Poetry Friday,  Reading

Poetry Friday: Favorite Adult Reads of 2023

December 22, 2023 /
 

Haiku Calendar Giveaway

The winner of last week’s haiku calendar giveaway is Irene Latham!

Irene, the 2024 Haiku Calendar is winging it’s way to you! The other people who entered should have received an email from me with a link to a digital version of the calendar. 

 

Favorite Adult Reads of 2023

I read hundreds of books a year—mostly picture books, poetry, nonfiction, and middle grade. I also read young adult (especially YA verse novels), adult nonfiction, adult fiction, adult poetry collections, and writing craft books. Most of the adult fiction I read is for my neighborhood book club. There’s usually one standout title a year that I like.
 
This year, I had a fabulous year of reading adult fiction and nonfiction. It’s not that I read more than usual. But among the ones I read, many were standouts. Only one of them was one I read for book club. Looking back on the list of books, I read several of them over vacation—spring break and a long weekend away in the fall. Maybe I needed that time to fully immerse myself in some of these worlds. All of my favorites had a lot of hype and marketing money behind them, so I’m sure you’ve heard of all of them. 
 
None of them are poetry—but one is by a poet. But since most of my Poetry Friday readers are readers, then I thought some of these might be ones you’d connect with too.
 
by Gabrielle Zevin
 
I read this over spring break because I knew I would need time to get into it. I’d resisted reading this book for months because I didn’t want to read about gaming. But the gaming aspect didn’t bother me a bit. The relationships and characters drew me in.
 
 
by Barbara Kingsolver
 
I read this over a long weekend in the fall. To be totally honest, I stopped at about 200 pages in, not sure if I could finish it because it was so hard emotionally. I’m glad it I finished it (after doing some Google searches). Especially hits home because this takes place in the state I call home. The opioid epidemic has hit especially hard in the southwest part of our state.
 
 
by Bonnie Garmus
 
I went to see Bonnie Garmus in person at 6th & I (hosted by our amazing Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden) in the spring having not read the book.
 
I went with two other writer friends. It was a delightful evening, with it to be out late in the city on a school night.
 
I waited until the summer to read it. The voice in this book? So hilarious. Don’t let the cover fool you. It’s a super smart book with many layers and the strongest voice of any book I read all year.
 
I watched the Apple TV+ mini series. It doesn’t do this book justice. It’s not funny at all like the book and it features less rowing that it should. I’m not saying don’t watch the show–the acting is good. But definitely read the book first.
 
by R. F. Kuang
 
This book is a page-turner. Fast pacing, lots of cringy publishing stuff. I read it in one sitting. I wish I could say it was far-fetched, but honestly, the things I’m reading on Twitter/X still, show it’s not far-fetched at all.
 
 
by Rachel Joyce
 
This was our only book club book from the year that made my list. We read decent books, but this one was my favorite. Another favorite from book club was WORLD OF WONDERS by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, but it was a reread for me. 
 
I like music, but I’m not the person you want in your “Name that Tune” competition. This book takes place centered around a record store. It’s a love story (not my normal thing), but the setting and the characters really do draw you in. It’s really the only feel-good story on my list.
 
by Prince Harry
 
I’ve been rooting for this guy his whole life. This book, which I listened to on audio, gave me even more empathy for him. 
 
I’ve heard many mixed reviews—not everyone I know loved this book. Some thought it was too much information. 
 
I thought it was well-written (hats off to a good ghost writer) and compelling. Plus, if you read it, definitely listen on audio because he reads it. 
 
by Maggie Smith
 
I’ve been a fan of Maggie Smith’s poetry for a few years (I was late to discover her). I remember asking an indie bookstore owner if I should listen to this on Libro.FM (my usual choice for memoir) or read it in hardback. The bookseller convinced me to read the physical copy. Excellent choice. While this book deals with the story of Maggie’s divorce, and it’s in prose, it’s written with a poet’s eye. The way the book is structured is so unique and worth looking at a physical copy.
 
I plan to listen to it on audio too, but I recommend getting a physical copy just to see how she structures the pages.
 
