Daniel Nayeri. Everything Sad is Untrue. I wept more than I laughed, but I did chuckle here and there. What a man, to write this. To go through all that and stay intact. It challenged me to begin to redefine hope. After I read it I went back to the beginning and read the quote by Fyodor Dostoyevski. And hoped with him. One more thing, I read it on your recommendation. Thank you, Lore.
I read Glittering Images more than 20 years ago. I need to read it again. My favorite book this year was North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I was blown away. Could hardly put it down. I’m going to read more Gaskell in 2023.
Everything Sad is Untrue was every bit as wonderful as people told me it was, and way funnier. I don't think I've both laughed and cried more in any book I've every read. Acceptance by Emi Nietfield is also at the top of my list for this year. She writes about the tension of making yourself seem resilient to those who want to hear it while also being in the trenches of survival. So so beautiful.
Thanks for this list! The Sparrow is absolutely one of my favorite books. Also, I’m not sure I could ever read it again, it’s so harrowing. One of my favorites of the year is Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr: a love letter to libraries and good stories.
One of my favorites too, and also, yes, so harrowing. It, in a sense, haunts me. I think you will understand what I mean by that. I haven't read Cloud Cuckoo Land yet, but I have loved all his other books and so I know I will.
Anyone who has ears around me is going to be recommended Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It is a heartwrenching, beautiful, human and empathetic story. I felt so strongly for Damon and everything he experienced. There are so many sections I had to reread and just sit with. A truly remarkable book.
I will try to read some of these over winter break!
I am a big memoir/biography person, so two that left me thinking and mulling were “Uncultured” by Daniella Mestyanek Young and “Hillbilly Elegy” by JD Vance. Idk if I’d ever recommend either as “the best books,” but both left me pondering the world and culture and our identities.
I have to tell you, my spiritual mentor and I are reading A Curious Faith together. THANKYOU for giving us the questions - some we didn't even know we had - and the space to ask them.
And my all time favorite book of 2022 by far was The Sound of Life's Unspeakable Beauty by Martin Schleske. You won't regret it.
I love this list! I've read a couple of these but have added a few more to my own TBR.
For myself, the most incandescent book I read this year (other than The Critical Journey, which Lore herself recommended) was Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby. This was the first book I read after self-diagnosing as autistic, but this book is not even close to being only about autism. It's a book by a comic who has done the deep work of therapy and self-acceptance. She is blisteringly funny, but her humor is a vehicle to speak truth to homophobia, neurodivergence, misogyny, etc. It's not for the faint of heart, but, if you love good memoirs that will make you laugh and cry, I can't recommend this enough.
Man, The Critical Journey has been one of the most affecting reads of my last few years too. I loved the Nanette show on Netflix, but didn't know there was a book about it! I'll check it out.
Absolutely perfect timing. My family is doing book exchanges for Christmas gifts and I need to decide today what to get them all. Thanks for making that easy for me! Hope you're having a great birthday Lore.
Daniel Nayeri. Everything Sad is Untrue. I wept more than I laughed, but I did chuckle here and there. What a man, to write this. To go through all that and stay intact. It challenged me to begin to redefine hope. After I read it I went back to the beginning and read the quote by Fyodor Dostoyevski. And hoped with him. One more thing, I read it on your recommendation. Thank you, Lore.
My book of the year is 12 rules for life by J Peterson. I loved the dry humour surprising me every now and then.
Middlemarch. I listened to the audiobook read by Juliet Stevenson- highly recommend.
I read Glittering Images more than 20 years ago. I need to read it again. My favorite book this year was North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I was blown away. Could hardly put it down. I’m going to read more Gaskell in 2023.
Everything Sad is Untrue was every bit as wonderful as people told me it was, and way funnier. I don't think I've both laughed and cried more in any book I've every read. Acceptance by Emi Nietfield is also at the top of my list for this year. She writes about the tension of making yourself seem resilient to those who want to hear it while also being in the trenches of survival. So so beautiful.
I haven't heard of that book yet. I'll check it out =)
Everything sad is untrue completely wrecked me. I literally remember where I was sitting when I finished it, tears streaming down my face. Gah.
I was driving as I finished listening and had to pull over to just gather myself together before continuing on. I'm so glad he wrote it.
Thanks for this list! The Sparrow is absolutely one of my favorite books. Also, I’m not sure I could ever read it again, it’s so harrowing. One of my favorites of the year is Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr: a love letter to libraries and good stories.
Cloud Cuckoo Land was in my top five, for sure. I didn’t know what was happening most of the time but I COULD. NOT. STOP. reading....
Agreed! That’s some good storytelling skills, right?
Oh one thousand percent.
One of my favorites too, and also, yes, so harrowing. It, in a sense, haunts me. I think you will understand what I mean by that. I haven't read Cloud Cuckoo Land yet, but I have loved all his other books and so I know I will.
Anyone who has ears around me is going to be recommended Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It is a heartwrenching, beautiful, human and empathetic story. I felt so strongly for Damon and everything he experienced. There are so many sections I had to reread and just sit with. A truly remarkable book.
Our bookclub pick for January.
I think you'll have great discussions with this one!
I will try to read some of these over winter break!
I am a big memoir/biography person, so two that left me thinking and mulling were “Uncultured” by Daniella Mestyanek Young and “Hillbilly Elegy” by JD Vance. Idk if I’d ever recommend either as “the best books,” but both left me pondering the world and culture and our identities.
If you want some fiction similar to Hillbilly Elegy, I would highly recommend Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver!
Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite novelists! I haven't read this one yet, but will =)
I love Barbara Kingsolver!
I have to tell you, my spiritual mentor and I are reading A Curious Faith together. THANKYOU for giving us the questions - some we didn't even know we had - and the space to ask them.
And my all time favorite book of 2022 by far was The Sound of Life's Unspeakable Beauty by Martin Schleske. You won't regret it.
Oh my, thank you! Thank you for sharing that with me. It is always so, so encouraging to hear when people are reading and how it's helping them =)
I haven't heard of that book yet, but I will check it out!
I love this list! I've read a couple of these but have added a few more to my own TBR.
For myself, the most incandescent book I read this year (other than The Critical Journey, which Lore herself recommended) was Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby. This was the first book I read after self-diagnosing as autistic, but this book is not even close to being only about autism. It's a book by a comic who has done the deep work of therapy and self-acceptance. She is blisteringly funny, but her humor is a vehicle to speak truth to homophobia, neurodivergence, misogyny, etc. It's not for the faint of heart, but, if you love good memoirs that will make you laugh and cry, I can't recommend this enough.
Man, The Critical Journey has been one of the most affecting reads of my last few years too. I loved the Nanette show on Netflix, but didn't know there was a book about it! I'll check it out.
Absolutely perfect timing. My family is doing book exchanges for Christmas gifts and I need to decide today what to get them all. Thanks for making that easy for me! Hope you're having a great birthday Lore.
Oh good! I hope you find something here you like =)