Completion Reading Challenge for 2022 (with Links to Reviews)
I read 66 books this year and had about ten favorites. How about you?
5 Star Books
Small Things Like These (Book Review)
This short, wonderful read takes place over a couple days before Christmas, but is not a usual Christmas story.
Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down (Book Review with Quotes)
This is not religious content, as much as common sense, distilled down to its essence.
Picasso’s War (Book Review)
This is a remarkable book describing in detail how two men in succession championed the coming of abstract art to America.
Art Supplies (Book Review with Quotes, Contacts, and Photos)
This is one of the best books I read this year. I endorse it with a hearty five stars!
A Beautiful Blue Death (Book Review)
This book strikes just the right note for my taste in a good mystery read.
Sapiens (Book Review)
This book is a major achievement; it is very readable while simultaneously being the work of rare brilliance.
Once Upon a River (Book Review)
A bit of a moody, misty mystery, slightly fantastical, and with totally excellent and satisfying writing, I give this unique read 5 stars.
Remarkably Bright Creatures (Book Review)
Marcellus, an octopus, is one of the main characters in this charming novel, and he he steals the show in this satisfying read.
What I Carry (Book Review with Quotes)
This fresh, wonderful coming of age story is about a teen about to age out of the foster care system.
Ain’t Burned All the Bright (Book Review)
This book is a powerful rendition of what it felt like to be black in America during the pandemic and the violence that spawned the Black Lives Matters movement.
The Priory of the Orange Tree (Book Review)
At 804 pages this novel is quite an undertaking, but I loved both Ead and Tané, and was glad to follow them into the Abyss, only to emerge triumphant and satisfied.
The Splendid and the Vile (Book Review)
This is a wonderful, factual, social history of a difficult time, and the unusual man who pulled everyone through.
Pray Like a Gourmet (Book Review)
It is no surprise that I’d love the fusion between creativity and spirituality, but our whole book group loved this book too, and said they will continue to refer to it in the future
These Precious Days (Book Review)
Ann Patchett’s level of authenticity is exemplary, and how she cherishes her friends with openness and presence is inspiring.
Larry Gonik’s Cartoon Guide Series (Book Recommendations)
My philosophy to being a homeschooling mother was that if they were having fun while learning something, they’d be more inclined to remember it.
The Lincoln Highway (Book Review)
This is a diverting, circuitous, multi-layered, coming of age escapade, written extraordinarily well.