**Comfort Me With Apples** by Catherynne M. Valente. 112 page creeping-horror/uncanny valley novella. if you decide to pick it up do NOT look up reviews anywhere and don't even read the synopsis. you have to go into this one BLIND.

I have a copy of this and I have been procrastinating it and it’s now next on my TBR!! Thank you!!

PLEASE PLEASE comment back here or DM when u are done! go into it totally blind! the audiobook version is incredible, too, and i think adds to the horror. (the very beginning the narrator will sound like a robot but you'll understand why very quickly)!

I’m intrigued by your description, I just put it on hold at my library

I loved it too. Go in blind, then you’ll immediately want to re-read when you’re done to pick up on all the symbolism you missed.

YUP!

I guessed the twist from the start really didn’t like it.

oh, wow. i was completely blind-sided by it. i really enjoy her beautiful writing. it feels like luxury writing it. it's weird because i've tried several of her other books and only have liked 2 other ones and hated the rest.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It it wildly dramatic and I fell in love with all of the characters. I could not put it down.

This was my favorite work of fiction I read in 2022!

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Not released this year obviously but I read it in 2022.

I read it this year as well really enjoyed it!

Have you read much of his other stuff?

I’m halfway through coralline, and read stardust which I loved - I also love both films haha

I really enjoyed that book too!

It really stayed with me. I LOVED the transition on the journey he takes with Lettie with the dowsing rod. Really dreamy and meandering.

It’s been a while since I read it, might be time for a re-read. Dreamy and meandering are great words for it! It’s the only book by Neil Gaiman I’ve ever read, and it definitely made me want to read more of his work.

Same! I’ve got Neverwhere sat on my dusty shelf waiting for me to finish an old political satire my dad gave me to read.

I read it this year too! Absolutely adored it

I wonder if they must have rereleased it or did a load of promotional work on it because of the play that is doing the rounds this year.

I really need to read some Nail Gaiman

song of achilles had to be my favorite, im still thinking about it after finishing it

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

I’ve added to my list too - thanks!

This looks right up my street, gonna add it to the list

It’s very well written and plunged me into a troubles rabbithole.

Fabulous book

Funny i am currently listening to it. It's very informative so far.

Whoa, not a book I expected to see someone mention, but delighted you did! I loved this book.

I can't narrow it down to one but my favourites were: Project hail mary by Andy Weir Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Daisy Darker by Alice Feeny The Hobbit Razorblade Tears by S A Cosby The seven deaths of Evelyn hardcastle by Stuart Turton The girl with the louding voice by Abi Dare

I read Rebecca too and absolutely loved it!

Can you tell me what you loved about Rebecca? I have that book on my to read list!

I loved everything! The opening line is so perfect, the suspense is unreal, the writing is gorgeous, the character development is spot on, the plot is amazing, and it's full of literary devices. I didn't want it to end. I don't remember the last time I was this wowed by a book, phenomenal honestly. I hope you enjoy it when you read it too :)

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, it's just an awesome read.

He was such a loss.

Fiction: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Nonfiction: Bodies on the Line by Lauren Rankin and White Tears/Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad Memoir: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Graphic Novel: The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill Honorable Mention: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell; and Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

I loved both I’m Glad and Jesus & John Wayne as well!

Based on Jesus and John Wayne, you might appreciate historian Jaroslav Pelikan Jesus Through the Centuries and Whose Bible is it. Both written for a popular audience.

Thank you so much for the rec! They definitely sound like books I’d be interested in so I’ve added them to my tbr list!

The Night She Disappeared is so good! I read like 5 books from the author after because I couldn't get enough.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore!! Educated was a favorite of mine as well.

The Silent Patient, but I also loved I’m Glad My Mom Died

Love Songs of WEB du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers for me.

This was my favorite pick too.

It was epic.

I really liked the secret history by donna tartt too! also enjoyed- bones & all by camille deangelis the cat and the city by nick bradley kafka on the shore by harumi murakami I will plant you a lilac tree: a memoir of a Schindler’s list survivor by laura hillman

I really want to read Kafka on the shore I read Norwegian wood and enjoyed it, thanks for the other recs !

If you liked Norwegian wood I’m sure you’ll enjoy kafka too!

I really didn’t get what all the fuss was about. It’s ok, but nothing great…

The Murderbot Diaries (6 books) by Martha Wells I started out with book 1 not being sure I’d read any further…I haven’t read much sci-fi, but I wanted to give it a try with a short book by a female author. I ended up devouring all 6 books, with the standalone novel, Network Effect, being my favorite of the bunch.

