Five Favorite Books of 2022
I read so many incredible books in 2022. If you visit the Artful & Alive page of my site, you can see the full list of all the books I read this year, as well as what I’m currently reading now. Each of the books, not just the ones that made it on this list, opened my mind and expanded my imagination. Each one taught me something about life and myself, and brought more wisdom into my days. The books you see listed here are not ‘better’ books than any of the other ones that I read, they’re simply books that touched me deeply and stuck with me long after I turned the last page. They are the stories that return to the forefront of my mind when I need a boost of inspiration.
They are all written by women, which was unintentional, but I very much appreciate.
SORROW AND BLISS
Meg Mason // Ficiton
In this beautifully written -heartbreaking and hilarious- story we, the reader, see the world of the through the eyes of a complex and intricate 40 year old woman called Martha. She is our narrator, our interpreter, our brutally honest and flawed conscious.
The story begins at Martha’s 40th Birthday celebration, a time in her life when she is grappling with bitterness, disappointment, rejection, and a flair of self-righteousness. She’s trying to figure out who she is, like so many of us do in mid-life; and how on earth she became this person. ( And who is to blame for it all….)
As the pages unfold Martha shares with us the events that have shaped her identity, from childhood, to early adulthood, to now middle age. She shares her most vulnerable reflections and confessions, which are tainted by the passage of time. A reminder that even the most ardent retrospection is often mysterious and inaccurate.
“Everything is broken and messed up and completely fine. That is what life is. It’s only the ratios that change. Usually on their own. As soon as you think that’s it, it’s going to be like this forever, they change again.”
I don’t want to give too much away, as I knew nothing about this book when I began it, other than it was brilliant. I’ll just say this, to say this book effected me would be an understatement. I laughed out loud many times, and I gripped the pages anxiously as I read into the wee hours of the morning. I read this book in two sittings, two nights basically. It was delightful. It is everything I ever want in a good book of fiction, and so much more.
Meg Mason is extraordinary, and she has written a book full of characters that are truthful and endearing. If you haven’t yet read Sorrow and Bliss, I think maybe you should.
I AM, I AM, I AM : Seventeen Brushes with Death
Maggie O’Farrell // Non-fiction
I heard about this book from Maggie O’Farrell herself. She was being interviewed on a artily podcast I sometimes listen to. The conversation revolved around her novel Hamnet, arguably her most popular book. (I have not read Hamnet, but I will very soon.) She spoke so passionately about who Shakesphere’s wife was, and how grossly misrepresented she is in both literature and academia. She’s often referred to as a ball and chain, the weight that tortured Shakesphere and held him back from his full potential. O’Farrell disagreed with that narrative vehemently. Then she spoke affectionally about who Shakesphere’s wife likely was, the special and wonderful ways she likely contributed to Shakesphere’s success. I found O’Farrell to be so compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent, and astute in this interview that when she mentioned she’d recently written a memoir I knew I had to read it. I wanted to spend more time with her and her perspective of life, death, identity, and everything in between.
“I swam in dangerous waters, both metaphorically and literally. It was not so much that I didn't value my existence but more that I had an insatiable desire to push myself to embrace all that it could offer.”
I Am, I Am, I Am, is brilliant and the writing is nothing short of absolutely captivating. I read this book in one day, while I lay on the couch sick. Me laying on the couch sick and reading a book entitled Seventeen Brushes with Death says so much about the me. Haha.
There are 17 chapters and each chapter is a true story from O’Farrell’s life, a collection of experiences that brought her close to death; which, also stand as covert reflections on life itself. Each chapter is visceral without being gratuitous, entertaining without being trite, and rich with the kind of wisdom that blooms from direct experience. The stories are striking, and each page points at the thin vail that separates life and death.
I knew this was one of the best books I’d read all year from the very first page. O’Farrell’s craft and story-telling are that good.
