My friend Mark Neese is not only an avid reader, but his gig as a cataloguer at Lansing’s Capital Area District Library expands his literary universe far beyond what a regular appetite for reading would normally allow for. Much like my chats with Kevin Alexander and my daughter Maddie recounting their best music of 2023, Mark lets me cheat off of his homework to share his favorite books of the year.
We cover the genius of Paul McCartney and his brilliant new volume of photos form the year the Beatles broke. There’s a trio of graphic novels that capture everything from a young woman’s lonely journey of adolescence, to the rise of a dictator, to the story of a long-forgotten sit-down strike told within the locker room of a semi-pro hockey team.
Mark shares his first experience with a legendary YA novel that is the only cheat on the list. There is a surprising entry with a special story behind it. And of course, there are tons of words on music from Echo & The Bunnymen to Black Sabbath, the Beatles, and the drug addled past and present of Detroit’s radical music scene.
In addition to his favorite books of 2023, we talk about Mark’s son living in Germany and the amazing travel opportunities that has provided the Neese family. There is a brief recap of some of Mark’s favorite films from the year too. We also hit upon Mark’s love of music more than once in a varied and truly lovely conversation.
Come hang with me and Mark in the Sheddio to find out the new books you’ll be picking up the next time you hit the local library. Hope ya dig it. Here is the full list.
* Acid Detroit: A Psychedelic Story Of Motor City Music by Joe Molloy
* Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson by Rebecca Roberts
* Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – and Beyond - Geezer Butler
* Accidental Czar: The Life And Lives Of Vladimir Putin - Andrew S. Weiss and Brian “Box” Brown
* 1964: Eyes of the Storm - Paul McCartney
* Monica - Dabile Clowes
* Echoes - Will Sergeant
* Strikers! - Kiel Phegley and Jacques Khouri
* Westminster Abbey Souvenir Guide - Esme West and James Wilkinson
* Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret - Judy Blume
Cheers,
Matty C