If you aren’t already subscribing to Maggie Smith’s substack, I highly recommend. She shows early versions and revisions of her poems, answers questions about poetry, and writes craft articles. It’s the only substack (so far) that I’ve been willing to pay for the extra content. This week she wrote a post about poem titles, which really affirmed some things I have been trying to do in my poetry, but also challenged me to do more.
 
I won’t be doing a “Best of the Children’s Books” I read because I feel too close to this part of the industry to do that. I read hundreds and I had dozens of favorites, so that post would be soooo long!
 

Haiku of the Week

 
frosted morning—
grass tips brittle with ice
point at the slow sun
 
Haiku and Photo © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
 
Photo Taken: December 9, 2023 Eakin Community Park
Haiku Written: December 18, 2023

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What I’m Reading

 
by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge
 
This is a biography in verse, told from Equiano’s POV. The authors took his own writings and fashioned the poems into found poetry.
 
 
I’ll post more about my overall reading when I do my 2023 roundup. What were your favorite reads of 2023? 

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18 Comments

  • Rose Cappelli

    December 22, 2023 at 10:20 AM

    Thanks for all the great titles, Marcie! I had to read Demon Copperhead in small doses because it was so emotionally wrenching. I almost gave up, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I watched Lessons in Chemistry which led me to the book. Several others have said that the book is better (which it usually is), so I’m looking forward to digging into it soon. I still wonder when you sleep!

    • Marcie Flinchum Atkins

      December 27, 2023 at 9:39 AM

      Lessons in Chemistry book is so much better–so much funnier–and has a great voice. Demon Copperhead was emotionally wrenching. I almost stopped 200 pages in. I promise, I do sleep. In fact, I love sleep! It’s the going to bed early and getting up early that helps me. 🙂

  • Karen Edmisten

    December 22, 2023 at 10:53 AM

    Oooh, I love a good year-end book round-up! ❤️ 😀 I feel like you took a peek at my TRB list. I’m so behind on the many books I want to get to!

    I love your take on the grass tips pointing at the sun as if they are hollering for the sun to get to work. 🙂

  • Buffy Silverman

    December 22, 2023 at 2:41 PM

    Thanks for the book recommendations. I’ve read the first three you listed (and we are currently watching Lessons in Chemistry, which I agree does not have the humor of the book, but am still enjoying.) Demon Copperfield was perhaps the best book I’ve read this year. Will check out the others! Wishing you slow sun…

  • Linda Baie

    December 22, 2023 at 6:23 PM

    Love the ‘grass tips’, Marcie. We’ve been so, so warm, but cold is on its way, maybe then I’ll see the beauty! As for the books, I read Demon Copperhead, which is beautiful but also heartbreaking throughout. I have the Zevin book but still haven’t read it, and I know of some of the others. I will note them, so thanks! Have a great holiday with your family!

  • Linda

    December 23, 2023 at 11:43 AM

    Thank you for sharing these titles and descriptions. I must admit I have not read any of them, but I do see a few I’ll add to my TBR list. I hope you have a wonder-filled holiday and a happy, healthy 2024!

  • Michelle Kogan

    December 23, 2023 at 7:21 PM

    Excellent post Marcie, thanks for sharing all the books you’ve been reading and the reviews, and also the tip about Maggie Smith’s Substack, I’ll have to carve out sometime for that. I’m following another poet on Substack but haven’t been able to keep up with him–hope I’ll find time for both… I’m also interested in PRINCE HARRY SPARE, and I’ll have to pick up LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. I saw the mini series but you have me interested in reading the book. Right now I’m reading NO TIME TO SPARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT MATTERS by Ursula K. Le Guin and really enjoying it, I may bring it up in my post this week. Thanks again for a wonderful post!

  • Denise Krebs

    December 27, 2023 at 1:40 PM

    Marcie, what a treasure. I loved reading about the standout books on 2023 for you. I’m sharing your post with my daughter because she and her bookclub try to choose the best of the best for their readings. I think this will help them choose new titles for the coming year. I enjoyed seeing some of your sweet haiku calendar on Buffy’s post this week.