2022 was a great reading year for me. For the first time in my life, I read 50 books in a year. It was one of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year and accomplishing it was satisfying. Despite the months of reading slump, I still did it. I did an assessment that showed me I read 38 authors and 26 genres in total. It was quite shocking because it didn't occur to me that I had left my comfort zone of consuming romance stories. Picking a favorite from all the books I read is impossible. However, there are six that had me in a tight grip for days, I have written at length on some in my previous blogs. Thanks to @stevenson7 for letting me on this Contest.
- A BROKEN PEOPLE'S PLAYLIST BY CHIMEKA GARRICKS:
Besides hitting my reading goal, something that was indeed thrilling was seeing this book on a lot of readers' top five. An anthology of 12 stories inspired by music, as the title implies. All the stories center around themes like love, loss, grief, redemption, police brutality, infidelity, and forgiveness. The first story had me sobbing. I've never read a piece of literature so heartbreakingly beautiful. The stories felt real, the characters made humanly imperfect and the storytelling is seamless and vivid. This book right here is a masterpiece and Chimeka Garricks is an excellent storyteller, I'm in awe. I love how the mood of the book wasn't melancholic despite the weight of the stories. He managed to find a balance by infusing humor and a light story in between. I'm not ashamed to admit that I read it about four times last year.
- A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS BY KHALED HOSSEINI:
I might be a masochist because I find myself enjoying painful stories a little too much. This book tells the story of two women of different generations from the 1960s to 2000s and how their lives were affected by the Afghanistan war and their unlikely yet beautiful friendship. This book was heart-wrenching and hopeful at the same time. Hoseini painted a picture with words that are so vivid. This book serves as an eye-opener to the oppression of women in the world. I think it's a book everybody should read but you must check trigger warnings. It is a heavy book, and at a time I had to take a break because it was too much at the time for me. My favorite quote from the book:
Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.
- AMERICANAH BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE:
I finished reading this and I asked myself how a book can be so wonderful. Chimamanda has always been my queen but this book right here is a perfect work of art. Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland.(Book synopsis) . In Americanah, Chimamanda works us through the intricacies of race, she explores the topic of natural hair in black women, immigration, and African views of mental health and love. This should be on your list for 2023 reads. You wouldn't regret it, I promise.
- LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY BY BONNIE GARMUS:
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! I remember reading the first paragraph and saying to myself "this is how you start a novel". Elizabeth is a chemist working at Hastings Laboratory. Unfortunately for her, she's the only person that considers herself one. Her male counterparts can't look past the fact that she's a woman so they treat her with disrespect. She struggles to pave the way for herself and make a mark. Then there's Calvin, working in the same firm. He's a genius and has been featured in several science magazines. Calvin sees Elizabeth for who she truly is and they fall in love. However, something tragic happens that leads to Elizabeth becoming a chef for a TV show. This book discusses the discrimination and inequality women face and it's truly thought-provoking. I highlighted so many points. It's unpredictable with several gotcha moments. I promise you I laughed a lot, the writing is so witty. The use of humor was brilliant considering how serious the story is. This is one book I didn't want to end AT ALL and when it did, I felt like starting all over again. It consists of all the elements of a perfect story. Feminists and allies, this is for us.
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE BY TIA WILLIAMS:
This right here is the best romance book in the world. Eva Mercy is a single mum and erotica writer of a bestselling series. She also battles a chronic illness. Shane Hall is an enigmatic best-selling author who is loved by everyone. Twenty years ago, Eva and Shane shared a very passionate and wild week but he left one day without any explanation. Now they meet again as adults and the flames they think have been buried, sprout back violently and old sparks fly but Eva is unsure if she can trust the man that broke her heart years ago. I want what they have, end of story. This book is so sexy and beautiful in my days. There's just something about the second-chance romance trope, it might be my favorite now. Please read this book.
- THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY V.E SCHWAB:
Imagine living a life where you cannot be remembered by anyone, where you can not leave a mark. Addie Larue was told to never pray to the gods of the dark. One day, she prays in the wilderness and doesn't notice that it's night already. This is how she makes a deal with the devil. From that moment, she is forgotten by everyone she knows and cannot be remembered by anybody she meets. The moment a door is shut between them, they forget her. After 300 years of living like a ghost, she meets a man in a bookstore, who doesn't forget her. He remembers her.
A masterpiece right here. So captivating and perfect. The writing of this book is lyrical, poetic and so beautiful. The character development was amazing. This book is one of those that completely takes over your mind, you cannot think of anything else and you know you would never forget the story. I stayed up at night to read, I was entrapped. As you turn to a new page, you can't wait to see what the next page holds. I highly recommend it because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you like art, books, history, and the concept of time, you'd enjoy this.
One thing I'm certain of is that I would read these books again. Books like this remind me that reading is indeed my favorite thing to do. I advise that you read at least one book from this list. Welcome to 2023 and here's to an amazing reading year🥂.
Thank You For Reading!
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Dear @glitterbird,
Our previous proposal expired end of December and the Hivebuzz project is not funded anymore. May we ask you to review and support our new proposal (https://peakd.com/me/proposals/248)?
Thank you for your help!