Today, we will be discussing all the books that I read in 2023 that I predicted would be five out of five stars. Believe it or not, only three of the books actually earned a full five stars. That means those three will go down in time as favorites. There were many that I truly loved, but they just did not reach the level of becoming a favorite book.
“Love, Pamela” is a biography written by Pamela Anderson herself. It details her life journey, from her upbringing in Canada to her rise to fame as a model and actress, notably for her role in “Baywatch.” The book delves into her personal struggles, relationships, and experiences in the entertainment industry, providing candid insights into her life, including her high-profile relationships and the challenges she faced in the public eye. Anderson shares her perspectives on love, fame, and personal growth, offering readers a deeper understanding of the complexities behind her public persona.”
Authentic, intelligent, and relatable. In the last pages, Pamela speaks of meeting a director who told her she was vulnerable, and that isn’t something you see in stars today, and that is a great way to describe this book. It was so open and unique, as there was no ghostwriter and it was told in multiple forms such as poetry and prose. I am glad that she is able to claim her life, in a sense, and tell the narrative as it is, rather than what men and the media have built around her image throughout the years. I loved this book, and it is a new favorite. 5 out of 5 stars.
“Betty” by Tiffany McDaniel is a powerful coming-of-age novel that follows the life of a young girl named Betty Carpenter growing up in the rugged landscape of rural Ohio. Born in a dysfunctional family haunted by trauma and filled with secrets, Betty navigates a world marked by poverty, abuse, and prejudice. As she grapples with the complexities of her family history and her own identity, Betty finds solace and strength in storytelling and the natural world around her. The novel explores themes of resilience, the impact of generational trauma, and the search for belonging and acceptance. Through vivid prose and heartfelt storytelling, “Betty” paints a poignant and unforgettable portrait of a girl’s journey toward understanding her past and shaping her own future.”
”Betty” is a rare gem amidst books crowded with characters, as it brilliantly brings to life a family of eight with distinct, well-defined personalities. Tiffany McDaniel’s writing paints an authentic ‘Americana’ landscape, weaving together seasons and storytelling flawlessly. This emotionally gripping novel delves into themes of poverty, trauma, and the complexities of womanhood, urging readers to stay true to themselves. It’s a compelling, emotionally charged read that lives up to its reputation, leaving a lasting impact. 5 out of 5 stars.
“The Medici” by Mary Hollingsworth is a comprehensive historical account of one of Italy’s most influential families during the Renaissance period. It traces the rise of the Medici dynasty from their origins as merchants to their ascent as powerful patrons of the arts and leaders in politics and finance. The book provides a vivid portrayal of the family’s immense impact on Florence, detailing their support for artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as their significant contributions to the cultural and economic growth of the city. Hollingsworth explores the complex dynamics within the Medici family, including their rivalries, alliances, and the strategies they employed to maintain their wealth and authority. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, “The Medici” offers a compelling narrative that illuminates the Medici family’s lasting legacy and their enduring influence on art, politics, and the Renaissance era.”
What I knew of the Medici is from their ‘golden age,’ the times of Cosimo the Elder to Lorenzo il Magnifico. This book gave me so much more knowledge on the rise and then the extinction of the family line. I even learned some things amidst the eras I thought I was a pro on! The writing did get dense at times, so I do suggest reading this in intervals rather than trudging through it. It will enhance your reading experience significantly. As this is nonfiction, I followed along with the audiobook and had a great time listening and reading. I love the inclusion of family trees and maps as it made everything easier to understand. This was a five-star prediction, and it didn’t quite meet that mark, leaving this a 4 out of 5 stars. I loved it but it’s not a new favorite.
“Ghostwritten” by David Mitchell is a multilayered novel that weaves together interconnected stories across various locations around the globe. Through a diverse set of characters and narratives spanning different times and places, the book explores themes of interconnectedness, fate, and the impact of individual actions on a global scale. Each chapter presents a distinct tale, ranging from a terrorist in Japan to an art thief in St. Petersburg, and a myriad of other characters in between. As the stories unfold, subtle connections emerge, revealing a complex web that links these seemingly disparate lives. Mitchell’s intricate storytelling creates a mesmerizing and thought-provoking narrative, offering a compelling exploration of the human experience, the interconnectedness of our world, and the ripple effects of our actions.”
