Books by Men Read in 2023

 

Books by Men Read in 2023

One of the ways I like to explore my reading is seeing what ratio of male authors to female authors I have read. The past few years I have read more women authors than men, a goal that started when I participated in the Australian Women Writer’s challenge as a way to promote Australian women due to the disparity of the presence of their books in the review pages of mainstream publications – and to give them much-needed attention. That doesn’t mean I haven’t read books written by men – I have. I do have some male authors I enjoy, and many of these are children’s and young adult authors. As you may notice, this has been my focus when reading books by men, as well as Australian authors, and certain genres that I enjoy, as I have found that these are the ones I am drawn to.

I also like to read the authors – of any gender or identity – that may not get the attention that others do, the ones who do not get multiple mentions everywhere possible. I do this because I feel that these are the ones where there can be something special, the books that have the spark that needs to have a light shone on it. I enjoyed reading what I did this year, and whilst in this category, most books were review books, that is simply how it happened – unintentional, but I had to find a way to get through it all and made that a focus.

1. Blueback by Tim Winton
2. 100 Tales from Australia’s Most Haunted Places by Ben Pobjie
3. The Lorikeet Tree by Paul Jennings
4. Zoo Crew: Sickest Camp Ever by Guy Edwards and Matt Zeremes
5. Ratbags: Naughty for Good by Tim Harris and Shiloh Gordon
6. The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die by Peter Lantos
7. Secret Agent Mole: Goldfishfinger by James Foley
8. The Sinister Bookseller’s of Barth by Garth Nix
9. Saltwater Boy by Bradley Christmas
10. Tap, Tap, Tap, Dance, Dance, Dance by Hervé Tullet
11. We Could Be Something by Will Kotsakis
12. Grimm Tales for Old and Young edited by Philip Pullman
13. The Ratbags: Midnight Mischief by Tim Harris and Shiloh Gordon
14. The Voice to Parliament Handbook: All the Detail You Need to Know by Thomas Mayo and Kerry O’Brien
15. Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
16. We Didn’t Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough
17. Ratbags: Best of Pests by Tim Harris and Shiloh Gordon
18. Hello Twigs: Surprise by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood
19. Hello Twigs: Time to Paint by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood
20. Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? By Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood
21. Hello Twigs: Let’s Find Treasure by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood
22. Bush Turkey by Kate and Jol Temple
23. Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? by David Metzenthen
24. Our Country: History Happened Here by Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac
25. Lily Halfmoon: The Magic Gems by Xavier Bonet, translated by Marie Trinchant
26. Sir Hereward and Mr Fitz: Stories of the Witch-Knight and Puppet Sorcerer by Garth Nix
27. Forever Leonardo by Richard Yaxley
28. Dharma the Christmas Llama by Matt Cosgrove
29. Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express by Gareth P Jones
30. The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter
31. Round the Twist by Paul Jennings
32. Montgomery BonBon: Death at the Lighthouse by Alasdair Beckett-King
33. Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds: Stories, Poetry, and Plays for Children by the CBCA NSW Eastern Suburbs Sub-branch
34. 300 Minutes of Mystery by Jack Heath
35. If You Tell Anyone, You’re Next by Jack Heath
36. The Happiest Man in the World by Eddie Jaku
37. Untwisted: The Story of My Life by Paul Jennings
38. Hunter on Holiday by Jessica and Stephen Parry-Valentine, illustrated by Ashlee Spink
39. The Trees: Learning Tree Knowledge with Uncle Kuu by Victor Steffensen, illustrated by Sandra Steffensen
40. Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath
41. Kaikoura Rendezvous by Stephen Johnson
42. Silks: A Catherine Kint Mystery by Hugh McGinlay