Stephen’s Year in Books

What did you read this year?

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2023

24,134

pages read

books read

Stephen

The Boy at the Bottom of the Fountain by Jay Bell

Shortest Book

pages

Longest Book

pages

Average book length in 2023

301

pages

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Most Shelved

2,327,115

people also shelved

Falling For His Roommate by Devyn Morgan

Least Shelved

350

people also shelved

Stephen’s average rating for 2023

4.3

Highest Rated on Goodreads

4.59 average

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

Stephen’s first review of the year

it was amazing

I loved this episode on Poirot with David Suchet so I decided it was high time to finally listen to the book on which it was based.

I was initially put off by it NOT being narrated by Hugh Fraser as so many of the Poirot tales are but there's a good reason for this that one soon discovers. The original tale was clearly crafted as a tale told by a woman narrator who was there and was involved in the events described. While the character of nurse A ...more

STEPHEN’S 2023 BOOKS

it was amazing

The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie

it was amazing

it was amazing

really liked it

it was amazing

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye

it was amazing

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

it was amazing

it was amazing

it was amazing

Stephen’s last review of the year

it was amazing

Robby's story

The third installment in the Green Creek series, this might has well have been called "A Tale of Two Packs" it certainly contains the best of times and the worst of times. This epic series is as addictive as they come and at times as sweet and genuine as they come but at other times is almost unbearable to listen to.

This one keeps us wondering just how reliable the narration is for a LOT longer than I found comfortable. While it mig Robby's story

The third installment in the Green Creek series, this might has well have been called "A Tale of Two Packs" it certainly contains the best of times and the worst of times. This epic series is as addictive as they come and at times as sweet and genuine as they come but at other times is almost unbearable to listen to.

This one keeps us wondering just how reliable the narration is for a LOT longer than I found comfortable. While it might have made the tale more dramatic, I felt it maddening.

T.J. Klune seems to have a fondness for allowing the "big bad" to speak his (or her) piece just before the "big boss battle." It may be a personal quirk of mine, but having endured four years of hearing the Orange Abomination spew his bile, I just don't have the patience required to hear anyone who's thoroughly evil spouting off.

But, as I said, these books are addictive. The good so far outweighs the bad that a little fault like that isn't going to stop me from listening. The first book was endearing and pulled us in. The second book just deepened that, making the world being created just that much richer and satisfying. This, the third, continued that trend adding yet more more layers of meaning and detail to an already rich fantasy world.

I especially like the character development here with Kelly being ACE and his and Robbie's relationship really reflecting that. It was interesting (and refreshing to see) but of course it kept the flames level on this one down a bit more than in the earlier volumes.

I'm really starting to wonder what TJ Klune's relationship with his dad was like... three books in and three villainous fathers so far. Also someone seems to have a bit of haircut kink.

So it's on to book four, and hopefully an end to some of the evil in the world and just perhaps the prospect of a complete happily ever after.

As always Kirt Graves does a great job with the narration. Each book is narrated primarily from one character's POV, but most of the characters have their own distinctive voices. The men and the women here are all well represented in the dialogue sections with vocal inflections that highlight aspects of their characters. ...more

2023 READING
CHALLENGE

Stephen read 80 out of 76 books.

105%

What did you read this year?