The books I read in 2023

Throughout the year 2023, I continued my journey through books. A few years ago, I couldn’t concentrate on more than a few pages of reading. It’s clear that gradually immersing myself in easy-to-read Japanese books was a catalyst for holding my attention longer, truly enjoying turning the pages, and diversifying my reading!

I had already compiled this reading list last year to catalog the novels I had read in 2022. I am once again engaging in this exercise. This year, I read less, with 18 books compared to 24 in 2022.

I don’t pressure myself about the number. The essential thing is to take pleasure in reading, and that was certainly the case for me!

 

READING IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGE

The novelty of 2023 for me is that I started reading quite a few books in English (Thanks, LN, for the push!). My English isn’t 100% fluent, and my language skills mainly come from high school, movies/series/pop songs. So, I’m delighted to have been able to attempt reading novels in English and to immerse myself in the story.

I found it to be a very good exercise to read in the original version to enrich my vocabulary (the dictionary is never far away in case of doubt) and to stay as close as possible to the author’s intention.

So here’s my ranking by categories, as last year. This post might give you some ideas and add to the number of books on your to-be-read pile. Feel free to share your opinion here if you’ve already read one or more of the novels mentioned; I’m curious to see if we have the same feelings about them.

 

MY FAVORITES

 

VIEILLE PEAU by FIONA SCHMIDT
My favorite of 2023, which should be read from a young age. This brilliant and funny essay by Fiona Schmidt explores ageism and explains how society subtly directs women at each phase of their lives, insidiously instilling a fear of aging. It’s not a guide on “aging well” or “how to stay young.” It goes much further, allowing for a serene look at who we are and who we will become.

ATTEINDRE L’AUBE by DIGLEE
A magnificent story by my friend Maureen, who had already dazzled with her pen in her previous work, Ressac, in 2021. Here, the book is just as intimate but with a different approach as it delves into the life of her great-aunt Georgie, a whimsical, passionate, and mysterious character, as well as into the lives of the women in her family. All of this helps to (re)define (among other things) her vision of coupledom and her life expectations. Subtle and moving.

DAISY JONES & THE SIX by TAYLOR JENKINS REID (Read in english)
This book was a gift from my childhood friend LN, convinced that I would enjoy this story. Bingo! I loved it! The story is structured as an interview with a fictional 70s musical group (inspired by Fleetwood Mac), which makes reading in English quite easy and fluid. The adapted television series and the album of songs are delightful additions to extend the pleasure. I even dedicated a special post to the novel/series/album on Instagram if you want more details.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by TAYLOR JENKINS REID (Read in english)
Continuing from Daisy Jones & the Six, I wanted to explore more novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid and turned to this one. Once again, it’s about a fictional star, a 79-year-old actress, giving an interview to an unknown journalist Monique Grant. Through their exchanges, we explore the star’s past with her 7 husbands. Secrets and twists abound. I’m not surprised that the novel is once again being adapted into a feature film… To be continued!

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (THE HUNGER GAMES) (Read in english)
My favorites seem to be novels that have been adapted into films or series! Here, the prequel to the Hunger Games saga, which I adore. I wanted to read the novel before going to the cinema, and I have no regrets about either the reading or the viewing (I discuss it in more detail here on Instagram). Perhaps I should have read it in French because the action scenes and war-related terms were quite difficult to understand in the language of Shakespeare, but I still loved discovering the youth of the villain President Snow on paper. The film adaptation is also one of my favorites of the year.

 

GOOD MOMENTS OF READING

The line between a favorite and a good reading moment is thin, but I had to make a choice to rank my different feelings.

 

THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES by ELIF SHAFAK (Read in english)
My first book of the year read in 2023 and in English! A little adaptation time was needed to move fluidly through the pages, but once past that, I was captivated by this story of impossible love between a Greek and a Turk during the Cypriot War in the 1970s. A dual narrative (including that of a fig tree) that is subtle and rich in emotion, which will also appeal to nature lovers.

LOOK OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUY! by SCOTT LANG (Read in english)
Upon the release of the 3rd film in the Ant-Man saga: Quantumania (spoiler: it’s not at all up to par with the first 2 episodes), I learned about the parallel release of this book written by the main character of the film, Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd). I found the idea brilliant since this book (actually written by Scott Lang!) appears at the beginning of the film. So I was curious to see what I could find in it and was not disappointed. The character’s tone is impeccably reproduced throughout the pages, describing all the adventures of the Avengers saga in a humorous and Ant-Man-specific way. However, it’s best reserved for Marvel and Ant-Man fans since this novel is extremely meta, but that’s what gives it its charm.

