Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Last Books of 2023

I have a few last books of 2023 to share, and they are some darn good ones.

Covenant of water

I finally finished Covenant of Water, which was excellent, but I can't give it a full five-star rating because at 700 some pages, it was just Too. Long. Good grief I was glad to close that book after the last page. It was excellent, but I was ready to leave that world by page 450. The writing was amazing, and you will be transported to another world in Southern India. You follow a family for many generations (1700-1977), and learn much about the culture of India and the development of modern medicine. Those who came before us certainly went through a lot that ultimately benefited future generations. You will feel all the feels, and this book is totally worth the effort, but man, it is way long. 4.5 stars

Don't forget to write
Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino was so good. If you enjoy "women's fiction" this book will be for you. It is set in the early 1960's, and our main character is a feisty 20-year-old gal who wants to live life for herself and not according to her parent's expectations. After an "incident" with the son of the local rabbi, her parents send Marilyn away for the summer to stay with her Aunt Ada, who is not the stern old lady her parents believe her to be. Will Marilyn conform and adopt the life her parents want for her, or will she embrace the unknown and embark on her own path? Aunt Ada is the mentor Marilyn needs in her life right now. The characters in this book will stay with you, and the ending is so, so satisfying. If you want something "light", but also substantive, this could be the book for you. 5 stars.

The frozen river
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is historical fiction at its very best.  Based on the real-life of Martha Ballard, a midwife practicing in 1789 Maine, this book is positively gripping. I haven't quite finished it, but I think it could be a contender for the Best Book of 2023 for me! After delivering the baby of a local woman, Martha is called to examine the body of a man found frozen in the Kennebec River. She determines the man was beaten and hung, then tossed in the river which subsequently froze. Her conclusion is undermined by a local physician (who may be under the influence of those who murdered the dead man) and she goes to court to state her findings and allow justice to prevail. Lots of suspense and characters you will both love and despise. The book takes place throughout one winter and is based on the actual diaries and journal entries of Martha Ballard herself. This book is just excellent and I highly recommend it. This is the perfect book to read in January! Potentially 5 stars.

I hope your reading year is ending on a high note. I have big plans for 2024 and can't wait to share them with you. I will also have a post coming very soon on my top books of 2023. I have read a lot of great books this year and will have a hard time coming up with a top-ten list!

 

27 responses to “Last Books of 2023”

  1. I always check my local library for your recommendations, and they only have The Frozen River available. Looking forward to a good read!
    Merry Christmas!

  2. I always check my local library for your recommendations, and they only have The Frozen River available. Looking forward to a good read!
    Merry Christmas!

  3. I always check my local library for your recommendations, and they only have The Frozen River available. Looking forward to a good read!
    Merry Christmas!

  4. Thanks so much for your 2023 book reviews and as usual I’ve added too many to my kobo wishlist! Merry Christmas, Nicole and have a wonderful 2024 full of sewing, reading and of course, Eva!

  5. Thanks so much for your 2023 book reviews and as usual I’ve added too many to my kobo wishlist! Merry Christmas, Nicole and have a wonderful 2024 full of sewing, reading and of course, Eva!

  6. Thanks so much for your 2023 book reviews and as usual I’ve added too many to my kobo wishlist! Merry Christmas, Nicole and have a wonderful 2024 full of sewing, reading and of course, Eva!

  7. Two of the books sound really interesting to me…the loooonnnng one, not so much! Thanks for your reviews today. Wishing you & your family a very merry Christmas! ❤️💚

  8. Two of the books sound really interesting to me…the loooonnnng one, not so much! Thanks for your reviews today. Wishing you & your family a very merry Christmas! ❤️💚

  9. Two of the books sound really interesting to me…the loooonnnng one, not so much! Thanks for your reviews today. Wishing you & your family a very merry Christmas! ❤️💚

  10. Thank you so much for your book reviews. I always add at least one – in this case two- to my library.
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

  11. Thank you so much for your book reviews. I always add at least one – in this case two- to my library.
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

  12. Thank you so much for your book reviews. I always add at least one – in this case two- to my library.
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

  13. I love your book reviews. Do you have any recommendations for want to be chefs with absolutely zero cooking skills?

  14. I love your book reviews. Do you have any recommendations for want to be chefs with absolutely zero cooking skills?

  15. I love your book reviews. Do you have any recommendations for want to be chefs with absolutely zero cooking skills?

  19. there is an old PBS movie on martha ballard….if you can find it, worth watching…based on her diary…

  20. there is an old PBS movie on martha ballard….if you can find it, worth watching…based on her diary…

  21. there is an old PBS movie on martha ballard….if you can find it, worth watching…based on her diary…

  25. I bought The Frozen River before going on vacation and started it today and I don’t want to put it down! Thanks so much!

  26. I bought The Frozen River before going on vacation and started it today and I don’t want to put it down! Thanks so much!

  27. I bought The Frozen River before going on vacation and started it today and I don’t want to put it down! Thanks so much!