Books of 2022

With another year of reading and blogging under my belt, I’ve come to the realization that although the number of books I read seems to be lower than the last few years (just guessing - I haven’t actually counted), my reading has become more eclectic. And this is a good thing.

Although I wrote a novel based on a historical timeline, and am now heavily committed to another book based in the past, I tend not to read historical fiction. Likewise suspense, although I love writing it. I’m sure there’s a school of thought that says I shouldn’t be doing this, but other than a few books for research purposes, these aren’t the genres I gravitate to. I usually read a number of mysteries and non-fictions, and although I don’t typically set reading goals, I vow next year to expand my bookish horizons.

Perhaps it’s not entirely helpful, or popular, to list what I’ve read for the year, so if you can think of anything else I should start tracking, please let me know in the comments.

Top Fiction: City of Thieves by David Benioff
Top Canadian Fiction: Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
Top Book from an Indigenous Writer: Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
Top Non-Fiction: These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Top Fictionalized book based on true events: Furious Hours by Casey Cep
Top book I couldn’t forget: A Little Life by Tanya Yanagihara
Other Reads:
By Grand Central Station I Sat Down & Wept by Elizabeth Smart
The Magician by Colm Toibin
When we Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill
The Spies of Zurich by Richard Wake
Tales from Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Floating in My Mother’s Palm by Ursula Hegi
Damage by Josephine Hart
The Devil & the White City by Erik Larson
White Shadow by Roy Jacobsen
Klara & the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A Long, Long Way by Sebastian Barry
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien
The Best of Me by David Seders
Forgone by Russell Banks
The Cruel Stars of the Night by Kjell Eriksson
White Tears/Brown Scars by Rudy Hamad
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
The Listeners by Jordan Tannhill
Agent Running in the Field by John Le Carre
The Bay of Love & Sorrows by David Adams Richards
Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Sisters in Resistance by Tilar Mazzeo
Lost in the Valley of Death by Harley Rustad
Lovers at the Chameleon Club by Francis Prose
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Amy & Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Origin of Species by Nino Ricci
The Hand That Trembles by Kjell Eriksson
Daydreams of Angels by Heather O’Neill
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
The Master by Colm Toibin
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin
Just Like You by Nick Hornby
Under Occupation by Alan Durst
Target Switzerland by William N. Walker
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu
Stray Dog by Raw Hage
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Reading Like a Writer by Francis Prose
Fall of Man in Winslow by David Lagercrantz
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
The Astonishing Legend of Johnny P’Tou by Rick Gillis
Trust by Herman Diaz
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga
We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama

I’m proud of the number of books I was able to read this year despite the other demands on my time. Strangely, publishing a book is a combination of freedom (yay, it’s out in the world) and stress (my god, I have to market it). If I thought writing the book was the hard part, it was just the beginning. Surprise, you have to actually talk about it. If you are interested in anyone but close friends and family reading it, you must also engage in the frightening exercise of self-promotion. This no doubt sounds like a nightmare to some and a dream come true to others but it’s currently my reality and I’m grateful to have a book available with which to do it.

Speaking of being grateful, it’s the one side effect that remains consistent across my reading; reading people’s stories, both real and fictional is a constant reminder of how much I have to be grateful for in my life.

Happy holidays my friends and thanks so much for allowing me to bring my reading and writing thoughts into your day. It’s an honour to share my passion for books with you and for keeping me connected to other readers like yourself.

​Take time for yourself, try to be kind, and above all, stay hopeful. All my best wishes for you and yours in the year ahead.
In the meantime, happy reading!
Joni