Eight Books I Enjoyed in 2023

Perhaps it would be good to have a thought or two about the function of lists. Since at least Aristotle, people have been making lists to understand the universe. 

Aristotle wrote about categories or things that can be the subject of a sentence or proposition. Four of his categories have been heavily discussed:

OUSIA or substance

POSON or how much

POION or quality

PROS TI or how things relate to each other.

A canon is a set of foundational texts. 

A classic is something that: 1. Has withstood the test of time, 2. Is recognized as the best of its kind, and 3. Embodies the values of the culture it was produced in.

A list is a more idiosyncratic collection. For me, I picked a variety of fiction, history, and children’s books I enjoyed in 2023. I do like to highlight books that might not be as well known as others.

Demon Copperhead retells the story of David Copperfield in opioid ravaged Appalachia. 

A Guide for the Perplexed retells the story of Joseph (as a female), includes Maimonides, and many other ideas.

In Second Dad Summer an elementary school boy reluctantly adjusts to his father’s new boyfriend. 

St Marks Is Dead is a history of one NYC street in what is now called the east village. (I also enjoyed Calhoun’s Also a Poet about her father, the late art critic, Peter Schjelhahl.)

Septology. An aging painter reflects on art, life, and other topics. For people who enjoy SLOW contemplative books.

Leeva At Last. A girl and a badger navigate horrendous parents. Great drawings throughout.

The Wild Robot. Rob the robot finds herself alone in the wilderness, adopts an orphaned goose, and builds a community. Worth reading for the art alone, but the story is engaging for adults and children.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Josef and Sam escape Nazi era Prague, come to the new world and have great success in the emerging comic book industry. Epic.

What were some of your favorite reads in 2023? Do you have any thoughts on categories, canons, classics, or lists? I would like to hear from you.