Picking 23 books i MUST read in 2023...no more procrastinating!
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
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Hi friends,
So, I have some reading resolutions for the new year. The main one being to finally read the books I've been saying I want to read...but haven't been reading...oh the joys of being a mood reader fighting against an ongoing reading slump!
If I don't read at least half of these books in 2023, I give you all full permission to yell at me! :P
I'd love to know which books are on your "must read in 2023" list, so feel free to share that with everyone in a comment! :)
Here's to accomplishing our reading goals and resolutions!!!
Sending my best wishes to you!
Carolyn Marie :)
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My greatest passion in life is combining my love of illustrating, writing, and reading!
Happy Reading :)
#booktube #reading #tbr
Your pain of indecisive reading is so relatable. Not being able to read hundreds of books at once is the ultimate reader's curse.
On another note… you’re absolutely my comfort creator. ❤
I’m honored and incredibly glad! 💕
Sooooo true!!!!
Carolyn, don't be afraid of the Karamazov Brothers. It is hefty indeed, but it's not a difficult book. I read it in my senior high-school year and left its mark on me for eternity. You are going to like it so much, I'm sure it'll be a fast read. So get cozy and turn that first page. 💪😄
If anyone can tackle some serious Russian tomes and manage to get the rest of us all on board, it's our girl here! #GoCarolyn
The Brothers Karamazov is one of my favourite books of all time. It convinced me that faith is the answer to nihilism and therefore suppressed my atheism. I can confidently say it has changed my perspective on life.
I would say once u get through the Old Zosima part, the pages will start flying
@@bad-girlbex3791 why exactly should we be interested in literature of a decaying empire? What views can be expressed there that we haven't seen in any other empire?💀💀
If you liked gloomy Dostoevsky you might also want to read Bulgakov's satirical Master and Margarita. It's my favourite book of all times with its mixture of touching drama and heartwarming comedy.
Sometimes meaty, long classics are the perfect thing to get over a reading slump, because they are so immersive. I feel like reaching for some short, light, so-called easy to read very modern books can 'seem' like they'd be easier in a slump, but not being that into reading one alleged 'easy' book after another can put us in a slump. Like when we think we don't have the attention span or time to sit down and watch a film, documentary or longer video, so we dip in and out of one shorter video (or tiktok) after another and before we know it, we've spent almost the same amount of time doing things we're not as immersed in, and we could have just treated ourselves to something longer. That was a ramble. I'm in a post-IVIg-fog (treatment for my rare disease) fog, so I hope that made sense.
Yes, that made perfect sense: I believe many of us struggle between investing time into the big class when it's possible to read four, five, or even six shorter works. As an example: the first time I read Don Quixote it was every day for about 45 minutes on the bus (I tended to nap after work not read), and my first time with War and Peace was on lunch breaks. Now I have huge chunks of available time so there's less struggle but definitely I remember wanting t read what everyone else was reading besides my door stops. Thanks.
It absolutely did and I can very much relate, dear. All the best to you
death at intervals is my favorite saramago book! basically it deals with an alternative reality where Death takes a vacation and Saramago explores the problems and situations that come up when people don't die
I accidentally bought "East of Eden" in a second hand shop, knowing nothing about the author. Now it's one of my favorite books of all times!
Greetings from Russia 😊
East of Eden is fantastic. Definitely in my favorite Steinbeck’s and my favorites of all time. It’s big and can be a little daunting, but it sucks you right in. And you never want it to end. So jealous for you Carolyn, that you get to read it for the first time lol
Who's your favourite Russian author, if you have one?
I won’t list all 23 but I’ve committed to reading:
-Anna Karenina (well finish it as I technically started last month)
-A Suitable Boy
-Don Quixote
-The Three Musketeers
Those are my 4 really big reads I’d like to get through! I have tried to take your advice and conquer my big book fear :)
I almost finished reading Don Quixote - it's a big one but it's easy to read and very enjoyable! 🩶
i also want to read don quixote! & also the count of monte cristo. :)
proud of you for tackling big books!! they can be daunting but honestly, personally i prefer long books bc you really get to know the characters so intimately bc of how much time you spend w them!! have so much fun!
