Thursday Thirteen - January 11, 2024
My favorite books read in 2023, based on Goodreads reviews. Coincidentally, I gave thirteen books the full five stars! These are listed in no particular order as to favorite, just how I picked up the information on Goodreads.
1 - Help the Poor Struggler
Martha Grimes
2 - Tell the Wolves I'm Home
Carol Rifka Brunt
3 - The Family Next Door: A Novel
Sally Hepworth
4 - Jessica Niemi #1
The Witch Hunter
Max Seeck
5 - Bill Hodges Trilogy #2
Finders Keepers
Stephen King
6 - Two Little Girls in Blue
Mary Higgins Clark
7 - Richard Jury #3
The Anodyne Necklace
Martha Grimes
8 - Nero Wolfe #16
Three Doors to Death
Rex Stout
9 - The Silent Patient
Alex Michaelides
10 - Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #17
The Madness of Crowds
Louise Penny
11 - Hairpin Bridge
Taylor Adams
12 - The Couple Next Door
Shari Lapena
13 - The Unexpected Guest: A Play In Two Acts
Agatha Christie
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My favorite of all was The Witch Hunter. It was my pick for finishing the library's Summer Reading Program. I forgot my reading glasses, so couldn't read the blurb well. I could make out there was a mystery, and that's my favorite genre, so got it. When I got home and read more I was concerned I picked poorly. It also mentioned witchcraft, and I was expecting something with occult elements, which I don't care for. There weren't, and it was the best book I read in 2023. Part of that may need to be credited to the translator; it was originally written in Finnish.
Tell the Wolves I'm Home was also a surprise favorite. The back cover states it was an O Magazine pick (never liked those), and a favorite read of Gillian Flynn (a hit or miss author for me. Liked Dark Places quite a bit, despised her well received Girl on the Train.) I'll admit to being too picky about nitpicking in book reviews! In Tell the Wolves I'm Home I found zero things to criticize! It's too bad her other books are historical fiction, rare for me to enjoy reading those.
One last thing, other than The Witch Hunter, all the books were found in the Goodwill Bins for 25¢ each! Some were brand new hardcovers.
I read all of Mary Higgins Clark back in the day. I don't think I read the one you read last year, though.
ReplyDeleteI have read quite a few. Sometimes I start them and realize I've read them already (often the case with Agatha Christie since she wrote so many!), but if I forget "who dun it" I will reread them. This was totally new to me. My library isn't the best, so a lot of titles aren't carried. They buy suggested titles, and I've never had them refuse, but I haven't been going there lately. My closest one is small, and the main branch is uncomfortable to get into due to homeless in the parking lot, camping on the paths and by the door.
DeleteThanks for the reviews. I haven't read any of these.
ReplyDeleteI didn't seek those titles out, just found them for 25¢! As long as they are mysteries or something similar, I give them a chance. Unless by an author I don't care for...
DeleteI've not read any of those books except the Louise Penny one. I love her Gamache series. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I enjoy that series, for the most part. A few are much better than others, to be expected with any series.
DeleteI mainly get my books from libraries nowadays, using guides like the Book Page magazine our libraries give away each month. I haven't read any of these. Our preferred genres are way apart, I suspect. But I say, whatever genre a person likes is fine, as long as they read.
ReplyDeleteYes, I look at the Book Page, and if any book looks good I ask the library to order it. Most of the new releases in Book Page either aren't ordered yet, or only ebook versions.
DeleteWow, 25 cents! I tend to skip over books that are a celebrity’s picks. I probably lose out.
ReplyDeleteI usually do too. But, for the price I thought I'd try.
DeleteI love LOVE Nero Wolfe! (Or, more accurately, Archie Goodwin.) Thanks for reminding me. I didn't visit the brownstone once in 2023 and I should rectify that this year.
ReplyDeleteThey are fun! Good mysteries too. As with any older novel, there are a few inappropriate for these days comments. So do Christie's.
Deletehaven't read any of these but will be adding a few to my poor groaning tbr.. though i have a few other books by Agatha Christie
ReplyDeleteMy post is here
There are so many Christie's I can reread and not remember the endings!
DeleteI read a book highly recommended by Oprah. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. The ending was so horrible it made me want to go and stare at the wall and cry. Just awful. Never again. I think there is something wrong with people who write things like that.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of that, but just looked it up. Dogs. So, I might have tried too. Thanks for the warning.
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