ALSO A POET
Ada Calhoun // Non- fiction
The first poem I ever read by Frank O’Hara was “Having A Coke With You”. The imagery, words, and resonance immediately struck me, and I’ve enjoyed his poetry ever since. He is not a poet who is often discussed or quoted in mainstream media, at least not that I can see, so when this book was gifted to me -a book that revolves around the art and life of Frank O’Hara - I was intrigued.
“Now I am quietly waiting for
the catastrophe of my personality
to seem beautiful again,
and interesting, and modern.” // Frank O’Hara
I will admit that the book was nothing like I’d expected it to be, even while I was reading it. The first half of it is distinct from the second half, it’s almost like two books in one. It is a pensive book, which means it can read a little one the slow side at times. ( If you’re looking for a compelling and entertaining thriller, this may not be the book for you.)
That said, it was better than I expected and more enriching than I ever imagined. The book explores how art make us who we are, how our relationships make us who we are, and how the life we lead stands as our only legacy with concerning ourselves with; that who we are when we are living speaks louder the the echoes of what we leave behind.
Ada Calhoun’s writing is sharp and detailed, and I enjoyed her words greatly. Whether or not you know who Frank O’Hara is or care about him at all, I think you’ll enjoy this book. If you like art and creativity, which you have to if you’re a reader, then you’ll love this book.
CODEPENDENCY, NO MORE
Melody Beattie // Self-Help
I suppose you only read a book like this if you have reason to. Like any self-improvement book, the whole appeal of Melody Beattie’s work stems from you having already decided that you’d to improve yourself and grow and create a deeper understanding of how you are in the world. As far as healing and growth go, this book is a valuable tool. It isn’t a light-hearted, “just think positively” kind of self-improvement book, it’s a real deep dive into the shadow side of healing - which is often rife with darkness and self-confrontation. It’s an educational resource for those of us who are living as a codependent, or with someone who is, and it is a journey towards healing yourself of behavior patterns that are by nature entrapping and potential stifling.
Codependent, No More is a guide for understanding enabling behavior; for understanding why it is not helpful but rather harmful for both the enabler and the enabled. It is also a book that dissects addiction and obsession through the lens of codependency. It is at times and intense and uncomfortable read.
“For each of us, there comes a time to let go. You will know when that time has come. When you have done all that you can do, it is time to detach. Deal with your feelings. Face your fears about losing control. Gain control of yourself and your responsibilities. Free others to be who they are. In so doing, you will set yourself free.”
This book is not going to be fore everyone. I certainly know that. But it is one of the books I read this year that stuck with me, and continues to each day. As most self-improvement books go, you have to be willing to sift through the wisdom; you collect what serves you, and you discard what doesn’t.
I’d heard of this book on several occasions over the years, and while it always got high praise and recommendation, it took me a while to finally pick it up and give it a read. And so, if all this speaks to you, get it. And if it doesn’t, put this recommendation in your back pocket for another day.
LATE MIGRATIONS
Margaret Renkl // Non-fiction
This book is a collection of short essays and stories and poems that by the end somehow add up to a beautiful narrative; a tale of an ordinary life, lived with special care and attention to the extraordinary. Margaret Renkl has a way with words, and I love her for it. Her writing is beautiful and delightful, even it it is at times full of sorrow.
“Blessed are the parents whose final words on leaving—the house, the car, the least consequential phone call—are always “I love you.” They will leave behind children who are lost and still found, broken and, somehow, still whole.”
A self professed ‘backyard naturalist', so many of her stories are told through the lens of the elements of nature seen from her own backyard. Late Migrations is also a book about identity and family; how who our parents were transforms who we become; how understanding the relationships we keep guides us towards greater inner freedom.
The writing is beautifully smooth, and the structure of the book makes it a accessible and enjoyable read. I think of this book very fondly, and I’ve returned to some of these pages again and again over the year.
If you read any of these books based on my recommendation, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. And if you’d like to share your favorite books this year, please send me an email at erin@erincookston.com.
I’d love to hear from you.