@@emmairena I’m trying to think of them as similar to tv shows - they take longer to watch than movies but like you said you get to know the characters better! :)
@@ProseAndPetticoats did you struggle with the language? I’ve read the beginning bit but really hope the language gets a bit easier as it goes on :)
Haha, I was yelling at my cell phone "You DO own Northanger Abbey" while watching the first part of this video 😂😂😂. I love the way you went through your shelves as if you were at the bookstore, it's so fun to do that! I made my own list of essential readings for 2023, I have no idea how I'm going to read all of them but it's important to try 😅
BTW, I'm so glad you're getting back into classics 😁
the housekeeper and the professor was one of my favorite reads this year!!
Such a beautiful story! One of my faves
Tip on Blindness by Saramago. It doesn't have the normal punctuation most books have.Keep that in mind when your read it so you don't get confused.
7:38 - 7:59 'I was working in a nursing home... and I was on the dementia unit so I dealt with memory loss every day - and I had to reintroduce myself to all the patients all day.'
You had the time, the will and the strength helping people with dementia. That's both touching and impressive. :-)
11:48 - 11:52 - 'That's when you know you have too many books - when you think you have a book and you don't'. So true - and only us, the book nerds will be familiar with this. :-)
For more fun and higher stakes, unhaul any that you do not read! I did that this year and read them all, it was such good motivation ✨
The beginning is actually me when I reorganize my bookshelves. That many books makes you just wanna cry
The Brothers Karamazov first because you will need the time to get though it, then measure out he rest of the year. Second East of Eden to clear your conscience. The rest should take care of itself. I have faith in you CMC!!!
I subscribe to your comment 😅
@@ame1861 to a clear conscience or a getting a jump on the year?
@@hmm6411 Both
😎
*coming back to this after watching the Game of Tomes announcement just to see how many overlap 😂😝*
🤣🤣🤣 so many
Saramago's 'Blindness' is a classic here in Spain and Portugal. Also I recommend you 'Hopscotch' by Cortázar if you haven't read it. It is probably one of the first, if not the first, choose your own adventure.
Good luck with “Blindness.” I made it halfway through it this year before I DNF’d it. I just couldn’t stomach it.
Remains of the day is wonderful. For me better than never let me go.
I will be doing a challenge for the first time next year. The point is to reduce your physical tbr. Btw, Saramago's work Is amazing. Anything you pick by him you won't be able to stop. But please check trigger warnings for Blindness. 🤗
I'm fascinated by your need to read! I have confidence in your ability to read all 23 books plus more in 2023. Do you happen to catalogue your book collection of read/unread selections? There's no way I can read 23 books in a year but I plan on reading more than I did this year. I want to read more Jane Austen(Sense & Sensibility) and Anne of Green Gables series especially in 2023. I want to read Alice in Wonderland and Charlotte's Web too. At 61 I thought I was too old to read children's books but you've convinced me otherwise. Thank you for that.
I enjoy children’s books too. Wind in the Willows I listened via audiobook on YT.
I live in New Zealand and many books are difficult to get.
I order through Australia but it’s not a fast service.😢🎉
@@vanessamay3689 Wind in the Willows is on my TBR list. YT has several audiobooks and I just might go that reading route this year too.
I love master and margarita! It’s so strange but such a gripping book! I loved it!
Flowers for Algernon is AMAZING. I’ve read the both the short story and the novel. If you enjoyed The heart of the dog you will probably love Master and Margarita, but it’s not my personal favourite of his works.
