Mord McGhee's 3 favorite reads in 2023

I reread The Lord of the Rings trilogy once a year, with the hopes of absorbing anything I can from his mastery of how language can be used to strike a blow into a reader’s mind.

The story is written so well; each paragraph is like sitting with an old friend and reminiscing about the good old days shared together. It helps through times good and not-so-good, and the range of emotions invoked are staggering. While some say it can be too flowery, I saw there are few published works as perfect as these books. And it has something for everyone, whether the reader is a lover of adventure, history, or atmosphere.

To experience a time machine effect where one is transported at once to the days of their youth, a reader simply needs to pick up the Harry Potter novel that started the journey of the young boy thrust unwittingly into a world of pure, unblemished magic.

Any time I want to remember what it was like being a kid, I pick up the first in the series from Rowling. Her tale encompasses the joy and terrors of Disney movie classics Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or Sleeping Beauty, from the earliest animated films but also firmly plants a ghoulish 1990s take of what is essentially a brilliant fairy tale reimagining. It’s not the first time to read this nor will it be my last.

I’ve always wanted to learn the art of baking bread. For years I’ve used bread machines and have never been satisfied with the results. They’re fine, but never perfect.

After reading Bonnie’s book, on my very first try following along step-by-step, my regular oven turned out the most delicious loaf of rustic bread. The looks on the faces of my family said it all, as they devoured it to crumb. For anyone wishing to pick up basic kitchen skills that touch on all the things that make us human, this book is something I wholeheartedly recommend.