It’s way too late in the year to be writing this post. It might as well be May. It’s gonna be May, as they say. But I’ll give myself a pass to write this top books in 2022 post because somehow after not doing it for at least 3 days, I find myself still thinking about it. Still thinking I might actually do it, still thinking I might actually enjoy it.
Today is the 43rd day since I’ve been on my full dose of Fluoxetine (basically Prozac for those of you not running in those circles). Well, it’s the 43rd day minus those 5 days I flew to London and forgot to pack them.
The point is, I’m feeling better and the thought that I might write a small something and post it to my website, for the first time since last April when I un-ironically (at the time) posted something titled “Coming Back Swinging” – don’t bother looking for it, I’ve since taken it down.
So that’s why I’m here. But what sparked the thought, the desire, to actually write this was reading Nevada by Imogen Binnie. That book whose pages are saved in my Photos. That book that I sent to my family’s group chat. That book.
The message, the simplicity of the writing, and the wealth of a seldom-heard perspective are all reasons why reading this book, I couldn’t stop wishing that everyone would read it. Here is just the first snippet that I saved myself for later:
“Eventually you can’t help but figure out that, while gender is a construct, so is a traffic light, and if you ignore either of them, you get hit by cars. Which, also, are constructs.”
Imogen Binnie in Nevada
With that, here are some of my favorite books I read last year and some assorted notes and thoughts that I will not dignify by calling reviews.
Top Books in 2022
** drum roll…. **
Lessons in Chemistry
I actually just lent this book to my friend Elizabeth, knowing that she would love it. I knew she would love it because it’s the story of an intelligent, chemist-turned-cooking-show-host who follows the rules, just not society’s rules.
Asking what she thinks so far, Elizabeth says.. no comment for now because it’s Shabbat. Bad timing lol.
Letters to my Weird Sisters
I see a lot of myself in this book. A thoughtful conversation with women from throughout history that didn’t fit in, whether they tried to or not. I’m quite sure that I’ll be rereading this one, if not this year then next year.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
This was a really fun one for me. Yes, romantic comedy, but make it about two socially awkward people that don’t really get anyone except each other. Awww.
Detransition, Baby
It was good. Honestly, I don’t remember too many of the specifics.
Tender is the Flesh
Just a funky ol’ dystopian novel where people are raised as cattle and fed to the rich (aka, opposite of eat the rich). Money was less the focus, it was more of I think the moral(ish) question, pointed to the government, of how they got there and why. Also just, how do you live in a society like that? Or worse, how do you work in the friggin’ slaughterhouse?
Convenience Store Woman
This one was an interesting glimpse into not only another perspective but the impact of that perspective, of that life, within another culture. I definitely recommend, it was a page-turner for me.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
This one would make the perfect play. In fact, I’m going to look up if it’s been adapted… Ok yah. The story originally began as a play but was then adapted into a novel. It’s fantastic and thought-provoking. (In case you hate plays or something, I mainly say that because the plot essentially forces this coffeehouse to be the only setting for the story. Intriguing, no?)
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Overall it’s just a solid book, solid novel, very engaging. For anyone that loves video games, it’s a must-read (I’m guessing here, I don’t actually play video games). I just remember that it was one of those books that I put down rarely before finishing within a couple of days. I hate it when that happens, but also, I love it when that happens.