Reading flower for Algernon was the best thing ever, I do adored the book. Thankyou for reminding me ☺️
Northanger Abbey is good although not perfect (being Austen’s first novel) but I enjoyed it and there were definite flashes of genius within its pages. 📚😊
Maybe a fun way to get to these books when you don't know what to read next could be a challenge where you numerating them from 1 to 23, taking a random number generator and read the book corresponding to the number selected. Also, I slowly want to make my way through Steinbeck's works, and east of eden has been calling me. I would love to follow a readalong if would consider it maybe ☺️🌟
I bought East of Eden because of your rec, Carolyn but have yet to read it. Let's all read it together! I second the motion!
I have that same copy of If On A Winters Night A Traveler, it's so pretty!
I totally get the struggle with choosing books to read for the upcoming year. I am in the same boat! A goal I have for myself is to read more french books as I can read french and I feel like I haven't read in french in forever. So, I hopefully get to read le Comte de Monte-Cristo or les trois mousquetaires this year. I have also started reading Anna Karenina and I'm loving it so far, so thank you for the recommendation! Other than that, I need to get through my bookshelves and stop buying as many books 😂
I use audiobooks as I can listen while walking.
Some books are big and seem to be overwhelming.
The way i just always wanna pause the video at any given time and just appreciate the way your eyes sparkle when you talk passionately about books!!
For Flowers for Algernon, I would recommend reading it along with the audiobook, bc for about half the book the words are all misspelled on purpose so having the audiobook will really help with figuring out what is actually being said ❤❤
Northanger Abbey is a definite read! It’s one of my favourite books
I love all the Jane Austen books.
Mostly listened via audio books 📕 due to time.
Knowing Carolyn’s Goodreads said she is reading Heidi so no need for book hitting 🎉🎉 haha keep up the amazing work girl!
Hahaha... Not sure if anyone is like me, but I have a book on goodreads that says I started... in 2018.... (I probably should just mark it as DNF). Heidi is a quick read, so I hope she knocks that one out soon.
You should totally read Northanger Abbey! I read it this summer and I really liked it. Its so funny and felt lighthearted in a way, since the main character is pretty young and naive.
Hey Carolyn, I got my Dickens/Tolstoy portrait in the mail and it looks amazing! It is framed and sitting proudly on my shelf next to War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Just wanted to say thank you!
always a joy when you upload. thank youu
Thank *you* :)
I read “Blindness” this year. It’s also in one of my vlogs. It was very hard to read but so worth it. One if my favorite books of 2022. Highly recommend.
Wishing you and yours a happy new year.
🥳🥳🥳
I know many people don't like northanger abbey, but it was such a worth read to me! I love the vibe of the book
I'm halfway Madame Bovary and it's SO GOOD. I have tabbed the hell out of it lol - so many colours. Anna Karenina vibes.
Northanger Abbey is my favourite Austen novel (unpopular opinion haha).
I do still need to read Mansfield Park!
Also on my 2023 list from the books you've mentioned:
-North & South
-The Brothers Karamazov
-Lady Chatterley's Lover
Fellow Northanger Abbey favouriter over here so had to say hi and congratulate you on your impeccable taste 👋😁 I've just re-read Mansfield Park and I had to lower my rating....3rd time trying to love it and I can't stand it 😂 North & South is beautiful but I still stand by the fact that the adaptation with Richard Armitage is better! Have fun reading this year!!
@@bethmw28 Oh nooo I'm scared for Mansfield Park now! 🤣 happy reading!
You pick your books the way I do, the yes pile, the maybe pile, want to read all of them really but there are only so many hours in a day. Definitely read East of Eden, it's wonderful. My TBR choices this year: Atwood's Alias Grace, Shelley's Frankenstein, Nabokov's Invitiation to a Beheading, anything I can by Mieko Kawakami, definitely something by Yukio Mishima, and a re-read or two of some Vonnegut. Happy reading!
I have read both East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, almost back to back when I was 17, I still think about East of Eden to this day. Would recommend that one before grapes of wrath! Great video!
