Best Books of 2022

Been doin this a while now. Best books which I read this past year. I'm actually including some graphic memoirs which were amazing and really speak to that medium's power. Impressive stories I've read this year, though there are a few which I didn't finish and hopefully I can add them to the list next year. 

I will admit that the list is less impressive than previous years. I wonder why that is. 

Frankenstein in Baghdad. This book really needs little to no explanation. I tremble with shame at my own books in front of this one. Might make the list of best war book ever. We'll see if that thought stays with me for long. 

Alpha. Graphic memoir that really speaks to our time (and the evil inherent in the world). A man goes from West Africa all the way to Spain. His journey, and the journey of countless others, is one of tenacity and bravery the likes of which few of us could know. And yet these people will never get a "thank you for speaking to the human spirit" from anyone in power, let alone those in the west. Worth the read, for sure. 

Vietnamese Memories. Really great collection of stories of refugees from Vietnam, to include those kidnapped by the French for slave labor right around WWII. 

This is How You Lose the Time War. Scifi is still one of the hottest genres around (and has the most classical potential, especially when compared to much literary fiction, which really is getting to preach to the choir levels of depth... which means none [1]) and this is a case in point. Not mind blasting, but damn solid and worth the read. 

I'm still waiting. Only read one short, and it did border on the sentimental, but I liked it. Quite a bit. good stuff to chew on. Another example of sci-fi knocking it out of the park. 

[1] Yeah, I get it, and get many points, but there is no depth when there is no depth. There hasn't been much depth to lots of lit fit for decades now. I've already pointed out the evidence that the CIA infiltrated US lit scene early on, and it was meant to be apolitical from the get go, but there are other classist aspects of lit fic in the US that I don't care for, tbf.

OK, this list isn't conclusive, but these were the books that stuck out in my mind. Don't ask me why. 

Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.