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Original poster

Best book you read in 2022

112 replies

Anonymouseposter · 16/01/2023 14:14

What was the best book you read last year? I’m looking for ideas for what to read next. My favourite was American Dirt, I learned a lot and found it very gripping.

OP posts:
Lisarinnaslipss · 23/01/2023 20:55

The night circus, a really interesting fantasy novel, and fantasy isn't usually my thing.

Hellohah · 23/01/2023 20:48

I don't give books 5 stars often (only got 11 of them on my goodreads list) but my 4*s last year were ...

The Ink Black Heart
Lost for words
Jamaica Inn
We Begin at the End
Daisy Jones and the Six
A Gentleman in Moscow
American Dirt
Small Pleasures

cravingtoblerone · 23/01/2023 08:34

Best fiction:
Secret History Donna Tartt (not a new release obviously but had been on my read list for ages)

Non-Fiction
Mudlarking my Lara Maiklem. Brilliant stuff.

Clawdy · 23/01/2023 08:32

Shadow Girls by Carol Birch. Spooky and brilliant.

daffodilandtulip · 22/01/2023 16:15

How to disappear
Last house on the street
The couple at number 9

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 21/01/2023 20:36

I enjoyed Hamnet.

Really want to read American Dirt now!

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 19/01/2023 16:36

I loved "American Dirt", "Hamnet" and "The Hearts Invisible Furies" although I read them before 2022 so not sure they count for the purpose of this thread? As an aside I also really enjoyed "The Outside Boy" by Jeanine Cummins and I love all of Maggie O'Farrell's books (her non-fiction "I am, I am, I am" is just brilliant too) but I have to say I don't like any other John Boyne books apart from The Hearts...

Books I read last year that I would absolutely recommend:

"The Pull of the Stars" and "Slammerkin" both by Emma Donoghue
All the "Thursday Murder Club" books, by Richard Osman
"A Terrible Kindness" by Jo Browning Wroe
"Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir

walnutmarzipan · 18/01/2023 09:14

VanillaImpulse · 17/01/2023 23:19

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - a book showing a young character with dementia creeping in and how it affected her life. Really interesting to see it from the dementia sufferers point of view and also for it to happen to a younger person with a job. Read it in days.

I've not read the book but I've seen the film. Must be extra difficult to go through something like this at a young age.

VanillaImpulse · 17/01/2023 23:19

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - a book showing a young character with dementia creeping in and how it affected her life. Really interesting to see it from the dementia sufferers point of view and also for it to happen to a younger person with a job. Read it in days.

Quinque · 17/01/2023 23:03

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers.

moggerhanger · 17/01/2023 22:44

Double Cross by Ben Macintyre. All about the D-Day spies - how we managed to pull it off I have no idea, the whole thing was bonkers. A fascinating read and it would make a brilliant film.

EspeciallyDetermined · 17/01/2023 22:41

Fiction - Young Mungo (I would put Shuggie Bain and American Dirt as = top for 2021).

Non-fiction - My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay and Making It by Jay Blades. I read a lot of memoirs and these two really stood out last year

belwiz · 17/01/2023 22:35

Wallabyone · 17/01/2023 22:28

All my mothers by Joanna Glen

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

I loved both of these. I also enjoyed Hamnet but it wasn't an easy read.

Thank you for all the recommendations here!

You've just reminded me of Sorrow and Bliss - loved it v much

belwiz · 17/01/2023 22:33

Definitely putting Cloud Cuckoo land, Trespasses and Lessons in Chemistry on my to read list for the coming months

belwiz · 17/01/2023 22:31

The Signature Of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert - a memorable period epic

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and the sequel A God in Ruins

Hammet by Maggie O'Farrell - I just love her writing. I don't think there's a single book of hers I haven't enjoyed

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - Read this in Christmas week and found it devastating but so beautifully written and characterised

Extendivecover · 17/01/2023 22:30

Piranesi was very good too

Wallabyone · 17/01/2023 22:28

All my mothers by Joanna Glen

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

I loved both of these. I also enjoyed Hamnet but it wasn't an easy read.

Thank you for all the recommendations here!

tappinginto2023 · 17/01/2023 22:27

Place marketing because I'd love to get back into reading, I don't think I read a non-work/study book in 2022 Sad
Also off to buy American Dirt 🐑

IsThePopeCatholic · 17/01/2023 22:17

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Lucy by the sea by Elizabeth strout
small things like these

RovenderKitt · 17/01/2023 22:12

Hamnet by Maggie O Farell. Bought Cloud Cuckoo Land at the weekend so that’s going straight to the top of my to read list. This thread is going to cost me a lot of money!

DisforDarkChocolate · 17/01/2023 22:03

VickerishAllsort · 16/01/2023 22:09

The Five by Hallie Rubenfold.
She explores the lives of Jack the Ripper's victims, although he is barely mentioned.
Which is as it should be.
She gives them life again, although their lives were hellish, giving them back their humanity.
It was January last year, and I read about 60 books altogether, but this is the one I can't forget.

Life changing for me. It made me completely re-evaluate everything I see.

This year, Project Hail Mary, very different but joyful.

RightOnTheEdge · 17/01/2023 21:56

I think Blood Orange and Lessons In Chemistry are the ones that really stood out for me last year.

Jenniferturkington · 17/01/2023 21:54

All the light you cannot see.
or, for a ‘lighter’ read- ‘Last one at the Party’

GooseberryCinnamonYogurt · 17/01/2023 21:49

Following as I need to get back into reading.

Harebell · 17/01/2023 21:36

Oh definitely lessons in chemistry

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