The Best Books of 2023

it's been a minute. thank you for your patience while I've been taking a step back for a moment. I couldn't miss doing the yearly best books list though! hope you enjoy. what did you enjoy reading this year?
/ benjaminjournal
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[@nathansnook]

i love that you have found some wonderful thematic books that have helped you through such a tough year. loved seeing how some of the themes spoke to each other. reading heals and it's nice to step into these worlds that will call back with much more understanding and empathy as we move into the new year.
here's to 2024, to rich books and richer loves. love you, ben ✨🥂

[@jameskatie]

so happy to see you!! a gorgeous list full of delights that i look forward to devouring x

[@helentriestodothings628]

Ben, each of these sound so fascinating I want to read them all and while part of that is on the book and it’s story for sounding so enticing but a lot of it is also on the skill you have for speaking about books and stories! I’m so glad I’ve found your channel and I’m so grateful to you for making videos where you share your thoughts with us!

[@ebonykenae]

wishing you a very happy new year!! i neeed to pick up that kincaid novel!

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s so gorgeous to have your gorgeousness back on BookTube. Loved the way you talked about At The Bottom of the River. You’ve sold it to me. I didn’t think the film of Eileen was bad, too short maybe but not bad. Imma gonna pick up Is Mother Dead when it comes out in hardback. I think I have another of her books on the shelves. Love the Levy. The Dark Dark is on my shelves, will be picking that up soon.

[@EveningReader]

This is my favorite year-end list I've seen so far--I've added the few that weren't already on my TBR and immediately ordered the Cain. Best wishes and much peace to you in 2024.

[@elizeyt]

the way you speak is the most gorgeous itch scratching sound ever I can’t explain it

[@pagesofcarolyn]

Ben! So many of these books caught my eye. This was a joy to watch xo

[@kiranreader]

loved it! hope 2024 is a great reading year for you!

[@ameliareads589]

Vigdis Hjorth is one of my new favourite authors. I've read three books by her this year and loved them all. I think Will and Testament will be my book of the year.
I recommended Mary Ruefle to you a while ago. Happy to see you liked her. I thought you had already read some poems by her right after that, but I was obviously mistaken.
Hope your new year will be better!

[@tanyam6197]

It’s nice to see you. Have always trusted your recs. Real Estate is one of my favourite books ever. I have Pond to read. Excited to find many that you mentioned on Hoopla. Including Cain, Kincaid and Hjorth and also the poetry collection. All the very best for 2024 and thank you

[@FranMeneses]

Forever grateful you introduced me to Deborah Levy, thank you so much Ben :..)

[@TKTalksBooks]

Fantastic list. Thank you!

[@seesararead]

This list!! So many great books! I need to get to that Olivia Sudjic this year. I'm so sorry 2023 was not a great year for you, wishing you joy and peace in 2024! :)

[@sunshineissexy]

A horse at night made it to my list tooo!!!!!! I have my goodreads open as I watch this, just adding everything. Happy to see your beautiful face ❤❤❤

[@janngio]

My favorite book of the year was The Stillest Day by Josephine Hart, which I read because of you, so thanks. ❤
2023 was also a hard year for me, so here's to a better 2024 🥂

[@metanoia_p]

You have such a beautiful energy, thanks for sharing it with us

[@aliciaen1d]

thank you for this ben! i really need to read ”a horse at night”. some of my favorites have been books by clarice lispector and herta müller, as well as books by the late swedish writer mare kandre. unfortunately none of her books are available in english. however, i have to recommend another swedish writer who has a book coming out in english at fitzcarraldo editions next year. it’s called ”the singularity”, by balsam karam. i think you would enjoy it.
i wish you a better year in 2024.

[@veronikakorenblum3276]

Hi Ben! Thanks for the video, I've missed seeing you here. And thanks for the recommendations, added a lot to the list. Reading Asylum Road now :) oh and you should check The Seas by Samantha Hunt, was one of my top books from last year. Sending lots of love from Lisbon and I wish we had time for coffee in Tel Aviv!

[@literaryiggy]

This was such a delight to watch ❤ thankful for your presence bb. If I ever read again, this is where I’m starting!!!

[@drawingsimpleton4827]

How nice to see you again. 😊
I enjoyed works of Edouard Louis, Octavia E. Butler, Annie Ernaux. Maybe you like them, too.

[@grreeeeee]

I really love the body artist. it's one of the few books I reread.

[@bibliosophie]

it's really lovely to get a video from you! 💖 (and I'm greedily noting a couple books I haven't yet read)

[@r.enee.morris]

This list feels very Ben, chic and thoughtful. Always a delight to see you, big love to you. Xxxx

[@wtheckJackie]

A lovely list. Thank you for compiling this. Adding quite a few to my TBR.
Also wish you a much kinder 2024. ❤ You are a blessing.

[@casskrug]

such a gorgeous list!! i really need to revisit checkout 19. i had a much easier time with pond personally!! love your channel and hope 2024 brings you peace and happiness!!

[@mlynncrew]

This list is a blessing, Ben! Hoping to get to Kick the Latch asap, along with The Dark Dark as The Seas was a favorite of mine this year. Have you read any Annie Proulx? The way you described Kick the Latch was sort of reminding me of Close Range by Proulx...it is a short story collection and some of them totally wrecked me. Wising you a more peaceful 2024 and will look forward to any more videos as you are able to find the energy. Thank you for being you ❤

[@AthynVixen]

Awww hope you feel better soon Ben. I have thought about you often this year and know how it's been a tough one for you as it has for many of us. So glad to see you safe and happy settled again. Hope 2024 is much much better for you, Ohad and Jacob xxx

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

Ben, hi! Thanks for the favorite reads list. So lovely. I just opened my library website & got ready. 😊😊. Oooh A Horse At Night On Writing. I read this as a library book & do need to OWN it for reference. there’s something about Real Estate that I adore. I’ve read it twice. I want to be in that ambiance. I now must get to The Dark Dark. I’ve reserved The Most Of It at the library. Happiest of New Years to you and Ohad.

[@yenasung]

2023 can seriously get fucked but what a reading year, ben!!! I so enjoyed reading checkout 19 with you and letting our thoughts meander very much akin to clb. Oof whenever i think of the dark dark my heart instantly feels a creepy chill. Ahh the mary ruefle is so good you should convince your friend to start booktube!! Hope you feel better soon and are being well cared for and happy 2024 it will hopefully be better 🙏🏻🪩💃🏻

[@TheUndeclaredNation]

omg i love you and your vids xooxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo

[@zehrazaidi4293]

Happy New Year Benjamin. Sorry you have gone through a tough year and we certainly live in traumatic times

[@freshtarmusic]

for the record i thought the movie eileen was really good!!

[@blueriver6751]

hello can u make a video recommending queer memoirs, essays that shaped u

[@famefund]

tel Aviv? Do u support settler colonialism?

[@kaileyidk]

Always happy to be watching your videos, Ben 🫶 hope you have a wonderful new year

[@marioncarini]

Dear Thief by Samantha Harvey!! 🫶

[@alsopato]

good to hear from you ben 🫶baby steps towards normalcy, fingers crossed for ‘24. great list of books too - had never heard is mother dead described like that, very interested now.