Video: Best books of 2023
Trying something new (& a programming note)
Thank you for reading Beyond Survival, a publication about life after trauma. Reading has always been a big part of my recovery, and this edition is about the best books I read in 2023.
I’m trying something a little different today. Rather than writing an extra long post about my favourite books of 2023, I filmed a quick video. It’s not perfect. My voice is croaky. I cough a lot. The dishwasher’s on in the background, and the house is a mess but, I wanted to try it. I hope you enjoy!
The full list of books (and some things I forgot to mention):
Memoir:
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurry. Funny and moving story of parental abuse, Hollywood, disordered eating and recovery.
All of This by
A book about the death of the man she had finally gathered the strength to divorce. A very necessary addition to the canon on grief.A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney. A book about the death of his very young son, Henry. Beautiful and very sad story.
Pageboy by Elliot Page. Movingly written and full of nuance
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady. Hilarious memoir about autism which kickstarted lots of reading/learning about neurodivergence this year.
The Part That Burns by
. I read this post and almost immediately ordered her book. It’s made up of flash non-fiction and essays which get richer and more dimensional as you read. Melissa Febos blurbed the book and described them as beautifully carved vignettes, which is a great description.Non-fiction:
This Is How We Read Now by Elaine Castillo. I forgot to include this one in the video, which is a pity as I’ve a lot to say about it. The short version is that it’s a mind-expanding book about reading which I loved so much, I immediately ordered her novel, America Is Not The Heart.
Ace by Angela Chan. I found this to be a bit dense, but it really helped expand my thinking about sexuality and the role it plays in our society. It’s the kind of book that makes you question everything, in the best way. (I also referenced this essay by Holly Whitaker in the video.)
This Ragged Grace by Octavia Bright. A beautiful book about the author’s recovery from alcohol addiction as her father declines due to Alzheimer's. I forgot to mention it in the video but I loved the way she unfurled stories of trauma and recovery in different ways, particularly how she challenged (& sometimes called out) the reader’s assumptions. Here’s an excerpt.
Essential Labour by
A book on the radical power of motherhood. This New Yorker piece is a great primer.The Parenthood Dilemma by Gina Rushton. I was sent this after my reading list on the choice to have a child was published by Longreads. I thought I’d considered the question from every angle, but this book really expanded my thinking about one of the most consequential decisions we’ll ever make.
Fiction:
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld was maybe the most fun I had with a book this year. I gobbled it up in a day. I really recommend her short story collection “You think it, I’ll say it” too.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is another one I forgot to mention in the video. It’s a novel about love, work and creative partnerships set in the world of game design.
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy is a beautiful novel set during the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. This is probably my favourite of Ng’s books, though I loved Little Fires Everywhere too. (I admire her approach to having her books adapted for TV too.)
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley. I’ve read most of Sloane Crosley’s books and this is one of the best. The main character is a woman who keeps running into her exes. Funny and weird, in the best way.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin was perhaps the novel I recommended most to friends this year. It’s hilarious, bold and provocative with a great premise - a sex therapist’s transcriptionist falls for one of her employer’s clients. Chaos ensues. This was great fun!
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. Amazing book. I’m sure I’ll read it again and again.
The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan. I read this on a hard day. A delightful will they/won’t they story about a young couple about to marry and their friends/family. Very queer and great fun. I burnt the dinner because I just couldn’t bear to put it out.
Quick books: (what would call ‘dippy books’, as in books you can dip in and out of)
Book of Delights by Ross Gay - short, easy vignettes on delight. He recently published a follow up to this one which I’m definitely gonna order.
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Pachett. A moving collection of essays. I especially loved the essay about her divorce and second marriage, and the remembrance for her beloved dog, Rose.
Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux. This was my first Ernaux, but it won’t be my last. Uncomfortable reading, but beautifully rendered.
Short stories:
I took a short story class with the wonderful Vicky MacKenzie this year and so have read more short stories than usual.
Ghost Lovers by Lisa Taddeo. The short stories I read in school were so dull and old, but this collection is very female-centric and full of life. I found them to be quite hetero. There’s a lot of male gaze, and a lot of problematic talk about bodies but the stories captured my attention and made me think I could write short fiction. I really recommend them.
Brokeback Mountain - my favourite story of the short story class which I subsequently sent to lots of friends. Here’s a PDF if you’d like to read.
2023 was a great reading year. I read 45ish books, and 18 of them were 5 star reads. If you’re still here, thank you for embracing this experiment. I’d love to hear about your favourite books of the year. Hit reply to let me know, or leave a comment below.
A quick programming note:
This will be my last free essay for January 2023 as I’m taking some time away to replenish my creative reserves and work on other projects. Paid subscribers will receive a new essay in their inbox later this month, and I’ll be back with regular programming in February.
🙏 Thank you, as always, for your support.
✍️ Beyond Survival is written by me, Clare Egan, an award-winning writer and journalist. You can read more about me here, or look at some pretty pictures over here. 👋 Click reply to say hello anytime.
Thank you so much for including me/ALL OF THIS! <3
Any situation where ALL I had to do was read books would surely be devastating in some or many ways, but I’m going to hold this list close as the silver lining of it if it happens, as I want to read them ALL, NOW.
My favourite book of the year was Zoe Whittall’s The Fake. An absolute ROMP, that — in spite of being a slow reader who had beloved family staying with me at the time — I read in three days.
Of the two main characters, one is queer (and the other actually the first time she’s ever had a straight person in a relationship as a main character in one of her books).
Good luck this month! Great boundary-making!