Pages

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Books I read in 2022

Happy 2023, friends!

What does one say for a new year without being cliche? Oh well, I'm going to encounter the cliche whether I want to or not, so I might as well get it over with: I can't believe I haven't written a blog post since last year...as we all say on January 1st.

On a more serious note, I just wish you all the best for this year! 

Today I will, as tradition commands, list all of the books I read in 2022. Which is not a lot. Last year I was a little woeful of how few there were...and now I have about half as many. Being a full time college student leaves little time for reading. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I watch more movies or TV shows to relax (which you will see in the post tomorrow!). I don't have any hopes for reading for 2023 but I'm excited to see what happens!

Anyway, time to talk about what you're all here for: 2022 books!

If you want another opinion, you can check out my Goodreads account HERE. I count books I read for classes there, but I don't have any nonfiction on this blog. As you may have noticed.

If you want to compare this list to the previous years, here are the links for 2021, 2020201920182017, and 2016 (Wow, I've been at this for awhile).

It is a well known fact that I am an intensely emotional person. So, I'm starting a new peek into my mind. If I cried during the book, I will underline it. Now, it's rare that I actually cry during books, but I overcompensate in movies. You'll see that later, but as for now:

New-to-me books:

100 Days of Sunlight - by Abbie Emmons
Everything, Everything - by Nicola Yoon
Six of Crows - by Leigh Bardugo
Spinning Silver - by Naomi Navok
Divergent - by Veronica Roth
Crooked Kingdom - by Leigh Bardugo
The Wednesday Wars - by Gary D. Schmidt
A Thousand Perfect Notes - by C. G. Drews
Insurgent - by Veronica Roth
Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo
Beowulf - translated by Seamus Heaney
Great or Nothing - by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, & Jessica Spotswood
Rebel of the Sands - by Alwyn Hamilton
Stargirl - by Jerry Spinelli

Total: 14


Rereads:

Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery
Holes - by Louis Sachar
A Christmas Carol - by Charles Dickens

Total: 3

Grand total: 17

I warned you that it was unimpressive, guys. I don't even have a good excuse (besides college) like last year, when I read the 1200+ pages of The Count of Monte Cristo. I mean, some of these YA are pretty thick? It is also quality over quantity, because I only seriously disliked one of those books!


That doesn't tell you a lot about my opinions on all of this, so the moment you have all been waiting for:

My 10 Favorite New-To-Me Reads of 2022:

I have to say that the top two gave me a run for my money. I have been back and forth on which deserves the top spot. I finally decided on #1 because of the message it carries.

I'm going to have a sentence or two about why I love each but I hope to review these all one day!

1. 100 Days of Sunlight - by Abbie Emmons: I had been wanting to read this since 2019 and it paid off big time. I reread small parts of it in the summer and loved it just as much. I got my sister to read it, and she got her friend to read it, so it's a chain of loving it.

2. Six of Crows - by Leigh Bardugo: THE EPICNESS. I cannot even tell you all. If you've read it, you know. I love all of the characters so much and couldn't read it fast enough. I was not a fan of the Shadow and Bone series so I thought this would be much the same, but it's infinitely more complex and incredible.

3. A Thousand Perfect Notes - by C. G. Drews: My sister realized that as a side effect of being a math major, my favorite books of the year all have numbers in them. How epic is that? This was my treat for completing spring semester and it broke me into a thousand pieces.

4. Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo: The Queen herself. I'm so sad to be done with this series because speaks to friendship and pain and healing.

5. The Wednesday Wars - by Gary D. Schmidt: Shout out to Sam, The Nutmeg, and Sarah for making me read this. It brought my Shakespeare love to another level.

6. Great or Nothing - by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, & Jessica Spotswood: Fall semester treat and so peaceful yet broken and painful and full of growth. Sister books, man.

7. Stargirl - by Jerry Spinelli: Cannot wait to now watch the movie because all of Grace VanderWaal's music speaks these themes.

8. Rebel of the Sands - by Alwyn Hamilton: The most brilliant world building ever. I am now so discouraged that my "people who live in the desert with powers" WIP will never be to this level.

9. Spinning Silver - by Naomi Navok: This goes so low on the list only because there were one or two things that bugged me, but other than that this was AMAZING. It got me through spring semester, guys.

10. Crooked Kingdom - by Leigh Bardugo: Such a tight sequel. I was actually STRESSED because of the danger these kids were putting themselves in.



