Time to Vote for PBT's Top 10 Reads of 2022

[Nicole R]

Karin wrote: "Okay, 5 star books this year, new-to-me and repeats so I might reach 10! Some are not going to be contenders, obviously. Other than the first one, this is in reverse order of when I read them in 20..."

Oof. Cloud Cuckoo Land is up for me in very early 2023! One of my good friends loved it. I hope I like it more than you!

[Nicole R]

Shelly wrote: "Deacon King Kong -- McBride
The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian -- Alexie
Cloud Cuckoo Land -- Doerr
The Lincoln Highway -- Towles
Anxious People -- Backman
The Island of Missing Trees --..."

Ha! And literaly the next post had Cloud Cuckoo in the top 10. Looking forward to reading it.

I also keep hearing about The Island of Missing Trees. Off to check that out...

[Nicole R]

SouthWestZippy wrote: "Finding Chika - Albom
The Pale Faced Lie -Crow
The Blessing of the Animals -Gonzalez
Finding Me - Davis
Deadly Target- Adams
E.R. Nurses- Patterson and Eversmann
The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering ..."

Finding Me is going on the list. I will probably listen to it on audio as I bet Davis reads it...

[Nicole R]

Ellen wrote: "Bodies of Water - T. Greenwood
Hour of the Witch - Chris Bohjalian
The Great Unexpected - Dan Mooney
The Hidden One - Linda Castillo
The Maid - Nita Prose
Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah
A Street Ca..."

A good friend of mine loves T. Greenwood and I have never read anything by them. I might need to change that.

And Get a Life, Chloe Brown is not a favorite of mine, but is very representative of most of the books I read this year. lol

[Nicole R]

anarresa wrote: "The Kaiju Preservation Society - Scalzi
Yes, I'm Hot in This: The Hilarious Truth about Life in a Hijab - Fahmy
The Wolves of Leninsky Prospekt - Armstrong
The Curse of Chalion - Bujold
Get a Life,..."

I love it when back to back posts have the same book listed, but one as least favorite and the other as favorite! lol

Have you read the other books that follow Chloe Brown? I read all three of them this year and I think Dani Brown was my favorite.

[Nicole R]

Charlie wrote: "In no particular order:

Palace of Treason - Matthews
Nick - Farris Smith
Groundskeeping - Cole
Mr. Mercedes - King
Razorblade Tears - Cosby
Five Decembers - Kestrel
Constant Gardener - le Carre
T..."

Interesting on The Swimmers. I ultimately did not read it because it had such mixed reviews but now I am intrigued.

Have you read anything else by Philbrick? I haven't read Travels with George but just started his book about Bunker Hill.

[Nicole R]

Linda C wrote: "In no particular order

Rose Code - Quinn
Lincoln Highway - Towles
A Lady in the Smoke - Odden
Deacon King Kong - McBride
Dinner with Edward - Vincent
Persuasion - Austen
The Guncle - Rowley
Born a..."

I am sad to see Trevor Noah leave The Daily Show, but I hope that he writes a new book!

[Nicole R]

Jenni Elyse wrote: "The Midnight Library - Haig
Anxious People - Backman
Dear Emmie Blue - Louis
A River Enchanted - Ross
Every Summer After - Fortune
The Love Hypothesis - Hazelwood
The Magnolia Palace - Davis
Fangir..."

Loved Every Summer After! She has a new book coming out in May, Meet Me at the Lake. If it is not already on your TBR then for sure add it!

[Nicole R]

Cheryl wrote: "Verity - Hoover
All the Light We Cannot See - Doer
Our Souls at Night - Haruf
Salt to the Sea - Sepetys
Into Thin Air - Krakauer
Between Shades of Gray - Sepetys
Carrie Soto is Back - Reid
The Summ..."

Confession: I have never read Hoover! She is so wildly popular but the book descriptions just don't seem like something I would like. BUT, if I do give her a chance, Verity is totally the book I will go with.

[Nicole R]

Anne wrote: "Favorites in no particular order:

This Tender Land - Krueger
Remarkably Bright Creatures - Van Pelt
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow - Zevin
The Change -Miller
Agent Josephine: American Beauty..."

