Best Books of 2023

 As usual, here is my list of recommended books I read in the past year.  They are in the order I read them, not by date of publication.  I omitted any I read that I didn't really like, although you can see by my comments that I had a more tepid reaction to some of them.

*** = highly recommended

***Mornings on Horseback, by David McCullough

It took me a while to get through this one, but I did find it most interesting. Mornings on Horseback is the biography of the childhood, youth, and young adulthood of Theodore Roosevelt.  As with all McCullough books, it is thoroughly researched and most readable.  He was helped by the fact that Roosevelt’s sister kept all his letters, and he was a prolific letter-writer.  How he goes from a sickly, asthmatic child from a most privileged family to becoming an outdoorsman and populist politician is a fascinating story.  See Goodreads review for more detail: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2368.Mornings_on_Horseback

Lucy by the Sea, by Elizabeth Strout

Strout’s most recent book, takes Lucy and her ex-husband William through the pandemic.  When things first start getting bad, William absolutely insists that Lucy leave New York.  He literally demands that she pack her things and come with him to Maine.  He realizes that New York will be an epicenter of death, and he wants all his loved ones out of the city.  He also convinces their two grown daughters and their husbands to leave, but they go to Connecticut.  What ensues as Lucy and her philandering but warmhearted ex-husband are trapped in a farmhouse on the coast of Maine is interesting. Much of the content of the first half of the book is a reprise of the Lucy backstory of her childhood, their marriage, etc.  This was necessary since not everyone has read the other Lucy stories like I have.   I liked this book.  She comes to interesting insights on life that struck home with me.

Small Fry, by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Memoir by Steve Jobs’ oldest daughter.  She was conceived during Jobs’ hippie days, and he never married Lisa’s mom.  For most of her life, he denied that she was his daughter and either refused to give child support or gave small amounts grudgingly.  Lisa’s mom finally got a court-ordered paternity test to prove he was her father.  After that, he did support her more and over time was more actively involved in her life.  For a time, she lived with Jobs and his family, although he was never generous with his love, time, or money, even when she lived in his home.  Even so, she continued to want to have a loving relationship with him, valuing the times when he was with her and they had more of a good relationship.  Not a Cinderella story, though.  She wasn’t really abused, just benignly ignored by Jobs, all the while her mother was struggling to support them and giving her unconditional love. She survived to tell the story. Ok quick read.

***Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, by Peter Attia

It took me two months to get through this book because of all the technical/medical evidence he details.  However, I found it interesting and worthwhile to read.  Like Growing Young, which I read last year, it describes key aspects of longevity.  None were surprising, of course, but it was a comprehensive analysis, woven into his own life story.  Probably will buy it so I can read it again to mark things to remember.  Find Kindle version maddening because I can’t do that.

***The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The amazing mostly true story of Belle da Costa Greene, who became the curator/librarian for J.P. Morgan, helping him build his famous library and collection of rare books and art.  This remarkable woman was successful at a time when women were rarely in such important professions. The fact that she was born Belle Marion Greener, a light skinned black woman, and was able to pass for white throughout her adult life, makes it even more astounding. A quick, interesting story.

Hummingbird Salamander, by Jeff Vandermeer

Confusing story about futuristic ecoterrorism tied in with rare animal trade—I think.  It was compelling enough that I wanted to finish it, reading all afternoon, but it really wasn’t satisfying reading.  Too many twists and turns that seemed unnecessary.

Without Warning, by David Rosenfelt

Interesting thriller, with lots of convoluted plot twists.  Not great literature, but good beach read.

***Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark Sullivan

Fascinating story of a young man in Milan during the Nazi occupation of Italy.  Based on the real-life experiences of Pino Lella, who through interesting circumstances became the driver for a Nazi general.  He used his position to spy for the resistance, which passed on his information to the Allies.  This is only one of the many threads of the story of his life. I recommend this as a great read, one that you will definitely enjoy.  Thanks to Phyllis for giving me the book and suggesting that I read it.

***The Secret Life of Sunflowers, by Marta Molnar

This fascinating, most readable novel is based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent Van Gogh’s sister-in-law.  After the death of both Vincent and her husband, she was left with most of Vincent’s paintings, which were considered worthless.  Although women were not supposed to be art dealers, she took upon herself the task of finding galleries who would show his work. 

The book has a corollary fiction aspect telling about a modern woman who finds Johanna’s story in a box that was left to her by a beloved aunt.  Including this aspect allowed the author to have romance and an uplifting story of a present-day woman dealing with a life transition.  Good for the book club set, I assume.  I liked it.