We’re coming to the end of 2023—it’s hard to recall how quickly it went by—a year filled with groundbreaking entries in literature, music, and film. To celebrate and recollect this year in media, I’ve curated a list of my favorite books, music, and films from the year. Enjoy!
Books of the Year
I’m an avid reader, but I didn’t read as many books published in 2023 as I did books from past years. Therefore, this is the only list in this article which includes content from years past. These are my favorite reads from 2023, though not all of them were published this year.
10. The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith by Trevin Wax (2023, InterVarsity Press)
9. We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy by Robert Tracy Mckenzie (2021, IVP Academic)
8. The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener (2022, The Good Book Company)
7. The Lost History of Liberalism: From Ancient Rome to the Twenty-First Century by Helena Rosenblatt (2018, Princeton University Press)
6. Fear Not!: A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies by Josh Larsen (2023, Cascade Books)
5. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (2017, DoubleDay)
4. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (2014, Tor Fantasy)
3. Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation (2023, Zondervan)
Collin Hansen
Perhaps my favorite pastor-theologian of the 21st Century, Timothy Keller (1950–2023) had an immense impact on Christianity and secularism in America. This work is a biography of sorts, but, in a manner worthy of Keller, it focuses more on the people and works that influenced him, rather than the influence he had on others. Hansen tells the story well, tracking Keller’s life from a young student to a best-selling author and pastor in New York City.
2. A Gentleman in Moscow (2019, Penguin Books)
Amor Towles
This isn’t my typical read, but Towles tells a wonderful story. The most poignant aspect of this novel is reckoning with relationships while aging. Confined to a grand hotel after being deemed an unrepentant aristocrat, Count Rostov becomes intimately familiar with the organism of the hotel—its structures, its cells, its life. It’s a high-class rumination on life replete with heart, philosophy, and a burdened way of living. This was by far my “coziest” read of the year.
1. The Way of Kings (2010, Tor Books)
Brandon Sanderson
Is this the greatest fantasy story of the 21st Century? I’m not sure, but I know it’s definitely close. You know a book is incredible if the first line of the prologue takes your breath away. Sanderson here introduces the economy of stormlight, the politics of Roshar, and the hearts of the Alethi splendidly. Kaladin’s storyline alone leaves me breathless with full body chills. I didn’t know it then, but after reading this, the series has become one of my favorites. I’m very excited to follow along as it’s still being released!
Music of the Year
Not only has the year yielded some incredible reads, it’s also delivered some masterful albums and catchy earworms. Below are my top songs and albums of the year!
Songs of the Year
10. “Higher” by Chris Stapleton
9. “Garden in Manhattan” by Josiah Queen
8. “Reckoning” (feat. Spencer Chamberlain) by August Burns Red
7. “ONE MORE TIME” by blink-182
6. “Living In Tragedy” by Currents
5. “Take Me Back to Eden” by Sleep Token
4. “Nightmare” by Polaris
3. “No Complaints” by Noah Kahan
2. “Hammer & Gavel” by American Arson
1. “The Sweet Sound of You” by The Paper Kites
Albums of the Year
10. Maps by billy woods and Kenny Segal
9. At the Roadhouse by The Paper Kites
8. Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token
7. Deeper Water by Cliffside
6. Death Below by August Burns Red
5. The Death We Seek by Currents
4. Symptoms of Survival by Dying Wish
3. Fatalism
Polaris
Polaris has steadily made their mark in the metalcore scene, and with the release of their third studio album, Fatalism, the Australian outfit is at their best. The release of Fatalism was uncertain this year following the tragic death of the band’s guitarist, Ryan Siew. The band decided to press on and dedicate this album to his memory, and it’s a passionate, purposeful triumph. The album’s main theme is refusing to live in fear, so it’s fitting that they courageously pressed on as a band even following their hardest days.
2. Sand & Cinder / Tide & Timber
American Arson
American Arson released the hardcore/metal album with the year’s most soaring hooks. “Arrowheads,” “Hammer & Gavel,” and “Blood” are some of the catchiest and most awe-inspiring songs of the year; they make me want to run through a wall. The long-awaited return of the band finds them lyrically telling stories and keeping their classic Christ-honoring content riddled throughout their best songs yet.
1. Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)
Noah Kahan
Am I allowed to include a deluxe version of an album from 2022 in my top-ten—even putting it at number one? Well it’s my list, so yeah. Deal.
Noah Kahan might be one of the most popular artists in the world right now, but I liked him before I knew he blew up on TikTok. (I don’t have TikTok.) The deluxe version of Stick Season somehow further perfects an already flawless album, with a few of my favorite songs (“No Complaints” and “Paul Revere”) he’s ever written included. Also, he’s steadily released these songs with features, so here is my formal prediction that in 2024, we’ll get a super-deluxe with every track, plus all of the feature-versions of the tracks.
Films of the Year
If you hated my book and music opinions, here’s your last chance to agree with me. This year, I’ve had amazing opportunities to write on film: I’ve reviewed movies, interviewed directors, and written on the intersection of faith and film. This list is always the hardest for me to write, and I didn’t even get to watch all the movies I wanted to this year; so if you don’t see one that deserves to be on the list, just know I probably haven’t seen it (yet). Here are my favorite films of the year!
10. Talk to Me (dir. Michael Philippou, Daniel Philippou)
9. Skinamarink (dir. Kyle Edward Ball)
8. Maestro (dir. Bradley Cooper)
7. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (dir. James Gunn)
6. Asteroid City (dir. Wes Anderson)
5. Barbie (dir. Greta Gerwig)
4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (dir. Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers)
3. Past Lives
Celine Song
Past Lives is a story of love lost, found, and let go. Its longing, slow aching for resolution had me hanging on every word. It’s atypical to romance films in that, while Nora still has to choose between two men, one of them is her husband. And further, she’s honest and open with him about Jung’s coming to see her. It yields a much more realistic, tangible, and tense experience. Easily the most emotional and passionate film of the year. I had tears in my eyes at the last twenty minutes. I don’t think I’ll watch a drama as gut-wrenching as that in a long time.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese
After reading the book in preparation for King Marty’s return, I was wary about his approach to such a haunting story. The greatest living filmmaker is known, especially in his later career, to focus on fast kills, mobster tendencies, and the depravity of mankind. In Killers, he did. But the somber approach he took toward the Osage history and people is incredible. The result is a heartbreaking and powerful story which does not sacrifice Scorsese’s iconic filmmaking style. Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio give incredible performances, and wow, what a performance from Lily Gladstone. This is, visually and writing-wise, one of the best films of the year—and a vital story that must be told and retold.
1. Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan
This should come at no surprise at all, but Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic lands at the best film of the year for me. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey, Jr. are at their best—give them all the awards!
That this film was made with almost entirely practical effects—they dropped a literal bomb to make this film—is a masterful feat from one director pushing back against the rising tide of oversaturated C.G.I. films. The cast in Oppenheimer has the most depth of any film this year, and every minor-to-major performance is a masterclass. Despite poor writing around entirely unnecessary nudity, the film is a riveting, flawless story. Decades into his career, Christopher Nolan proves he’s still one of the best filmmakers of our time, and can craft a film so entrancing and intense that even its being a three-hour biopic is shrugged off as if it were the most riveting action film.