Personal best, reading-wise! 20 books! If I were a person with any kind of influence, I would totally be asking to be the face for Audible because, OMG, without it, I’d never read anything! My goal was 10 books and I read twice as many. Lesson? Keep those goals and expectations low and you’ll surprise yourself! Right?! Right…
Perhaps not the most literary of starts to the year but it was a light and fun read. There are more volumes in this series. I’m not yet sure if I’ll exploring those but I might!
A big fan of Nick Hornby, I was disappointed in this one. There were some keen observations of society and politics but the characters fell flat and hardly developed. There are better ones out there by Nick.
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood
One of my favorites this year. Talk about honesty and character development! I love immigrant lit mostly because it never ceases to amaze me just how similar we all are despite our background.
Another favorite of the year, this one left me broken-hearted in a fairly literal meaning of the expression. My chest truly ached here-for everyone in this multi-generational WWII drama. Inspired by her own family letters from Germany, the author did an incredible job of fictionalizing members of her family while keeping the original letters intact. Highly recommend!
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
It’s obvious how much research went into writing this book. The author does a great job of having us truly feel what the protagonist is feeling here. Unfortunately, the plot became predicable in the “all a girl needs is a boy” way. Solid 3 stars though.
Return to Life by Jim B. Tucker
If you have any interest in past life stories, this is the one for you. Dr. Tucker is quite an authority when it comes to children’s past lives memories. A fascinating read rooted in scientific approach and study.
A good novel touching on MeToo involving an unreliable narrator.
Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
What a good novel! Painful and gut-wrenching but so good! It’s like the author puts up a mirror to your face and forces you to look. Highly recommend.
I love immigrant lit (as I seem to mention every chance I get) so this was a no-brainer of a selection for me. Set in Washington Heights, NYC during the 1960s, this novel was a fascinating trip back in time.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
An entertaining suspense read. I didn’t see the final twist coming, which is always fun.
A very engaging thriller. Very Agatha Christie. Recommend.
A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight*
I didn’t like Kimberly McCreight’s first novel so I was a little hesitant to read this one. But no worries-this one managed to surprise me in the best of ways. I truly enjoyed it and, as opposed to totally transparent revelations in the author’s first novel, this one had me guessing.
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
When in doubt, go with Liane Moriarty. The lady never disappoints. The characters are so distinct and crystal clear. Highly recommend.
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
A solid novel but very thick on making a point to be on the right side of MeToo. Some parts of very triggering so you’ve been warned.
Survive the Night by Riley Sager
Unfortunately, this book was the biggest disappointment of the year for me. I love Riley Sager’s books, and was eagerly awaiting this one, but it did not live up to the author’s reputation. It almost felt like it was written simply because he was on a deadline and had to produce something regardless of inspiration and quality.
56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard*
Totally one of the faves this year! Talk about putting lockdown to good use and writing a killer novel! Highly recommend.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Two Liane Moriarty’s books in one year is what I call awesomeness. Again, Liane excels at character development without sacrificing the plot, so this one, too, was a thrill to read.
The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller
A fun read reminding us that we just never know our friends and neighbors the way we think they do. As a parent, I found some parts a little difficult to read, but these are important questions to ask yourself.
The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams*
Should I say immigrant lit again?! Loved it! Multi-generational family drama is illuminating and helpful in my own immigrant universe. Highly recommend.
Memoirs and Misinformation by Jim Carrey and Dana Vachon
It’s hard to give this one a rating. Jim Carrey is undeniably a genius, and I am simply not worthy of being inside his brain. The book is profound in its observations, poignant in its reflections. Some of it is absurd, some of is funny. A one-of-a-kind read, that’s for sure.
Currently, I’m reading A Fall of Marigolds. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough time during this busy time of year to finish it before 2022 but so far, I’m enjoying the Ellis Island setting. Immigration history has always been of interest and passion for me, and I’ve been toying around with an idea for a novel tying in multi-generational immigration history, but I must finish my YearOne project (my quasi-memoire about my first year in America) before distracting myself.
Let us know what you read this past year. Any faves? Any fun recommendations? Please share.
Legend: * MR BOOK CLUB official selection. Please join us! We meet on zoom every other month.
We wish you lots of health and happiness this upcoming year. We need a break from life, don’t we?! We deserve it! So we wish you lots of satisfying reads in 2022!
