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I read about 10 books less this year (36) than I did last year (46), on purpose. I begin my master’s in creative writing program in just a couple of weeks and in preparation for the hefty (but exciting) reading list coming my way, I decided to read a little less and more slowly. 2022 was a good year of reading and I enjoyed almost everything from cover to cover. I hope you find some books that catch your eye here!
Each title below is linked to the version I liked reading it in best (audio or hard copy):
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan:
This contemporary romance novel was such a fun way to escape to Oxford University in England and feel like I was a student there.
The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner: This is a classic so many have read, and I’m glad I finally got to it because it did not disappoint. The purposely poor grammar is tough to get through in the beginning, but the pay-off is worth it.
Writers and Lovers by Lily King:
I can’t say it gripped me from beginning to end, but I appreciated this book.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer:
A really interesting and beautiful perspective on plants and animals as our greatest teachers, told by botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. The hardcover is so pretty!
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan:
A WWII story set in Italy. I wish the audiobook narrator used an Italian accent. It would’ve felt more true to the story and culture rather than feeling like an Americanized hero story. Still interesting to hear the account.
Beach Read by Emily Henry:
Emily Henry is queen when it comes to smart romances. I read this for the second time in preparation for hosting a book club discussion and loved it as much as the first time.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:
A super quick essay that unpacks some of the stereotypes of feminism.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry:
It felt like Christmas morning when I got an advance copy of this. It felt more Hallmarky than her other books, but I’m not complaining!
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman:
A fascinating challenge to our perspectives of productivity, time. If you liked Essentialism, you’ll enjoy this one.
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown:
The perfect culmination of all her work, and the most digestible and applicable so far, in my opinion. The extensive research inside that she and her team have done over the years on human emotion and connection gave me so much insight into myself and my relationships. The full color hardcover is a MUST.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr:
Interesting premise, a little all over the place. I liked this but loved All the Light We Cannot See.
Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans:
I think everyone who is part of an organized Christian religion should read this. A hopeful, honest approach to both the imperfections and value of religious institutions.
Eve and Adam: Discovering the Beautiful Balance by Melinda Wheelwright Brown:
I really enjoyed this read. Melinda is an incredibly intelligent, eloquent person and I gained so many beautiful insights from her study of the Adam and Eve story.
The Light Between Us: Stories From Heaven, Lessons for the Living by Laura Lynne Jackson:
As strange as it may sound, I’ve had a good amount of psychic experiences in my life, and the way this author teaches about them makes it feel so much more normal and excited about the way we can all tap in to those gifts. I loved her newer book, Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe, even more.
Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven’t Tried Yet by Meggan Watterson:
A really interesting view of Mary Magdalene and her lost writings. It was a Wall Street Journal bestseller, so I’m not the only one who loved it.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus:
I loved the quirky, headstrong chemist geek main character. I found the writing witty and refreshing, and the story unique.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune:
I rarely let anything keep me up past my bedtime (even a book), but this one had me turning pages into the wee hours. It’s the perfect summer romance.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez:
This book was full of research that shows how workplaces, heart attack treatment, cars, street systems, and even bathrooms in some countries are built based on data collected only from men. It was eye-opening to learn of the ways women are left out of the equation, sometimes with life-threatening results.
Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love by Sarah Blondin:
I’ve always loved Sarah Blondin and her otherworldly way with words. She knows how to use them to reach and heal people. This book and the accompanying meditations changed something in me and helped me not be so closed off, which is a tendency I’ve held since childhood.
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell:
I could not put this book down. It was fascinating and devastating. One of my husband’s all-time favorite books, and I’m so glad I read it (and watched the movie afterwards). Just insane.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
The story of a girl who married her high school sweetheart, then he goes missing over the Pacific on their first anniversary. Years later, she starts a new relationship with an old friend, but her first husband is found. It made me cry and laugh and think about what I would do in such an impossible situation. TJR has such a way of capturing human emotion.