There were plenty of characters here, and we get one POV chapter from each of them. Some I connected with, and some I didn’t, but I didn’t dislike any of them. My favorite character was the woman running the tea shack in China. This book showed places that I never get to read about, mainly places in the East, and this is after the fall of the Soviet Union, so it was very eye-opening for what it was like in those countries at the time. The writing was fine, the plot was good. I loved looking for the Easter eggs throughout and trying to find out what the greater story was. The thing is, I still haven’t. I don’t know what I just read or what the point was. Was it the world leading up to Y2K? I’m honestly confused and am going to have to think about this and research it for a while. This was a good book, and I would still recommend it, but it did not live up to my five-star prediction. 3 out of 5 stars.
The Actual Star takes readers on a journey over two millennia and six continents—telling three powerful tales a thousand years apart, all of them converging in the same cave in the Belizean jungle.
I definitely wouldn’t label this as a character-driven novel. I connected most with Leah in the 2012 plotline, mainly because I was alive at that time and remember the hysteria surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar and the supposed end of the world. The atmosphere was very unique; I’ve never read a book set in Belize or inspired by Central American mythology before. The writing was fine, but it was quite open-ended, leaving me confused by the ending and some plotlines. Shall we discuss the plots now? Let’s. The first plotline is in 1012; I would’ve enjoyed this one more if I had some background on the Maya. It’s my fault, but perhaps more worldbuilding could’ve been done there. Regarding the 2012 plotline, all that I mentioned still holds true. Now, onto the final plotline, set in 3012; this is the one I liked least and found most confusing. There needed to be more worldbuilding once again and a better connection made between 2012 and 3012; there were gaps there. The themes I enjoyed most were those of legend, myth, and religion, and how they intersect and shape each other. I loved ‘The Actual Star,’ but it’s not a new favorite. It was part of my five-star prediction project, resulting in a four out of five for this novel.
“When Nerd Herd frenemy Lily approaches Tobin about teaming up to do a video to bolster her brand and reinvigorate his, he agrees. But when their first collab video goes viral, their relationship heats up too. With the whole internet watching, will these two former misfits finally realize they’re perfect together?”
I was really scared that I wasn’t going to end up liking Lily as a character. She was hypocritical and judged women based on their looks. Luckily, another character called her out on it, but not until the very end. However, both characters were in the same field of work as me, so that was relatable and fun to read about. The setting of California was fine. The writing was quick and easy to read. This would be a great book to have with you if you’re going on a weekend getaway this summer. The plot wasn’t what I expected, but it was good. However, I didn’t like that the characters changed who they were in a sense to fit with each other. I get compromising and all, but it just didn’t leave me feeling right. I loved this book, but it’s not a new favorite. This was part of my five-star prediction project, with this novel getting a four out of five stars.
“In Washington , the historian Tom Lewis paints a sweeping portrait of the capital city whose internal conflicts and promise have mirrored those of America writ large. Breathing life into the men and women who struggled to help the city realize its full potential, he introduces us to the mercurial French artist who created an ornate plan for the city ” en grande ” members of the nearly forgotten anti-Catholic political party who halted construction of the Washington monument for a quarter century; and the cadre of congressmen who maintained segregation and blocked the city’s progress for decades. In the twentieth century Washington’s Mall and streets would witness a Ku Klux Klan march, the violent end to the encampment of World War I “Bonus Army” veterans, the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and the painful rebuilding of the city in the wake of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.”
I learned a lot, and this gave me pretty much everything I wanted out of it. The issue was it jumped around quite a bit, and there were awkward gaps in between. That being said, it did not flow well. 4 out of 5.
“Play It As It Lays” by Joan Didion is a novel set in the 1960s Hollywood landscape, revolving around Maria Wyeth, a disenchanted actress navigating a world of superficiality, emptiness, and existential crises. Maria grapples with the breakdown of her marriage, struggles with her mental health, and copes with the alienation and disillusionment pervasive in her life. The narrative portrays Maria’s internal turmoil as she drifts through a series of disconnected experiences, encounters, and relationships, all while trying to assert some control over her fragmented reality. Didion’s spare and incisive prose delves into themes of identity, loneliness, and the elusive pursuit of meaning in a morally ambiguous and indifferent world. The novel offers a raw and unflinching exploration of a woman’s existential search for purpose and authenticity in the midst of a chaotic and morally ambiguous society.”
