All the books I’ve read in 2023: Reviewed in one line each (Part 2)

Hello all, and welcome to Part 2 of reviewing all the books I’ve read in 2023. Thankfully, only a few classics are left and then we move on to some contemporary works.

Classics:

17. Animal Farm

A group of farm animals rebel against their human masters and obtain freedom. Things go smoothly at first, but the dangers of corruption, power and totalitarianism are not far behind. Soon, they find themselves under oppressive rulers, who cannot be distinguished from man.  

This was actually a reread for me as part of the book club. I love dystopian fiction, and if you’re interested in it too, then this book is the perfect introduction to this genre. It is super easy to read, the themes are pretty evident and it does its job magnificently in very few pages. A must-read novella. 

18. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

A young man named D’Artagnan joins three friends—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis in exciting adventures to protect the Queen and foil Cardinal Richelieu’s plots in 17th-century France. Filled with friendship, romance, and daring duels.

I read the illustrated version of it, and I’m glad I did. I like the themes of friendship and love that are highlighted in the book, but I won’t like 700 pages of it.  

19. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna, an orphan, always tries to find ways to be positive, even though life has not really been kind to her. She plays the “glad game” where she tries to find reasons to be optimistic in any given situation. A children’s classic.

It’s a good book for children and teaches them values like gratitude, positivity, resilience etc, but if you’re a grown-up and have real, grown-up problems which do not include trying to fix up your aunt (who doesn’t even like you) with some strange, depressed doctor, don’t bother, really. 

20. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne 

A wealthy Englishman, along with his servant, sets out on an adventure to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days and faces multiple challenges, including being mistaken for a criminal. Short, fast-paced read. 

A short, fun book that makes you want to travel and explore too. Easy to read, so give it a try, and you’ll only have fun throughout. 

Contemporary:

21. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

Through Charlie’s letters, we see him navigating his high school years as a freshman as he explores friendships, drugs, questions his sexuality, and works through his unresolved PTSD. 

I read this when I was just starting my last year of school and there is so much to learn from this book, not just for teens but for everyone who resonates with the introverted Charlie and goes through similar struggles as him. I can’t wait to watch the movie adaptation!

22. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Somewhere in Northern Italy, 17-year-old Elio forms a sudden and intense relationship with Oliver, a summer guest at his parent’s mansion. As the two men discover their awakening desire for each other in summertime Italy, Elio’s experience of a turbid first love brings him a heartbreak he may never recover from. 

Despite all the questions raised about this book, I totally enjoyed each and every moment of reading it. Though the book can sometimes be slow, I think it does a much better job capturing the intensity of Elio’s emotions for Oliver, and the mystery of love, if you will. That is not to say I don’t like the movie though. The cinematography, the location, the dialogues and the songs are dreamy. 

Asian Literature:

23. Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan

A collection of short stories based in the fictional town of Malgudi. 

Who even needs an introduction or review for Malgudi Days? It was so refreshing reading it again after so long, and so nostalgic. If you haven’t read it, I insist you check it out, no matter your age. It just fills you with so much joy, warmth and nostalgia. How I wish Malgudi really existed! 

24. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

This novel is in the form of a letter a Vietnamese-American man writes to his illiterate mother, wherein he recounts how he abuses her, alongside other things he experiences like racism, hardships as an immigrant, addiction, queerness, generational and induced trauma, post-war trauma, etc. 

I picked this book up just by reading the title, and it is by far the most poetical book I’ve read. It brilliantly portrays a society immersed in addiction, violence and trauma. It also bravely explores racism, masculinity and the tumultuous love the mother-son share. You cannot help falling in love with Ocean Vuong after reading this book. 

25. Almond by Won Pyung Sohn

Yunjae, the protagonist, has an underdeveloped amygdala, which bars him from identifying and experiencing emotions like fear, anger, pain etc. But when a tragic accident alters his life forever, he is left on his own. He must learn how to survive, and step out of his silent isolation to protect the ones he cares about. 

