A Long List of Books From 2022
During the last week of the year, I put together a list of books I enjoyed reading. This year, there's a bit of literary fiction and non-fiction on here, but it is mostly science fiction and fantasy since that's most of the book-shaped media I consume.
There's a handy dandy graphic if you just want to look at the books. This year, I'm also including book descriptions and categories that go beyond the fiction/ non-fiction binary!
Here we go:
The No Plot Just Vibes gang
to fall into a lush world is a uniquely bookish luxury
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
A monk having an existential crisis meets a robot who wants to learn about humanity. This is a cozy little book that feels like a warm hug from your best friend.
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
There were people, some things happened to them. It doesn't really matter what. You know you're in the hands of a master storyteller. Just trust her and let the world wash over you. Go in blind, come out dazed.
Following up with Sea of Tranquility is optional. That has a bit more of a plot, but that's not why you go to ESJM.
The Speculative Family
because what's more fun than the chosen "one"? the weird complicated family, of course
The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
Some families have dark secrets, you have a magic grandma who is not really a secret, but is unfortunately dying. She has invited you and the entire clan to come claim your inheritance. Cue the long overdue family reunion with cousins and estranged uncles and an epic journey that no one saw coming.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
Woman's father is in the hospital dying from an unexplained illness. Woman falls asleep on her 40th birthday, wakes up on her 16th. It's a simple synopsis, and you think you know the shape of this story. The execution still blew my mind.
We are Satellites by Sarah Pinkser
A story of a family dealing with new technology. Instead of a new phone, however, it is a brain chip that helps you multitask and makes you more productive. Social commentary in science fiction form.
Light Years From Home by Mike Chen
Siblings are complicated too - especially if one of them was abducted by aliens, another spent her life searching for him, and the third one is really done with everyone's shit because she's left picking up the pieces.
Making Art, The Universe and the Meaning of Everything
some people try to make sense of the big stuff
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
This book has been everywhere this year and for good reason! Some friends make a video game. What follows is history, and also the rest of rest of their lives.
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
A runaway teen, a music teacher with a deal with hell, and an alien family running a donut shop, all in Los Angeles. Need I say more?
This book defies categorisation
How High We Go In The Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
I've never read anything like this before and I'm at a loss for words on how to describe it. It's a series of short stories set in the same world. The world has a pandemic that kills most people it touches. It is a book about death, but also about life because you can't really have one without the other. I think about this one at least once a week.
Bonus books:
because why not?
The Rom-Com Section
mostly the rom less com tbh
The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod
Factually Entertaining Real Life Things
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
A Swim in a Pond in The Rain by George Saunders
The Zoologist's Guide To the Galaxy by Arik Kershenbaum
Until next time,
Divyansha