Paige’s Favourites of 2023
Choosing my top 3 books of the year wasn’t easy - I’ve read over fifty books this year, which is about x5 what I usually get through! Thankfully I’ve been reviewing my favourites for you since January, so I was able to whittle it down to the following books that I haven’t yet shared my thoughts on. You’ll see that all of these choices are drastically different, and though they’re in no particular order, they’ve all left their mark this 2023, in their own unique ways. And instead of flapping my gums, I’m going to start info-dumping!
The Cassandra Complex, Holly Smale
Yes, I said info-dumping, just like Cassandra Dankworth has a tendency to do. And as an adult woman with undiagnosed Autism and an inability to cover it up, it’s unsurprising at least, and absolutely charming at most. She’s one of the most delightful characters I’ve met in a long time, though it’s best I don’t say that too much for fear of looking self-centred, since I actually see a lot of myself in her! Sadly, I don’t have the literal power that Cassie has: to go back in time in the blink of an eye.
She discovers she can do this on the worst day of her life, during a sensory meltdown. If only, eh?! And therein lies our adventure, as Cassie tries to win back her boyfriend, get un-fired from her job, and not upset her housemates, all before any of it’s technically happened! And although the premise is full of humour and fun, there is a real depth to this story. It’s an insight into the world of an autistic adult, and how an entire life can crumble around one’s ears over a simple lack of understanding of social expectations, and wearing the same five jumpsuits on a rota every week. Why is that weird? Cassandra doesn’t know. Neither do I. But to me, when she compares modern romance to Greek fables, and identifies her emotions on a colour chart, that’s when she makes perfect sense. It is hands down, easily one of the best reads of the entire year, and I’m so happy that this book and its incredible author, Holly Smale exist in the same timeline as me.
2. Chain-Gang All-Stars, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Upon reading a blurb that described this story as The Hunger Games meeting Orange is the New Black, my prediction for Chain-Gang All-Stars was one of dark humour, loveable characters, and a world worth condemnation. And though these aspects were all present and accounted for, it ended up surpassing anything I could have possibly imagined.
Criminals are lured out of experimental prisons and into the Chain Gang programme, forcing them to fight to the death on live television, with the promised reward of food, fresh air, and potentially, freedom. We mainly follow Hurricane Staxxx and Thurwar, occasionally cutting away to different characters. It takes some time to get to know the dystopian future this all takes place in, but once you’re used to the foot notes and have recognised all of the systems and laws in place, the plot and characters come to the foreground. And once this book comes to life, it’s like it’s its own breathing, sentient thing.
This is a book to pick up, read a bit, then put down to allow your mind to contemplate, and then keep going. At least until you get to the end, where you’ll be held in an iron vice for a good hour, weeping and begging for mercy. I learned a lot about the real American prison system from this book, and reflected more than I ever have about my potential for unwavering empathy for my fellow human beings. If I could set required reading for the entire population, I would put this book at the top of the list. Be prepared for graphic and visceral violence; but if I can handle it, anyone can.
3. Devotion, Hannah Kent
This was my pick for book club this year, and I’m so glad it was! It’s the type of story that you can’t just hold in your head: you need to prattle on about it with your friends, confirming all of each other’s theories, and picking out the details until you’re blue in the face. And all this because it has the best plot twist I have ever read! So I’m going to try to sell you on this book without giving it away. Eek.
Hanne has always found her true connections lay with only two things: her Lutheran faith and nature. Really, they’re one and the same. But when Thea and her parents move to her small 1800s village in Germany, she finds her passion growing day by day, wanting nothing more than her company and her attention. As time goes on, Hanne is in love, and when her community gets the opportunity to migrate to Australia to escape religious persecution, she is only interested in embarking on this challenging journey if Thea is by her side.
The journey is as treacherous as one might imagine, and it is here that this book grows from simply a love story to one of spirituality, familial bonds, the environment, and one’s connection to their perception of self. The writing becomes more lyrical as we follow Hanne’s life, taking us into a dreamy sort of landscape that contrasts so beautifully against the historical accuracy that Hannah Kent represents in this book. It truly is an escapist read with such vivid imagery and emotion. This is an especially emphatic recommendation to fans of historical fiction, but I think there’s enough intrigue here for any good bookworm.
