I began drafting this post in August because it felt like the end of my reading year. The list will not grow if I don't set out time to read, spend most of my time watching videos at two times speed, or just staring into space.
Then November happened, and I got busy. Some people spend more time together when the weather gets cold, but I spend it alone with books. Both are equally, albeit differently, fruitful by the end of the following year, but I should theoretically have a better sleep schedule than the others.
I sought to read 45 books this year; I read 83 "books." Most of the list is manga/webtoons: 10 different recorded series, but there are some I never logged onto GoodReads, so there's definitely more. This is how you beat your challenge quantity-wise! Read picture books!
In reality, I read 13 actual books, only enjoyed 4, and DNF'd only two books (One Hundred Years of Solitude and Blindness by José Saramago, which aren't counted towards the 13 because I never finished them.) I also logged many Modern Chinese fiction short stories for school, some graphic novels, and a couple of cookbooks.
Two books are tied for the best book of 2022. Perfume by Patrick Süskind because the writing is spectacular and Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa because of how depressed it made me feel/it broke me. I would place Sweet Bean Paste ever so slightly higher because the plot never lulled or meandered like Perfume; you can finish it and a box of tissues in one sitting.
The second is Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto because I felt comforted; it's about overcoming grief and finding purpose in life. (Sweet Bean Paste is also about finding purpose and meaning in life.) Sadly, Yoshimoto's other works do not and cannot compare to Kitchen. Probably won't be reading any more books from her.
The third would have to be Release by Lucy Christopher because the writing and plot were unhinged. I argue that the writing and plot are better than Stolen, but many reviewers beg to differ. I loved that Release gave me a lot of nostalgia while being different and experimental. Experimenting doesn't always work, and there were a couple choice worthy areas of the book, but the gall to try something different/deliver something readers don't want should be recognized. Also, I saw that there might be a third book...
I’ll try to be quicker for #stolen3 ;) https://t.co/mvkGWLXVhX
— Dr Lucy Christopher (@LucyCAuthor) August 10, 2022
I don't know what it'd be about, and I feel like she's milking it but excited nonetheless.
The best manga/graphic novels are, in no particular order: Creepy Cat, Vol. 1 by Cotton Valent, Tidesong by Wendy Xu, and This Love is Strawberry Sweet by Irono. All cute and wholesome.
In retrospect, I didn't find a cookbook that I truly enjoyed. I purchased a copy of Flavors of the Sun by Christine Sahadi Whelan because I was excited by some recipes and ingredients. Unfortunately, upon rereading it, most recipes aren't for me because they're not doable/I don't have a grill outside.
Though, I still stand by the fact that it is a great reference book to help you better understand Middle Eastern ingredients and what to look for when shopping. However, it is an #ad for their own store.
If I were to describe my 2022 reading list, it would be Asian and depressing. Lots of Asian authors, even though I sought to read books from other countries and fewer Japanese authors. The few times I dabbled outside my comfort zone, I DNF'd it. I've grown accustomed to a specific writing style and need help expanding my tastes.
It's depressing because my favorite books, and I briefly touched upon why while talking about Kitchen/Sweet Bean Paste, are about people who've found their purpose. I don't know what I want to do with my life. For someone who doesn't feel deep passion and love for what they studied, further education, or anything at the moment, it was nice to see characters find meaning in their life. Add envious to the list of adjectives.
Even though Grenouille is an awful "human," he knows what he wants. Good for him.
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