Most of my 2023 (February to November) was spent pregnant with my daughter, in the throes of morning sickness, back pain, and insomnia. It was also spent moving country and trying to build a new life in the town we now call home. It was an incredibly stressful, tiring, and at times discouraging year. Unsurprisingly, I found a lot of solace in the stories I read and watched. In this post, I want to share with you some of the best books (I’m sticking to just novels and poetry for this, as opposed to non-fiction), films, and tv shows I have (re)discovered this past year, in no particular order. I hope you can find inspiration here for what to read and watch in 2024!
BOOKS
William Cowper’s poetry (1731-1800). Cowper was an Evangelical hymn writer, known to a lot of fascinating 18th century figures (such as abolitionists John Newton and William Wilberforce), and Jane Austen’s favourite poet. His poetry is simple and straightforward, full of ardour for God, and a beautiful expression of Cowper’s faith.
anything by Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). Dr. Johnson is now best known for his dictionary, but at the time he was an extremely prolific and eclectic writer, covering literary essays, biography, poetry, and more. He was also a firm favourite of Jane Austen. In particular, I’ve enjoyed reading his essays from the periodical called The Rambler (1750-1752), and his poem The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749), in which Johnson imitates the 10th satire of the Latin poet Juvenal, writing about human vices and Christian virtues.
D. L. Sayers’ (1893-1957) series of detective novels featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. I promised myself I’d finish all of them before the end of the year, but alas, I still have a couple to go. The ones I have read, however, have been extremely enjoyable. If you think you dislike detective novels as a genre (they can be formulaic, superficial, and sensationalistic), I would give Sayers a go - I bet she’ll change your mind! Her novels explore difficult and important themes like friendship, justice, and what it means to die well. My favourites so far have been Strong Poison and Unnatural Death.
FILMS
Barbie (2023). Yes, I really enjoyed Greta Gerwig’s film. It was really polarising for some, but I thought it was both great fun, beautiful to watch, and intriguing in (what I perceived as) its surprisingly grounded (‘based’ as people say now) view of what it means to be a woman.
Emma (2020). I rewatched Autumn de Wilde’s adaptation of Austen’s novel twice this past year, and it gets better each time. Some people hate this one, especially Anya Taylor Joy’s haughty portrayal of the titular character, but I think the tone hits just right. It’s one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen, has a fabulous soundtrack, and some very pleasingly historically accurate costuming. Highly recommended.
TV SHOWS
Lovesick (2014-2018). A very British sitcom about a group of graduates trying to become adults and find permanence in their relationships. Very funny (occasionally in a crude way, but nothing too bad!) but also surprisingly profound. It reminds my husband and I of our university days (minus all the casual dating, we were both too bookish for that!) and it gets better with each rewatch.
Motherland (2016-present?). Another (also very British) sitcom about a group of middle-class parents (mostly mothers, plus stay-at-home-dad Kevin) in London. We discovered this one at the very end of the year after having our second child, a daughter, and we are already rewatching it. If you’re a parent, this is possibly the funniest and most relatable show you can ever find. But like everything else I’ve recommended, it’s also very thoughtful storytelling. It deals with divorce, death, and friendship in a realistic, but ultimately hopeful way. I will be watching this again many, many times.
What were some of the best stories you read or watched in 2023? Leave them in the comments below - I’m always looking for new recommendations! Until next week!
Also what do you think of the opening scene of Barbie? It still troubles me. I know it is a tribute/ parody of 2001 : Space Odyssey, but it strikes me as a word picture for abortion. We need to get rid of our babies to be Barbie. An offering to the Goddess. Am I crazy?
Hello Beatrice. Have you read DLS’s Night and Busman’s Honeymoon yet? I love the insights on men’s and women’s roles and marriage contained in them. And Lord Peter Wimsey is the most humane and compassionate detective ever to sleuth! God bless him and DLSayers.