I managed to read a respectful 50 books in 2023 and for the most part enjoyed all of them, a win. More importantly I developed a great habit of using Scrivener on my phone to write for 20 minutes every weekday. Over the last three months of the year I was able to write around 4,000 words of Deus Ex...Mentis, words that probably wouldn't have been written otherwise. This is a habit I'll be carrying into 2024.
Books read in 2023
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space / Alex White
Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity / Sarah B. Pomeroy
If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe / Jason Pargin
Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships / Dedeker Winston, Emily Sotelo Matlack, Jase Lindgren
No Gods for Drowning / Hailey Piper
No Reflections / Danielle Linder
Station Eternity / Mur Lafferty
Sword of Destiny / Andrzej Sapkowski
The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture / Gail Carriger
The Little Guide to Getting Tied Up: Tips for Rope Bondage Bottoms / Evie Vane
The Polyamory Workbook: An Interactive Guide to Setting Boundaries, Communicating Your Needs, and Building Secure, Healthy Open Relationships / Sara Youngblood Gregory
Thirsty Sword Lesbians (RPG Manual) / April Kit Walsh
Truth of the Divine / Lindsay Ellis
Witch King / Martha Wells
Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick / Jason Pargin writing as David Wong
Most anticipated read
If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe / Jason Pargin
Ever since I was introduced to 'John Dies At The End' as an impressionable teen I've been a fan of David Wong (Jason Pargin). This is the latest novel in the series and it's very much more of the same which is exactly what you need. I also branched out in to the Zoey Ashe series this year which has gone on to inspire my own writing for a future series.
Most interesting read
The Heroine's Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture / Gail Carriger
I wish I had read Gail Carriger's book a lot earlier, but if you are a writer then you need to pick this one up. Gail takes us through the story beats of the heroine's journey and show you how to recognise it and apply it to your own story.
Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity / Sarah B. Pomeroy
I bought a copy of this book while in Bath many, many, many years ago and have only just got around to reading it. Pomeroy saw that no one had written extensively on women in classical antiquity and decided she would have to do it herself. This text (which is old now) is a great study of how women were seen, treated, and written about from Sparta to the Roman Empire. A must if you are into Greek and Roman history.
Unexpected gem
Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships / Dedeker Winston, Emily Sotelo Matlack, Jase Lindgren
This is one of the best books on relationships and communication I have read, regardless of your relationship style. There are a number of solid tools presented here, all of which have been adapted for non-monogomy and personally tested by the Multiamory podcast team. I have been using RADAR sessions for the past few months and I will say this, applying Agile Project Management tools to your relationships is genius!
Comics Read in 2023
Crowded, Vol. 3 / Ted Brandt, Christopher Sebela
Die, Vol. 3: The Great Game / Kieron Gillen
Die, Vol. 4: Bleed / Kieron Gillen
Eat the Rich / Sarah Gailey
Heathen Volume 1 / Natasha Alterici
Heathen, Volume 2 / Natasha Alterici
How Do We Relationship? Vol. 1 / Tamifull
Joe Hill's Rain / David M. Booher, Joe Hill
Know Your Station #1 / Sarah Gailey, Liana Kangas
Oglaf Book Four / Trudy Cooper, Doug Bayne
She and Her Cat / Tsubasa Yamaguchi, Makoto Shinkai
Something Is Killing the Children, Vol. 1 / James Tynion IV
Something Is Killing the Children, Vol. 2 / James Tynion IV
Something Is Killing the Children, Vol. 3 / James Tynion IV
Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 4 / James Tynion IV
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 5 / James Tynion IV
Speed Republic Vol. 1 / Ryan K Lindsay
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr / Ram V
The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1 / James Tynion IV
The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2 / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 1: The Arrow / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 2: The Swarm / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 3: New London / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 4: Movie Night / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 5: The Horde / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 6: The Lost / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 7: The Black City / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 8: The Final War / James Tynion IV
The Woods, Vol. 9: The Way Home / James Tynion IV
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 6 / Fujita
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition 1 / Hitoshi Ashinano
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 12 / Kiyohiko Azuma
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 13 / Kiyohiko Azuma
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 14 / Kiyohiko Azuma
Yotsuba&!, Vol. 15 / Kiyohiko Azuma
Most anticipated read
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 6 / Fujita
Ah, the last volume in the Wotakoi series, a bitter sweet thing. I've loved this series of sweet, idiot nerds. Well worth your time.
Most interesting read
The Nice House on the Lake / James Tynion IV
I found the work of James Tynion IV via my library's access to Hoopla which turns out to be a great platform for comics (at least since Amazon basically destroyed Comixology). The Nice House on the Lake is an interesting story of the end of the world and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.
Unexpected gem
Something Is Killing the Children / James Tynion IV
Another James Tynion IV series since I enjoyed Nice House and The Woods (also a great series). This one grew on me, starting as a simple monster hunting horror and growing to a larger conspiracy/world threatening plot. This is still ongoing and I'm a little worried about it becoming too complicated, but for now I'm enjoying this series. It will make you check under the bed though.
