Books 2023

Since it is nearing the end of 2023 or really the first day of 2024, I thought I would list several of my book recommendations based on what I’ve read this past year. This might be called a series / reread year as I read several series and also reread several books. In no particular order, here is the list.

The Last Ranger by Peter Heller

A story that covers a few days in the life of a National Park Law Enforcement Ranger in Yellowstone National Park. And, wolves. It’s much deeper than that as all of Peter Heller’s books are. As with his other books, the author spends a lot of the book developing the characters. His does this mostly through the characters thinking back to some event in their lives or the main character finding out about an event from another character’s past.

One interesting thing in the book are the relationships presented between animals, animals and humans, humans and humans and humans and nature, which is a little different than animals and humans, in this case. Those interrelationships are one of the main foundations of the story.

In this book it all leads to the reader needing to determine how “bad” the antagonists are and are there really any easy answers to life. The author leaves the book a bit open ended if he ever wanted to continue the story. A great and fast read!

 

Silo Series (Wool, Shift, Dust, Silo Stories) by Hugh Howey

I first learned about this series through watching an Apple TV+ series named Silo. It covers the first few chapters of the first book and sticks semi close to the book.

This is a story about people living in underground silos after a major apocalypse. The main character is a woman named Juliette and deals with several years of her life. The books also provide a lot of back story that covers the who, what and why that lead to why the silos exist. There are some surprises along the way and many moments where it is very hard to set the book down.

Like The Last Ranger, there is some major character development going on. About the only thing that can be “difficult” is how the story can jump around between characters and time frames. It all comes together in the end and it is well worth the effort!

 

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks

This was a little different book for me. I’ve given other actor authors a try with their fiction, and it has left a bit to be desired. Not in this case! Mr. Hanks has written a riveting story that keeps you glued to your seat. It wouldn’t surprise me to see this book become a movie one day.

The book covers, from a number of perspectives, what it takes to pull together and make a movie including the shoot, editing, etc. Along the way we get to see just how complicated this can be and also get a view into the various people and their personalities and jobs that go into movie making. We find the process can start years before the actual shoot.

Finally we get to see the dance of shooting a movie and how choreographed it needs to be.

All this is rolled into an exceptional story that I highly recommend! 

 

Sign My Name to Freedom by Betty Reid Soskin

This is the only “true” autobiography in this list. What makes this book special is I have met and gotten to know Betty a little. At the time I am writing this, she is 102, which is also pretty special.

Betty, when she retired at 100, was the oldest Park Ranger in the National Park Service (NPS). She worked at the Rosie the Riveter Historical Site which is dedicated to the women that built so much in WWII. Here is a link that goes into more detail about Betty as well as a video of the presentation she gave.

The book covers most of her life and most of that is based around the San Francisco / Oakland area. Highly recommended!

 

The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is a series I decided to reread this year. I last read them in 6th or 7th grade, I think. A long time ago in any case. If you don’t know, this series is a semi-autobiographical look at the author and her family from the time she was a young girl until she was married. It takes place in the late 1800s.

What I found interesting while rereading this series is how my perspective has changed from when I first read these books. Not surprising but interesting. For example, my favorite book when I was younger was probably “On the Banks of Plum Creek” and my least favorite was “The Long Winter”. Now my favorite is “The Long Winter” and I have no least favorite.

Why, you may ask? Well, “The Long Winter” is all about the drama and physiological hardship of living through one blizzard after another with less and less supplies and dealing with the increasing realization that you and the entire town may not survive. The author presented this very well as the book progressed and I could feel the increased tension and darkness with each passing storm. The overwhelming dread that the characters felt with each new storm was palatable. The reader can also feel the light shine again when spring and supplies return to the small South Dakota town.

This is a great series that gives the reader a detailed look into living in the frontier of America during the late 1800s. It was not an easy life, that’s for sure! Classics that are highly recommended!

 

How to Land a Plane by Mark Vanhoenacker

This is a short, nonfiction book, that covers exactly what the title states. If you enjoy flying or are just curious about what happens in the cockpit, this is a great read!

 

Small Magic by Terry Brooks

This book is a collection of short stories that are stand alone stories or stories that continue the narrative of characters from the author’s other novels. This book is highly recommended if you’ve read those other novels but may not be as interesting, if you haven’t. Although, they would also be a good introduction to the author and his work.

I can’t recommend Terry Brooks enough. He mainly writes fantasy and is one of the best authors to do so. I’ve been reading his books since he published the first one way back when I was in high school.

That’s the list! Good reading and Happy New Year!