“Just put down your phone, Amanda, and READ.” Anyone else have to have this pep talk with themselves? I LOVE books and I LOVE to read, but sometimes I get in the habit of not doing it. I guess, like anyone, I sometimes suck at picking up a book.

This, however, has NOT been a problem for me lately. In the past week alone I have devoured two books. I am giving the credit to the fact that my Christmas Chaos (and the chores leading up to it) came to a sudden halt. That, and I was a champ at content creation the week before the holidays and all my work was D-O-N-E. Mother nature also blasted the Midwest with extreme cold and gifted me a significant cold/cough that dramatically increased the appeal of my couch. Thus, my reading time increased as well. It also helped that the books I chose to read were fantastic page turners I couldn’t put down.

So what were they? Be patient just a bit longer and I’ll tell you. But before I do, I want to remind you that I keep a list of all the books I read each year on my website. This list, as well as my lists for 2019-2021, can be found in the WordNerdopolis Bookstore. So if these titles, don’t appeal to you, check there. Also, if you’ve got a great book recommendation, please drop it in the comments below and I’ll be sure to check it out.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

~ Amanda

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Adult Fantasy, Wisconsin Author

Part fantasy, part social commentary, this book is DIFFERENT and thought provoking. I would have loved to read it with a book club, because there are just so many aspects of the story that beg for discussion. The premise is that in 1955 600,000 women who had had enough of life as it was spontaneously turned into dragons. And then, all the wife-less, motherless remainders of society refused to acknowledge the monumental event (and loss). You don’t have to read to far between the lines to figure out what the author is really upset about. This book is a beautiful, unique, and systemic look and what happens when you ignore something that is right in front of your eyes. If you are a feminist, a lover of social justice, a dreamer, a scientist, a care giver, or one who lives outside the lines society has penciled you in, read this book. (I listened to it on Audible.)

The Last Cuenista by Donna Barba Higuera

Middle Grade Science Fiction, 2022 Newbery Award Winner

I don’t know why I love end-of-the-world science fiction books that take place in space because movies on the same topic STRESS ME OUT. Perhaps it’s because I can control the tension by simply stepping away for a bit or maybe it’s the lack of emotion enhancing music? I’m not sure, but what I do know is I love this book about a time when Earth is destroyed by Halley’s Comet and humanity’s last change for survival rockets to space to find a new planet. The premise may sound familiar, but the specifics are totally new. The way humans are preserved and prepared for their new future. The things the travelers value and what happens to those values as they travel for hundreds of years under the care of “monitors”, not to mention what happens when the finally arrive at the new planet… all that feels new. I was sucked into this book immediately and highly recommend it. This book has been sitting on my shelf quite sometime. I know I bought it shortly after it was announced as the Newbery winner. I’m not sure what took me so long to finally pick it up, but I am so, so, so glad I did. (I got my copy from Birdy’s Bookstore.)

Bookends by Zibby Owens

Adult Memoir on Love, Loss and Literature

I knew of Zibby Owens via Instagram, but I didn’t know much more than the fact that she was popular in the podcasting and bookfluencing realms. I had not heard of her book when I picked it up at Pearl Street Books, but for some reason, it spoke to me. You know, that uncertain combination of cover image, blurb, physical weight, and some additional (albeit intangible) characteristic that coalesces to somehow say, “read me”. I bought it, even though I was not intending to buy a book that day. In fact, I’d been at the store selling books (books I planned not to read a second time and therefore unnecessarily hoard) I’d just taken off my personal shelves. But there it was, making it’s way home with me. After cruising through The Last Cuenista and finding ourselves with a few extra days at home (thanks to sick kids and a Christmas gathering rescheduling) I picked it up. I confess to spending multiple hours on the couch the last 2.5 days reading this book. I just finished it this morning. The story is Zibby’s memoir, about a posh life lived in New York City and her journey through love, loss and literature. For all you Close Quarters fans — it’s essentially a nonfiction version of my story, but put it on the East Coast with uber wealthy characters. Well, there’s more to it than that, but many of the themes are the same. If you liked Close Quarters, I think you’d like Zibby’s book as well, especially if you are interested in the publishing world, authors, books and writing. (I got my copy from Pearl Street Books.)

In addition to these, my favorite books I read this year are:

Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty - Middle Grade Realistic Fiction (AMAZON/Bookshop/1st Ch. Read Aloud & Author Int.)
State of Terror by Hilary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny - Adult Political Thriller, (AMAZON/Bookshop)
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang - MG Realistic Fiction for Sports Fans! (AMAZON/Bookshop/1st. Ch. Read Aloud)
Alone by Megan E. Freeman - MG Novel in Verse/Survival Story (AMAZON/Bookshop/1st. Ch. Read Aloud)
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead - Adult Comedy/Mystery (AMAZON/BOOKSHOP)
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga - MG Science Fiction - (AMAZON/BOOKSHOP/1st Ch. Read Aloud & Author Int.)

You can see the rest (and my full list from 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019), here.

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