The main character, Maria, resembles other women often portrayed in this subgenre of feminist books, akin to what’s now labeled on social media as ‘sad girl lit.’ Nevertheless, these books and characters are enjoyable for me to read. I adored the natural setting of California and Nevada; it felt authentic without trying to be something it wasn’t. The writing was the standout element of ‘Play It as It Lays.’ It was blunt and straightforward, cutting to the chase, providing an accessible and fast-paced experience for the reader. The plot, however, wasn’t as robust. Despite being published over fifty years ago, the themes presented are still relatable to modern women.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
“From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire.”
I was shocked by how poorly these characters were written, but maybe this needed to be a series like ‘The Poppy Wars,’ rather than a standalone. I really enjoyed the Georgian and Victorian settings. However, the writing is another reason why I didn’t absolutely love this book as much as I thought I would. My goal in reading is always to see the world through someone else’s eyes, and ‘Babel’ did a great job at that. I still enjoyed the majority of my time reading ‘Babel’ and would encourage you to give this story a chance. However, it didn’t live up to the five-star prediction set in the book.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
“A magisterial epic—an intimate yet sweeping novel with all the luminescence and force of Homegoing; Sing, Unburied, Sing; and The Water Dancer—that chronicles the journey of one American family, from the centuries of the colonial slave trade through the Civil War to our own tumultuous era.”
“Great books are always the hardest to review, and this might be the best book I’ve read in 2023. I wouldn’t say Ailey is one of my characters, but I loved the journey I went on with her. We witnessed her growth from a toddler to a strong woman, experiencing life’s highs and lows. Although there are many characters, the family tree in the first few pages helps the reader when they’re confused. Many characters reminded me of people in my life, contributing to the novel’s authentic Southern atmosphere. The depiction of Southern culture, dialect, food, and social dynamics was spot-on. Astonishingly, this is a debut novel, despite the author’s background in poetry, which shines through in the poetic, lyrical, and gorgeous writing. Despite its length, the book is exceptionally well-written, with an organic storyline that avoids predictability. I followed along with the audiobook but would recommend any format for this gem! The plot fulfills a long-standing desire—a grand American epic tracing a family from the country’s inception to modern times—executed perfectly by Jeffers. Ailey’s mentors emphasize the difficulty of studying history as it encompasses people’s lives; although fictional, these stories echo real histories. This emotional journey left me drained at times, echoing Ailey’s mentor’s advice to step back, take a break, and refresh—a fitting recommendation for this story. ‘The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois’ is beyond words—I’m left speechless. It’s now a new favorite that I’ll be contemplating for a long time. 5 out of 5 stars.
“A tour de force of interwoven perspectives and sustained suspense, its action largely unfolding on a single winter day, Crossroads is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis. Jonathan Franzen’s gift for melding the small picture and the big picture has never been more dazzlingly evident.”
The character development in this book is some of the best I’ve read this year. I appreciated following one family through the perspectives of both the young adult children and their parents. Witnessing how they were all raised by the same people yet took vastly different paths was captivating. It also showcased the varied ways people can interpret or navigate a single situation. Unlike many novels set in the 1970s that focus on famous or young single individuals, this one beautifully delves into a suburban American family unit. However, the writing was my only issue with the story. The timeline was hard to follow and would have benefited from a different formatting, particularly in the rushed and clunky second half. Nevertheless, the themes explored—the significance of family and, notably, religion—resonated deeply. The book prompted me to consider how religious individuals might have perceived the hippie counterculture and the era’s societal changes. It brilliantly captured the complexities of maintaining a relationship with God amidst an ever-changing world. As someone who spent their teenage years in a religious setting, I appreciated how the book portrayed this aspect. While I loved this book, it didn’t quite become a new favorite for me.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
“With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, Still Life is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.”
Exceptional character diversity and depth shine through, representing various ages, sexual orientations, and social classes seamlessly. Imperfect yet wholesome, the characters are relatable and engaging, evoking both hope and despair, reflective of post-World War II Florence and London. The vibrant cities come alive alongside these individuals. While the dialogue and prose are clever and quintessentially British, the narrative suffers from episodic writing and occasional density, making it challenging to follow. Despite being character-driven with a focus on post-war European life and relationships, the story’s disjointed jumps in time and place sometimes disrupt the flow. However, it evokes a hopeful, summery feeling and beautifully explores the impact of relationships on individuals. Although not a new favorite, it’s a joyous read that instills hope—a perfect June pick.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Izzy Reads 