LESSON OF THE EVIL by YUSUKE KISHI
My first Japanese thriller: I appreciated being swept away by the chilling story of this high school teacher with two faces. It’s not perfect (as I mentioned here) but you easily get caught up in the intrigue and action (sometimes very unhealthy and violent, be warned).

KLARA AND THE SUN by KAZUO ISHIGURO
A book that questions the human relationship with new technologies, featuring Klara, an artificial intelligence robot adopted into a rather peculiar family. The atmosphere is particularly strange and cinematic, so much so that the novel will be adapted into a film soon.

THE WOMAN IN ME de BRITNEY SPEARS (Read in english)
You probably know of my particular fondness for Britney Spears since the early 2000s. So, I had to get her memoir. I was very happy to read it in English, to have a more raw and less cheesy transcription than in French. You’ve probably already read the essentials in the press, but reading it in full allowed me to better understand what poor Britney may have felt/endured during all those years of guardianship and overexploitation. (I discuss it in more detail here in this post) Her poignant testimony and reflections on misogyny in the music industry deserve to be read.

BREASTS AND EGGS by MIEKO KAWAKAMI
A very short book that observes three generations of Japanese women and their relationship with femininity. A concise and straightforward snapshot of Japanese society..

POÉTIQUE DU JAMBON-BEURRE by FRANCOIS SIMON
If you enjoy listening/watching the famous food critic François Simon’s chronicles on Instagram, you’ll love devouring his words in this book paying homage to the famous sandwich, pretext for an analysis of culinary trends and habits, ranging from Japanese cuisine to more local dishes. A gentle book that stimulates the senses, which I’ve already discussed here.

THE POWER OF NOW: A GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT by ECKHART TOLLE
This wasn’t an easy read as it requires holding on before delving deeper into Eckhart Tolle’s explanations. There are things to take and leave in this book, but it deserves credit for providing me with some avenues of comfort during a complicated summer period.

THE GREAT PASSAGE by SHION MIURA
A novel that pays homage to words, cuisine, and the feeling of a job well done. The action takes place in the world of Japanese publishing, and it’s light reading.

 

THE BOOKS THAT I LIKED MODERATELY

THE LIBRARY OF SECRET DREAMS by MICHIKO AOYAMA
Although it was quite enjoyable to read, well-constructed, and some aspects reminded me of Ito Ogawa’s La papeterie Tsubaki (though not as good), I must admit that I’m a bit saturated with cozy Japanese novels overflowing with good feelings and feel the need to move away from the theme of bookstores, stationery, restaurants, or cats (very, very (too) common in Japanese “feel-good” novels).

THE KING OF GYOZAS by YOKO HIRAMATSU and JIRŌ TANIGUCHI
A book in the same vein as A Sandwich in Ginza (it’s the sequel). Text and parts in illustrated comics by the master Jirō Taniguchi, recounting the gourmet discoveries of regional dishes from Japan. The dishes described, mostly based on various types of meat, are sometimes a bit redundant and unappetizing.

 

THE BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE

SNOW COUNTRY by YASUNARI KAWABATA
Perhaps too much praise had been given for me to fully appreciate it? The descriptions of landscapes are poetic, but I felt great annoyance towards the main male character, an aesthete, poet, but too passive and with an unappealing dated behavior (In his defense, the book was written in 1948). I found it impossible to project myself into the story and the romance mentioned without regularly rolling my eyes.

MALIBU RISING by TAYLOR JENKINS REID (Read in english)
The third book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I read might have been one book too many! Once again, the same theme of fictional characters from a famous Californian family. A sort of spin-off of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” since one of the characters from that book appears in Malibu Rising. Here, I felt little attachment to the members of this family whose fate changes during a “celebrity” party in Malibu. Surfing, the “fine sandy beach” ambiance failed to charm me.

 

PS : The photos in this article were taken during the “Mise en page” exhibition at Le Bon Marché by Sarah Andelman (formerly Mrs. Colette), dedicated to bookstores from around the world and the universe of books and publishing, all complemented by giant installations created by the artist Jean Jullien. (English translation by Quiterie)