January is the perfect time to look back at books I meant to read in 2023 and set reading intentions for 2024.
I read a record number (for me) of books in 2023, so I don’t think I have many books that I wish I had read. However, I’m always looking ahead to a new reading year and love to set targets. The following ten books are on my 2024 reading radar.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I’ve toyed with rereading this over the years. I read it in high school and it was the book that made me a lifelong reader of histfic. It was an immersive reading experience and gave me a book hangover. I’ve been afraid of rereading it because I don’t want to taint my fond memory if it doesn’t hold up. Maybe 2024 is the year! What do you think? Should I risk a reread or be content with my original reading experience?
Guernsey Literary and P0tato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
My favorite book about books and my favorite quirky book club. I’ve already reread this once and it held up to a second reading. Last year, I started pondering a third reading. Does that sound crazy?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Ausen
I’ve read so many retellings (plus movie adaptations) that I’ve almost forgotten the original. I started thinking about a reread last year…maybe this is the year.
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
I read book #1 in the Osman series and then set it aside when I felt a bit meh about it. After reading positive reviews about the rest of the series and how the series gets better with each one, I decided it was time to read the second one. Now I’m hooked and need to finish up the series. Do you love reading a series?
The Runaway Women in London
(also known as The Silver Ladies of London)
I enjoy being a competist. For instance, I’m a Fredrik Backman and Louise Penny completist. Last year, when I discovered Lesley Eames, I read several of her backlist titles. The Runaway Women in London (also known as The Silver Ladies of London) is the last one before I’m a competist. Are you a completist for any one author?
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
I’ve read Robinson’s four-book Giliad series, but I’ve never read Housekeeping. I thought of it last year and I think I’ll make it a priority in 2024. Then I’ll be a Robinson completist!
Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross
One book that I listed on my Winter TBR that I haven’t read yet is Steeple Chasing. Since winter is coming to an end in a couple of months, I need to make this a priority.
The Wager by David Grann
One of my yearly goals is to read more nonfiction. My favorite nonfiction is narrative nonfiction…..nonfiction that reads like a fiction story. My favorite last year was Boys in the Boat. Other favorites are The Woman They Could Not Silence and Killers of the Flower Moon. More like that please! I looked at The Wager by David Grann, but I just couldn’t commit last year. Maybe this year. I do admire his research, writing, and storytelling.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
My daughter put this on my radar and it’s a book I want to get to in 2024. Working towards that nonfiction percentage!
Congratulations, the Best is Over by R. Eric Thomas
In a continuing effort to read more nonfiction, I noticed this book on many readers’ favorites-of-the-year lists last year. I love most essay/memoirs, so I’ll give this a try in 2024.
QOTD:
What is one book you didn’t get to in 2023 that’s on your 2024 TBR?
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I love re-reading and re-listening Carol. In fact I listening to the Thursday Murder Club series again and they’re just as good!
I need to try one on audio! 🙌
Re-reading is very important to me. There is a part in The Count of Monte Cristo when his mentor tells him he choose a selection of very good books and stopped there-choosing to memorize and make the most of those particular books.
I always think of that verse in Ecclesiastes–of good books there is no end–or something like that.
Anyway, to get around to what I really want to say, I first read Gone With the Wind when I was 8 years old! I re-read it every few years and it gets better and better. I can’t wait to see if you do it!
Thanks so much for the encouragement for a reread of GWtW! Now I feel eager! And that’s a great thought from The Count of Monte Christo! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Tyna!
I’ve only read Gone with the Wind once, but I hope your reread is good!
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Thanks Lydia! 🙌
Steeple Chasing looks like it could be a good read! Old churches are often so pretty.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I have a feeling it would be a good coffee table book!
