2022 Reading Year: My Favourite Books
Yesterday I shared details with you all about the books I read in 2022 that turned out to be disappointments. Today I have the more challenging task of choosing favourite reads of the year.
I’m in awe of all the bloggers who can select just 5 or 10 books from the 100+plus they read over the last 12 months — and also rank them in beauty pageant style. I find it hard enough to select a short list from the 65 books I read last year, but going that extra step and picking 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners etc is an impossible task.
The best I can do is put my favourites into two categories: the “star performers” and the “honourable mentions”. I’ve shown them in alphabetical order of author’s surname. Hyperlinks will take you to my review (some are yet to be reviewed.).
Every book I’ve listed resonated because of its theme/s; or the way it evoked an era or the atmosphere of a place. One thing they have in common: they are books that have left the deepest and more enduring impressions. I will likely forget the plot details and almost certainly forget the characters’ names but I will not forget the sensations and emotions generated by these books.
Star Performers
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
My next to last book of 2022 is a masterful tale of a relationship across the political/religious divide in Northern Ireland. Set against a background of sectarian discord and violence, Louise Kennedy’s debut novel is an intense, engrossing tale of how small acts of kindness assume great political significance and put lives at risk.
Educated by Tara Westover
The only non fiction book to make it onto my list, Educated is a remarkable memoir from a truly remarkable woman. Tara Westover was 17 when she set foot in a classroom for the first time in her life. Born to a survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho, she had never received a formal education before that time — it was one of the many things her father didn’t believe necessary. Self taught she got to university in the USA, then to Harvard and Cambridge. Her memoir is about more than the fight for an education – it’s an account of the struggle between family loyalties and personal desire.
Small Things Like This by Claire Keegan
Small Things Like These has appeared in many bloggers’ lists of favourite 2022 reads and with good reason. It’s thoroughly brilliant novella about our response when confronted with evil in our midst. Taking inspiration from the true life scandal of the Magdalen laundries, Keegan uses the example of one ordinary family man who has to make a decision: does he act on what he’s witnessed and risk his family’s future as a result or turn a blind eye?
The Fortnight in September by R C Sherriff
I came across The Fortnight in September when it was serialised on BBC Radio 4 in the UK. Though I heard only part of one episode it was enough to convince me I had to buy a copy. It’s a delightful novel, focusing on one family who take their annual summer holiday in the same resort every year. They take comfort in the familiar routines, staying in the same guest house each time, selecting the same spot on the beach and taking the same walks.
Nothing momentous happens yet by the end of the holiday we get the sense that life has changed for each member of the family. Touchingly nostalgic, it gives an utterly absorbing account of the rhythms of family life in the inter-war years.
The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzaponi
The Hiding Place was the first book I read for 20booksofsummer. It’s a stark portrait of life in the docklands area of Cardiff during the 1960s and the experience of immigrant families who chose to make this their home. Among them is Maltese-born Frankie Gauchi and his family of six daughters who grow up amid poverty, neglect and mental illness. Not a book you can say is enjoyable but it’s definitely one that makes an impact
Honorable Mentions
The Long Dry by Cynan Jones: a drought and a missing cow are unusual elements in a novella that exposes the cracks in a strained marriage. it’s a beautifully nuanced novel.
Mrs Hemingway by Naomi Wood: I am not a fan of Hemingway’s fiction and having read Naomi Wood’s novel about his three wives, I don’t much care for the man either. Wood gives up an insight into the love triangles that wrecked each of Hemingway’s marriages and of the women he mistreated yet who continued to love him.
This Mortal Boy by Fiona Barton: I found it impossible to read this and not feel angry at its account of a true life miscarriage of justice in Australia. Barton gives us a fascinating portrayal of the young boy used as an example by a government that wanted to clamp down on what they viewed as immoral behaviour among its young citizens.
An Exquisite Sense Of What Is Beautiful by J David Simons: an esteemed British author returns to a traditional inn in Japan where he fell in love many years earlier and wrote the book that made his name. This is a novel that lives up to its title being both beautifully written and intensely emotional.
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell: I preferred Hamnet to O’Farrell’s latest venture into historical venture. But her portrayal of the atmosphere of life in sixteenth century Florence is superb.
Having spent the past couple of days catching up on NY posts and best of 2022, I think I can safely say that there was ONE book that featured on pretty much every single ‘best of’ list – Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These.
Isn’t it wonderful how a novella can hit the right spot with so many readers all around the world.
