When I remember 2022, I will remember some challenges and some blessings, but also a lot of driving and walking. And when I drive and walk, I turn on an audiobook. Audible sent me my statistics for 2022, and I pressed “play” 3,926 times, and listened for 19,090 minutes — that’s 318 hours!!!!
I heard some really terrific books. I’ve noted my favorites, based on my completely subjective criteria. Even the ones that I haven’t crowned as “favorite” were worth reading (or listening to).
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Literature
A favorite. I really loved this book. It’s about relationships, ambition, and plagiarism.
A favorite. This protagonist will stay with me a long time. And the narrator was spot on.
OK, another favorite. Great story and characters.
Yep, a favorite. Quirky.
I am a broken record — another favorite. I really loved this book. As good as “The Corrections,” also by Jonathan Franzen, and one of my favorite books ever.
Thrillers/Mysteries
A favorite — hard to turn off.
A favorite. If you’ve read the Harlan Coben books featuring protagonist Myron Bolitar, this is the first one told from the standpoint of his more dangerous (and very intriguing) friend Win.
How does Baldacci write so many books? Some of his are too scary for me, but this series featuring Ailee Pine are a fun listen.
Historical Fiction
Oh my gosh. Can I please tell you about this book? I bought it because it was on sale and sounded interesting.
Half way through I realized that I had seen a movie called “Little Big Man” when I was about 7 or 8. It starred Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway (among others in a great cast), and is the story of a white boy raised by the Cheyenne Indians. The movie gets 96 % on Rotten Tomatoes. I remember it being exciting and interesting, and definitely too violent for a 7-year-old to be watching.
The book is all that and more. The audiobook lasted 20 hours and 31 minutes, and I loved every second. Definitely a favorite.
I had read this before, and of course I’ve seen the movie many times. But did you know it won the Pulitzer Prize?
Non fiction
A favorite. Fascinating rags-to-riches-and-back-to-almost-rags-again history of the Vanderbilt family, beginning with Cornelius Vanderbilt. Narrated by Anderson Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt.
What a great year of listening! I can’t wait to work my way through my current audiobook library.
For more thoughts about books, please see My year in books, 2022.
