My Year in Books: 2022

 2022 Reading Wrap-Up

My initial reading goal for 2022 was 144 books. 

It will shock folks not at all to know I blew past it and read at least 204, or more than 68,800 pages (averaging more than 188 pages a day). 

The shortest title was a short story by Craig Johnson from his Longmire series, titled "Divorce Horse." The longest was by Elizabeth George from her Inspector Lynley mystery series, "A Traitor to Memory."

At least 141 of the books I read were part of a book series or trilogies. Of the books read, 26 belong to me. The rest I borrowed from my library. I failed to track digital vs. physical book copies this year. 

My records show 24 of the books read in 2022 were titles I've read before, but there are probably at least 10 books I read again that I didn't track. 

This year, I read 155 books written by female authors, 42 by males, and six books written by people of multiple genders or who identify as non-binary. 

While I didn't track LGBTQ titles this year, I went on a reading spree of books in August after learning about an attempt to censor books at my library, which is a hybrid of a public and school library. There are less than a dozen of school/public libraries in Michigan, and most are in the U.P. It all started with people complaining about the Pride Month display of books in June. The superintendent and school board caved to pressure from church-affiliated people and the display was taken down. I've learned that there probably won't be Black or Women's History Month displays as those are considered "too" political. I'll continue to monitor what happens, as censorship pushes almost all of my buttons. 

Genres By the Numbers

Romance - 24

Mystery - 116

SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal - 21

Non-Fiction - 11

Young Adult/Children - 16

Authors I read the most:

Juliet Blackwell: 18

Two cozy-style mystery series with a paranormal focus, both set in or near San Francisco. 

Joseph Heywood: 15

One stand-alone title and mysteries from two series, both set in the Upper Peninsula featuring DNR officers. Excellent books, although one title opens with a twist that is gut-wrenching. The author spends time in the summers in Alberta, now owned by Michigan Tech, but was a community started by Henry Ford to support the lumber industry for products used in his cars. I especially liked Red Jacket, set during the 1913 strike in the Copper Country. 

Ellery Adams: 11

Author of cozy mysteries, multiple series, most book or writing-related

Nevada Barr: 8

Mysteries set in national parks; a series recommended to me by a friend. Thanks, Courtney!

Dolores Johnson: 8

A cozy mystery series set in Denver centered around a woman who owns a dry-cleaning business. All re-reads as I intend to weed the books from my collection. I'll may try to sell the series as a set but will probably donate them to my library's annual book sale.

Beverly Jenkins: 6

Sweet and fun contemporary romances set in Kansas, centered around a woman who rains money on a town she bought.  

 

Elizabeth George: 6

Continuing to read the Lynley series and am low-key grateful to have been spoiled for the twist that happens to a recurring character. 

Agatha Christie: 4

Wanted to read Murder on the Orient Express before watching a movie version of it. 

Carola Dunn: 4

Cozy mysteries set in the UK after World War 1 with a female journalist

Susan Wittig Albert: 4

Mysteries with a plant focus, one set in modern times in Texas with a herbalist, and another series set in the Depression in the Deep South

Christine Trent: 4 

Mysteries set in the UK in the Victorian Age featuring a female mortuary owner. 

Best Books of 2022

"What the Devil Knows" and "When Blood Lies" by C.S. Harris

I cannot say enough about this mystery series set in Regency England (although one of these books takes place in Paris right around the time Napoleon escaped). It follows a nobleman and his feminist wife who solve mysteries (the series started with the main character working to exonerate himself). It features memorable side characters and an ongoing trace of mystery rooted in learning the truth of the main character's origins. 

"Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone" by Diana Gabaldon

I regret inhaling this book, part of the Outlander series, after waiting too many years for it to be released. Jamie is one of my favorite book boyfriends, but I love Claire and their daughter too. 

"I Take My Coffee Black" by Tyler Merrit

A memoir by a man who shares how going to a dramatic arts school in Las Vegas and his faith helped shape him. Follow the author on Facebook, and check out some of his videos. 

"A Sunlit Weapon" by Jacqueline Winspear

The latest in the Maisie Dobbs series, set in the UK in the 1930s featuring a female detective who worked as a nurse in WW1, and who got her start as a maid in an upper-class household. Absolutely one of my favorite book series as it hits so many of my favorite tropes and settings: female lead, set in the UK (possibly rooted in my Cornish ancestry), and in the time period between both World Wars. 

"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles

Another recommendation from a friend. (Thanks again, Courtney), featuring a nobleman on "house" arrest in a hotel who goes from living in a suite to a room in the hotel attic after becoming a person of interest.

"The Investigator" by John Sandford

A new series, featuring the adopted daughter of his Lucas Davenport character who is offered a job with Homeland Security. Most of the book is set in Texas as Letty and her partner investigate oil theft and work to free a community held hostage by homegrown terrorists.

Honorable mentions this year go to books by Charles Todd and Sara Paretsky. I fell behind in the V.I. Warchowski series by Paretsky and am catching up. Still love the main character and recognizing the places she goes around Chicago. The mysteries by Todd are set in the UK. Todd was the pseudonym for a mother/son writing team, but the Mom passed away. Hopefully the sun will continue both series, one featuring a Scotland Yard detective and the other a nurse, both set in the UK during or after the first World War. 

I usually have at least once romance to include on this list, but of the few dozen titles in that genre that I read this year, nothing really jumped out at me. A decade ago, 86 of the 233 books I read in 2012 were romances. I suspect that I've become jaded after so many years of a nearly complete lack of a dating life.