We Carry Their Bones...is that the true story of the school that inspired The Nickel Boys by Whitehead? I wasn't crazy about the Whitehead book, but the real-life story was horrific and I would like to do it justice by reading some nonfiction about it.

[Nicole R]

forsanolim wrote: "In no particular order:

Let's Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World - Friedman
Why We Swim - Tsui
Wild Rescues: A Paramedic's Extreme Adventures in Yosemite, Yellowsto..."

Totally checking out Spying on Whales! Wall has a book, Provenance, on her author page...I hope she is coming out with something new! I really liked Dearly Beloved.

[Nicole R]

annapi wrote: "I had to remove my 5-star re-reads to whittle it down to 10.

In reverse order of reading but otherwise in no particular order:

The Winners - Backman
The Winter of the Witch - Arden
The Girl in th..."

Other Birds was really good. It didn't make my Top 10 of the year, but it was a strong contender! I will read about anything from Allen.

[Nicole R]

Nicole wrote: "All Systems Red - Wells
Artificial Condition - Wells
Rogue Protocol - Wells
Exit Strategy - Wells
Network Effect - Wells
Fugitive Telemetry - Wells
Gideon the Ninth - Muir
Harrow the Ninth - Muir
1..."

Congratulations!

[Nicole R]

Rachel N. wrote: "Other Birds – Allen
The House in the Cerulean Sea – Klune
Suburban Dicks – Nicieza
John Adams – McCullough
The Keeper of Lost Things – Hogan
Shadow and Bone – Bardugo
Firekeeper’s Daughter – Boulle..."

Have you read Ninth House by Bardugo? It was a Top 10 for me the year I read it and I am getting ready to reread it in anticipation of the second book FINALLY coming out this month!

[Nicole R]

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Best reads:

Assassin's Apprentice - Hobb
Klara and the Sun - Ishiguro
Sea of Tranquility - St. John Mandel
In the Dream House - Machado
The Pillars of the Earth - Follett
Cloud Atlas - Mitchell
A..."

A friend of mine just finished Apples Never Fall and said it was really good! Moriarty is such a reliable entertainer.

[Nicole R]

Jen K wrote: "My top 10 for 2022:

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma - Foo
The Housekeeper and the Professor - Ogawa
Nettle & Bone - Kingfisher
True Biz - Novic
Know My Name - Miller
Bo..."

Nooo! I LOVED The Spanish Love Deception! lol That is totally my favorite genre. But I also loved Writers & Lovers ;)

I really need to get to Know My Name.

[Nicole R]

DianeMP wrote: "l. Lessons in Chemistry - Garmus
2. Station Eleven - Mandel
3. The Haunting of Hill House - Jackson
4. Greenlights - McCounaughey
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn
6. The Nightingale - Hannah
7. The..."

Greenlights on audio is one I HAVE to get to. Everyone who has read it raves about how unexpectedly great it was.

[Nicole R]

Anita wrote: "Definitely not my best reading year, but here's my favorites:

Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City - Elliott
I'm Glad My Mom Died - McCurdy
Between Two Kingdoms - Jaoua..."

So glad to see Writers & Lovers on your list!

[Nicole R]

KateNZ wrote: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Skloot
Project Hail Mary - Weir
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life - Kingsolver
Ordinary Grace - Krueger
A Gentleman in Moscow - Towles
The Feath..."

The Feather Thief was a favorite of mine too! Such a quirky little microhistory!

[Nicole R]

Nicole D. wrote: "I read some exceptional books this year, and I lean towards thinking the ones I read most recently were really the best, but as I look at my list I know that can't be true. But I really really love..."

Ooo, good to see the McCarthys! I want to read those but am dragging my feet for some reason. Maybe because there are two and that feels like a commitment?

[Nicole R]

Book Concierge wrote: "Well, of the 165 books I read this year, exactly 10 got 5-stars, so that made choosing my top ten a little easier. Three are re-reads, but so be it.

Ask Again, Yes - Keane
The Sweetness of Water -..."

Ask Again, Yes was great! I love multigenerational family stories.

