Our annual holiday tradition is back! Join us we share our respective top five favorite reading experiences of the year. Some of them are new books, some are classics read with a fresh perspective (or for the first time), but all of them are the kind of books we are excited to discuss and share. And we hope this episode adds to your Christmas cheer during this delightful (but busy) weekend. Merry Christmas from all of us at Close Reads!
Always love this episode! David, I read North Woods after hearing you talk about it earlier this year. It made my favorites' list, so thank you! I love adding everyone's titles to my list for next year. Daniel Nayeri had two books on my favorites list also- so powerful and funny. No mention of Covenant of Water- Theodicy, family saga, highly recommend!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar!! Oh my goodness, we have gone through so many copies of that book. It is a board book heart book for my family. 🐛 But he was still hungry!!
This is a public service announcement since you mentioned the ‘All the World’s a Stage’ in the episode... on YouTube, there is a beautiful performance of that speech by Sophie Stone at the Globe Theater. Please take a few minutes and watch her do this! She is deaf and she signs and performs it so wonderfully.
David, I was so happy to hear you name The Eyes and the Impossible as your #5 pick. I agree, the audio was wonderful. I have been giving this suggestion to as many families as possible. Great family road trip book.
I always look forward to this episode. It’s fun to see what you each choose and I usually find some great reads for the following year. Thanks for another year of CloseReads and Happy Christmas to you all!
I especially appreciated the discussion of History of the Island, a novel a wrestled with quite a bit. I thought it was hilarious, I read excerpts to my family. I deeply appreciated the novel's form and the political satire, which surprisingly didn't get a mention. And yet I was disappointed because it wasn't more like Laurus or Brisbane or The Aviator, and I think this discussion helped me put my finger on why. I like the phrase that it's not a "novely novel". That's just it. It's not a story you can curl up with and get lost in. It's a book to pick up, read a bit, think some thoughts, be amused, think even more.... and then put down and do something else for a bit before you come back to it. But boy it is a book that's stuck with me. And I loved Ksenia and Parfeny. And I think I will look back and say that 2023 was the year I read History of the Island.
Thank you for this delightful episode! I have been anticipating hearing what you guys picked for this year. It was a very nice mix of books. I just finished "The Sun Walks Down" and it was beautiful. Joshua Gibbs book was also a really thoughtful read this year. They were the only two I had in common. Thanks for all you put together for the Close Reads community as it always brings me joy. Merry Merry Christmas!
Love this!! I can’t wait for David’s long list. 😍 2024 is my year of reading Willa Cather and Rumer Godden. I read The Feast this year too and I loved it. So engaging.
Always love this episode! David, I read North Woods after hearing you talk about it earlier this year. It made my favorites' list, so thank you! I love adding everyone's titles to my list for next year. Daniel Nayeri had two books on my favorites list also- so powerful and funny. No mention of Covenant of Water- Theodicy, family saga, highly recommend!
What was the title of that wine book Heidi had on her list? Anyone remember?
OH MY GOSH! A Year in Provence is one of my all time favorite books! I always tell people about it! LOVE!
Sean, I am thinking of reading The Wake alongside 1066 The Year of Conquest now. I am intrigued.
That would be a great combo!
I had to revise my 2024 goals after listening! Thank you!
I loved hearing the history non-fiction recommendations! Saving several titles for later on goodreads.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar!! Oh my goodness, we have gone through so many copies of that book. It is a board book heart book for my family. 🐛 But he was still hungry!!
Just put The Farmer’s Wife on my TBR ASAP list. As a lay doula, I’m actually into childbirth! 😅
I'm a nurse-midwife, so my ears perked up too!
This is a public service announcement since you mentioned the ‘All the World’s a Stage’ in the episode... on YouTube, there is a beautiful performance of that speech by Sophie Stone at the Globe Theater. Please take a few minutes and watch her do this! She is deaf and she signs and performs it so wonderfully.
David, I was so happy to hear you name The Eyes and the Impossible as your #5 pick. I agree, the audio was wonderful. I have been giving this suggestion to as many families as possible. Great family road trip book.
I always look forward to this episode. It’s fun to see what you each choose and I usually find some great reads for the following year. Thanks for another year of CloseReads and Happy Christmas to you all!
Any word on when Love What Lasts will be back in stock?
I especially appreciated the discussion of History of the Island, a novel a wrestled with quite a bit. I thought it was hilarious, I read excerpts to my family. I deeply appreciated the novel's form and the political satire, which surprisingly didn't get a mention. And yet I was disappointed because it wasn't more like Laurus or Brisbane or The Aviator, and I think this discussion helped me put my finger on why. I like the phrase that it's not a "novely novel". That's just it. It's not a story you can curl up with and get lost in. It's a book to pick up, read a bit, think some thoughts, be amused, think even more.... and then put down and do something else for a bit before you come back to it. But boy it is a book that's stuck with me. And I loved Ksenia and Parfeny. And I think I will look back and say that 2023 was the year I read History of the Island.
Thank you for this delightful episode! I have been anticipating hearing what you guys picked for this year. It was a very nice mix of books. I just finished "The Sun Walks Down" and it was beautiful. Joshua Gibbs book was also a really thoughtful read this year. They were the only two I had in common. Thanks for all you put together for the Close Reads community as it always brings me joy. Merry Merry Christmas!
I am currently reading The Sparrow
I read it in 2017. It may be time for a reread!
Love this!! I can’t wait for David’s long list. 😍 2024 is my year of reading Willa Cather and Rumer Godden. I read The Feast this year too and I loved it. So engaging.
Oh Cather and Godden will be a delightful year! I especially loved Shadows on the Rock this year.
I can’t wait! I love Shadows on the Rock too. I can’t wait to reread it!
One of the books on my long list is Cather-themed!