Round up of 2023 Reads and Introduction to the 2024 Challenge

Hello! 

It’s time for a wrap-up post of my 2023 reading year. This one is not as elaborate as the previous one, but it does have twenty worthy books from different genres. I did spend a lot of time on Goodreads, which gave results and put me consistently among the top ten reviewers from India. The platform also said I belong to its top 25% readers. What makes me the happiest is the increase in the number of Indian books in my top reads. I hope to continue the trend and read more Indian authors. 

Without boring you further with needless rambling, here’s the list, divided into two sections (in no particular order). 

10 Best Reads of 2023

Orphaned by S.L Bhyrappa, translated by Sandeep Balakrishna 

• Genre: Indian Drama
• Publication: 2019 (first published in 1968) 
• One-Liner: A must-read 
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4810056408 

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni 

• Genre: Legal Thriller 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Entertaining, intriguing, and fun to read
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/03/her-deadly-game-by-robert-dugoni-book.html 

Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta 

• Genre: Fantasy 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: A fever dream that makes sense 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/10/mad-sisters-of-esi-by-tashan-mehta-book.html 

Nandi’s Charge: Battle of Vatapi (Book One)

• Genre: Indian Historical Thriller 
• Publication: 2023 (first published in 2021) 
• One-Liner: A fast-paced entertainer with twists and actions
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/12/nandis-charge-by-arun-krishnan-book.html 

Nightjar by Katya Balan 

• Genre: Middle-Grade Novella 
• Publication: 2023 
• One-Liner: A tender little story
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5544243529 

Animal Tales from India by Nikita Gill 

• Genre: Children’s Fiction, Retelling, Illustrations 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Grab it for the illustrations 
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5794240381 

The Tamarind Tree by Sundara Ramaswamy, translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan

• Genre: Indian Drama, 
• Publication: 2022 (first published in 1966) 
• One-Liner: Enjoyable but will work only for a specific audience
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-tamarind-tree-by-sundara-ramaswamy.html 

Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments by Hema Sukumar 

• Genre: Indian Drama 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Character-driven and a slice-of-life novel
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/07/minor-disturbances-at-grand-life.html 

A Broken People's Playlist by Chimeka Garricks

• Genre: Anthology. African Literature 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: A bitter-sweet and heart-touching collection
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/03/a-broken-peoples-playlist-by-chimeka.html 

So Late in the Day: Stories of Men and Women by Claire Keegan 

• Genre: Anthology 
• Publication: 2023 (reprints) 
• One-Liner: Poignant (my new favorite short story writer) 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/11/so-late-in-day-by-claire-keegan-book.html 

***

Other Memorable Reads of 2023 

I've rated some of these books five stars (and 4 stars for others), though they didn't make it to the first top list. So, I put them here.  

The League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin 

• Genre: True Crime, Illustrations 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Poisonlicious
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5575194262 

Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholas 

• Genre: Historical YA Epistolary Novel 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Adorable! 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/08/yours-from-tower-by-sally-nicholls-book.html 

Arthi's Bomma by Mamta Nainy 

• Genre: Indian Children’s Fiction, Illustrations 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: A glimpse into Kondapalli doll-making 
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5847276095 

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

• Genre: Women’s Fiction (not a mystery!)
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Lighthearted and heartwarming 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/03/vera-wongs-unsolicited-advice-for.html 

The Illusions by Liz Hyder 

• Genre: Historical Drama 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Intriguing premise and good execution
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-illusions-by-liz-hyder-book-review.html 

Never Whistle at Night (edited) by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

• Genre: Multi-Author Anthology 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Strong themes, diverse stories 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/08/never-whistle-at-night-indigenous-dark.html 

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

• Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse 
• Publication: 2014
• One-Liner: A heartwarming read 
• Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5684217042 

The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans

• Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: A sweet, heartwarming, and Christmasy book
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-gingerbread-house-in-mistletoe.html 

The Clock in My Mother's House by Annalisa Crawford

• Genre: Unthemed Anthology 
• Publication: 2023
• One-Liner: Wonderful and poignant 
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-clock-in-my-mothers-house-by.html 

Devi for Millennials by Bibek Debroy 

• Genre: Indian Non-fiction, Religious/ Spiritual 
• Publication: 2022
• One-Liner: The first step to understanding Devi
• Full Review: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2023/02/devi-for-millennials-by-bibek-debroy.html 

***

Time for 2024 Reading Resolutions 

I would like to add that I'm participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter for the third consecutive year. I received two books from the top 10 list through the platform, and one of those is something I wouldn't have picked otherwise. That's why, I want to do their monthly prompts for the challenge this time. Wish me luck! 

I do like trying a challenge or two if they are easy enough. ;) Recommendations tend to enter my ‘later TBR’, which I will tackle someday in the distant future. 

Have you planned your reads, or are you a mood reader? Do you prefer prompts and challenges or stick to trusted recommendations? And is there any book you cannot wait to read this year? 

I confess I have many such books (Sartha and Parva by Byyrappa, Mahabharata Unrevealed I & II and Ramayana Unrevealed by Ami Gantara, Sita by Bhanumathi Narasimhan, etc.). Only time will tell if I can read at least a few of these or if I will get distracted by shiny new books. 

Hoping for a fruitful and rewarding 2024 for me and you!