My Favourite Reads of 2023
My Top 15 Reads from 2023 + introducing a new feature called 'Martha's Map'!
Welcome to Martha’s Monthly, Favourite Reads of 2023 edition! I know we’re over two weeks into 2024 by now, but I needed a moment to really consider my favourite books from last year.
I had a very good reading year for lots of reasons, but mainly because it was the year I started my newsletter and talk about books all the time with all of you!
I read 107 books last year. I tried to make this a Top 10 but it was a bit too hard so instead I have settled onto a Top 15 (which I think is close enough). There are so many reasons why a book stands out to me as a favourite. Reading is so subjective, which is the beauty of it, and I think peoples ‘best’ lists of the year say so much about them.
For fun, I thought I’d share some of my stats from last year of my reading moods and genres.
I think it’ll come as no shock to my readers that my predominant reading moods are so….bleak. I love an emotionally challenging book. I want books to push me out of my comfort zone, challenge me, teach me something new and make me feel things. I know some people read to feel happy and comforted and I will be the first to admit that is not the book high I am chasing, ever.
I want a book to put me in the thick of it. I love to learn about people. I want to leave a book knowing more about the world than before I started reading. I want the writing to be so powerful and moving I can’t stop thinking about it. I want to go to places I’ve never been to and experience lives I will never get to live. I want to submerge myself in identities I don’t inhibit. I want to finish a book feeling like my mind and heart have gotten a little bigger.
Here are my Top 10 genres from 2023. It is no shock to me that my top genres are Literary and Historical fiction. That is who I am to my core. I am also so thrilled LGBTQIA is my third category! At the beginning of 2023 I wanted to make an effort to read more queer fiction. Evidently I absolutely excelled at this. I also developed a real affinity with Memoirs in 2023. Memoirs have fast become a favourite genre for me and I know this will continue into 2024. I adore reading about other people and how their lives have shaped them.
With all of that in mind, here are my favourite reads from 2023. All these books undeniably reflect the experiences I am seeking when I read. I will not be categorising them in my buy, borrow or bust format. They are all buys. These are not at all in a ranked order, I love them all equally. All of these books are books I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. They left a mark on me, and for that I am forever grateful for.
‘Homegoing’ by Yaa Gyasi. The most beautifully crafted generational story I have ever read. This story traces three hundred years of Ghanaian history. Gyasi is the most visceral and emotive storyteller, setting the fate of the individual against the obliterating movement of time. ‘Homegoing’ is an incredibly unique and moving historical fiction. I could have read 100 generations of this family. An unbelievably well executed story. I think about this book all the time.
To Read If: You enjoy interconnecting short stories and stories with multiple POVs, family sagas and stories where lineage is explored, fiction that reminds you how close to horrific historical events we actually are, how families only 3 generations apart can live such radically different lives, and are we our blood or our circumstance? When is it more one than the other?
‘Lilith's Brood’ (Dawn, Adulthood Rites and Imago) by Octavia Butler. Reading this trilogy changed my life. Everyone I recommend it to absolutely loves it. I think about these books daily. ‘Lilith's Brood’ is some of the most engrossing, thought provoking, interesting and dynamic scientific fiction I have ever read. It is deceptively easy to read, I myself read all three of these books in about 5 days. From this trilogy Octavia has become one of my dead or alive dream dinner party guests. I have to talk to her about this trilogy, how it came to her and what she thinks the future of the human race might look like.
To Read If: You enjoy thought provoking Sci-Fi with incredible depth, themes of xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia and social hierarchy. You often think, is there life out there? Do you think humanity will ever live alongside aliens? Do we deserve a second chance at life if we’ve already destroyed the planet we call our home? How open minded are you to the thought of humanity changing so drastically? Is all extraterrestrial intervention bad?
