Eight Books I Enjoyed Reading in 2022

Borgel by Daniel Pinkwater. This is an odd book on the level of Harold and the Purple Crayon and The Phantom Tollbooth. An obscure relative shows up and takes the 11 year old boy on adventures in space and time in search of the great popsicle. Quite entertaining. Proof that children’s books are not boring.

 

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson. “This is the story of how my best friend disappeared.” Heartbreaking and compelling YA story.

 

 

Remember the Ramrods by David Bellavia. Seven people were awarded the Medal of Honor for military service in Iraq; Bellavia is the only one still alive. This is not the story of his military service. This is the story of his reunion of his Army unit fifteen years later.

 

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott. Difficult to describe, but one of the most creative novels I have read in years. Pairs well with Percival Everett’s The Trees.

 

Night Film by Marisha Pessl. Martin Scorsese said he wanted people to be so moved by the experience of watching Taxi Driver that, upon leaving the theater, they are briefly shocked by the real world. Like that. Pairs well with Nick Harkaway’s Gnomon.

 

Less by Andrew Sean Greer. A queer novel with older and younger characters interacting. I laughed a lot.

 

Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh. A story of one woman who works at a Boston area abortion clinic. Some novels shout; this one whispers.

 

An Immense World by Ed Yong. Non-human animals experience the world in very different ways than we do. Very different.

I listed some other books I enjoyed reading in 2022 in this image.

What were some of your favorite books you read in 2022? I would love to hear from you in the comments.