My Year in Books (Part 1)

I read 100 Books in 2023. Here's my review of the first 15.

This past year, I started using Goodreads again. I thought since I run a bookstore, I should pop on there and give folks my unsolicited opinion on literature. This year I noticed that I could set a reading goal for myself — I thought that was pretty cool! So, I selected the first option provided me: 100 books.

“That will be easy!” I thought to myself.

It was not.

But I did it. My progress was available for everyone who followed me to see. I had to come through for my legions of fans. I could not let them down.

Well, dedicated followers, I’m happy to report that I read 100 books this year! I’ll be reviewing them now in chronological order and giving each a rating from 1-10.

Also, I hear that some people don’t count audio books. I say that’s rubbish. I read lots of books on audio. Sue me. You should totally still buy and read physical books though (I know a cool store!).

Here we go!

The first book I finished in 2023 was Seven Kinds of People You Find In Bookshops by Shaun Blythell! My friend Jeff, a fellow bookseller, told me about this book and recommended it.

It’s written by a used bookstore owner in Scotland. He writes it like a scientific textbook about the types of people you find when running a bookstore. I chuckled quite a bit flipping through this short read. I doubt anyone who isn’t in the book business would appreciate it as much as I did though. 6/10.

This book was a massive undertaking! I started reading it in November 2022, but finished it in January of ‘23. Chernow covers Washington’s life from cradle to grave.

Fun fact: A ancestor of mine was Washington’s commanding officer in the French and Indian War. Like a Final Destination movie, General Fry fell of his horse and died, and Washington replaced him. You’re welcome America!

You won’t find a more extensive biography on our first President. One thing that was illuminating to me is that American politics have always been contentious. Washington’s cabinet fought amongst each other viciously! Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton HATED each other. It’s depressing interesting to know things haven’t changed much. Gobbless ‘Merica. I love a good history bio. Especially a Presidential one. 8/10.

This retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield was totally worthy of the Pulitzer. I don’t know how Kingsolver perfectly captured the voice of a teenage kid in Appalachia, but she nailed it.

Set in Lee County, Virginia (with some trips to “the big city” of Knoxville, TN) this book follows “Demon” who goes through all the ups and downs of being a poor orphan in Appalachia. There are certainly times where this book gets hard to read — Kingsolver covers with detail the horrid opioid epidemic that plagues the region.

I thought this was the best new book of the past few years. Read this book! Especially if you, like me, are from Appalachia. 10/10.

This book is ridiculous. A high school girl and her summer fling start a massive, hysterical panic in the town of Coalfield, TN after they put up posters all over town with this cryptic message: The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us. What does this mean? You’ll have to find out.

I loved it. Kevin Wilson has a great sense of humor, and his writing kept me invested in the Coalfield Panic of 1996. My only nitpick is that Coalfield definitely isn’t the suburban area the book describes. I’m a stickler for geographical authenticity in a novel. A book that will pop up later is a much more egregious offender. 7/10.

Clint Smith underwent an odyssey writing this book to follow the story of the countless number of slaves who were in bondage in America. From New Orleans to Monticello to Angola Prison in Louisiana, Smith covers the legacy of slavery and its effects that are still felt today.

His research and scholarship on this subject were brought to life even further for me when I visited The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC this summer. I saw with my own eyes, many of the stories he was telling in this book. Many of the stories that are still being told. The museum might be the most impressive of the Smithsonian. 7/10.

Look, I’m a history buff. You’re telling me there’s a whole history book specific to my home of Knoxville, Tennessee covering the buildings, neighborhoods and stories that make the Scruffy City unique? I’m sold. Take my money, Jack Neely.

Jack Neely and Paul James run the nonprofit Knoxville History Project. My store has been proud to have them in for author events and carry their books. They are truly the history keepers of the 865. If you live in Knoxville and you’re interested in local history, you should read every book they’ve ever put out. 9/10.

I learned from Historic Knoxville (see above) that British author Frances Hodgson Burnett grew up in Knoxville! After discovering that illuminating fact, I just had to read her classic novel, The Secret Garden. It’s delightful! Who knew the Yorkshire accent was so……. unique.

I read the version published by the studio Minalima. They make pop up style books of classic novels (and the Harry Potter series). Their books are probably the most beautifully made books you can find. 7/10.

