My Top Books of 2023.

It's that time!

00:00 intro
03:52 Number 10
06:00 Number 9
07:57 Number 8
09:10 Number 7
10:32 Number 6
12:04 Number 5
14:03 Number 4
15:45 Number 3
17:02 Number 2
19:45 Number 1

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[madi]

If Leena recommends a book, I'm getting it. And if it's ten, I'm getting ten.

[mirthemarielle]

The way I RAN to my couch to watch this video! One of my faves of the year! My top books of 2023 are Our wives under the sea, Black butterflies, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, October october, Once there were wolves, The Bandit Queens, Foster and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell!

[anneelaine]

“No feeing like [recommending a book to someone, they like it so much they recommend it to someone else]”
LENA, per your recommendation I read POD. And loved it. Recommended it to my aunt. She loved it and recommended it to my other aunt. YOU DID IT AGAIN.

[theonlyenekoeneko]

I read 23 books in 2023! Proud of me!!!

[TheGirlWhoExists]

My reading challenge is carrying over from 2023! I'm rereading the entire Discworld series as a preparation to finally read the very last book, released after the author passed away. I'd been meaning to do this for years and decided to follow the advice floating around to actually do the nice things you've been putting off for a Perfect Time. I got through 24 books in 2023 so I'm about halfway through :)

[thebugbear]

My goal is also to read less but read better! Even though I didn't have a goal I was working towards last year, I still found myself pushing to read more quickly. In 2024 I want to give myself the freedom to read hard books that will take me a long time, and also to read more in my first language, which also takes me a longer time (which is why I need more practice!)

[beff_]

My favourite this year was ‘Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead’ by Olga Tokaczuk. The atmosphere of the novel lives up to the name and it’s so refreshing to have the main character be an older woman. Plus it got adapted into a play which is saw this year too

[BryonyClaire]

Reading isn't for me as I find it really hard BUT i took your recommendation for braiding sweetgrass and have been listening to it as an audiobook and I love it, I listen to it as I clean or paint and it's awesome. I've noted down some of these books to continue reading more this year (technically listening but still)

[ShaylaBot]

I'm sooo happy to hear Mans Search for Meaning on this list! That book changed my life and got me out of a really dark time. It doesn't get enough love!

[xNatTheDayDreamerx]

i’ve missed your book videos so much ❤

[Larissa_KD]

I had a lovely reading year, a great part because of the Gumption book club on Discord 🥰My favourite books of the year were:
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
- Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
- The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
- Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
- The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Shy by Max Porter
- Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
- Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia
- Please Do Not Touch This Exhibit by Jen Campbell
- Vandaag vrij, altijd vrij by Anton de Kom (a Dutch poetry book)
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
- The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
- Trouble by Lex Croucher

[missmeakat]

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, the writing style was so close to Austen's style but had cool different perspectives of Mary Bennet. I love Naomi Novik's books, especially the Scholomance series because its fantasy fiction that gently makes you think about inequality and who we decide is a worthy 'Chosen one'

[LittleMissTotoro]

Man's Search for Meaning came in at the library today a few days after requesting it since watching your video.

Just wow. I am already halfway through. I would never have picked up something this challenging if you hadn't recommended it. So thank you!

[marloessss]

I LOVED Frankl's book and I'm so glad I hear anyone talking about it. Thank you Leena, for keeping it real 😊

[valkyrie_cain]

I loved hearing more about Black Butterflies. I read it after you spoke so highly of it in the Womens Prize videos and it was a fave for me in 2023 too.

[Harrison_J_T]

Well you’ve sold me on the idea of reading Wicked. Was alreafy considering it because i want to finally go see the musical like I've been intending to 20:14 for AGES (had no idea about the film but makes me want to see the show this year even more) and then you said that an issue with people disliking Wicked is they see the musical first so was considering reasing it but then saying its about the nature of terrorism and our idea of who we are vs who we are has me SO intrigued

[thepitofdespair]

omg YES BANDIT QUEEEEN!!! i’ve been trying so hard to get back into reading and this was a book that i picked up and literally devoured in like. 1.5 days. absolutely incredible story, somehow funny and suspenseful and heart wrenching, with morbid dark humor done so well, 10/10 would recommend!!

[subhakhan]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS LIST. I saw this and I immediately went under the blankets, grabbed some tea to give my full attention for some excellent recommendations!!

[Lalalovelies]

You recommended my favorite new book in 2022 - Once There Were Wolves and read Migrations this year. I'll read anything you recommend Leena!

[Jana-lntq]

My favourite book of the year was probably "A Honeybee's Heart Has Five Openings" - cannot recommend it enough. A beautiful memoir of Helen Juke's first year as a beekeeper, filled with not only wonderfully interesting information about bees and the history of beekeeping, but also the beautiful community forming around Helen because of her new hobby. Plus, it's set in Oxford (impeccable vibes) and her good friend works for the Oxford Dictionary, so they discuss etymology and the varied interpretations of words such as "keep". Infinitely interesting and heartwarming ♥
I read 60 books in 2023, which is probably my highest number ever, but for the first time in a decade I have decided to not set a reading goal for this year. I've had the same issue as you, of reading too fast (also cranking up audiobooks to 1.5 speed) and not actually absorbing the stories and information because I was too obsessed with reading as much as possible. I have enough stress in my life and reading should not add to that, so this year I'm all about leisure when it comes to books :)