It’s Friday, the last one of 2023(!) and you know what that means. Let’s talk about what we’re reading!
I hope your holidays were wonderful, and this quiet week has found you replete with good cookies, warm fires, and delightful books to read. We were traveling (shocker, I know) so didn’t get a lot of down time, but we’re home now so I’m working on that this week, while doing my year-end roundup and some long overdo digital housekeeping.
popped on the Edge last week with her recommendations and a link to her end of year books, and I was immediately pumped to share the whole list of every book I read this year (approximately 65) here. My enthusiasm dimmed in the light of the extra work building a list after the fact, and I’ve committed to trying this for next year, instead. A general book wrap up post seems smart, and since I’ve been trying to move away from Goodreads for book tracking, this seems like a wonderful place to start keeping lists. You know how much I love lists. I’m going to keep a draft post open this year and record them. Future JT thanks me for this.
I will leave you instead with a very enjoyable recommended read this week, the utterly delightful and inventive DIVINE RIVALS, with which I am entranced. How rare it is to find a story so unique, and so full of love, and danger, and courage. It feels like a World War II novel, but it’s fantasy, and I’ve not seen this combination play out before. I see what the fuss is all about, and I am here for it.
And because I can’t leave you without some sort of end of year list, these are the rest of my standouts for the year, the books I haven’t stopped thinking about, talking about, recommending, and/or rereading (ahem dragons and war colleges FTW)
Some housekeeping notes: You will notice that The Creative Edge is now happily organized by topic! Finding a few thematic, overarching categories has always been a goal, and for the time being, Annual Reviews has made an appearance. My other website has become untenable for searching, and in putting together my 2023 Annual Review, I needed several previous pieces. I figure I’ll leave them up for January, then that category will disappear from navigation, easily found in searches. The 2023 Annual Review will be up next week, I think.
The rest encompass some of my favorite pieces that I’ve brought over, as well as the Creative Perfection series I did a few years ago, and of course, our ongoing 22 Steps Writing Series, which will pick up again with Step Four: Research, in the new year. All of these posts were here already, but not categorized or easily searchable. I hope this helps!
And for a tiny bit of BSP: the audiobook of THE WOLVES COME AT NIGHT released this week. Read by the indomitable Saskia Maarleveld, I can’t tell you how happy I am hearing Taylor come to life again. Enough to want more…
That’s it from me this week. How about you? What’s on your reading plate this weekend?
I love your lists!🤗 And 65 books is a lot to read in a year. 🥳 ~ I've been just cleaning up my computer files. My iPad. My phone. And I didn't read one book in the past many days, but I did read some lovely magazines. ~ Happy New Year!🥂🩷
I feel like I totally slacked off on the reading this year, but I’m fixing that next year. Dedicated reading time during the work day, because reading makes me a better writer, and that is my business, right?
What’s your favorite magazine? I’m a huge Architectural Digest fan…
I think sixty-five books is very impressive. 😃 I'm a slow reader. ~ I love Architectural Digest. My favorite magazine is called Flow. They used to have an English edition, but not anymore. Now they only have a Dutch and German edition. I read the German one. I also enjoy The Simple Things. (UK)
It *is* a lot…but not for me. I’m a fast-ish reader, but I’ve been very distracted this year. And thank you for the tip… I haven’t found that particular rabbit hole yet…
In your settings, there’s a function to add Tags to Navigation, instead of creating new Pages. It is a beautiful and handy solution and I am in love. A real @Substack upgrade.
Look under the Navigation and Tags section. I live for tagging, it’s how I manage everything, so to find it here was thrilling.
Oh it is really good. It took a bit to get into, but once I did I haven’t been able to put it down.
I just realized that I can export the Goodreads list, so I might try that for next week. But I think just keeping a running list in a Draft post as I read, then the hard part will be done. I am very much into finding the path of least resistance this year.
I read 2 books this week and both were new to me authors.
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. An author of children's books, sets up a contest to win his new and unreleased book. It was a good book.
Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow. This is science fiction and there's a second book coming in the spring (I think). Its about a race (think Amazing Race with teenagers across a baren planet) I really enjoyed it!
My goal was to read 100 books this year and I made it! I'm currently at 106. I'm a very fast reader and we're empty nesters, so I probably have more time than some.
I'm intrigued by Divine Rivals...I will have to check it out.
I had Covid over Christmas and didn’t read much but I’m currently reading THE SERPENT AND THE WINGS OF NIGHT by Carissa Broadbent. I’m only in the beginning but it’s giving me all the feels that I experienced while reading FOURTH WING. It’s gory so not for all readers but it is about Vampires fighting to the death to win the ultimate prize and the one human woman who hopes to beat them all.
I finished this book last night and it was amazing! It is violent and a little dark, but it didn't bother me. The twist at the end really got me! I've purchased the next book and the novella that is suggested you read between the 2 books. It reminds me of the Hunger Games and Throne of Glass.
