Top 10 Favorite Books of 2022
This is the time of year where everyone from the New York Times Book Review to your favorite celebrity is putting out their favorite books from the year. I love year-end favorites lists!
If you love them too, I wanted to share mine with you. I get so much joy seeing what others read and love. Seeing their books gives me insight into them as a human and into their year. As I prepare this list, I wonder what my favorites list says about me.
Ta da! Here is the list in order of the date I finished the book in 2022.
For more about my favorites, keep reading. Included in my list is the book title, author, a rating of 0-5 (five being perfect for me), a short description or themes in the book, and details about how I felt when I read it. Books that make me cry don’t always make my list, but it is rare for a book to make my list if it doesn’t evoke emotion (a.k.a. tears) in me.
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell
Rating 5 stars.
Maggie O’Farrell is a genius! This is even better on a second read (and I am not typically a re-reader). Knowing what was going to happen, I noticed details I missed the first time around. I especially noticed characters other than Daniel. One example is Lucas, Claudette’s brother. In reference to the days of he and his wife (who are experiencing infertility) we get this. “Real children fill their days, he thinks, as he takes another drag, and would-be, wished-for, imagined children fill their evenings, their weekends, their nights.” O’Farrell writes real people, real problems, real conversations. I was never lost and never bored with her story written in different styles - keeping my attention for each of the 483 pages.
Original Review July 2020
It is certainly no surprise to me that this book is an International Bestseller. The back cover says Daniel Sullivan is a man with a complicated life. To me that’s what this book is about - complicated lives and loving people in the midst of the mess. Whether in marriage, parenting, or friendship, loving flawed people is hard. Our character is defined by and shaped by our choices. This book explores all of this and more
Maggie O’Farrell’s writing is profound and perceptive. This is a longish book but I was never bored in the slightest. I could have kept reading for hundreds more pages and will absolutely read more O’Farrell.
O’Farrell is a master writer and her experimentation with structure in this novel totally landed for me. I loved her characters, writing, themes, ending, all of it. Even when I was heart broken for what was happening I couldn’t imagine not reading on. Honestly, I already want to re-read it again. If you love literary fiction, pick this one up.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Rating 4.75 stars.
Theo as a young boy is in a traumatic terrorist attack - a museum explosion - that takes the life of his mother and leaves him a thief. The object of his theft becomes the object for following Theo through his life journeys, well into his adulthood. Readers are taken along for the ride with its ebbs and flows, and ordinary and ridiculous experiences. Some of it was over the top and yet compelling, a wreck that you can’t take your eyes off of.
Donna Tartt brilliantly brings us this story with mystery and shocking details. The writing at a sentence by sentence level is gorgeous and also smart. I was in hook line and sinker even when I was clueless about the realities Theo and Boris were living. I couldn’t relate yet it was believable. I didn’t always like the characters or their actions, but I always saw how it could happen given the circumstances.
This book makes you think and makes you care about people and art in new ways. You can’t help but encounter yourself and your own life choices as you follow Theo. I didn’t love every part of this story but I appreciated every part of this story. The ending payoff was worth every moment. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Rating 5 stars.
The subtitle of the book The Power of Habit is a great description of what's in the book. In this book we learn why we (ourselves and others!) do what we do in life and business. This book is for everyone who wants to understand and take action to leverage the natural ways your body and mind respond for improved results. This book is useful!
Charles Duhigg discusses one of my favorite topics - human nature - combining science and story to help us affect change in our lives. His premise - that our understanding of the power of habits in our lives will get our attention and help us to make practical tweaks for dramatically improved results - is spot on. It works.
I had heard so much about this book that I was worried it would disappoint. It wildly exceeded my expectations, affirming my own experiences and teaching me even more about the ways humans behave. What made this a 5 star book for me was the engaging style of Duhigg’s writing. I learned and was entertained at the same time. As soon as I finished I wanted to start at the beginning and read it again. I listened to the audiobook for my first read and enjoyed the experience. I will read and refer to the paperback in future interactions with the content. You win with either - just read it.
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
Rating 4.75 stars.
Through rich storytelling, Daniel Nayeri shares his journey from Iran to Oklahoma and from a young child to young adult. He weaves his true story in with myths and legends from his ancestors, honoring his unstoppable mother and her sacrificial love. The connections Nayeri makes between the narrative lessons and his understanding of the world and people is powerful. Themes of belief, faith, truth, kindness, identity, and place are on every page.
Nayeri’s thoughts on reading and stories are fascinating. The writing is fantastic. And I believe every word of Nayeri’s memories and story, his heart and his intention. My IRL book club chose this and will be discussing it next week. Highly recommend this book whether you listen or read on paper.
Favorite quotes:
“Memories are a tricky thing - they can fade or fester.”
“Stories are for remembering.”
“A god who listens is love. A god who speaks is law. At their worst, the people who want a god who listens are self-centered...And the ones who want a god who speaks are cruel. They just want laws and justice to crush everything...Love is empty without justice. Justice is cruel without love....God should be both. If a god isn't, that is no God.”
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Rating 5 stars!
“Funny how that can happen, out of nowhere a tree rises up strong, and that’s what he was.“
During an extended stay at the hospital, Lucy Barton reflects on her life, current and past. She explores her relationships with her mother, her husband, her children, and herself, going back and forth as memories and thoughts are triggered.
Elizabeth Strout must be the most observant human alive. She writes real and complex characters who live seemingly ordinary lives. But Strout gives readers more by telling the deep emotions and random thoughts any woman might have. She also writes about hard things like neglect, abuse, divorce, and other trauma.
I loved everything about this book and my experience reading it. The meta aspects of Lucy being a writer were fun. Her words are so simple and yet for me have such meaning. “A hotel room is a lonely place.” Yes!