I think you should reread Gone With the Wind, I think it DOES hold up, except for the outdated portrayal of slaves…..still quite a story!! And I’ve read and reread The Guernsey LIterary Society at least THREE times and it never gets old! Such perfection. Pride and Prejudice, yes, you need to get back to the roots! I’m glad you got into the Thursday Murder Club series (yes, I love series) but as for Housekeeping…..I have also read the Gilead series, but I found Housekeeping just plain strange. And for the ones that got away (quite a few, actually) one was The Appeal by Janice Hallet, I just couldn’t seem to get hold of a copy, as well as a reread of When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood…..still meaning to do that one again.
Thanks for your encouragement to reread GWtW! I think I’ll go for it this year! I’m thrilled we share the love for Guernsey! Have you seen the movie adaptation? You’re the second person to express reservations about housekeeping…..I’m quick to dnf so I’ll see how it goes! Yes, I think I had The Appeal on my radar at one time….I need to take a look at that. I loved One in a Million Boy by Wood…. I’ll check out the Kennedy one. Thanks for sharing Suzy!
Steeplechasing sounds interesting. Great title. Housekeeping was tough but worth it.
Steeplechasing sounds like it might be a good coffee table book! Thanks for the warning about Housekeeping…I’ll give it a try. I notice she has a book on the study of Genesis coming out this spring!
Interesting….
Pride & Prejudice is one of the books I like to reread every year. It’s such a great reread!! The Wager looks so good, too. I’ve definitely been interested in it as well.
My TTT
I’m eager to reread P&P! Then I can rewatch the screen adaptations again as well! I hope you love Wager if you get to it! Thanks for commenting!
I haven’t heard of any of these books. Whoops.
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2024/01/23/top-ten-tuesday-backlist-books-i-want-to-get-to-in-2024/
No overlap on our Venn Diagrams I guess!
I hope you can read (or re-read) these books soon and that they are all that you wish they would be.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/whoops-thirteen-books-i-meant-to-read-in-2023/
Thanks Pam! 🙌
An interesting mix of books. I read the Guernsey book a year or two ago and really enjoyed it. I hope you are able to get to all of these.
Did you see the Guernsey movie adaptation as well? Thanks for commenting Sarah!
So many good ones! I’m tempted to do some Austen rereads this year. I listened to all the audiobooks a few years back and loved the narration so much!
Maybe I should consider audio for my reread!
Interesting list for 2024. I look forward to your reviews, Carol!
Thanks Janet! 🙌
I hope you get to the Guernsey book soon. It is really lovely. On my list… The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. I bought it last year before Book Depository went dead, and haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.
I haven’t read that one yet. But I did read The Bookbinder by her.
I have mixed feelings about being a completist. On the one hand, when I discover a great author, I want to binge-read all of their books. On the other, when I complete an author’s backlist, then I have to wait (sometimes years) for a new book from them and that’s hard. The struggle is real! I hope you enjoy all these when you get to them.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks for sharing Susan! #bookproblems are the best problems!
Who can resist a re-read of Pride and Prejudice!!! The Guernsey Society one though is a different kettle of fish (do you have that expression in USA?). Strongly disliked it first time around sorry so the thought of a re-read is scary
Lol! No two persons read the same book! Yes, we have that expression, but I haven’t heard it in a long time!
I am not a re-reader. I find I skim when I do that. I have The Wager from the library and hope to do a read/listen within the next week. I try to be a completist and there are several authors that I read every book they write, but there are so many more I want to get back to. I hope you enjoy all of these when you get to them, Carol.
I’m lucky if I reread one a year! Rereading is not my fav. I’m going to give Wager a try….not sure it’s a good fit for me.
I hope I like it, but it is a library book, so I won’t hesitate to give up if it doesn’t pull me in. Fingers crossed we both like it. Carol. 🤞
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I’m impressed that your list of books you meant to read in 2023 was so short. My TBR list keeps growing as more books are published.
I was thinking today how I hadn’t received a post from you in a while. For some reason, they were sent to my bulk mail account! WordPress is already in my contacts, so I’m not sure why they didn’t go in my inbox.
Oh no! I’m glad you found my posts Adrienne! WP is glitchy at times.