I love your lists!🤗 And 65 books is a lot to read in a year. 🥳 ~ I've been just cleaning up my computer files. My iPad. My phone. And I didn't read one book in the past many days, but I did read some lovely magazines. ~ Happy New Year!🥂🩷
I feel like I totally slacked off on the reading this year, but I’m fixing that next year. Dedicated reading time during the work day, because reading makes me a better writer, and that is my business, right?
What’s your favorite magazine? I’m a huge Architectural Digest fan…
I think sixty-five books is very impressive. 😃 I'm a slow reader. ~ I love Architectural Digest. My favorite magazine is called Flow. They used to have an English edition, but not anymore. Now they only have a Dutch and German edition. I read the German one. I also enjoy The Simple Things. (UK)
Oh, I forgot Architectual Digest on YouTube is a lovely procrastination tool.😇
It *is* a lot…but not for me. I’m a fast-ish reader, but I’ve been very distracted this year. And thank you for the tip… I haven’t found that particular rabbit hole yet…
Ooh, I love your organized tabs!!! How did you do that? I didn't know it was an option!
In your settings, there’s a function to add Tags to Navigation, instead of creating new Pages. It is a beautiful and handy solution and I am in love. A real @Substack upgrade.
Look under the Navigation and Tags section. I live for tagging, it’s how I manage everything, so to find it here was thrilling.
Well that’s #1 on my January to-do list now, thank you for the tip!
You’re welcome! I saw Emily Ley’s gorgeousness and set out to imitate. Emma Gannon has it too.
Who knew!? Thank you, J.T. Love Emma’s Substack. You two are the first ones I read ❤️
Hi KR - I love Emma’s too. I’ve been exploring her multi-hyphenate concepts…
I just started reading The Frozen River and though I'm only a short way in, I'm entranced. Thanks for the recommendation.
I can’t wait to hear what you think. It’s is ridiculously compelling. @ariel lawhon is brilliant.
I keep hearing so much about Divine Rivals. How will you do your list here for 2024?
Oh it is really good. It took a bit to get into, but once I did I haven’t been able to put it down.
I just realized that I can export the Goodreads list, so I might try that for next week. But I think just keeping a running list in a Draft post as I read, then the hard part will be done. I am very much into finding the path of least resistance this year.
Sounds like a plan. I will be following with interest.
I read 2 books this week and both were new to me authors.
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. An author of children's books, sets up a contest to win his new and unreleased book. It was a good book.
Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow. This is science fiction and there's a second book coming in the spring (I think). Its about a race (think Amazing Race with teenagers across a baren planet) I really enjoyed it!
My goal was to read 100 books this year and I made it! I'm currently at 106. I'm a very fast reader and we're empty nesters, so I probably have more time than some.
I'm intrigued by Divine Rivals...I will have to check it out.
Happy New Year!!
Those both look great. I added The Wishing Game to my wishlist. Thank you! Hope you had a blast with the g-kids over the holidays!
We had 19 people and 3 dogs here last Sat. My house is a mess but we had such a good time. Glad I have another long weekend to recuperate...lol
It sounds like an absolute riot!
I had Covid over Christmas and didn’t read much but I’m currently reading THE SERPENT AND THE WINGS OF NIGHT by Carissa Broadbent. I’m only in the beginning but it’s giving me all the feels that I experienced while reading FOURTH WING. It’s gory so not for all readers but it is about Vampires fighting to the death to win the ultimate prize and the one human woman who hopes to beat them all.
Oh and I love lists. Thank you for sharing.
OK, I started it, and it felt *really* dark, so I put it aside. Should I stick with it? I know it's been blowing up the lists...
I’m only on chapter 9 but I can let you know next Friday if I continued or not.
Great, thank you! I'm so sorry about the COVID. Hope you're feeling better!
I just looked up this book and it looks right up my alley...purchasing now.
You had me at Fourth Wing feels!
OK now both of you must report in, if you please...
I finished this book last night and it was amazing! It is violent and a little dark, but it didn't bother me. The twist at the end really got me! I've purchased the next book and the novella that is suggested you read between the 2 books. It reminds me of the Hunger Games and Throne of Glass.
Thanks for the reccomendation!!
Let me know what you think.
Charlotte, Thanks for sharing your list. I rarely read fiction these days, but should I be so inclined, I appreciate the recommendations.
Sandra, we need more non-fiction options, so please don’t hesitate to share!
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
The Prophecy of Wind by Joss Walker and R.L. Perez
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
Murder Road by Simone St. James
Oracle by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
I see a few fabulous options here... How’s Paul’s book? Is it scary? And I’m jealous about Simone St James. She’s amazing.
Paul's book is unsettling and creepy. Simone is fairly new to me and this one is really good! That Joss isn't bad either 😉
I’m a bit partial… Simone is awesome sauce!
Currently reading Bookshops and Bonedust. I LOVED Divine Rivals and can’t wait to read Ruthless Vows!
Hi Kim-I finished DR last night and in a flurry of shock immediately bought Ruthless Vows. What an ending!