Best books 2022

It’s been a good year for reading. While I engaged with a number of new authors, about half what I read were actually re-reads - including a few on my “best of” list below. I probably read more non-fiction than usual, including what might be described as self-help books (heaven knows, I need all the self-help I can get). I read quite a bit of sci-fi, but so many of the books were dystopian and I grew tired of the darkness. Happy that Goodreads is a convenient way for me to record and remember the books that I read.

A few of my favorites:

1. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. Historical fiction set in Restoration England and the American Colonies about two “regicides” being hunted by an agent of Charles II. Lots of gritty detail about the time period including the Fire of London, the Plague and nasty executions. Harris is one of my favorite historical fiction writers.

2. Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russel Shorto. Re-read this on a visit to Amsterdam, rediscovering what in history makes the Netherlands so different from its European neighbors and how collective goals and interdependence can lead to a positive society.

3. Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon. Another re-read that inspired me to do a better job of paying attention to the small towns through which I drive. Heat-Moon’s lyrical language, vivid descriptions, and historical knowledge make this a genuine classic.

4. By Force Alone by Lavie Tidhar. Fascinating re-telling of the Arthurian story, with Arthur as a London gang member. Don’t expect much heroism or other positive characteristics from this cast. 

5. Cougar Claw by Cary J. Griffith. USFW agent Sam Rivers is back on the job in this second Minnesota-set mystery. Clever plot and great characters (plus local interest for me) kept me reading.

6. Lessons from Lucy by Dave Barry. I listened to this one as an audiobook and am glad I did. Barry narrates his semi-comic, semi-profound observations of lessons he has learned about leading a better life. 

7. Man Overboard by Craig L Bowron MD. This book by Mayo clinic physician, does a great job in succinctly describing men’s aging bodies and their most common ailments. Understandable and not sensational and with a lot of dumb Dad jokes to keep it lighthearted.

8. The Mapmaker’s Wife by Robert Whitaker. After personally spending a few nights in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest, I could relate to this history of explorations of South America by early 18th century French scientists trying to determine the circumference of the globe. Toward the end of the book, the wife of one of the explorers sets out on a harrowing cross-continent trek to locate her husband. Good jungle tale. 

9. Sex in the Sea by Marah J. Hardt. A fascinating nonfiction series of tales about the reproductive life of marine creatures. Hardt takes what could be a tedious subject and injects it with life and humor. Good reading while snorkeling off the Galapagos.

10. Wild Prey by Brian Klingborg. I love mystery stories in which the detective is moral but operating in a corrupt society. Set in modern day Communist China, Lui Fei tracks down a missing woman, the authorities really don’t want found.

What, Blue Skunk readers, have been your favorite reads of the year?

Thanks to Miguel Guhlin and Scott McLeod for sharing their lists of favorite books and my friends on Goodreads for posting the titles and reviews of their current reads.