The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids:
A must-read for parents and educators. Reading really has such incredible power to connect your family but serve your kids academically and emotionally now and for years to come.
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon:
I already loved Amy Harmon after reading What the Wind Knows, and she carries over her gift for telling beautiful, historically rich stories to Where the Lost Wander. It’s set on the Overland wagon trail in the 1850s, and I loved learning more about the American West and stories (though often heartbreaking) of indigenous peoples of the land.
Once a Warrior: How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home by Jake Wood:
I’ve always held a deep respect for our military, including my brother who served in Afghanistan and my Air Force grandfathers. This book helped me better understand the complexities of war and the extent of the sacrifices our service men and women face. I appreciated the light Jake shed on post-traumatic stress disorder and his own heartbreaking and heroic stories he shared to illustrate the mental anguish our warriors face.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green:
A book of thoughtful essays and trivia about being a human in 2022. An unexpected and delightful offering from the YA author of The Fault in Our Stars.
The Mother Tree: Discovering the Love and Wisdom of Our Divine Mother by Kathryn Knight Sonntag:
It’s hard to put words to this one. The author, who I was lucky enough to meet and interact with at a small book club discussion, has a lovely, peaceful presence about her that permeates her book. She’s a poet and a landscape architect, so the connections she draws between mother nature and Heavenly Mother are profound.
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O’Brien:
Fly Girls by Keith O’Brien was the best kind of history lesson. It tells the true stories of five American heroines who overcame the dangerous odds and overt sexism of aviation in the 20s and 30s to prove that women could fly too. This really tapped into my own family history of pilots and my fascination with aviation.
Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte:
A slow, poetic read, and a must for word-lovers like me.
The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life by Simran Jeet Singh:
“The Light We Give” shares the story and insights of Simran, a religion professor and national figure of equity and inclusion who combats racism by drawing on the teachings of connection and compassion from his Sikh faith tradition. Simran is an engaging, charming, witty storyteller and the principles in this book have the power to change us and the way we engage with others in a revolutionary way.
A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline:
I read this book in three days and am shelving it as a new favorite. It’s based on the famous Andrew Wyeth painting, “Christina’s World,” which I’ve always felt intrigued (even haunted) by whenever I’ve seen it. I loved being immersed in mid-century America in an isolated farmhouse on the coast of Maine, and in the life of the main character who is alone but constantly surrounded by the legacy of her ancestors, her physical ailments, and dreams of a bigger life. After reading the author’s notes at the end, I was surprised by how much of the novel was based in fascinating fact (including the main character’s ties to key players in the Salem Witch Trails).
Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May:
This book resonated with me just as deeply as Wintering did. It gently and beautifully guides us to reignite the innate spark of hope, wonder, even magic, that became buried for so many of us through the challenges of recent years.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey:
There are parts of this book that didn’t sit well with me (glorified abuse and hyperbolized stories), but I ended up finding it very entertaining. Matthew McConaughey is a charming storyteller, to be sure. The southern accent helps.
Writing for Bliss by Diana Raab, PhD:
This book reminded me why I write and the wisdom in approaching creative work with the wonder and curiosity of a beginner’s mind. I felt akin to Diana as I read her story and the way she utilizes writing to find healing for herself and others. While she specializes in memoir, this book is a nice overview of the writing process in any genre. The companion journal is wonderful, too.
To Speak for the Trees by Diana Beresford-Kroger:
This book is the true story of an Irish woman who became orphaned as a child and was taken under the wing of elders in Ireland who taught her the ancient and sacred Celtic traditions of deeply knowing, caring for, and benefiting from the land, especially trees. The author is now a world-recognized botanist and medical biochemist. Her story powerfully conveys both the scientific and ineffable qualities of nature and left me feeling more deeply connected with the world around me.
The Stories We Tell by Joanna Gaines:
As a longtime journaler and storyteller, I loved listening to this.
Want to see what I read last year? Check it out:
Loved this list! I always look forward to your year-end reviews!