I haven’t come across anyone yet who didn’t rate it highly
Super lists! I was unable to choose a sensible number or order, either – 26 top favourites in my case! I am sure Small Things Like These will be on my 2023 list and I loved The Fortnight in September.
The more books you read, the harder it becomes to choose I suspect
I recently started a masters program an Ed school and everyone talks about Educated and I really think I should probably check it out in the next year or so.
Prepare yourself for an emotionally engaging read. Some times I got really angry at the way her father treated her
Choosing favourites is so hard, I spent ages over it. I love the sound of Trespasses and have a kindle copy waiting. I have read The Fortnight in September, Small Things Like These, The Hiding Place and Educated, all of them excellent. Happy New Year.
Some choices didn’t take me much time to pick – they almost picked themselves. But I did have a bunch that were hard to differentiate
Hahaha the end of year best-of list is definitely the hardest to write! I’m so glad to see that Educated was a star performer for you, that was a phenomenal book. Here’s to many great reads in 2023! 🥳
Thanks Sheree. It did take me a long time to get around to reading Educated – somehow I thought it would be another “misery memoir” How wrong could I be
I am always very definite about naming my “bests”, the better to start an argument. But sadly they very rarely seem to be anyone else’s.
I have The Fortnight in September on my shelves waiting for the right time. I have to space out the fiction from that era I read or all the class stuff sends me round the bend, but it does sound so appealing. My family tended to go on a seaside holiday every year when I was growing up, mostly in Wales but a couple in England, so I am curious to see what was the same and what had changed! I’ve seen a lot of very positive things about Trespasses as well, so I think that might be one for me to get to soon. Wishing you a very happy year of reading and blogging!
We used to have similar holidays though we left Wales and headed to England for ours! Reading this book did bring a touch of nostalgia even though it was set years before I was born.
Trespasses was one of my standouts of the year too, such an assured debut.
There are so many writers from Ireland that are now making their mark! Will be interesting to see what she does next
I also loved “Educated.” “A Marriage Portrait” is on my TBR. Hoping to get to it soon. I still have to read “Hamnet” though.
Good to see Trespasses made your list, since I have it lined up to read for Reading Ireland this year.
I fail miserably at putting together top book lists as well, especially since I read across genres. So glad The Fortnight in September is on your list; I too listened to and loved the BBC Radio 4 adaptation, and am looking forward to reading the book soon.
I’ve read – and enjoyed – your first three choices, and your fourth interests me as a sort of follow up to Nadifa Mohamed’s Fortune Men, also set in Cardiff and dealing with similar issues. A nicely wide-ranging bag of books here. I wonder what this year will bring?
I’d have to check but I think the time period for Fortune Men and The Hiding Place are the same.
It is!
Both the Keegan and the Kennedy are superb, aren’t they, and you’ve reminded me of how much I enjoyed Mrs Hemingway. I think you’re spot-on about remembering emotions and sensations evoked by fiction. Much more important that plot intricacies!
Thank you for another helpful post. I have added Trespasses by Louise Kennedy to my Goodreads “want to read” list. I read Educated in 2019. It was an inspirational book. I gained a more nuanced perspective after I researched her and her family, but I still have great respect for Westover and what she was able to accomplish. It indeed is an outstanding book.
The Keegan also made my list – beautiful piece of writing.
I have Trespasses on my wishlist but we’ll have to agree to disagree on the Westover (I read it years ago and felt that the publicity around it was misleading – in my opinion, it’s a book about domestic violence, rather than about a woman striving to get an education).
I find it difficult to narrow down a list of favourites too and would never be able to rank them in order! The only one of these I’ve read is Small Things Like These, which I enjoyed, but I would also like to read The Fortnight in September and The Marriage Portrait.
‘Trespasses’ was my book of the year, absolutely devastating, whilst ‘small things like these’ was my book of last year, small and beautifully formed. ‘Educated’ was my favourite book from a few years ago too, such strength of character. I’m looking forward to the Maggie O’Farrell book.
I sympathize with your struggle about the list.
I’m happy to see the Keegan here as I’ve just received it through my book subscription.
Happy reading for 2023!
Nice list! I recognize the difficulty of choosing. 2022 turned out to be a good year in books. Let’s hope we will enjoy many a good book in 2023 as well. Happy New Year!
Choosing a fav book is like trying to choose a fav child! I’ve read Educated and Small Things and they are indeed memorable. In fact, Small Things is on my list! Have you read The Glass Castle? It reminds me a lot of Educated. Happy reading in 2023! 🥂