Jeremy L. Jones' 3 favorite reads in 2023

A love story written across time itself. 

This book contains a staggering scope in a few pages. There’s an element of poetry in the back-and-forth battle between the two agents working to alter the history of the world to aid their faction. Their taunts turn to admiration to affection and then something deeper as they jump through millennia to bring about a reality that both agents pursue but, perhaps, neither wants.

The book is relatively short, but be prepared to spend extra time savoring the language, mood, and richness of the story. This is one of those rare books that almost demands a reread when the last page is turned. Save space on your bookshelf for this as you will want to pick it up again.

Research for my new project has me digging into the crazed part of the American psyche, and this has been the most compelling read thus far. 

Quammen covers events in my own backyard, so it was especially pertinent for me, but anyone interested in the odiferous mix of religion, patriotism, and a nearly sociopathic self-centered interest that is driving American politics will find this compelling.

Through in-depth interviews and research, Quammen paints a vivid picture of the reckless cowboys (both criminal and nominally law-enforcement) whose antics reverberate across the society in the West. In addition, she delves deep into the history of the Mormon religion that provides the backdrop for a quintessentially American conflict.

I was hesitant to pick up a book set during the pandemic. 

First, it’s not been that long, and rushing a book to market rarely yields satisfactory results. Second, the collective trauma from this time felt too raw to delve into up to this point. But I gave this one a shot, and I’m glad I did.

Mothered perfectly captures the strangeness of the lockdowns in 2020. The confusion, fear, loneliness, and surreality—not to mention being locked in tight quarters with someone who drives you crazy—all come together to form the perfect mood for a psychological thriller. There are lots of twists and turns and moments where reality seems to be subject to change without notice.