‘Wandering Souls’ by Cecile Pin follows 3 siblings as they flee from Vietnam during the war. The children come to Britain and we follow them as they attempt to find their identity in the racism and class wars of the 1980s. Pin tells a deeply emotional story with an incredibly unique structure. It is a tale of sheer cruelty and resilience as we watch these children become adults somewhere where they are not wanted. The story is a searing statement about migration, prejudice and the human spirit. A raw and emotional look on what home means and where to find it.
To Read If: You enjoy reading about themes of migration, prejudice, large-scale tragedy, how humans carve out meaning and hope in the lives that do not turn out the way we dreamed. You enjoy historical fiction or lyrical prose, themes of chosen family, you have interest in the society (and vibes) Margaret Thatcher created in the UK in the 1980s, you have never heard about the Vietnamese boat people.
‘Black Butterflies’ by Priscilla Morris. I think this could be my favourite book of last year. ‘Black Butterflies’ is a deeply moving account of the experience of being trapped in the 1992 Siege in Sarajevo. It tells an unbelievably enlightening and devastating story as the country descends into violence, chaos and extreme isolation. This book had some of the best prose and characterisation I have ever read. It is such a tender and tragic commentary on the human cost of war. Everybody should read this book.
To Read If: You enjoy historical fiction, strong characterisation, prose full of descriptive imagery, interested in learning about the Bosnian War or you haven’t even heard of the Bosnian War before, the human cost of war and tragedy, you have no idea what living in a siege looks like, you want to better understand what the individual and cultural impact of a war can look like, you believe in the importance and solace of art.
‘Pyre’ by Perumal Murugan was a fascinating read. This book wasn't an immediate favourite once I finished it. But it has been simmering away in my brain ever since I read it (over 7 months ago). I can’t stop thinking about how it made me feel. A fascinating and highly evocative thriller exploring obligation and desire, that asks can love conquer all? When is love not enough?
To Read If: You enjoy books that make you feel tense and uncomfortable, reading fables, the duality of love and hatred, themes of religion and tradition, the patriarchy and social hierarchies, family tension, and is there such a thing as actually defying tradition? Or are we always bound to it? You want to know more about the caste system in India.
‘This Is Not Miami’ by Fernanda Melchor is a stunning non-fiction collection which reads like fiction. An incredibly lyrical, insightful, informative and playful portrait of Veracruz. Spiralling from real events this collection of vignettes serve devastating and captivating commentary on society in Mexico. Melchor completely transports you into the lives of the individuals she writes about. I have never read any of Melchor’s fiction but I very much intend to after reading this.
To Read If: You want to read more non-fiction but struggle because you love fiction so much, you like short stories, commentary on how people cope living in regions characterised by such entrenched violence, you enjoy looking through the window at cultures and societies, you like stories about Latin America and murder.
‘Young Mungo’ by Douglas Stuart. I think ‘Young Mungo’ is up there as one of my best books of the year. This book ripped my heart out. An extraordinary and vivid portrayal of working class life in 1980s Glasgow. No one writes like Stuart, he is so talented and his books are so readable - you always fall head over heels in love with his characters. This is a completely devastating and utterly compelling coming of age queer story.
To Read If: You want to be emotionally devastated by a literary character. If you enjoy strong character studies where you feel like you are in someone's head. You enjoy your fiction to also have strong commentary and exploration of issues such as classism, alcoholism, masculinity and poverty. You like crying.
‘Demon Copperhead’ by Barbara Kingsolver. Similar to ‘Young Mungo’, ‘Demon Copperhead’ is another incredibly vivid and moving story of a young boy born into poverty. Demon is an all consuming, deeply loveable and beautifully created character. It is such a treat to be with him as a narrator throughout the story. Kingsolver creates such a wonderful world within this book, I couldn’t recommend this story enough. It is the type of story you can really sink your teeth into and get swept away with. It is devastating and hopeful in equal measure. As my wonderful friend
so eloquently said in her review of ‘Demon Copperhead’:‘How a 68-year-old white woman wrote a mixed-race redheaded Appalachian orphan boy into such exquisite existence, we might never know. But she did and you should read it. If for nothing except to be thankful for your own beautiful life’
To Read If: If you enjoy strong character studies where you feel like you are in someone's head, you’ve read ‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens, you like books to take you on a journey, you enjoy reading books steeped in hardship with all odds stacked against them, coming of age stories, you want to be moved by a book and you think hope can be found anywhere, you enjoy a comedic narrator, you believe people can escape their circumstances.
