturation that all her novels teeter just on the brink of being too much. I think you’ll either love it or you’ll drown in it. I maybe did a bit of both.
HORSE by Geraldine Brooks
A story about a truly remarkable horse, and the people both in the past and the present, who are brought together and wrenched apart through the legacy of the magnificent beast. Spanning three different eras, and interweaving the storylines across generations, this book is a treat. I could tell from the first chapter that the writing alone was going to carry this book for me. I fell in love with the characters who all, in turn, fell in love with the horse. Was the end too abrupt? Did it work? I’d like you to read it and give your feedback because I feel a little bit…conflicted. Book club anyone?
PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson
I love it when a debut novel is just a total win. A fictional and fun peek into the complicated family life of the uber-rich NY elite, the novel felt both authentic and entertaining and was a pleasure to read. I believe I laughed and cried (always a sign of a winner), while simultaneously loving and hating the same character in a single stroke. Plus, I love a good family drama.
THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarty
What would you do if you found a letter addressed to you from your partner, only to be read upon their demise? Would you read it? What secrets would you unwittingly unveil? A bit dark, a bit hilarious, a bit of a mystery, all rolled into one. I love a book that has me laughing out loud before the first chapter is even up. Liane Moriarty is so good at creating rich, complicated, and loveable characters who are so relatable and human that you can’t help but get pulled in
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Chief Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
We All Want Impossible Things By Catherine Newman
ON THE NIGHTSTAND:
In Hand: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass
On Kindle: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon
Audiobook: The Last Anniversary by Laine Moriarty
ON DECK:
The Overstory by Richard Powers
North Woods by Daniel Mason
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (#4 in the Chief Inspector Gamache Series)
Thanks for being here! I hope you find good books to read whether it is in a quiet cozy corner or amidst the clutter and cuteness of your kiddos. What is your favorite book you read in 2023? Anything you can’t wait to pick up?
If you know someone who loves to read, or someone who wants to read more with their kiddos, please share my publication! Word of mouth is the best recommendation.
Happy reading and see you next month (next year!) for another episode of “Auntie’s Annex” and in just 2 short days for my regular kid-centric content.
I loved ‘A Tale for the Time Being’. It’s on my re read list! 75 books! That’s amazing! Striving for more reading in 2024! So excited for this new bonus newsletter and Happy birthday Auntie!