2023 Reads - Stand Outs and Let Downs

Annual round up of the titles I reviewed, enjoyed and finally got around to reading - probably the most eclectic list to date.

Happy new year firstly, as we ease back into the world of the norm, the convention, and less cheese and cheerios, and embrace reflections, resolutions and step back from the yearly lists. In which case apologies as this is a note of the titles inhaled in 2023, but I will try to keep by no means to a list format.

There were 80 of them it would appear, as I read it all, children’s, picture books, poetry, crime, magical realism, literary, keeping as open a mind as is possible when it comes to book reads over the course of the year. Reviewing titles for a Scottish publication, and also working for Edinburgh City of Literature Trust means that you will probably note some patterns, and biases. There is most likely a heavy Scottish presence and a great deal of debut in amongst this lot, but that makes them no less or no more than the rest of the titles out there. In fact, there are a great deal of debut authors that were absolutely in the stand-out category. And just to be clear, I will absolutely not be noting any let downs - I don’t believe that’s really how we ought to be concluding or starting the year.

Notable was Ali Millar’s Ava Anna Ada, her debut fiction published by White Rabbit and due out on 18 January this year (2024). Disturbing, sparse writing but with characterisation that will simultaneously pull you in and leave you reeling. Millar is bound to make readers talk in the first part of the year. It certainly left me with as many questions as it answered. Lynsey May’s Weak Teeth also got more than just the tongues wagging, as we all avoided our dentist appointments for months after reading all about Ellis and her far-from-perfect life. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo was the Booker Prize shortlisted title I was rooting for (not a tooth pun) after giving much thought to Maroo’s handling of grief whilst keeping plenty of room for the reader to consider the characters and their predicaments.

Others to note (and read) are Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi’s Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions, which is guaranteed to draw you in, and Lauren John Joseph’s At Certain Points We Touch, which is disturbingly ghostly and expertly handles queer friendship.

Notes from an Island by Tove Jansson and Tuulikki Pietila was a beautifully illustrated biographical puzzle that pieced together notes from Tove and others on this couple establishing their life on the island. Jon Klassen’s The Skull is a dark, spooky folktale that is brought to life by the Canadian illustrator’s stunning penwork.

Rural by Rebecca Smith Taylor, Porn by Polly Barton, Time Come by Linton Kwesi Johnson, Sea Bean by Sally Huband, Sleeplessness by Marie Darrieussecq, Stay True by Hua Hsu, Shame by Annie Ernaux and Imagine A City by pilot Mark Vanhoenacker, as well as Party Lines by Ed Gillett were all non-fiction titles that left an imprint for absolutely different reasons. Gillett had a very political slant with his book that considered the birth and evolution of dance culture, whilst Vanhoenacker outlined the horizons of cities as flying in, whereas Barton explored the ethics of porn, forcing a discussion about such a taboo topic. Others that left a mark were Annabelle Hirsch’s The History of Women in 101 Objects, which has given me insight into products that have paved the way for the liberated woman, which included the red lipstick and Chanel No 5.

As for short stories, the two that hit me the hardest, with the most punch and gaiety were Wendy Erskine’s Dance Moves (after seeing her talk at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2022) and Lydia Davis’ Our Strangers. Both have refined the art of the short story with characters that I’d not mind meeting again.

And the poetry collections that were most affecting for me in 2023 were Yomi Sode’s Manorism, Customs by Solmaz Sharif and The Cat Prince & Other Poems by Edinburgh-born Michael Pedersen, all emotive as is the case with exemplary work.

Jenni Fagan’s Hex, Colette’s Claudine Married, Louise Erdrich’s Books and Islands and Olivia Laing’s To The River were all titles I’ve been meaning to find time for (for some time) and did not disappoint. Humorous. electrifying, exploratory, horrific and reflective, they all filled the time and bolstered my understanding and a high-standard bar when it came to giving thought to the new titles out in 2023.

With much anticipation from the publishers about this year we’ve now hit, 2024 looks to be just as exciting with new debuts such as Millar’s. Perhaps with one extra day for reading, you’ll all discover some affecting works as the year progresses.