This inspired me to come up with my own list of books to get me excited for the new year! ❤
PS: You have no idea how excited I got to see Brothers Karamazov make it in your list! 😂
A PSA from me on the Brontës: Agnes Grey is a really wholesome cozy book 💕
Villette (imo) is Charlotte Brontë’s best book :))
Hi Caroline you have enspired me to make my own 23 books for 2023 list. I will also be reading East of Eden and the master and margarita, Anna kerenenena along with several more classics for one of my bookclubs. Ive got a few biggies to get through including finishing les miserables then starting war and peace, IT, Don quixote, Dr shivago the list goes on lol
Yes, those are big, really big books! I've read most of them, and enjoyed them a lot, so I hope that you do too. Good luck!
@jamesduggan7200 yes they are. I achieved the count of monti cristo last year and loved it. It helped cure my fear of big books.
@@tracysmith9393 I read that this year, in French, in the Big Books club, here on BookTube. I enjoyed it immensely, and it gave me great confidence. Oddly, I haven't read much Steinbeck, tho I've read a lot of Sinclair Lewis and Ernest Hemmingway. I suppose it's time.
@jamesduggan7200 thought I recognised you. I'm part of the big book club too. Really looking forward to 2023 picks on my bookclubs.
Flowers of algernon, is on my must reads too I been told it makes you wanna cry, don't get intimidated of bro Karamazov. Lol
For your Shakespeare read, try to consume Twelfth Night on January 6 (the Twelfth Night in the classic Christmas holiday calendar). I don't believe the play has much to do with the actual holiday, it's more about the mirth and role-switching being accents to the traditions of that day.
OMG I totally relate to you having so many books you forget what you have. Also, a bold suggestion but if you read The Master and Margarita could you do maybe a read along I've been wanting to read it for ages & I keep putting it off.
Ahh, Orlando is so good!! I think your going to love it
I read Flowers for Algernon in high school in my English class (English is my second language) and it was so good! You'll love it and fly through the pages!
It would be cool watching you climb around your bookshelves on those little plastic finger and toe holds they use in the indoor mountain climbing places. Good luck with your 2023 tbr/resolution list. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to read along some of them. Take care.
Mme Bovary should make the list.
I read Flowers for Algernon in high school back in the 70's. It was required reading. I also saw the movie. I think the movie was called Charlie. I enjoyed both. That's quite a collection you have there!
Yes, Charlie (the 'R" was inverted) was a big hit for Cliff Robertson. IIRC the sentence he had to punctuate went something like this: That that is is that that is not is not
My goal next year is to read only from my wishlist and not get sucked into FOMO on bookstagram, but read the books I’ve truly wanted to read for a while. Steinbeck, Hemingway, Capote and Hardy are my favourite authors so I’d like to read a lot more from them.
I can't believe you haven't read North and South! It is my absolute favourite classic and Mr Thornton is my hero.
Please read Flowers for Algernon. One of my favorite books of all time. SO GOOD ❤
The Brothers K
Reading The Remains of the Day for exams - No spoilers - But lots of Nostalgia
for me, a definite rainy-day read :)
Really enjoyed your upload as usual.
Thank you Carolyn.
That is so funny! Last night I decided I would pick 23 from my huge TBR list/stacks to include as part of my 2023 reading. Great minds... ;)
I love Othello!!! What a love story !! Lady Bovary I just finished. Wow!! It was such a surprise. It was not what I expected at all. Have tissues handy!!
In English usually it's translated as Madame Bovary, not that matters to the story but I thought you might be interested in knowing
If you have a chance to read E.M. Forster this year, read Where Angels Fear to Tread. It is a phenomenal book. A Passage to India is also good but not his best work.
Enjoy all the incredible reading you will be doing in 2023!
For Jane Austen, I recommend either Sense and Sensibility or Northanger Abbey. Although the romances in Sense and Sensibility are disappointing to some, the relationship between the sisters is really great. Northanger Abbey is just plain funny (and it's short).