‘Still Born’ by Guadalupe Nettel. Perfectly articulating the dichotomy of being a woman in the modern world, ‘Still Born’ explores all aspects of what it means to be a mother. This beautiful story explores the whole spectrum of motherhood and the landscape of female friendship when children begin to appear. A phenomenal discussion surrounding how do you become a mother? And are you open to all aspects of motherhood, not just the idealised version? I was really touched by this book and it resonated with a lot of conversations me and my female friends have had.
To Read If: You enjoy reading about female friendships in late 20s/30s, motherhood, the choice to have children or not, maternity and the complexity of all these topics, what are the definitions of motherhood? What does motherhood look like? You think about how your friends having children will impact your friendship. Or you never see representation of childless women in the books you read.
‘A Little Luck’ by Claudia Piñero. A sensational piece of literary fiction, ‘A Little Luck’ follows Mary travelling back to Buenos Aires following an ‘accident’ that we know nothing about, except the enormous impact it has had on her life. As she returns to the town she has so deeply tried to forget, it is slowly revealed why she left. Incredibly moving, the story asks where the line between bravery and cowardice lies. It is wonderfully done from the set-up to the long and slow confession of the writer's sins. Tender and heartbreaking, it is a story of personal tragedy.
Claudia Piñero has another book coming out in 2024 called ‘Time of the Flies’ and I cannot wait. She is one of my favourite authors.
To Read If: You enjoy themes of motherhood, wonder if you ever stop becoming a mother, secrets and lies, coincidences and the role of luck in our lives, tragedy, memory and love. You have considered running away from your life and changing your identity, you believe you can shed your past OR you believe you can never shed your past. Can you disappear without a trace? How much power lies in dyeing your hair and changing your glasses?
‘Chain-Gang All-Stars’ by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is violent and emotional. This book is such a creative and imaginative approach to addressing and adding to the conversation of prison reform and the abolition movement; undertaken so eloquently, nuanced and full of immense energy. The imagination and world building within this book is magnificent. A slightly Orwellian exploration of race, technology and incarceration. A highly engrossing and eye opening read.
To Read If: You enjoy dystopian political fiction, previously have enjoyed The Hunger Games/Orange Is The New Black/Big Brother/Battle Royale, you enjoy speculative fiction about the future of technology and the value of human life. You think about the interplay between racism and incarceration all the time, will people of colour ever be free from being disproportionately incarcerated? Will capitalism ever end? Do you ever consider where reality TV might be heading?
‘Blacktop Wasteland’ by SA Cosby. With a contrast of such emotional and delicate themes with such raw and harsh violence, ‘Blacktop Wasteland’ is an enchanting read. Cosby’s writing completely seduces you into not being able to put the book down. Fast paced, compelling and action packed this is one of the best thrillers I think I’ve ever read. A classic yet unique story of a good man’s incredibly fraught relationship with crime and justice.
To Read If: You enjoy fast paced, high octane books, thrillers full of depth and nuance, exploring themes of masculinity, poverty and race, in a reading slump of any kind (this would be the perfect book to get you back into reading) or if you like flawed but loveable characters. Can people escape their roots or are they always pulled back? Can violence ever be justified? You enjoy considering the moral grey of situations.
