My Year in Books | 2022

This was such a fantastic reading year for me! From Gone Girl and celebrity memoirs to The Fire Next Time and graphic novels, I finished a wide variety of titles. I'm sharing my favorite books for the year -- only including my 4 and 5-star ranked reads. I base my ratings on a subjective combination of how much I enjoyed the reading/listening experience, how enthralled I was by the writing/language, how much the story and themes stuck with me, and how enthusiasticly I recommend to others. 

Reading Highlights:
- 76% authored by a woman
- 33% authored by a person of color
- 16% audiobooks -- won over by the format (although picky!) and will continue this trend in 2023
- Tried short stories and revisited young adult fiction
- Read more contemporary fiction
- Started my UT Book Club with college friends
- Joined my friend's West Seattle Book Club
- Planned a weekend retreat with my long-standing (five years!) Book Club
- Discovered Novel Pairings
- Discovered Fiction Matters
- Discovered From the Front Porch

#26 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
memoir (reread -- already a favorite) // infuriating and astounding

#25 Maybe you Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
memoir // personal and insightful

#24 Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott
2022 memoir // familial and reflective

#23 The Summer Book
classic fiction, translated // relational, vignettes

#22 The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

self-help, debut // motivating and uplifting 

 

#21 Best Wishes, Warmest Regards by Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy
coffee table book // fun and breezy 

#20 Everything Sad is Untrue by Danel Nayeri🎧
autobiographical novel, debut // captivating and lyrical

#19 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2022 fiction // upbeat and delightful

#18 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas🎧
classic (reread -- already a favorite) // adventurous and grand

#17 Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly

micro-memoirs // light and poetic 

#16 Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

memoir, debut // gut-wrenching and empathy-building

#15 Reading Magic by Mem Fox
non-fiction // bookish and practical 

#14 How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

short stories, debut // descriptive and humanizing

#13 Taste by Stanley Tucci🎧
memoir // feel-good and mouth-watering 

#12 Mom Milestones by Grace Farris

2022 comics, debut // relatable and tender

#11 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
historical fiction, debut // sweeping and well-written

#10 Passing by Nella Larsen
classic fiction // compelling and discussable 

#9 City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

contemporary fiction // zippy and feminine

#8 Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg
graphic novel // creative and original 

#7 Brood by Jackie Polzin🎧

contemporary fiction, debut // quirky and observational

#6 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
2022 fiction // imaginative and cinematic 

#5 Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
contemporary fiction, debut // page-turning and thought-provoking

#4 The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
narrative nonfiction, debut // eye-opening and historical

#3 84, Charring Cross Road by Helene Hanff
epistolary // endearing and poignant

#2 Know My Name by Chanel Miller🎧
memoir // heavy and hopeful

#1 Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Séamas O'Reilly🎧

2022 memoir, debut // rib-tickling and heartfelt

An ecclectic mood reader,
- SJW

Pages of Parenting | Favorite Books From Year 4

Every October I celebrate another year of parenting by sharing our top reads from the past twelve months. This year I uncovered some absolute classics, top notch series, quirky stories, and clever illustrations. Here's my tailored selection -- the ones I want others to know about!

Favorite Author Discovery

Tomi Ungerer

Best of the Best: The Mellops Series

Favorite Illustrator Discovery
Julie Paschkis



Best of the Best: Apple Cake

Illustrations Only
Archie by Domenica More Gordon

The Red Book and Red Again by Barbara Lehman 

Best of the Best: Thirteen by Remy Charlip & Jerry Joyner

Playful Fiction
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

Lots of Cats by E. Dee Taylor

Six-Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

1,2,3 Off to School by Marriane Dubuc

What's Cooking at 10 Garden Street by Felicita Sala

Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra

Best of the Best: A House in the Woods by Inga Moore

Construction & Trucks

Diggersaurs Explore by Michael Whaite

Over at the Construction Site by Bill Wise

DIG! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

Old MacDonald had a Truck/Boat by Steve Goetz

Best of the Best: Aphabet Trucks by Samantha R. Vamos

Preschool Central (Simple/Rhyming)

How Will We Get to the Beach? by Brigitte Luciani 

Brave as a Mouse by Nicolò Carozzi

The Giant of Jum by Elli Woolard 

Cat Dog by Mem Fox & Mark Teague

I'll Catch You if You Fall by Mark Sperring 

Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison 

What Grandmas/Grandpas Do Best and What Brothers/Sisters Do Best by Laura Numeroff

Best of the Best: Lovabye Dragon by Barbara Joosse

Seasonal

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas by Mark Lee

'Twas the Fright before Christmas by Judy Sierra

P. Bear's New Year's Party by Paul Owen Lewis 

Green on Green by Dianne White

Best of the Best: Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

Series

George and Martha by James Marshall

Mercy Watson by Kate Dicamillo

Best of the Best: Chirri & Chirra by Kaya Doi

Favorite Favorites 

Miss Mink: Life Lessons for a Cat Countess by Janet Hill

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood & Don Wood

Emily and Albert by Jan Ormerod

The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

Animal Supermarket by Giovanna Zoboli

Animal Cafe by John Stadler

My Pick of the Year

Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess by Janet Hill

Mr. Fleece's Pick of the Year 
Red Panda's Candy Apples by Ruth Paul 

NLW's Pick of the Year
  20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Kurt Cyrus

EDW's Pick of the Year
Plume by Isabelle Simler

CCW's Pick of the Year
Tip Top Cat by C. Roger Mader

Books upon books upon books,

- SJW 

Previous favorites below!
2021 -- Favorite Books From Year 3