Best book you read in 2022

[Anonymouseposter]

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.

I loved The Five too. I found it quite haunting. I read it shortly after it was published and I still think of them every now and then. It makes me quite cross now when people talk about Jack the Ripper like he's a fun fictional character.

My favourite book of 2022 was Piranesi.

I haven’t read the book but I detest serial killer litt and all the Jack the ripper tourist stuff. Guided tours 😡. But it sounds like that book is in a different mould and returns their humanity to the victims

It very much does, without sugar coating how the women got to be where they were in Whitechapel on those nights. It's angry but in a positive way - the women aren't just 'victims' but wives, mothers, daughters and siblings.

A much needed corrective to all the killer porn this culture seems to adore then.

Notes on an Execution. Absolutely brilliant. Second place goes to The Book of Form and Emptiness

I also agree with PPs on Shuggie Bain, American Dirt, Station Eleven (I read that when it came out and still think about it now all these years on!) Small Pleasures and The Five. All brilliant.

Using this thread to add to my list! 😃

I enjoyed Klara and the Sun by Kazoo Ishiguro.

I love that this thread is full of so many book recommendations; it's like a treasure trove for bibliophiles! Last year, I delved into a mix of genres, but the one that really stood out for me was "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. It's a WWII novel narrated by Death, and it offers an extraordinarily unique perspective on the lives of ordinary Germans during the war. Highly recommend!

If you're into exploring different cultural perspectives through books, you might want to check out this fascinating list from Mental Floss. They've compiled the highest-rated books in each country, and it's quite an eye-opener. It's a great way to "unscramble literature" and discover gems you wouldn't typically encounter.

I'm new to this forum, too, so it's great to connect with fellow book lovers. I totally get what you mean about American Dirt, it was a powerful read. If you're into gripping stories, you might want to check out the "Game of Thrones" books by George R.R. Martin. They're not just epic fantasy, but also packed with complex characters and political intrigue that'll keep you hooked. I stumbled upon a cool website, https://bookwormera.com, that has a comprehensive guide and analysis of the "Game of Thrones" books. It's been a fantastic resource for me while diving into the series.

The Last One at the Party by Bethany Clift - it's about a woman who survives a pandemic that wipes out about 99.99% of the population in the UK. The TV show the Last of Us had a similar theme, but the book didn't involve zombies etc. It was more about how a normal woman would survive in that kind of situation.

Klara and the Sun was a beautiful book.

Thanks for all the great suggestions

My top favourites were I’ve read this year have been

Memphis - Tara M Stringfellow
The Dictionary of Lost Words - Pip Williams
Any human heart - William Boyd
The Nightinggale- Kristin Hannah (also loved Four Winds)
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo
The Rosie project is fun and light hearted
I also love all the Thursday Murder club books by Richard Osman