Check out our favorite reads of 2022!

Rushdie chronicles his experiences of the first decade of the 1989 fatwa. He writes using third person perspective as he takes the name “Joseph Anton” to minimize drawing media and political attention to his whereabouts. Rushdie writes the nonfiction book in his style: dramatic and poetic, and revealingly emotional.

This book is such a valuable asset to our modern society. It teaches human decency and demonstrates courage in action. I’m sad that this book is often banned because the values in this book will always be timeless.

It is an extraordinary tale of friendship, love and loss. And yes, video games! Sam and Sadie meet in a hospital as children, and make a lasting impact on each other from the start. The story, covering decades of their lives, is not mundane in any way, but rather a rich tapestry of time and events that weave together effortlessly to give us a story that stays with us long after we finish. Dare I say the perfect book?

This title gives the reader a portrayal of two people who hide secrets and how they learn that it can be okay to reveal your true self and fall in love. I like the fact that some deeper themes such as loneliness, friendship, and trust are explored in a lighter yet not comedic tone. There is also depth to the two main characters; you will root for them to work their way to a happy ending.

This book is enjoyable because each detail intentionally propels the plot forward and helps you unravel the many mysteries and connections throughout the book.

The magic system is very unique and well thought out. The characters feel real, the prose is incredible, and the story is brilliant.  You will laugh, you will cry, and in the end you will want to know more; too bad it’s been [more than] 10 years and [we’re] still waiting on the final, third book of the trilogy!

Her writing is magical and wise and true, while Tookie, the narrator, makes mistakes, is unsure, and describes herself as porous at one point. So many wonderful contradictions! Tookie works in a bookstore in Minneapolis and despite her checkered past (or because of it?) does amazing reader’s advisory. Over the course of the novel, her most annoying customer dies, and then comes back to haunt her. The story deals with indigenous peoples’ issues alongside the strangeness during the onset of the Covid pandemic and the fear and outrage following George Floyd’s murder. The way Erdrich evokes the emotions and landscape of that shared experience while exploring Tookie’s past, present and possible future is masterful and meaningful. There were beautiful and thought-provoking phrases in this book I want to go back and write down, and I definitely want to check out Tookie’s reading list! Highly recommended.

This is one of the best casts of characters I’ve come across in a book! It follows a caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth who needs to evaluate whether 6 “dangerous” magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. He has a by-the-book nature that combines well (and non-stereotypically) with his desire to do good, and the magical misfits are wonderfully realized. You’re rooting for everyone!

It’s an unflinching look at how broken the justice system is, how corrupt the police state is, and how endemic racism is in the United States. It’s also an enjoyable memoir with heart and humor.

It’s a fascinating novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white. She became a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, creating a world-class collection that is still the basis of the Pierpont Morgan Library today. (Pat)

I loved this book because it gave an intimate experience to the famous librarian and curator Belle da Costa Greene. A woman who was prolific in her collection development, and built a name for herself on her own determination and work. This book highlights racial ambiguity and the misfortunes of hiding and sacrificing  your true identity and heritage to immerse yourself in consequential work that is remembered for generations. (Madelynne)

This book is fascinating to me because it chronicles the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her journey from childhood to the Supreme Court. It was great to learn about who RBG is off the court, and discover how her experiences as a Jewish woman shaped her life and legal career. 

I love this book because it is a mix of magic, historical fiction and romance. The story is centered in ancient China and draws heavily on the history of the Second Sino-Japanese war. It’s history that I don’t know a lot about and the magic and romance that swirl around and through the story makes that history thrilling to read about.

What started as a single book Beauty and the Beast retelling bloomed into a wonderful world and story of its own. The vibrant fairy realm of Prythian was populated by main character Feyre Archeron and a cast of wonderful characters that made me laugh, cry, scream, and jump for joy. These books have become very popular on social media and there’s a reason for that… they’re just that good!

It’s a Afrofuturist novella, falling into speculative fiction that takes place in Detroit, telling the story of one person witnessing an entire city experiencing a grief so strong, it can no longer be ignored. It’s smart, compelling, sad, and an extremely timely story that will have readers grieving along with the protagonist about the depth of loss that Detroit has experienced.