[Nicole R]

Lyn wrote: "My favorite reads of 2022:

The Book of Magic - Hoffman
The Dutch House - Patchett
Plainsong - Haruf
Magic Hour - Hannah
Lessons in Chemistry - Garmus
Pachinko - Lee
Marie Curie and Her Daughters -..."

I just got Pachinko as a gift! I hope to get to it sooner rather than later.

[Nicole R]

Raine wrote: "Wish You Were Here - Piccoult
The Maid - Prose
The Last House on the Street - Chamberlain
Malibu Rising - Jenkins Reid
The Hired Man - Forna
Daisy Darker - Feeney
In Five Years - Serle
The Lost Apo..."

Nothing under 3 stars?!?! That is excellent book selection!

[Nicole R]

Hannah wrote: "My favourite reads of 2022:

Lessons in Chemistry - Garmus
March Book 2 - Lewis
The Personal Librarian - Benedict and Murray
Our Woman in Moscow - Williams
Salt Houses - Alyan
Of Women and Salt - G..."

I love Williams's books. I read her new release every summer.

[Anita]

Nicole R wrote: "Anita wrote: "Definitely not my best reading year, but here's my favorites:

Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City - Elliott
I'm Glad My Mom Died - McCurdy
Between Two Ki..."

So fun to see you, Nicole! Yes, I think that was my first read of last year, so hopefully get off to a similar good start this year.

[Joanne]

It is fun to see you Nicole, and I hope sometime you will have time to give us one of your wonderful steamy reviews! I have missed them😂

[Robin P]

Nicole R wrote: "Jenny wrote: "In no particular order!

A Gentleman in Moscow - Towles
The Priory of the Orange Tree - Shannon
Blood and Sand - Gardner
Braiding Sweetgrass - Kimmerer
The Poisonwood Bible - Kingsolv..."

I put off reading Braiding Sweetgrass, thinking it would be some preachy book about ecology. It is a beautifully written book that mixes Native American mythology and practice, science, and memoir.

[LibraryCin]

Nicole R wrote: "LOVED Madam Tussaud when I read it a few years ago. I literally knew nothing about her! That also reminds me that I really like Moran's books....I need to see if she has anything new..."

I wanted to nominate her last year for Who's PBT's Favourite, but I think I've real all hers already, so I didn't. I might have had an ally in Amy had I done so. Amy, I think you really like Michelle Moran, too, if I'm remembering correctly?

Unless she has any newer books. I should check this, too.

[Nicole R]

Joanne wrote: "It is fun to see you Niole, and I hope sometime you will have time to give us one of your wonderful steamy reviews! I have missed them😂"

I only wrote a handful of reviews last year and my goal this year is to get back to writing them!

[Booknblues]

Nicole R wrote: "I only wrote a handful of reviews last year and my goal this year is to get back to writing them! ..."

Yay! We would love to see more of you.

[LibraryCin]

My top 10 (4.25+ stars):

Alone Together: A Pandemic Photo Essay - Hennel
The Great Alone - Hannah
The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest - McAllister
Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees - Fouts
Pit Bull: The Battle Over and American Icon - Dicky
The Castleton Massacre: Survivors’ Stories of the Killins Femicide - Cook, Carson
The Testaments - Atwood
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? - Chast
All Together Now - Doyle
The Council of Twelve - Potzsch

Honourable mentions (4.25 stars):
Breathless / Amy McCulloch
A Tap on the Window / Linwood Barclay

Dishonourable mention (1 star):
The Lacuna / Barbara Kingsolver
+ seven 2-star books

[Karin]

Robin P wrote: "Also amusing that some people's top books include someone else's least favorite!"

Yes! I have a least favourite that shows up in at least two people's favourite books.

I love it when people put in books that have been in my favourites in past years.

[Nicole D.]

Nicole R wrote: "Nicole D. wrote: "I read some exceptional books this year, and I lean towards thinking the ones I read most recently were really the best, but as I look at my list I know that can't be true. But I ..."

they aren't long

[Anne]

Nicole R wrote: "Anne wrote: "Favorites in no particular order:

Yes, We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys is the true account of the Dozier School for Boys, it's very well done.

