Nicole’s Top 10 Books
Truly wonderful reads from 2022
This Here Flesh — Cole Arthur Riley
10.I listened to the audio version of this book and I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of understanding the depth and richness that is offered here. Cole Arthur Riley has beautiful and important things to say about spirituality. And her story combined with her voice is unique and tragic and full of beauty. I need to let it soak in and listen again…
The Sign For Home — Blair Fell
9.Oh this book! The story and characters will certainly stay with me as I continue to ponder the themes of ability, independence, rights, and access for people in the deaf and deaf blind communities. The title refers to the ASL sign for the word “home” which is beautiful because it’s 5 fingers bunched together that lightly touch the side of the mouth and then right near the corner of the eye. It’s close to the sign for “kiss” but really feels like belonging and love, which is the truth of what this story is about. Arlo Dilly and his bravery and beauty, Shri and her loyalty, Lavinia’s soft heart towards Arlo and his writing, and Cyril. Oh, Cyril. These characters are beautifully developed. There is nuance to each of them and they each underwent transformation. I cheered and cried. My heart sank and soared. Read. This. Book.
Firekeeper’s Daughter — Angeline Boulley
8.This is a many layered, well written, and important novel. Not only is the no nonsense, hockey star, proud Ojibwa heroine at the crux of everything that happens in this tale, but her experiences also highlight some serious and layered issues in tribal communities. This story has it all: intrigue, characters who completely surprised me, questions and answers about belonging, love, prayers, and kick ass elders who show up when it is most needed.
The Winners — Fredrik Backman
7.This is an outstanding, beautifully written novel covering two entire towns and many beloved characters from the two original books. I can’t say enough about Fredrik Backman. He knows the depths of the human spirit and writes with such care and so well. I believe this is his most complex work yet, and I will absolutely read anything he writes. The end.
The Comfort Book — Matt Haig
6.I listened to this book, and now I’m going to buy the hardcopy. That is all you need to know. Also there is a chapter with the title “pasta” containing one completely true statement. “There is no physique in the world that is worth giving up pasta for.”
The Anthropocene Reviewed — John Greene
5.The word Anthropocene means, “the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity.” It’s incredibly ironic to rate this book with the 5 star system because Green talks at length about how random and self focused that can be, but I truly enjoyed this book. The audio version is fantastic (read by the author), his scope of topics is a delight, and he shines the light in wonderful, absurd, and fascinating ways. I highly recommend.
In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss — Amy Bloom
4.Everyone needs to read this book. Not just because it takes on assisted suicide and big questions about what quality of life really is but there are also big themes of true love and parenting and being seen and being yourself. It’s carefully told and there is so much heart. I listened to Amy Bloom read it to me and I’m about to purchase my own copy. That’s how much I love this book…
Everything Sad is Untrue — Daniel Nayeri
3.This book gets a full five stars from me! It is great on so many levels. It made me laugh and cry, it shed light on an experience so different from my own, and I will never get over the ferocity of Daniel’s mother. His unstoppable, unbreakable mother and the depths of her convictions. Nayeri is a brilliant writer from his allusions to Scheherazade to his insights into the quirks of American culture and Iranian politeness. His wit and style are genius and this is a fantastic book.
Remarkably Bright creatures — Shelby Van Pelt
2.Everything about this book is captivating and intriguing and satisfying. Marcellus with his knowing one-eyed stare, Tova shining up the glass on the tanks while she greets each creature and mourns her personal loss, and Cameron with his urine soaked camper and memory for obscure facts. I fell for each of them. And the ending! They can be remarkably bright creatures indeed…
Lessons in Chemistry — Bonnie Grams
1.Elizabeth Zott, Calvin Evans, Six Thirty, Harriet, Wakely, Mad, even Frask — what a wonderful cast of characters! This is sharp and fun and light and heavy in all the right places. What a fantastic story with all kinds of wonderful moments. I can’t say enough about this book. Also this is the author’s first book and she is sixty five. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
Bonus 5 star late entry — only because I haven’t finished it (the year isn’t over yet!)
The Measure — Nikki Erlick
In the opening scene boxes arrive to every adult human on the planet with the message “The measure of your life lies within.” Each box contains a string whose length tells how long you have to live. At first it seems like a simple choice, you look or you hide the box under your bed and live your life. But quickly societies in every culture begins to crumble into chaos as “short stringers” begin to lose rights and governments control more and more. The story follows ten people on their specific journies and as they begin to overlap it’s incredibly intriguing. I’m dying to know where it all ends!
