I read 95 books in 2023 - here are my top ten!

[@georgiam4576]

Very solid selection of books. I had also loved A Suitable Boy when I read it and recommend Seth's An Equal Music and Two Lives, out of his books. The latter is almost like a memoir of his uncle and aunt's lives written by him. And I hope Giovanni 's Room is still on your list, it is outstanding!

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@georgiam4576 ooh, okay I will definitely check out Seth's other books. Yes, Giovanni's Room is still very much on my list. Just need to make a point of actually getting to it 😁

[@RhiannaVarney]

I love the variety in your recommendations. Really interesting reads! The Golden Notebook sounds like something I would like to try. I like diving into a book that is going to challenge me and make my brain work haha :)

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@RhiannaVarney thanks!! Had sucha grest reading year. Would definitely recommend giving The Golden Notebook a go- such a unique book!

[@pocketfullofponder]

Id love to see your honourable mentions! I also loved the Golden Notebook in all its complexity.

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@pocketfullofponder yes, such an amazing book! I will make an honourable mentions video soon- was so hard to narrow my list down and feels unfair to some of the books I missed out 😅

[@nathansnook]

been wanting to read the Lessing! but have always been intimidated by the size! >.< i love some meta writing! also, what a healthy year of books! such a good mix of things! i hope you have a good rest of your reading year

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@@nathansnook don't let the size put you off. It's split up into loads of different parts, so you end up flying through it!

[@evastrange]

I read my first Doris Lessing in 2023, too (The Grass Is Singing), and it was one of my best books of the year, too. I wasn't particularly interested in The Golden Notbook before, but what you said about it sounded intriguing, so I just bought a used copy. 😀

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@evastrange Ooh, I hope you enjoy it!! I really want to get to The Grass is Singing next, so very glad to hear good things- I'm hoping I will come across a nice secondhand copy in a used bookshop soon! 😁

[@cristianmicu]

props to you for having a record player..... very few people keep one these days

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@cristianmicu sadly doesn't get too much use but it looks nice ha ha!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Hi Sarah, still pretty new to this book tube business myself. Best wishes with your reading choices and to your channel!

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk thanks! Welcome to youtube too 😄

[@LibroParadiso-ep4zt]

I re-read "If This is a Man" after watching the film The Zone of Interest. I'd read Amis' book years ago and didn't know about the film until recently. I don't remember if it was in If this is a Man or another one of his books where Levi talks about remembering a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film on his way to the concentration camp. Dante's The Divine Comedy was also ever present on his mind. A beautiful book.

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@LibroParadiso-ep4zt I loved the Zone of Interest but didn't realise it was based on Amis's book until afterwards. Levi is an author that I want to read absolutely everything by. I've never quite made it to Dante, but I'll get there eventually I'm sure 😅

[@Slothreadersclub]

Sarah, it is so refreshing to see so many amazing books which correspond with my own taste in reading. I was wondering if you read Alba de Céspedes?

[@pocketfullofponder]

Alba's Forbidden Notebook was so good!!!

[@Slothreadersclub]

@@pocketfullofponder I am reading "Her side of the story" and planning to read her "Forbidden Notebook" as well.

[@georgiam4576]

​@@pocketfullofponderI agree!

[@Sarahsreadingjournal]

@Slothreadersclub Thanks! Alba de Cespedes has been on my radar for a while, but I've never quite got round to her! Do you think Forbidden Notebook is the best place to start? 😊