And what do you do with this….
“I kept thinking how the five of us had had a really unhealthy family, but I saw then too how our roots were twisted so tenaciously around one another’s hearts. My husband said, ‘But you didn’t even like them.’ And I felt especially frightened after that.” So good!!
I really loved this book.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Rating 4.75 stars.
This book about chemist Elizabeth Zott and her experiences is entertaining and original. Bonnie Garmus tells a wonderful and creative story.
In an interview at the end of the audiobook she describes her strong views about religion. It is easy to see how these views influenced the story. I found it hard to read the many atheist views and the horrible people doing horrible things in the name of religion. Even though it made sense for Elizabeth Zott (who was raised by liars and criminals who used religion out of greed not faith) to have those world views, it was heartbreaking and I kept hoping for redemption.
Except for those parts focusing solely on negative stereotypes about religious people, I loved this book, story, characters, and humor. I listened to the audiobook and really didn’t want it to end. The entire cast of characters will be in my mind and heart for a long time.
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“One thing I’ve learned, Calvin, people will always yearn for a simple solution to their complicated problem.”
“When one is raised on a steady diet of sorrow, it’s hard to imagine that others might have had an even larger serving.”
“Families require constant maintenance.”
Love and Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay
Rating 5 stars.
“The less we cement ourselves to our certainties the fuller our lives can be.”
In this novel, Joan writes a fan letter and gives a gift of saffron to Imogene Fourtier, a magazine columnist, which begins their regular correspondence and a life-changing friendship. Joan and Immy have very different lives with marital status, location, and age being just three differences. These differences don’t present any obstacles to their connection. Their letters to one another remind us that food and friendship sustain all humans.
Kim Fay writes beautifully about events - personal and public that shape the two women. The historical significance becomes more real when you see the impact on these characters that you love immediately. I enjoyed the audiobook so much that I purchased a physical copy of the book.
Grateful to my friend Karen for gifting me the audiobook to enjoy. She and I have much in common with Joan and Immy as we too have developed a friendship over correspondence (email). Karen is a gifted communicator and she will be thrilled to know that reading this book inspired me as well as entertained me. Thanks Karen and thanks Kim Fay for this beautiful novel.
A Place For Us by Farheen Fatima Mirza
Rating 5 stars.
“What is the use of all this living if we don’t stop once in a while to notice what is actually happening.”
In this novel, we meet the family who is gathering for the wedding of Hadia, the eldest daughter of Layla and Rafiq. Throughout the novel we get the perspectives of many family members - their version of events and the impact on their lives. Quickly we see that the versions are similar but the impact is different and that we all affect one another no matter our intentions.
Fatima Farheen Mirza crafts a masterpiece in A Place For Us. I loved the depth and breadth of this novel. She takes us back and forth between past and present and gives faith stories and reality stories. There are so many poignant moments - here are a few.
- “I am with you. I am on your side” Rafiq with look of loyalty says to Amar
- The relationships between a father and his children compared with God and his people
- Love of a father - see as harsh or loving - names for God - “what if we are meant to look closer”
- Sometimes what we say about God is seemingly contradictory (for example: firm and also forgiving)
- “I will wait” his Baba said to him - tears flowing - parable of prodigal son
- Parables like Joseph and his brothers mentioned multiple times and sacrifice of ram instead of a boy
- Place for us - on earth and in heaven
Some of the themes include belief (in God and in one another), love (decide for ourselves or for another), home (what makes a home), and choices (the assumptions we make from our own perspective). Mirza also wrestles with the question of choosing tradition and ritual even when it is hard versus choosing freedom so life is easy.
This is a fabulous book with culturally interesting people, places, and practices while dealing with common relational and human issues. I love this book so much that it is in my top 10 books for 2022 and I have recommended it to four people already.
These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
Rating 5 stars.
I bought this book right at publication date, but was holding it until I could savor (loved This is the Story of a Happy Marriage) the stories. Now that I have read it I wished I had devoured it sooner. Ann Patchett can write about any topic and I will love it. It just so happens she writes about the things I care about - people, life, family, books, helping, and more. I appreciated every essay and how the book is organized. Trust me there are lots of book darts in this book - marking passages I want to visit again and again. Whether you know Ann Patchett yet or not, read this collection.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Rating 5 stars.
At the center of this novel is Miles Roby, a college educated man working at the Empire Grill for 20 years. We get to know the characters of Empire Falls in the present and in the past choices that illustrate the heart and soul of blue-collar life.
Richard Russo is brilliant at showing humanity. I had zero trouble imagining myself in Empire Falls and lamenting the heartbreak of destiny and choices while cheering and hoping for justice and something better. Russo’s writing is direct and full of wit and humor, saying what we think but don’t say. The beautiful truths are spoken in words like these - “One of the odd things about middle age, he concluded, was the strange decisions a man discovers he’s made by not really making them, like allowing friends to drift away through simple neglect.”
I listened to this book and then stopped to underline favorite passages in my paperback copy. I love this book and didn’t want to leave Empire Falls because of the beauty of everyday people just trying to live. Life is hard and Russo doesn’t shy away from showing us that reality. Humans are beautiful even when the ending isn’t a happily ever after, but instead is full of grace. This book earned its place on my favorites shelf.
Picking favorites isn't always easy. I rate books at the time I finish based on the merits of the book. Then as the year progresses I compare to other reads to see if it makes the top ten. Plus some books I just can’t stop thinking about. That’s how these books made the list. I wonder what they say about me and my year.
Now it’s your turn to consider your year and books you read. Did you read any of my favorites? What did you think? What are your favorites? How do you choose yours? Share with me and share with a friend. Books are a great shortcut to wonderful conversations, connections, and common ground.
