A pair of persistent sleuths intent on solving a small town murder; a work-from-home single mother tracking down the hidden assets of criminals from her laptop while her children play around her; a mother and daughter running from a dark and dangerous past; a collective of Weyward women discovering their uncanny ability to connect with the power of the natural realm; a woman's pursuit of knowledge and equality in a male-dominated world; a roadmap for manifesting joy and purpose in everything you do; a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus; a grandfather’s journey through tragedy, lost hope, and rediscovered faith.
These are snippets of summaries from Wickson Library’s top circulating books of 2023. This year’s list includes murder mysteries, unlikely blends of fairytale meets feminist manifestos, psychological thrillers, heartfelt and humorous novels, and inspirational true stories.
Many of these books were suggested reading for the Wickson Reads Book Club, various Michigan Notable Author Visits, and general fan favorites. Others are books by local Frankenmuth authors.
I love end-of-the-year lists because they remind us where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and how we’ve spent our precious time. The items on these lists become collective parts of who we are and who we will become. The stories we read travel with us long after we’ve finished the final chapter. We carry them with us like good memories, old friends, and we move into a new year together.
Here are Wickson Library’s Top 8 Circulating Books of 2023:
1. Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods: Book One of the Frankenmuth Murder Mysteries by Roz Weedman and Susan Todd (February 2023)
2. Simply Lies: A Psychological Thriller by David Baldacci (April 2023)
3. Scarlet in Blue: A Novel by Jennifer Murphy (March 2022)
4. Weyward: A Novel by Emilia Hart (March 2023)
5. Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus (April 2022)
6. Satisfaction Guaranteed: How Zingerman’s Built a Corner Deli into a Global Food Community by Micheline Maynard (February 2022)
7. Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt (May 2022)
8. Letters To Heaven: The Story of a Grandfather’s Love, Loss, and Rediscovered Faith by Ken Horn (June 2022)
Which of these titles inspired and informed your year? Which ones are you adding to your reading list for 2024?
One final note of importance: The library is in need of a volunteer gardener to care for the small garden to the left of the library and adjacent to the main parking lot. The Friends of the Library are also looking for a few more volunteers to help organize and shelve newly donated books in the ongoing used book sale room downstairs. There will be a brief training session for new book room volunteers on Thursday, January 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the basement of the library. Please call the library at (989) 652-8323 or speak to the librarians at the front desk if you’re interested in helping with either of these needs. Thank you! And happy reading!
