This year I went through a MAJOR reading slump. I honestly don’t know what happened but it was pretty rough for me. It was something that lingered throughout the year, and made me have a lot of trouble getting through books, including some that I was really excited about. Last year, I said I wanted to stop comparing myself, but this really wasn’t helping.
Despite my slump, I did manage to pull through before the end of the year and ended up reading 44 books. Trust me, I was shocked. But the slump was more about getting through books, and got harder the longer the book was. I also attempted to participate in two readathons which I had never done before. I always shy away from them because I know I have trouble sticking to TBRs and don’t read quickly. And even though I didn’t meet the targets, I still had some fun doing them. I also received review copies and requested ARCs for the first time, which was also cool. Goes to show that even when things don’t go according to plan, something good can still come out of it.
I explored a lot of categories and genres this year. I usually stick to fantasy and realistic fiction, but branching out helped me discover more about my tastes. For one, I apparently like graphic novels that are nonfiction, and before I only thought I was interested in the fiction side of this category.
Ok, now let’s move into my favorites for the year. Given I didn’t really read that much more in the second half of the year, some of these books should be no surprise after my mid-year book freak out. At the same time, this is the first time I have this many favorites to talk about, so grab a blanket and get comfy!
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
☆☆☆☆ | My Review
The Folk of the Air remains one of my all-time favorite series. This novella’s latest installment follows Cardan giving you insight into his past and what he was up to during the series. I did really enjoy revisiting some moments and piecing together events. However, I wish we got to see his interactions with characters after the series ended some more. Cardan is telling his side of the story and in a way simultaneously explains how he came to be the prince we meet in The Cruel Prince and then later grew to be the king we know in The Queen of Nothing. It was a nice addition to the series and my first read of the year.
Before The Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
☆☆☆☆☆ | My Review
When I said this was one of the best books I’d read back in September, I meant it. Written in prose, this book follows ZJ whose father is his hero, as well as the hero of the community and many sports lovers. But what happens when this hero becomes a different person? ZJ’s father is a charming and beloved football player who begins to show signs of CTE along with his teammates in the late 90s. As ZJ’s mother and the team look for answers, he feels helpless. One thing I loved about this book was the exploration of male relationships. ZJ’s relationship with his father, his father’s teammates (who are like family to him), and his friends are all extremely important to him and the story. I also enjoyed that the novel is told in verse, because ZJ loves music the way his father loves football, and we can see how he processes his thoughts and emotions in his own way.
Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo
☆☆☆☆☆
This was one of my other best reads of the year. I picked up this book because I was interested in how it explored identity. Nima constantly feels misunderstood by those around her. Everyone has their own idea of who she is, and there are plenty of expectations that come with them. She creates a perfect version of herself in her mind with the name her parents originally planned to give her, Yasmeen. Yasmeen is a good daughter and student, she doesn’t stand out in her town, and she is connected to her heritage. This book uses magical realism to explore the relationships and choices that have shaped who Nima is and who she can choose to become. It was a great read.
i am the rage by Martina McGowan
☆☆☆☆☆
“I am the glowing embers you continue to poke and prod with meanness.” For me poetry is usually a hit or a miss. However, this collection is one that I found particularly moving. i am the rage is a collection of poems by Dr. Martina McGowan a retired MD reflecting on current events in America during the pandemic. This short collection is emotional, unique, and powerful.
Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser, Illustrated by Robyn Smith
☆☆☆☆ | My Review
I received Wash Day Diaries as an eARC through Netgalley. This graphic novel follows four young women as they navigate various issues in their lives using doing hair – either their own or someone else’s – as a vehicle. I was drawn in by the title including the term “Wash Day” because iykyk. I did want to explore the struggles we are introduced to in each woman’s life a bit more, especially those who were having a particularly rough time. For example, one character is struggling a lot mentally, but when we move on to the next chapters, which focus on new characters, we don’t hear about her issues again. I suppose this makes sense since she is no longer the focus, but they are all in the same friend group and a major theme was how supportive of one another they were. Another thing I loved about this book was the artwork. I am now on the lookout for more work from Robyn Smith as well as Jamila Rowser.
Renegades
☆☆☆☆.5
Ok, Renegades was definitely a book I was sleeping on! I was always interested but never picked it up. And boy do I regret not reading it sooner. The constant pull between who are the true heroes and villains in the story makes it so engaging. This is heightened by the dual POV of two characters who are starting to question what they have been told and what they believe. In this world, people have special abilities. Due to the destruction of society, there have been waves of villains and heroes. Currently, the heroes, or Renegades, are in charge and the villains, which include groups like the Anarchists, are just trying to survive. Nova is an Anarchist and Adrian is a Renegade. Both are tied to the leadership of their groups, both have faced tragedy, and both want answers. Plus they have secret identities which was a lot of fun. One of my favorite things about the book is that Adrian is not the typical intense, brooding male character that I find in a lot of fantasy books. He’s very warm and kind to those around them and is a pretty dynamic character. I also like that Nova is so skilled but she doesn’t think that those who aren’t are any less than her. I am super excited to continue the series!
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults
☆☆☆☆☆ | My Review
Since I was interested in the original version of this book, when I saw this adaptation on Netgalley I was pretty excited. Robin Wall Kimmerer gives ecological lessons based on her various experiences from her culture, life, and training as a botanist. While the book highlights Indigenous cultures and practices, we are reminded to take lessons without appropriating which I appreciated. I think this is a great book for really anyone to read, but this adaptation is certainly one that I would have loved when I was younger. I plan to read the original and compare the two versions in the future.
The Tiger Came to the Mountains by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
☆☆☆☆☆
I have wanted to read Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work for some time now, but haven’t gotten around to it. So when I saw this short story I decided to pick it up. The Tiger Came to the Mountains is told by a young girl who is living during the Mexican Revolution. When her mother sends her and her brother to retrieve food from one of their hidden spots in the mountains, they quickly realize that a tiger is following them. They need to find a way to survive and come back home, but the tiger isn’t their only obstacle. I absolutely loved the way Moreno-Garcia created an entire world in just a few short pages, it felt like I was reading an entire novel instead of a short story. I can’t wait to read her other books.
2023 Reading Goals:
In 2023, I have a few goals. For one, I would like to embrace DNF’ing books more often. I checked and realized I have only done so for about 5 books since 2018. I would like to think it’s because I’m good at picking books I’ll like, but I know that I’m actually forcing myself to give books a chance. I keep thinking “Well what if it gets better later?” Spoiler alert…many times it did not.
Next, I want to actually keep up with my reviews. When I finish a book, I am not ready to review it. I need a little bit to think things over, but then I end up taking too long and I start to forget things. 😭 It would make a lot of things, like writing posts like these, so much easier. I also want to read more new releases and try to get more ARCs. 🤞🏾
Finally, I want to read more of the books I already own. I think the pressure of not having to return a book to the library makes me less inclined to pick it up. But with my collection growing I definitely want to make this more of a priority. Plus I usually buy books that I am really excited about, so it is a shame that they end up sitting on my shelf for so long.
Honorable mentions:
Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans | 1919 by Eve L. Ewing | March by John Lewis | Star Child by Ibi Zoboi | The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani | And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman | The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang | A League of Extraordinary Women series by Evie Dunmore
-Tatyana x
What did you love reading in 2022?
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