2022 was an incredible year for me. It had great loss, and tremendous blessings. I was alone much of the time, but had moments surrounded by the best friends and family. I experienced some of the most memorable times of my life, but also had long periods of waiting and sitting. I needed entertainment, distraction, and comfort.
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” — Groucho Marx
In addition to my dog Bo, my Kindle books were my constant companion. (I also listened to many audio books over the year, especially driving the 1000 miles between Ohio and Oklahoma, repeatedly. Look for an upcoming post about what I heard.)
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What follows is a list of the books I read during 2022: some fine literature, a few beach reads, several thrillers — a couple of stinkers, and some favorites. I won’t be teaching any graduate level literature courses with this list, but many of them provided a much-needed escape for me in a challenging year.
I have noted my favorites, based on completely subjective and somewhat erratic criteria. Others are definitely worth a read. A very few were missteps, ranging from not very interesting or well-written, to being downright annoying (to me). I’m not going to put those comments in this post. I figure any author who is disciplined enough to write a book, and brave enough to have it published for the world to see, does not need my unsolicited criticism. On the other hand, if anyone wants to discuss any of these, please shoot me a message — I’d love to hear your thoughts, or discuss my impressions, in a more private venue.
A favorite. Historical fiction, takes place in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake. I found it interesting and a good story. (Disclaimer: I was living in San Francisco for the 1989 earthquake, so I might have a particular interest in this.)
Charming. A favorite.
A favorite.
Perhaps my favorite book that I read this year. Loved this one.
A favorite. A cross between a thriller, a romance, and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.”
These two Magpie Murder book (Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders) are a lot of fun, and reminiscent of the great Agatha Christie mysteries. Favorites.
A favorite.
I first read this in my twenties, and I think I didn’t fully appreciate it. I loved it this time. A favorite.
I’m still reading this, but I think it will be a favorite.
I’ve become a huge fan of audiobooks, so stay tuned for an upcoming post about the audiobooks I listed to in 2022.
For more posts about books, please see:
- Unlikely Book Recommendation: Boom Town
- Books: French Fries and Vegetables
- Classic Books I’m Glad I Read, and a Few I Wish I Hadn’t
