My favorite books of 2022

 

This year got away from me in more ways than one and I completely neglected this sweet little book blog. 

Now, three days from 2023, I'm committing myself to getting back on track by revisiting my favorites of this year and promising to do better in January. 

(Please don't ask how many things I promise to be better at in January. I have a long, unrealistic month ahead.)

If I finish the book I'm reading now, I will have read a grand total of 58 books this year. I'm okay with that number, though I would have preferred a round 60. 

There were two books that I started and did not finish, which is still not easy for me to do. Life's too short to have to get through half a book before enjoying it, though. Here's to less book guilt in 2023!

Overall, I read a pretty good mix of fiction and non-fiction. 22 non-fiction, according to my haphazard list. It's pure coincidence that my top six of the year were a mix of both.

Because I failed to review these books as I read them, I'll spare you the extensive review now. But, here are a few thoughts about my favorite books of 2022.

Remarkably Bright Creatures  

This book felt like a hug. I loved it so much, I don't even want to talk about it because it might ruin the magic. The basic gist is that it's told, in part, from the point of view of an octopus living in a Western Washington aquarium. He knows his time is short and he finds himself taking little escapades when the aquarium is closed in order to get better food than what they're feeding him. But, it's not just about an octopus. It's about family and loss and life and friendship - and, the woman who is the true main character of the book carries with her such grief you find yourself holding your breath that she can let it go. The way their stories tie together is so beautiful and emotional that I was bawling when I finished it. I tried to explain to my husband and sons, but as soon as I got to the octopus part, my 11-year old said, "Mom, are you reading a children's book?" A children's book could never. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

Everything Jamie Ford writes is perfection to me. It's not just because his wife and my sister went to high school together, he lives in my hometown, and I got to shake his hand once at Christmas Eve mass (though all of these things are super cool.) He just writes in a way that takes your breath away and he does it in this book even better than his books that came before it (which happen to be some of my other favorites.) This book tells a story across generations about women, mothers, courage, trauma... I can't describe it in a way that would ever do it justice, but I can tell you that if you read it, you will feel it in your bones. 

Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and Battle for Truth

This book will break your heart and also make you so mad, you want to scream. Elizabeth Williams is a journalist who has reported on the aftermath of Sandy Hook for years. 10 years after one of the worst tragedies in American history, you still feel the ache of that day. This book is less about what happened that day, however, and more about what happened in the years that followed. Mostly, it's about evil monsters like Alex Jones who profited on conspiracy theories that further tore these families apart. I'm increasingly concerned and frustrated about misinformation and this book lit a fire it me that may lead to an entirely new career. An incredible book that is worth every emotion you'll feel while reading it.

The Winners

I'm noticing a theme as I'm writing this: every one of these books had me in tears. This one, I think I cried through the last 70 pages. The Winners is the last in the Beartown trilogy by the incomparable Fredrik Backman. It's the thickest of the trilogy, too. I recently heard Backman say in an interview that he knew where The Winners was going to end up when he started Beartown and that has me wanting to go back and read all three books again. If you're not familiar, Beartown is about a small town hockey club and the fans and players that color the town. The Winners ties up in a bow the storylines and characters that began in that first book. We've fallen in love with these characters and now we get to see why and how it all matters. And Backman's trademark foreshadowing is on display from the very first pages. 

We Carry Their Bones 

I heard this author on a podcast and had the book reserved at the library even before the interview was over. Erin Kimmerle's book is a fascinating look at how slow the wheels of justice often turn and about the intricate stories that often happen behind the scenes of national headlines. The Dozier School for Boys was a notorious school in Florida for "troubled" kids; it was also the scene of unspeakable horror that was covered up for decades. Kimmerle is a forensic anthropologist who was called in to help find the remains of children who died at the school and whose families were never given the whole story. Her book reads like a novel, as she paints a picture of the terrible things that were done to these boys. You hear of her team's painstaking work and also of the patience and persistence these families showed, just hoping one day to bring their boys home.

Hello, Molly! 

Yet another podcast interview that I had to read more about... I've always loved Molly Shannon (I'm an SNL fan from way back), but I didn't know much about her story. Then, I heard her on two separate podcasts talking about this book. I loved the stories she told about the crazy escapades she and her friends went on as kids (stowing away on a commercial flight to New York - hello!). I also was moved deeply by the way she talked about the loss of her mother and the complicated relationship she had with her father after that. Even though I heard her tell these stories through a couple of interviews, the book was absolutely worth the read. Molly is such a joy.

So, there's my top six. I read a lot of great books this year that didn't make this list, but overall, I'm happy with the variety. I had a couple of books I finished in a single flight. I gave myself permission to savor some and not just rush through. I already have a nice stack on my nightstand and a bunch of holds at the library to get 2023 started.

Thanks for reading! 

Perversion of Justice

 

As a journalist, I believe strongly in source material. So, when the Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell story continued to make headlines, I found myself again seeking out how this possibly could have gone on for so long.

The day Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced, I was reminded again of the work of journalist Julie K. Brown. Her dogged efforts brought - and, kept - this story in the headlines. Without her work, often at the expense of her personal life and probably her sanity, ensured that the world would not forget the horrific acts committed by these two people.

