A few years back, I set a goal to get back into reading books. This goal has brought so my joy into my life.
And so, I signed up for the Goodreads Reading Challenge, setting myself a challenge to read 20 books.
In my former life, 20 books would have been a drop in the ocean. However, life changed; I got busy, free time became hard to come by, I spent way too much time online, and reading slipped down my list of priorities.
Sticking with paper books, as I love the feel, smell and experience of holding a book in my hands (and adoring them on my numerous bookshelves), I achieved my target of 20 books in 2019, fell short of my target of 30 in 2020 (I read 26 books), and exceeded my target of 25 in 2021 by reading 50 books (the year I really fell in love with reading again).
2022 continued my pursuit of Goodreads and my love for reading as my extensive collection of books has increased.
With a target of 45 books, I read 53 books, a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and have half completed reading 5 other books.
My 2022 Reading Highlights
My reading list for 2022 has been a mixed bag. Some non-fiction alongside a few series, detective/procedural and fantasy novels. Some books just sucked, and I could not finish them for the life of me. Others, I devoured.
Here are some of my highlights and a few lowlights for good measure.
The Life and Many Deaths of Britain’s Top Forensic Psychologist, Dr Richard Sheppard
Synopsis
As the UK’s top forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd has spent a lifetime uncovering the secrets of the dead. When death is sudden or unexplained, Shepherd must establish the cause. Each post-mortem is a detective story, and Shepherd has performed over 23,000 of them. Through his skill, dedication and insight, Dr Shepherd solves the puzzle to answer our most pressing question: how did this person die?
From serial killer to natural disaster, ‘perfect murder’ to freak accidents, Shepherd takes nothing for granted in pursuit of truth. And while he’s been involved in some of the most high-profile cases of recent times, the less well-known encounters often prove the most perplexing, intriguing and even bizarre. In or out of the public eye, his evidence has put killers behind bars, freed the innocent and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads.
But a life in death, bearing witness to some of humanity’s darkest corners, exacts a price and Shepherd doesn’t flinch from counting the cost to him and his family.
My Review – 5 stars
Reflecting on his time in the profession as well as the impact on his personal life, ‘The Life and Many Deaths of Britain’s Top Forensic Psychologist’ is an insightful, empathetic, respectful and profound blend of autobiography and memoir about Dr Richard Shepherd‘s time as the top forensic pathologist in Britain.
I read this book in January 2022 and find that 11 months later, it still touches and intrigues me. Beautifully written I’ve learned so much more about forensic pathology (and have gone on to develop more of a fascination for procedural novels and shows), whilst also gaining an appreciation for the fragility of life and the infallibility of what it is to be human (even for those at the top of their professions).
My top read for 2022.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January – Alix E Harrow
Synopsis
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr Locke, she feels little different from the artefacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
My Review – 5 stars
I found ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’ in a quaint little bookshop. It was as if the book was waiting patiently for me to walk by, pick it up, take it home, and immerse myself in it.
What can I say about this beautiful book – both inside and out?
I wanted to soak up every word and world of this novel, of which the words were so gracefully poured onto each page to capture the most beautiful and heartfelt story that pulled at my heartstrings and made me cry happy and sad tears. It made me look at my dog with renewed love. It made me ponder love and life. It made me entertain the thought of writing fiction stories again.
For a book to do all of that, thank you.
The Long Way to a Small and Lonely Planet, Becky Chambers
Synopsis
Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.
Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the ageing Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and, most importantly, some distance from her past.
Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunnelling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs. This experience teaches her about love and trust and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
My review
My first foray into space opera, ‘The Long Way to a Small and Lonely Planet’ contributed to my realisation in 2022 that I love Sci-Fi! – both reading and watching (Yep, surprised me too).
I love a good world (or worlds plural) and character-building plot and as well as rooting for the oddball underdog, which in this instance was the crew of the Wayfarer, a motley crew brought together in the search for adventure, money and escape.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as the characters from different planets embark on a journey to pursue their fortune against unknown and suspected risks whilst being tested professionally and personally and learning that the concept of family isn’t necessarily about blood.
M J Lee’s DI Ridpath series
Synopsis
DI Thomas Ridpath was on the up in the Manchester CID: a promising young detective whose first case involved capturing a notorious serial killer. But ten years later, he’s recovering from a serious illness and on the brink of being forced out of the police. Now ‘demoted’ to the coroner’s office and caught in a turf war between them and the police and the coroner’s office, Ridpath races against time to save his career, marriage and lives.
My review
Detective novels were some of my first loves, and at the age of 45, things haven’t changed.
I continue to love M J Lee’s DI Ridpath contemporary crime series, which I discovered in 2021.
M J Lee’s DI Ridpath character-driven series expands the viewpoint from the traditional detective novel to encompass the coroner’s office and the police force, the relationship and clashes between both as they pursue answers and the murderer’s (or in the police’s case, results and a quick closure) in the grim deaths of various victims.
This year, I read ‘When the Past Kills’ (book 5), ‘When the Evil Waits’ (book 6) and ‘When the Guilty Cry’ (book 7), all of which were un-put-downable as the twists and turns, shock and intrigue of each crime unfold in a race against time.
Highly recommend.
My 2022 Goodreads Lowlights
As I expanded my reading horizons to explore other genres and topics, I should have expected there to be a few duds in the mix. Here are the books I did not rate, books that other people loved – which proves that reading is so personal and subjective.
Letting Go, The Pathway of Surrender – David R Hawkins: A big apology to the person who highly recommended this book to me; however, I found the advice contained within the self-help book highly questionable and somewhat dangerous.
Verity – Colleen Hoover: a best-seller that people rave about. Don’t get me started on this predictable novel which could have done with less sex and more suspense.
The Cruel Prince – Holly Black: I seem to have a thing against books I deem ‘predictable’ and this was another. I didn’t care about the characters and felt like I’d read it all before. I’ve read better YA fantasy novels and series and will not be continuing with this one.
Emotional Agility, Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life – Susan David: Not gonna lie. Skimmed through a big portion of this book, expecting it to get better. The concept is great, but this is another one of those ‘could have been a blog post’ books. I had higher expectations. They were definitely not fulfilled.
Honestly, the book was boring, and the examples and case studies seemed incomplete (so rather than name-dropping and telling the start of someone’s experience, tell us what happened and what they learned), just a bit much ie ‘every job whether it’s growing palm trees or selling napalm’??? And I felt like I’d read sections of this before in other books or heard them in TED talks. Ie find your why. I feel harsh, but I also feel like I wasted my money with this one, and I hate that because books are like little treasures to me.
What was your favourite read in 2022 -paper or ebook … it’s okay.
Drop me a comment below. I’d love to hear about it!
You can see my full list from the 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge here.
For 2023, I have set a target of 50 as I feel that’s a comfortable number for me without pushing to achieve a target.
Will you join me for the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge? Connect and join the reading challenge with me here.