I read these for the first time this year too! They are so fun.

*All The Light We Cannot See.*

Another I’ve really wanted to read ! Thanks

I’m glad my mum died by Jennette McCurdy and Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney

Either Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett, or Worm by Wildbow

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“Letters To A Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke. I’ve been revisiting Rilke’s words of solitude often since I’ve learned of his existence.

I'm reading that right now :)

So good, thanks for the reminder I’m due for a re-read

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is the book I enjoyed most in 2022, and maybe even in the past 10 years.

Night of the Grizzlies by Jack Olsen. Picked up a copy in West Glacier after a confrontation with a grizzly myself at Glacier NP. It's an oldie, written about real events in the park, but it's written in a narrative style that's both driving and gripping. Literally couldn't put it down.

My dad randomly gave me a copy of this book for Christmas one year. Agree that it had me hooked from the start.

Thanks for the recommendation!

I really enjoyed how to stop time by Matt Haig

I read Midnight Library and Reasons to stay alive, loved both I’ll definitely give his other stuff a read

The Humans I think is one of his best!

The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan translated by Yuri Machkasov — enjoyed every second of it, was absolutely enrapturing

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt. I am still thinking about this cute, odd story months later

Version Control by Dexter Palmer

Love this one! Dexter Palmer is so unappreciated as a writer.

I was blown away by Version Control - it was incredible. Have you read his other books? They’re now high on my TBR but I haven’t got to them yet. I tweeted him and he seems like a nice guy too.

I haven’t read his other books, but Mary Toth: The Rabbit Queen is high on my TBR. I just need to find it.

Demon Copperhead or The Light Pirate

Demon Copperhead was sooo good. Especially on audio!

The Vacation by Garth Miro. A wild, sticky tumble down a horrific mountain of middle class American excess & absurdity. Very surprising and thrilling plot.

I think my favorites of 2022 were Meet Me in Another Life, by Catriona Silvey, and A Prayer for the Crown Shy, by Becky Chambers.

Fiction : Lesser known monsters of the 21st century Nonfic: When Breath becomes Air

Wanted to read when breath becomes air all year, thanks for the reminder

The long walk, Stephen king

The key to this is to not read the synopsis. I loved slowly realizing what was happening.

Yes exactly!!

The Remains of the Day-and that’s saying something because I read a bunch of excellent books in 2022.

{{Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe}}

The institute by Stephen king

If we were villains/the heart’s invisible furies, but I’m so late to the game

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (loved the reimagining of King Arthur and his Court and really excited to get me hands on Bloodmarked) Babel by R. F. Kuang (one of my last reads of 2022, emotionally scarred me but deserves all the hype it’s getting)

I’m reading Babel right now and kind of struggling to get through it! Worth pushing forward do you think?

I’d say it depends on what you’re hoping for from this book If you’re going for something with more stereotypical fantasy action, this isn’t quite the book for that. Mostly it’s focusing on character development and relationships along with the heavy dark academia genre mixed with depictions of imperialism that defines their world. If you have more specific questions about it, I’d be happy to answer

Audiobook this one!

Honestly I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me but an audiobook actually could be helpful. I’ve done it before on physical books I read when I was younger and couldn’t get through on the second time through

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Recursion Blake crouch pleased me much

Watership Down

I reread The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by Jean - Domineque Bauby. He was living his best life and surrounded by all kinds of art and fashion being created. He was the Editor- in - Chief of French Elle, when he had a catastrophic stroke on December 8th, 1995. He experienced trapped body syndrome. He could only communicate with one of his eye. He wrote a beautiful memoir by blinking yes or no, with that one eye. He talks about love, beauty and art. It's a very short book. I had a Blue period in 2022, and this book got me through.

I read so many good books in 2022, but the one that really stuck out was We Were Liars.

Oooh I read this ages ago and remember liking it, maybe I should give it a reread

There is a sequel, too… Family of Liars. Enjoyed it!

I read it this last year too and loved it!

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin or The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Time Ships by Stephen Baxter. Of the books that I read for the first time that is. I have a habit of re-reading some of my favorites over and over again ...

Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr

The Botanist by MW Craven…if anyone hasn’t read this series, I totally recommend it!

