There are only three weeks left in 2023, and I have a bit of catching up to do on my reading goal as I currently sit seven books behind schedule, and 11 books away from my total: 54/65. However, I’m not worried! Term is over, and I am fortunate to have a decent amount of time for sitting and reading at work. I’m enjoying the warm, festive cosiness of Christmas evenings at home: it’s been a lot of warm cups of tea or hot choc with a cosy book. My brother and I are on a mission to watch one xmas film each night, all the way up to Christmas, and we’re enjoying that so much. Anyway, here is my end of year tbr for the last month of 2023!
Series
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Silver Chair and The Last Battle are the remaining two books I have in the series since I didn’t finish them over the summer as usual. I am not prepared for the tears, but I am ready to continue reading these lovely, treasured, beloved stories of mine in the beautiful, full-coloured editions that my dad got for me.
2/11
The Anne Books
I am about to finish Anne’s House of Dreams tonight and will probably be done with it by the time this goes up. There are three books left: Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, & Rilla of Ingleside. I will be speeding through these, no doubt!
3/11
running total: 5/11
Standalones
The Lord of the Rings
The shock and horror of me not finishing this since last year is wild!! I have never overlapped an re-read for LOTR, and if I have, it was likely only into January, so a new re-read would be on the horizon in the remainder of that year. I have somewhat awfully neglected it and been utterly distracted by life and other books, but I am so so ready to fall back into theeeee world of worlds in these cosy weeks left in the year.
1/11
running total: 6/11
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy
Since I forgot to order either of Sinclair Ferguson’s advent devotionals this year, I returned to John Piper’s, which I first read back in 2021. I enjoyed it so much then, and I am appreciating it immensely this read-around. The beauty of advent reads like this is that they absolutely can be read again, and I lovvvve that.
1/11
running total: 7/11
Ghosts, by Dolly Alderton
I used some of my birthday money to get myself Ghosts, at long last!! After reading EIKAL at the start of the summer, I have been FEENING to get more Dolly in my life, and I am really looking forward to reading Good Material eventually. I can’t wait to tuck into Ghosts, either starting this week or once Christmas break starts next Friday!
1/11
running total: 8/11
The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries, by Emma Thompson
I had no idea that Emma Thompson wrote these until I came across an Instagram post from Dolly Alderton (I shamelessly admit that I was scrolling far back on her page to glean some inspiration as well as see who she likes to read). This film was such a special part of my childhood, and it was my very first exposure to the wondrous Jane Austen, and as such, I jumped at the chance to read the actual book when I got a Kindle on loan from my high school over sophomore year. I frequently listen to the film score, and I return to the film itself as often as possible throughout the year. Emma’s writing style was so evocative and charming from the snippet Dolly shared, and I am so excited to read it!!
1/11
running total: 9/11
Very tentative
The following are books that I am pretty much unsure of, especially because I’ve been feeling like rereading some childhood favourites that I wasn’t even planning on touching until next year. We shall see!
Throne of Glass & Crown of Midnight, by SJM
I am currently reading Throne of Glass, so we’ll see if my library hold for Crown of Midnight comes in before the end of the year.
Golden Son, book two of the Red Rising Saga, by Pierce Brown
I read Red Rising a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. My hold for this has actually come in twice now, but I’ve had to select later delivery. Fingers crossed I get to it before the year is out!
Ginger Pye & Pinky Pye, by Eleanor Estes
I read Ginger countless times as a child and more recently in 2021. Pinky was read later in my childhood as I either didn’t know it existed/didn’t get my hands on it til much later. I also reread it in 2021, and I think I’ve only read it a couple of times before that. Since getting Aquiles, I’ve been thinking with great fondness on these beloved books that so perfectly capture the mindset of a child and the special bond they have with their pets.
1/11
current running total: 10/11
tentative running total: 14/11
Fin
Who knows what the remainder of the year has in store? Aside from what is not set in stone, I might chuck the rest out and go for something different altogether! In any case, I am so ready to be tucked away and reading, reading, reading for the remainder of such a lovely, incandescent, oh-so-special year! What books do you have on your end of year tbr, tentative or otherwise?