If you've followed this story, you know the basics. Brown's work goes deeper into the web of how Epstein and Maxwell groomed and victimized so many young girls. It also explores all the legal B.S. that allowed it to keep happening. As the person who most closely followed the case over the years, Brown also offers her theories about Epstein's ultimate demise.

 

In addition to the incredible journalism, this book also offers a glimpse into the not at all glamorous life of a newspaper reporter. It got a little long at times, but it was worth the read to understand the back story and hopefully prevent something like this from happening again.

Bewilderment

 

What a beautiful, special, heartbreaking book.

I knew a few pages in, in fact, that this book would tear me into pieces. I read anyway - hungrily - and I'm so glad I did.

This book is about fathers and sons, and moms and sons, and husbands and wives. It's about the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love. It's about loss and memory and letting go.

Theo and his son Robin are going alone. Theo's wife/Robin's mom died and the two are left to navigate the world without her. That's hard enough; now add in that Robin is a special boy with challenging behaviors. Smart and thoughtful, yet socially inept. Theo would do just about anything to keep the boy connected to the world and off medication.

That's when they find out about experimental treatment that allows Robin to channel and control his emotions. Eventually, it connects him to his mom in a way that is both life saving and life altering.

The writing is beautiful, the characters are magical and the "what would I do?" moments are plentiful. Let yourself be taken over by this story and you won't regret it, even as it comes to its inevitable conclusion.

Razorblade Tears

 

One review of this book promised "great Gothic geysers of blood." Which would be a hell of a title, actually. That's not why I chose to read this book, but it certainly lived up to that.

Lots of blood. Lots of killing. Lots of violence.

Too much unnecessary dialogue. 

Too many metaphors.

Razorblade Tears is the story of two dads - one white, one Black - whose sons were married to each other and were brutally murdered. The dads weren't good to them in life because of their sexuality. They decide to come together and dig back into their criminal pasts to avenge their sons' deaths.

That's the plot; you could figure that out from the jacket.

After reading the whole book, that's basically it. No hidden messaging. No major plot twist. Just... that.

It was fine. There were some interesting moments, it kept me turning the pages. But, when it got done, it just didn't feel very far from where it started.

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

 

I swear to you, Dax Shepard has a publishing company because every time he has someone on his podcast that writes a book, I buy the book. In this case, I guess I checked out the book from the library, but you get my point.

I've always loved Nick Offerman, but it wasn't until I heard him on Armchair Expert that I knew I had to read this book. 

It's sort of  a strange choice for me on the surface, as it's a book about the outdoors and I'm a decidedly indoorsy person. But, he's so dang charming and the book starts in Montana, so how could I resist?

I expected I might like this book, which describes our relationship to nature through several scenarios and settings. I had no idea I'd love it so much I finished it in just over a day. 

The best part about this book is that you can hear Offerman's voice throughout. That very distinct voice and cadence translates seamlessly to the page. I could have listened to the audio book, but reading it, I heard his voice in my head. Ron Swanson, talking about tromping through Glacier Park? Sign me up!

Overall here, Offerman's book gently (and sometimes overtly) urges us to examine our relationship with the outdoors. Turn off the phones. Leave the headphones at home. Just walk outside and appreciate what's already here. He gets political at times. He'll make you laugh out loud (on a plane, like a weirdo). And, he's encouraged me to not only maybe try getting outside once in awhile, but more likely to just check out more of his books and cuddle up at home.

One of my favorites of the year!

The Great Glorious Goddamn Of It All

 

What a delightful little book!

Okay, it's a book about mining in Idaho and people die at labor was a real mess. But, the book itself is really fun to read and filled with fascinating characters.

This book is about the last days of the lumberjacks through the eyes of 99-year old Weldon Applegate. He's a crotchety fella with fantastic dialogue and I could picture him from the opening pages. He's looking back at his life in the tiny logging town of Cordelia, Idaho. His time as a boy when he lost his mom, then lost his dad to the call of the woods.

You'll read a story about the history of the northwest, about bootleggers and lumberjacks who were seeing their way of life dying out. It's a relatively quick read, but one I enjoyed through almost every page.

Madam: A biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age

 

I sure do like a book about old timey sex workers.

I first heard about Madam - and, Polly Adler herself - when the author of this book was on CBS Sunday Morning. I'll buy anything that appears on CBS Sunday Morning; it's like my QVC. Anyway, as soon as I saw this story and heard about Adler's story, I dropped the request on the library website.

Polly Adler's story is uniquely American, though she herself was an immigrant from Belarus. She came to this country with nothing, poor and passed from family member to family member. After working at low-paying jobs, she finally realized the real money at this time in New York City was in the brothels that were frequented by everyone from professional athletes to prominent politicians. 

Polly took that idea and ran with it all the way into history. She was THE madam of the day and an absolute legend in New York City. History may not remember her name, but the imprint she had on that city in that time was undeniable.

This book was about sex work in the Jazz Age to a point, but was also a fascinating look at the Jazz Age in general. That combined with the history of New York City makes this a fascinating - albeit long - read.