Hey there I hope you see this! Heidi is one of my favorite books. Can I suggest reading from a different copy than the Puffin in Bloom version? It's a gorgeous book but the translation is very watered down. The translation that most agree is the best was done by Helen Dole. Everyman's Library Children's Classics publishes a gorgeous edition, but there are much more affordable copies out there. I'd hate for you to finally read it and not enjoy it due to a an inferior translation! I love your channel!
Please prioritize east of Eden! Try the first few chapters !! You can do it !!
Queen of dropping all of her books 👑
I vote for Remains of the Day! So good. I was thinking about a reread of it this year.
Please please read mister and margarita as soon as possible. Such a unique book
Kate Chopin is my favorite short story writer!! Her works are phenomenal!! Excited to hear about your thoughts on “The Awakening”:)
Priority order might be Carter, Calvino, and Murakami. Don't fear Brothers Karamozov, it's brilliant. But yes, it's big, too. Wonderful choices for 2023 ce. Another good video. Brava.
I’d LOVE to see get back into Russian classics! Ngl, your reading vlogs/reviews of Russians are my favorite thing on YT. I’m not kidding.
hi Carolyn! i'm SO thrilled to see blindness on your list :) i really hope you have a pleasant reading experience
I loved reading The Housekeeper and the Professor.
As a fellow Ishiguro fan, I say read remains of the day. I love the faber faber editions. I have Klara and the sun in that edition.
I'm glad you picked up Babel. I'd be interested on your take on it. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but I too heard a lot of great things about this one and got my copy last week. I want to read Cain by Saramago. So many books......Right now I'm deep into Don Quixote combined with the online Open Course from Yale. Really good. My brain is exploding with all the connections and rabbit holes from that book!
I was planning on reading Flowers for Algernon next year as well!
My mom and I are buddy reading Brothers Karamozov over the first half of 2023 because we've both been putting it off for years!
Hi Carolyn, Saramago is an amazing writer who won the Nobel prize
I’m beyond exited for you and some the books you’ve chosen, as I’ve already read them and they were absolutely incredible! 🎉
I read Anna karénina earlier this year and that’s how I came upon your channel, you were my silent cheerleader, because I was scared to start such massive work but whenever I felt like giving up I remembered your love for it and needless to say, it blew my mind. So thank you 🙏
cold enough for snow has the perfect atmosphere for a january read!
Recommend Villette for your Bronte book! It's a favorite, on par with Jane Eyre for me.
Steinbeck is one of my absolute favorite authors. Don't be surprised if you read both Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden once you're hooked, you'll want more!
Travels with Charley and Cannery Row are excellent shorts as well.
I love the intro! 😂 This year I'm not playing any TBR games to choose my books and only reading books I've wanted to read for ages. I read a lot of books I wasn't crazy about in 2022. A few I want to read are: Crying in H Mart, The Fifth Season, Legends and Lattes, The Fire Keeper's Daughter, Swan Song, The Sword of Kaigen, 1Q84 by Murakami, a whole list of other books by Japanese authors, and a truckload of nonfiction. 📚
You have vibe Rory Gilmore kind of.
Love your choice for TBR. ❣️
You are in for a treat with the bloody chamber!! And epics with Brothers Karamazov & East of Eden!! Cant wait to hear your thoughts ❤
Enjoyed The Light Pirate. Also a member of Book of the Month. Like seeing their debut authors.
I always pronounced it Sand-DI-shun, apparently the brits say Sand DIT-TON. I'm glad i'm not the only one. So many good recs I'll take into the new year.
Carolyn!!! 16:55 you can do it !!!! Please just open east of Eden and do one page at a time !!!!
You can even audiobook along with it!!
When I’m like this, I just need to stop myself thinking or vexing over it.. and just do. Shut down the voices that say you can’t do it.. and jsut try :) it’s ok if you don’t like it- no pressure. But try to enjoy it !!!
Just started my first Ishiguro, The Buried Giant, it's been good so far
This is late....so late 😆 but I hope you read Mansfield Park. It is very profound writing. It is very different from P&P and Emma, but you may appreciate it.