[Hayjay315]

Harry's Trees - Cohen
The Narrowboat Summer - Youngson
The Keeper of Happy Endings - Davis
The Cartographers - Shepherd
The Giver of Stars - Moyes
West with The Night - Markham
Dictionary of Lost Words - Williams
On Gin Lane - Foster
The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti - Probst
Book Lovers - Henry

These are in order starting with my Book of the Year and working on down. This was not a strong reading year for me, but the books in this top 10 provided unforgettable characters and some great adventures!

Honorable Mentions:
The Maid- Prose
Bloomsbury Girls- Jenner

Least Favorite: Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?
This had been one of my most anticipated books of 2022 but ended up being a letdown due to multiple characters supposedly in their 30's coming across more like early 20-year-olds.

[NancyJ]

Hayjay315 wrote: "

Least Favorite: Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?
."
Aw, that's too bad, The title always makes me smile.

My bookclub really enjoyed Harry's Trees, and I also oved Giver of Stars

[Doughgirl5562]

Carolina Moonset - Matt Goldman
Unwind - Neal Shusterman
Drums of Autumn - Diana Gabaldon
The Violence Project - Jillian Peterson
The Island of Sea Women - Lisa See
The Kitchen Boy - Robert Alexander
The Feather Thief - Kirk Johnson
Original Sin - P.D. James
The Last Templar - Michael Jecks

[NancyJ]

DONE

Favorite Books read in 2022
Here are some books that delighted, moved, informed, puzzled, or impressed me this year.

When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm - Bogdanich
The Year of the Flood - Atwood
Sorrow and Bliss - Mason
The World That We Knew - Hoffman
The Round House - Erdrich
Search - Huneven
Sea of Tranquility - St. John Mandel
The Winners - Backman
[The last two keep changing!]
Cantoras - de Robertis
True Biz - Novic

Honorable mention

Small Things Like These - Keegan
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy - Ford
If I Stay - Forman
These Precious Days: Essays- Patchett
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life - Kingsolver

Least Favorites:
The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women
We are the Weather -Foer - The first half was great, the second half was a mess

[NancyJ]

Anita wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Here are some books that delighted, moved, informed, puzzled, or impressed me this year. I'll take a closer look -and reformat - after I get caught up with my reviews. Or January 3rd..."

I just saw this note. I reposted my list. Thanks.

[Anita]

NancyJ wrote: "Anita wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Here are some books that delighted, moved, informed, puzzled, or impressed me this year. I'll take a closer look -and reformat - after I get caught up with my reviews. ..."

Thanks!!

[NancyJ]

Nicole R wrote: "Kateloves2read wrote: "I had a horrible reading year and most of my books are three stars and below.

However, my top five favorites are:

Persuasion-Austen
Studmuffin Santa-Fenske ( best title a..."

My book club is reading Mr. Dickens and His Carol. I think it’s similar to the movie you mentioned. I reread A Christmas Carol this season and I enjoyed it a lot. A 4 year gap between readings was long enough to make some of it feel new.

[Anita]

**Last day to submit your top 10**

Please help us decide our top books for this year!

[NancyJ]

Nicole R wrote: "In no particular order:

Book Lovers - Henry
The Diamond Eye - Quinn
Horse - Brooks
Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality - Brown-Nagin
Carrie Soto is Back - Reid..."

I have several of these waiting on deck. I’m excited about Horse. I was resistant to Lessons in Chemistry, but it’s looking wise that I got on a waitlist just in case I changed my mind. I’m adding the Motley bio to my tbr and tagged it Pbtmod for 15 candles.

[Nicole R]

NancyJ wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "In no particular order:

Book Lovers - Henry
The Diamond Eye - Quinn
Horse - Brooks
Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality - Brown-Nagin
Carrie So..."

I hope you like the Motley book! I was just amazed at everything she accomplished and, prior to reading the book, I had only heard her name in passing when reading about men of the Civil Rights era...

[anarresa]

Nicole R wrote: "anarresa wrote: ...

Just read Chloe Brown for the challenge and really liked the main characters. If more in the series (universe? since it's different people) come up within the group challenges and such I may read more.

[Anita]

**Voting is now closed! Stay tuned for the results**