We’re rolling right along with Knoxville authors! I love the late Cormac Mccarthy’s work. He’s certainly one of my favorite authors. Is he depressing? Absolutely. But damn, he has crafted some of the finest novels I’ve ever read.

The Passenger, his second from last book, is my least favorite. It follows a salvage diver in New Orleans named Johnny Western who might be in love with his dead sister(?).

Speaking of his sister, there are many flashback chapters which feature her hallucinations. They are incredibly tough to get through. There’s a lot of math talk too. I famously hate math.

I was very excited to read this book when it came out in November of ‘22, but it took me many months to finish. The novel never really goes anywhere. Maybe that’s the point of the book. Mccarthy is still one of the greatest writes ever, but this isn’t his best. 4/10.

This was the point where I started to get nervous that I wouldn’t get to 100. So, I decided to read Of Mice and Men, which is really short, to pad my list. If you plan to give me grief for this, please go back and see Washington. That book was 69,000 pages.

Anyways, Steinbeck is a legend. He’s on my author Mount Rushmore. You probably read this in high school, which means you should read it again because it’s good and you don’t have to write a paper on it this time! 7/10.

This year I got really into Pulitzer Prize winners. Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer for The Underground Railroad AND The Nickel Boys over a span of just a couple years. He was spitting hot fire! That’s what the kids say, right?

Well, I’m here to say The Nickel Boys is my favorite Whitehead novel. It follows an African American boy named Elwood Curtis, who is sent to a horrible reform school called The Nickel Academy in Florida in the 1960’s. Elwood makes friends and enemies at Nickel and will do anything to try and get out. This can certainly be a tough read but is worth it. The school in the novel is based on a real place — so the horrors Elwood experiences really happened to kids in the 60’s. 8/10.

Along with Pulitzer winners, I got really into books set in Kentucky this year. The first of these was the non-fiction title Pappyland by Mississippian Wright Thompson. I loved every second of Thompson’s account of getting to know the legendary Van Winkle family.

If you aren’t a bourbon aficionado, just know that Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr. is like the Michael Jordan of Bourbon makers. He was making some of the finest bourbon in the world from the late 1800’s until his death the 1960’s. Nowadays the family business (which was lost at one point) is run by his grandson Julian III.

Wright Thompson joins Van Winkle as he reflects on the journey to reclaim his family’s bourbon. Thompson also goes on a personal journey as well as it relates to family and legacy. Who knew you could cry reading a book about whiskey? I adored Pappyland. 10/10.

I listened to this book because it was read by Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks!

Was it good? Yes!

I don’t have a ton to say about it other than the Hanks fact. Did you know Tom Hanks read the audiobook? Yes! The guy from Bosom Buddies!

The book covers two siblings dealing with past family trauma. We love trauma. 6/10.

I’m what some people might call a “Disney Adult”. I grew up going to Walt Disney World and know every word to the song There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow from the ride Carousel of Progress in the Magic Kingdom. My family goes hard at Disney. Hate all you want. The place is magical.

I’m also a history buff. So, this book was tailor made for me and probably nobody else. I greatly enjoyed diving into the history of Mr. Mouse. 8/10.

Dear reader, you will likely get tired of seeing Wendell Berry books pop up on this list.

Let me set the stage for you if you don’t know who he is.

Wendell Berry is a writer/farmer/activist/poet from Port Royal, Kentucky. He is 89 years old and has lived in his small hometown since he left New York to move back in the 1960’s. He was written many essays and books of poetry, but my favorite work of his are his Port William novels.

Port William is a fictionalized version of his farming town of Port Royal. Most of the novels are set from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. They follow many of the same characters and themes. They are masterpieces!

Nathan Coulter is the first Port William novel. It follows a young boy who roves about his small town and deals with family hardships and tragedy. That’s all I’ll say.

Wendell Berry is my favorite author of all time, and you should read all his books. 7/10.

I told you!

This is my favorite Port William novel. It follows the town during World War II. It is so rich. It’s a joy to get to know Mat Feltner, Hannah Feltner, Jayber Crow, Andy Catlett, Burley Coulter, and the rest of the town.

I cherish this book. 10/10

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You didn’t think I’d fit all 100 in one post, right? We’ve still got a long way to go, baby!

Stay tuned for part 2.

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