I am also undecided on which Steinbeck to read this year...
I would love to hear your thoughts on Brothers Karamazov and Orlando!
The Remains of the Day is a perfect book. Read it. It's amazing. I was ugly crying, much like I did in NLMG.
Also: I am team EAST OF EDEN!!! One of my favorite books of all time!!!
I added The master and magarita in my 2023 must reads too!
So exciting!!
The remains of the day is so good!!!
I just recently read Flowers for Algernon and was surprised at how much I liked it! Think you would too
I'm reading this now.
I have a big pile I made already and I’m most excited to finally read “count of monte cristo.” I’ve owned a beautiful penguin classic copy for years and it’s been showing up this last year to me a number of times. I am ready! 🙌
Also, have fun with “lady chatterly’s lover.” My husband read that as a teenager and asked me to read it haha if you love words then you will love this novel. It’s a wordy read. Definitely a classic in that the story is just a story, while the writing is what it’s all about. The character Sir Clifford is unforgettable!! I can’t wait to see what you think of him🙊
Count of monte Christo won’t disappoint!
I read A Pale View of Hills many moons ago because I read Never Let Me Go and fell in love, and then did want to go in chronological order...but I did not love it. I only gave Pale View 2 stars, I did keep in on my shelves though...it feels like a book I might enjoy in the future (also this was seriously years ago, I don't remember why exactly). There was a terrible thing that involved kittens/cats. I don't think that was why I didn't like the book as much, but I couldn't tell you why. I love Norwegian Wood though :) I am a huge Murakami fan, lol. Currently rereading After Dark. Ohmygosh YES. Blindness is SO GOOD. It is absolutely incredible. I had put it off for a long time because there is so much text on each page. No line breaks, no obvious dialogue, but it is actually very fast moving and quick to read. I need to read Seeing still. Oh boy, I started A Clash of Kings like four years ago and never finished it. My cart of shame is currently extremely embarrassing. Good luck!
I want to read some Dostoevsky as well and I might start with The Brothers Karamazov. Kazuo Ishiguro is also on my list. Norwegian Wood is the one that scares me. I love Murakami but because Norwegian Wood is one of his most popular I've been hesitant to read it.
Since you’re reading Lady Chatterly’s Lover, there was a non-fic that came out recently called Tenderness by Alison McLeod (I think that’s her name?) where she discusses the obscenity trials surrounding this book. I myself can’t wait to read it and I think it would be such a good companion to the original!
the master and margarita is SO GOOD.
PLEASE read The Master & Margarita because I have it on my 2023TBR too!!
Regarding Shakespeare, I highly recommend reading The Hogarth Shakespeare series. Authors take a shakespeare play and write a sort of cover version of it. Jeanette Winterson covered The Winter's Tale, Tracy Chevalier covered Othello, Margaret Atwood covered The Tempest (and was my favourite in the series) and so on, with many other plays/books. If you look up "the hogarth shakespeare series" you'll find the full list.
The Beartown series is my favourite too! Can’t wait to read the last one 🤍🤍
Out of your 23, 5 are books that I have read this year (Master and Margarita, Flowers for Algernon, The Housekeeper and the Professor, The Remains of the Day, Norwegian Wood) and I enjoyed all of them. The first 4 would probably all be in my top 10 of the year.
Hi Carolyn, regarding Ishiguro, both are great books so it's really up to you! Just wanted to let you know that Remains of the Day and An artist of the Floating World are very similar in terms of the themes so these two I wouldn't recommend to read close to each other. :)
I did a "required reading" this year and had good success; I finished over a month early and got ahead by reading a few I wanted to read next year. Next year's list includes Dream of the Red Chamber, Sarum, The Lost Queen, three more Shakespeare plays (I've been reading a few each year and have only six left, so I'll finish his entire opus in 2024), the Newbery Medal winner (I've read them all and figured I'd just keep doing so until the award is retired or I die, whichever come first), and The Hero with an African Face.