Here’s to a Year of Trying Something New
New year, new books...and articles...and podcasts...and more!
I have reading FOMO. For the last couple of years, I’ve noticed it affecting my reading habits, especially when it comes to picking up older books or re-reading titles. I get so swept up in keeping tabs on upcoming releases that I worry about falling behind. Rather than pulling from my backlist, I fret over missing out on reading books released within the calendar year.
So this year, I’ve made something of a resolution to change that. I’ll still keep an eye on new titles and read as many of them as I can, but I also want to be intentional about looking back and adding older books to my list. And for 2023, I’m planning to dive in to all things Tolkien.
Now, before you chalk this up to nothing more than a nerdy obsession (though it certainly is that), let me explain. In last month’s newsletter, I mentioned how reading Tolkien provides me with a sense of stability. I can’t articulate why exactly, but I walk away from his words with greater clarity and, above all, a willingness to hope.
Hope is a breeze filling the sails of Tolkien’s worlds, a stream watering the crucial decisions his characters make and the narrative shifts throughout his tales. It is the fuel that drives both Frodo and Sam in their journey to Mordor. It is the call that summons Aragorn to the Black Gate. It is the strength that carries each member of the fellowship to their respective conclusions, even when all seems lost.
Last fall, I stumbled upon a passage from Morgoth’s Ring (Vol. 10 of The History of Middle-earth) that captured Tolkien’s vision of hope like none other in a conversation between Finrod, brother of Galadriel, and Andreth, a mortal woman of the House of Bëor:
“What is hope?” she said. “An expectation of good, which though uncertain has some foundation in what is known? Then we have none.”
“That is one thing that Men call ‘hope,’” said Finrod. “Amdir we call it, ‘looking up.’ But there is another which is founded deeper. Estel we call it, that is ‘trust.’ It is not defeated by the ways of the world, for it does not come from experience, but from our nature and first being. If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of Estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End: of all His designs the issue must be for His Children’s joy.”
Estel, or trust, a hope not defeated by the ways of the world because it is not of the world. Whether or not you’ve read Tolkien, I know you’ve experienced this kind of hope, an intangible conviction there will be a light that shines in the darkness, an unseen path forward through the choking weeds.
I want to chase that kind of hope this year, and knowing I feel it often when reading Tolkien, I’m going to commit myself to reading 10–12 books written by or about him over the course of 2023, ideally, one per month. Here are the titles I’ve picked out so far:
While these will be part of my reading rhythm, they will be add ons as opposed to replacements, so I’ll continue bringing you recommendations for and reviews of new releases throughout the year. And I’ll do my best to keep my Tolkien indulgence to a minimum.
But I won’t shy away from hope when I find it, and I invite you to join me in cultivating habits of hope wherever you find them. Too often, I diminish hope based on my experiences rather than embracing it for what it is—a part of my nature being made in the image of God. That hope belongs to you as well, and there’s no bravery in trading it in to hedge your bets against disappointment.
So here’s to a new year, a fresh start, and a soul-quenching dose of Estel.
December Reads
The Winners by Fredrik Backman—With every story, Backman captures the intricacies of daily life while simultaneously making each of his characters feel larger than life. The Winners is no exception. While this final installment of the Beartown trilogy could’ve used a heavier hand in editing to shorten its length (and fix the constant comma splices), Backman’s concluding chapters are as good as it gets. He’s created something truly special with this series.
Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller—Chip War is a deep dive into the global competition for one of the resources we depend upon most every single day: the micro chip. Miller charts its historical development as well as how its ubiquitous use in daily technology has stoked divisions among nations and further kindled hostilities between the US and China.
January’s Most Anticipated
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo—I have been waiting for this sequel since the moment I finished Ninth House three years ago. I can’t wait to jump back into the secret societies of Yale and follow Galaxy “Alex” Stearn in this new tale about the monsters of New Haven.
The Deluge by Stephen Barkley—Stephen King called The Deluge “the best novel I read in 2022” despite the fact that it’s a 2023 release. That’s all I need to pick up this epic about a scientist, a death threat, and the fate of humanity.
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor—This title has appeared on nearly every “most anticipated” list I’ve seen for 2023, and it sounds fascinating. Set in New Delhi, the story begins with the tragic deaths of five individuals, which set into motion events that examine class, wealth, and status in contemporary India.
Exiles by Jane Harper—If you like a slow-burn detective novel, add this one to your list. In the third and final installment of her excellent Aaron Falk series, Harper takes readers to southern Australia where Falk follows the trail of the mysterious disappearance of a young mother.
Reading Roundup
The Most Scathing Book Reviews of 2022—I’m a sucker for a good barn-burner of a book review. While this Dan Brown takedown is still my all-time favorite, there are some good ones in this roundup as well.
What Can We Learn from Barnes & Noble's Surprising Turnaround?—A boss who loves their product can transform a company. Just look at what has happened to Barnes & Noble since James Daunt arrived as CEO in 2019.
TikTok Figured Out an Easy Way to Recommend Books. The Results Were Dubious.—As TikTok continues to increase its global footprint, many are noticing its influence on book sales, but not all are convinced it’s a good thing.
Seventy-five Years After Indian Partition, Who Owns the Narrative?—Parul Sehgal is one of those writers who is too good not to read. She’s one of today’s premier critics, and this piece is no exception.
Afterword
When I launched this newsletter in January of last year, the first Afterword I shared was about Libro.fm, my favorite audiobook service. For the same monthly subscription price as Audible, Libro.fm directs a portion of your every purchase to an indie bookstore of your choice, directly benefitting authors, bookstores, and local economies while you enjoy your latest listen.
So it seems only fitting to plug them again to mark a year into this writing journey with their podcast. Launched last year, the program is relatively new, but has already featured some great interviews with well-known writers, including Ann Patchett and Clint Smith, as well as insightful conversation around their company mission and the benefits of listening to audiobooks. If you’re looking for some engaging book talk, give the Libro.fm Podcast a listen.
I recently got into George Saunders’ short stories and saw that you were a fan of his. (I know I’m behind in reading my Substack, I’m behind in reading books, email, life...) Anyway, quick question - which book of stories is your favorite? After seeing your list of fave books from last year, I believe that your tastes align with mine. Thanks for your insight/help.
Love this challenge for yourself to systematically dig into an author and his works. I've been slowly working/re-working my way through Wendell Berry's fiction over the last 2-3 years. But to get through all his non-fiction... that would take a long-game mindset!
Dostoyevski and Flannery are others that would make for a good systematic challenge. I scratched the surface of their writing in the last year or so, but Jessica Hooten Wilson's work researching and dissecting them has me inspired.