As I looked back at the books I read in 2022, I felt there were too many great ones not to share. As a mom of three young kids, squeezing in time to read in a true art but I think I am starting to master it now.
This year, I have read books that have made me really think about my life, made me cry, or kicked me in the booty and motivated me beyond belief.
If someone were to ask me my reading genre of choice, I’d definitely say that historical fiction is what I gravitate toward most but I tried to branch out a bit and get into the “self motivation” genre as well.
Here are the books that were my top picks from 2022 that are definitely worth the read.
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The Traitor’s Wife is a historical fiction about Peggy Arnold, wife of Benedict Arnold. My best friend Meghan shares a love of my favorite topic to read about; The Founding Mothers of the Revolutionary War. This one is right in my niche. I literally could not put this one down. Although she wasn’t quite the patriot like Martha Washington or Abigail Adams, hearing about her courtship and life as a socialite was simply entertaining. Meghan, you have to borrow this one from me so we can discuss Peggy!
The Four Winds is the first of Kristin Hannah’s books that I’ve read but I now see why her books pop up on so many “must read” lists. This historical fiction is set during the Great Depression, and gives a glimpse into life during the Dust Bowl. It beautifully depicts what migrant workers in California had to endure. I cried at the end of this book and gained a new appreciation for the true determination of a mother’s love.
To say that this book has been eye opening for me would be an understatement. The Warmth of Other Suns tells the biography of three African Americans who each left the South at three different decades during the great migration. The struggles these individuals faced is beyond anything I have ever come close to experiencing and gave me a new understanding of the lasting effects of slavery in our country. What really hit me was that one of the men ended up settling in Los Angeles in a neighborhood that was literally a few blocks from where my husband and I bought our first home. This is a long book but definitely worth the read.
Similar to the last book, Homegoing tells the story of 2 African sisters from Ghana in the 18th century and how their lives and their descendants’ stories unfold after they are separated. One remained in Ghana and one was taken into slavery in the American south but each have a unique story to tell.
The Tattoist of Auschwitz was the last book I read in the year. I literally could not put this one down. Based on a true story, this book follows two individuals in a German concentration camp. The courage and hope it took to survive is truly inspiring.
I just found out that A Man Called Ove was just made into a movie and I can see why. Ove is a grumpy, heart broken man who is struggline in the year following his wife’s death. To see him evolve over the course of the book, mostly in part by some interesting characters he meets, is so heart warming. This is another book that made me cry, simply for the realization that you can find love after despair. I am looking forward to seeing how this book plays out on the big screen.
I loved The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. It’s a novel about novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.
Self Motivation Books for 2022
As you can tell from this list, I do love fiction and especially historical fiction. But, I did manage to read some “self motivating” books this year. Starting Burnt Pancakes is just the tip of the iceberg for what I plan to accomplish but along with that comes a lot of self doubt and insecurities. Everything is Figureoutable gave me the boost in confidence I needed to keep pushing forward. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has just started or wants to start a new venture in life.
Girl on Fire by Cara Alwill Leyba. If this book doesn’t light a fire under your butt I don’t know what will. As the title suggests, this book sparked something in me that couldn’t be extinguished. I powered through this book soaking in every ounce of inspiration to keep moving forward with my dreams.