‘Land of Snow and Ashes’ by Petra Rautiainen. A story of silenced histories and dark secrets, ‘Land of Snow and Ashes’ is unlike any historical fiction about World War Two. Eerie and gripping, the story unfolds in a mysterious manner as we learn about what happened to The Sámi people during the war. It was an addictive and harrowing, beautifully written thriller that keeps you fiercely turning the page.
To Read If: You enjoy historical fiction, thrillers, feeling unsettled whilst you read, learning about different cultures, stories full of secrets and lies, mystery and the good and the bad of humanity. You have never heard of The Sámi people. Wonder if all mysteries need to be solved? Is it empowering or damaging to uncover incredibly horrific secrets? Are there things better left unsaid? How do people move on from something they so desperately want to forget? You have wondered what living in the Arctic Circle might be like.
New Newsletter Feature Announcement!
I am bringing in a new page to my newsletter this year, called Martha’s Map! I know it’s an alliteration again but it was right there and I couldn’t resist.
As you all know, I love to read translated literature. I know a lot of you are trying to read more translated work too. So to help us all I have created ‘Martha’s Map’ to list all the translated work I have read in one place. It comprises a list of every country in the world, split into continents. This list is so that my readers, and I, can find all the translated work I have read in one clearly organised place, instead of having to hunt for it yourself from every monthly reads newsletter. The specific parameters of what the list does and doesn’t include are on the page.
By splitting it into continents I have been able to notice some of my own gaps. Through these gaps I am able to create some more specific 2024 reading aspirations. I know I have favourite geographical locations to read translated books from (most of South America, Mexico, Japan & Korea) so I’d like to try and make more of an effort to mix it up. Through this list I can see I have only read 2 translated books from the entire continent of Africa. Equally I have very few books listed in South Asia, Eastern & Northern Europe and nothing from the continent of Oceania. 2024 will be the reading year I seek out translations more from these areas.
One day I hope to have read something translated from every country in the world. It won’t be anytime soon, life is long and I’ll get there eventually.
If you have any translated book recommendations that I haven't listed on my map, go over to my page and leave them in the comments for us all to see! If I receive a lot of recommendations in the comments, I might included them on the map alongside who recommended them. Then it can become a Martha’s Monthly community collection of translated book recommendations from across the world all in one place.
You can access the map whenever you want on my website homepage, or you can click here.
Let me know your thoughts:
Have you read any of my favourite books from 2023? Did you love them as much as I did?
What book are you most interested to read off this list?
What was your favourite book (or books) of 2023?
If you’re trying to read more translated literature in 2024, what do you think of Martha’s Map? Do you think this new feature will be helpful? Are you sick of me alliterating my name all the time on this newsletter?
Thank you, as always, for being here and reading my newsletter. See you on the 1st February for my January Reads. I hope you enjoyed this extra newsletter!
Happy Reading! Love Martha
Thank you for reading Martha’s Monthly. If you know someone who is wanting to read more translated and diverse books in 2024, forward them this newsletter and share with a friend!
Hit the little heart at the top or bottom of this email to let me know if you enjoyed it.
Catch up on my last two Monthly Reads here:
And start to become familiar with Martha’s Map:
If you love this idea, let me know by leaving a like or comment. You could even share it if you’re feeling generous.
(I have a wonderfully skilled artistic friend who wants to attempt to actually create a visual map for us for this page, shading it in to reflect what countries I’ve read books from. It is in experimental progress. For now, please forgive the lack of visuals.)
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It is scientifically proven that reading translated books makes you cooler.
What a list! Of these, I have only read Blacktop Wasteland and totally agree with your assessment. I was very interested in your take on the Butler trilogy. I've read three of her books, all from different series or stand alone. I wanted to read more and now I think I will start here. I am saving this entire newsletter for my TBR list.
Excellent taste- Lilith’s Brood, Homegoing and Chain-Gang All-Stars are amazing. You might want to check out Parable of the Sower if you haven’t already.
I’m really excited to read some of these! My list gets longer whenever I read your posts.