The emotionless Yunjae reveals the complexity of human emotions to his readers and forms a special bond with a person you wouldn’t expect him to befriend. I read this book after a friend recommended it, and I am glad I did. I love the simple setting of the book, the humble yet complex characters and the quotes that really hit hard. Strongly recommend it. 

26. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 

It talks about a cafe in Tokyo that lets its customers travel back in time, as long as they return before their coffee gets cold. However, they must keep in mind certain rules before they time travel. 

If snuggling up in your bed with a cup of coffee on a rainy day had a face, it would be this book for me. It felt like I was physically present in the cafe as each character narrated their stories and their regrets, desires and relationships. I love how the book involves some elements of soft fantasy, but still remains so realistic, so relevant to the readers.  

27. All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami 

Fuyuko Irie, a freelance proofreader in her thirties lives alone. She is unable to form meaningful relationships with anyone but she needs to be loved and heard. With the chance entry of Mitsutsuka into her life, memories of a painful past resurface, and she must find the strength to bring down the walls that surround her to be saved.

The book’s descriptions of seemingly insignificant things like- light, night, nature, a metro station are so beautiful and detailed, that they compel you to pay attention to your own surroundings. For me, the book was more setting and word-heavy than plot-heavy. Nonetheless, I relished the attention to detail and thoroughly enjoyed the vibe of the book. 

28. Wind/Pinball by Haruki Murakami

A collection of two short novellas, “Hear the Wind Sing” and “Pinball, 1973”. In Wind, the unnamed narrator, home from college, spends all his time with his friend, ‘the Rat’, drinking and smoking in J’s bar, listening to the radio. He thinks about writing and the women he has slept with. 

In Pinball, he has moved to Tokyo and works as a translator but his friend is left behind. The narrator’s short-lived obsession sends him on a quest to find the exact model of the pinball machine he enjoyed playing years ago. 

There is never a simple way to make sense of Murakami’s plot, so the best thing to do is to lose yourself in the enchanting world he creates and live as though you are as unaware and unsure of life as the characters themselves. This particular book is the perfect example of “no plot, just vibes”. Nothing special really happens, except a few surreal instances here and there, but when you’re least expecting it, Murakami hits you with lines that have you questioning your existence for a few seconds. 

29. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami

A sequel to Wind/Pinball, this book begins with the narrator’s life taking an extraordinary turn. He must embark on a journey to find a marked sheep that may or may not be ruling the world. The journey is not devoid of magical elements, and the narrator meets a woman with exquisite ears, a right-wing politico, an ovine-obsessed professor, and more. His quest leads him to an isolated, extremely snowy village and from then on, his life becomes a kind of limbo. 

It was so difficult trying to describe this book, as I mentioned before, but reading Murakami is an experience everybody should have at least once in their lifetime. This one in particular included more surrealist landscapes and elements of magical realism were in abundance. The story may not make sense in the beginning, but as you read up, you understand the themes better. 

30. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Toru Watanabe, afflicted by the death of his best friend Kizuki to suicide, tries to grapple with his complicated feelings for Naoko, Kizuki’s girlfriend who is very reserved and emotionally sensitive, and Midori an impetuous, free-spirited woman who marches into his life. Murakami transports viewers to 1960s Japan, marked by student uprisings, uneasy friendships, cigarettes, and 1960s pop. 

Norwegian Wood was my first Murakami book, and I reread it recently. Though its intense themes of psychological and mental illness, grief, loss, suicide, regrets, and nostalgia may have been incomprehensible before, it still had a huge impact on me the first time I read it. Rereading offered me more clarity and a more detailed understanding of each character. I strongly suggest looking into the trigger warnings first before reading it. The book absolutely destroys you and leaves you hollow. 

So this is it, I guess. These are all the books I read last year, reviewed in short (one line was a stupid idea). Do you think any of the books mentioned here can be to your liking? Which ones are you going to add to your bookshelf? Hope this was helpful to you. Do let me know what books you will be picking up next, and let’s make our 2024 TBR together! 

Hope you liked this article. I will be back with another soon.

Happy Reading!

Keep reading my blogs for more!