A Year in Books
There is something inherently reflective about measuring a year in books. Each binding contains seeds of thought and perhaps even little mirrors to help us better see ourselves. New stories can introduce new awareness and fresh perspectives. Rereads can remind us of discoveries once made or show us our own growth by way of changing responses over time. Either way, a year well read is a year well spent.
For me, 2022 saw a higher reading goal of 30, one which was proudly met. Here’s a quick overview:
2022 Reading Goal: 30
Books started: 34
Books completed: 30
Audiobooks/Page-in-hand: 13/17
Re-reads/First read: 2/28
The uptick in audiobooks correlates with my increased travel time this year. I love that I was able to take advantage of my time in transit to expand my mind and inch closer to my book goal for the year.
Here are five from this year that I wish to share:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Upon completion, I felt that it was a love letter to Savannah and the people there. I found it charming, well written, and a wonderful rendition of the south. Though I grew up in Macon, the quirky cast of characters felt familiar to me. The themes around race, gender expression, sexual orientation, and classism were an insightful peek into the times, though too much of the sentiments linger here still.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Another compelling, yet surprising book. I marvel at Walker’s command of the form. That so much could be conveyed with the simple vocabulary, so much plot and feeling, amazes me. Her writing transported me to a different time and place, it continually shocked me to remember the setting was a small town not 30 miles from me here in Georgia. I had vague memories of watching the movie in high school, but the form and direction of the story was different than what I expected. Despite the oppressive situation and dehumanizing treatment, Walker manages to maintain a thread of hope throughout, for the protagonist and the reader. This book is written by a master of the art and deserves every ounce of continued praise. Certainly worth the read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Yes, I jumped on the train and I am glad I did! The shocking title lives up to its promise, readers gain an understanding of the abuse and trauma caused by McCurdy’s mother. I had never seen the actor’s shows or even knew who she was before hearing of the book, yet her story drew me in and kept me interested. It also confirmed something many of us are tangentially aware of, the film industry is a toxic place for children. McCurdy’s account of her childhood was shocking; considering just her time spent working on an average day is enough to cause concern. Though she addresses important and serious topics, McCurdy weaves a thread of humor throughout to help us bear it. She is masterful at sharing her story in a meaningful way.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
This read was inspired by a podcast discussing unreliable narrators, so that should tell you something right there. I was vaguely familiar with Jackson as the author of The Lottery, a testament that I can recall, in detail, the plot of a short story I read nearly fifteen years ago. We Have Always Lived in the Castle was cut from the same cloth. It explores the double-edged nature of collective actions and personal responsibility. I loved the tone, style, subject, and form of this short story. So much so that I am incorporating it into my upcoming Mercer class, centered on community. Jackson is the queen of confronting community culpability; it really is the perfect fit.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
Another podcast-inspired pick, this short story gives every reader something to chew on. This edition also included an introduction by the lovely Zadie Smith, which was a great compliment to the story. The two main characters are different races but Morrison deliberately hides the race of her characters from the reader. Though it is impossible to read without trying to deduce some hint as to which is which, I had to accept that she likely wrote each character with both races in mind, making it so each woman could be either. Reading it is an insightful experience, one that confirms only this: Morrison’s writing experiment is experimenting on readers too.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All five of these books enriched my year greatly and I heartily recommend them!
For 2023, I am keeping my reading goal at 30 but leveling up with some added challenges:
Four books with 500+ pages (one a quarter)
Four new books (published between 2018 and now)
Four non-fiction books
See my complete 2022 list below and happy reading!
From Top to Bottom:
Franney and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Meaty by Samantha Irby
The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Dawn by Octavia Butler
Wuthering Hrights by Emily Brontee
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Not Pictured:
25. Mean Baby by Selma Blair
26. 1984 by George Orwell
27. Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
28. What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry and Opera Winfrey
29. The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende
30. No Name in the Street by James Baldwin