The Mind of a Mnemonist - A book about someone who dose not forget anything.Shorter read but enjoyed it!

the kind worth killing by peter swanson and the silent patient by alex michaelides

I loved so many books this past year, but the most inspiring was probably Closer To Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins. It got me back to writing poetry, which I'd taken a break from for a while.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee ❤️

The Trees Percival Everett

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

It’s a tie between Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, Atonement by Ian McEwan and Stoner by John Williams

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry. Young man escapes the famine in Ireland, comes to US, joins the army. Fights through Indian War & Civil War. It hits some tough subjects, but the characters and their relationships are beautifully written and it’s occasionally funny.

I really loved Trust by Hernan Diaz

[Wanting](https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday-ebook/dp/B08FZ8QTP4/) by Luke Burgis. It's like a cheat code for life, and also the most accessible introduction to the work of [René Girard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Girard) on the topic of _Mimetic Theory_ 🔥🔥🔥

The Forgiven by Lawrence Osborne, I picked it up from a charity shop for 50p, and started reading it during a 7 hours trip out of boredom. I disliked every single character in the book, but somehow I could not stop reading, I was totally hooked in to the story.

The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta! such a good genre bending sci fi novel

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the Traveling Cat Chronicles

How The One-Armed Woman Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones or Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson

The Secret History lmao. I fucking love that book. After that, the highlights would've been: * Alexandria, Edmund Richardson * The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde * Beyond the Pyramids, Douglas Kennedy * The Stranger, Albert Camus * *The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt* (definitely read this if you liked The Secret History)

Thanks! I was looking at reading The Goldfinch I definitely will now :)

I found it a lot more depressing, and less linguistically dazzling, but it was such a good read. Do lmk what you think once you've read it!

Will do !

Fiction - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Non-fiction - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Piranesi by Susanna Clark or Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

The Secret History was one of my favorites too! I also loved The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel!

Nanette

Project Hail Mary was mindblowing. Also really liked I’m Glad My Mom is Dead by Jeanette McCurdy

Kaiju Preservation Society by Scalzi ut was awesome!

- Father of the Rain, Lily King - My Dark Vanessa, Kate Elizabeth Russell But like a lot of people, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was my top read of 2022. I also didn’t expect to love Red, White & Royal Blue as much as I did!

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

A little life

It’s been on my shelf for months need to just get going with it

i think my favorite and one i won't soon forget is life ceremony by murata sayaka

Fiction: East of Eden - John Steinbeck Nonfiction: How to Take Smart Notes - Sönke Ahrens Memoir: Man’s Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Silent Patient & Before I Let Go

Silent patient was great!

Tie between Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Though I must say I barely read any books last year

Well sounds like you picked some good ones though!

Best fiction: Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau Best nonfiction: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Best Audible: Will by Will Smith Best YA: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera Honorable mention: Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

I really want to read I’m glad my mom died just haven’t got round to it yet!

Fiction: Young Mungo Memoir: Brown Girl Dreaming Nonfiction: Say Nothing

My best book of 2022 was {{The Brothers Karamazov}}, translated by Macandrew, and written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I sped through it in 3wks, and was amazed by the magnificent prose and storyline. The characters were flawed but admirable in their own way. 100% my favorite piece of literature of all time.

Really want to get into some Dostoevsky

Do it! It’s so worth it.

Ugh, I can't pick just one!!!!! The Ocean At The End Of The Lane - Neil Gaiman A Magic Steeped In Poison - Judy I Lin A Venom Dark And Sweet - Judy I Lin The Poppy War - R.F. Kuang The Dragon Republic - R.F. Kuang The Burning God - R.F. Kuang Artemis - Andy Weir Foul Lady Fortune - Chloe Gong Light From Uncommon Stars - Ryka Aoki Star Wars The High Republic: Path of Deceit - Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton Star Wars Shadow Of The Sith - Adam Christopher Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao I read over 60 books last year and loved them all!

I loved ocean at the end of the lane !! Thanks for your other suggestions

Right!? Such an amazing book.

Have you read Project Hail Mary yet??

Yes!!!!! It was actually the first book I read last year and completely forgot to add it to my list. Absolutely loved it.

Overall Best: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan I couldn't put it down. It wasn't pleasant...was disturbing on a few levels, but I can't remember the last time I devoured a book like that. Other Contenders: I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler Remarkably Bright Creatures...this definitely was pleasant. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

I get that it probably screams psychopathic tendencies, but my favorite read in 2022 was **The 48 Laws of Power** by Robert Greene.