I also read most of The Awakening of Miss Prim, but it's not technically enough for me to count.


Usually I talk about blogging plans in my movies post but because I have the extra space here, why wait? I imagine for the next few years that I still will not be up to my old routine because college is a lot of work. But, I still hope to make a bit of a return with some reviews or more frequent posts! I love all the comments on each post and one of my first items on my agenda for this year is to reply to all of you. In the meanwhile, tell me how you're doing! What was your favorite part of 2022, fictional or otherwise?


There you have it folks. 2022! Have you read any of these books? Were would they rank for you? Which of these would you like me to review in more depth?

What was your favorite book you read in 2022? Any plans for 2023 reading? Speaking of reading, thanks for reading this post! See you all tomorrow for movies! You may have known most of this from Goodreads, but you have no sneak peeks there...

Chloe the MovieCritic

12 comments:

  1. So many good books!! Spinning Silver was a new one for me this year too and Ioved it. I sort of read that one in a string of winter-ish books like the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden and the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos (which I highly recommend especially if you liked Spinning Silver those books really made my year)
    Glad you had such a good reading year from the sounds of it even if it's not as many as you would have hoped!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll definitely check out the Winterlight Trilogy! If winter is in the title, I'm sold. Mirror Visitor Quest sounds intriguing, too! Thanks for the comment and recommendations, Elizabeth ! <3

      Delete
  2. I was the same the year on a smaller amount of books read! Ahh, Wednesday Wars!! Such an amazing book! The squeal Okay for Now picks up where it left off, but focuses on Doug Swieteck's story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read Okay for Now this year and UGH MY HEART! I'm not sure which one I like better. Probably Wednesday Wars because I'm such a Shakespeare nerd, but Doug gives the stats for everything and math is my life... Which one do you like better?

      Delete
  3. I read Stargitl years ago and found it to be very strange, but an enjoyable strange

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like that term, "enjoyable strange"! Have you seen the movie, Ivy? I've been meaning to check it out but hadn't yet.

      Delete
  4. It seems like you really enjoyed the books you DID read, so like, quality over quantity and stuff, right? It sounds like you had a lovely reading year (whereof I am glad).

    Reading Wednesday Wars with you guys was grand. <3

    oOH OOOHH isn't Spinning Silver fabulous??!? So wintery and so beautifully written. I'm really curious what little things bugged you now...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES. I will take quality over quantity any day! That's a phrase for a reason so thank you for reminding me of it, Sarah!

      Gary D. Schmidt + book club = grand old time. <3

      So majestic!! I kind of want to reread it especially coming back to winter suddenly. I had some problems with the court intrigue side, which is never my thing. No problems at all with my darling Wanda, though!

      Delete
  5. Sounds like some good books! I read 28 books this year. A lot of them were short though, and I listened to most on audio! Have a great new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 28 is well done! I need to get back into audio instead of being do obsessed with music, lol. Thanks Rakayle! Now you too, for this year!

      Delete
  6. Happy New Year! Even if you didn't read quite as many as last year, reading anything is a win!

    100 Days of Sunlight is a fun one! I definitely enjoyed it, and it's one of the better self-published books I've read.

    I need to read A Thousand Perfect Notes at some point! It's been on my mental maybe-TBR list for FOREVER. And hearing that you liked it is a good kick in the pants.

    Reading The Wednesday Wars (and everything else) with y'all was so fun! Looking forward to many more. :)

    I'm still VERY glad you liked Spinning Silver! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tend to forget when looking at numbers (math, you know) but the feeling of just reading is enough.

      It is!! <3 Did you read it yourself one listen to the audio book? Abbie recorded it herself so I've been considering rereading it that way!

      I mean, any chance to convince you to read my favorites! I'd be really really curious to sure what you thought! I got my sister to read it the year which was both bad and good.

      A toast! *raises imaginary glass* To the long continuation of book club! Talk to you soon! ;)

      Thank you for the recommendation, m'dear! We should talk about it sometime!

      Delete

To comment, or not to comment? That is the question. Whatever you decide, I would love to hear from you!! I am always open to suggestions, advice, and any other comments! Even if you don't agree with me, I would love to hear from you as long as you keep the comment respectful and on subject. And, please, no swearing. I love comments on old posts!!
My computer won't let me leave comments, so it might take a few days, but I will reply!