monologue narratives.: December 2022

My 2022 in Books

by Felly. - 11:59 PM

Rijksmuseum Library, via Unsplashed by Will van Wingerden

I've been there, sadly the library is not open for public.

Surprisingly, I still read a lot of books this year.

In case you missed it from January - October I was living in Netherlands with crazy amount of stuffs I had to do everyday, yet I still manage to read the same amount of book as I was in 2020 when half of the year I was doing Final Year Project for my graduation.

I think I know what made me very successful in reading. Aside from the normal printed books, my tool of choice is Google Playbooks mostly. Compared to years before I was very equipped with the right tools, now I like reading with e-book reader (mine is Boox Nova Air, so far so good!) and during the summer I did a bit of Audible subscription and it changed my life.

Sometimes I found it difficult to focus so when I'm reading I also like to turn on the audio (robotic computer voice, it's awful but it also helps me to read faster when I couldn't focus), so when I tried Boox Nova read aloud version it is so much better, Audible is even better.

But anyways! That's the technique. Now onto the statistics and best books that I've read.

In total, I read 29 books. My method for keeping track of the books I read consists of 3 different ways: goodreads, The StoryGraph, and my personal Google Spreadsheet. I have to admit it is not perfect, often it took a little longer to finish a book and I can't remember how long is it since I read... but aside from that, it's pretty well laid-out I suppose.

In 2022,

......I read 7,808 pages.

.....Average book length of 269 pages.

....Most Shelved book is Picture of Dorian Grey (2,689,871 times)

....Least Shelved book is Arapaima (124 times)

....First book of the year is Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature by Nathan W. Pyle [sneaky quick read at a bookstore in Bordeaux]

....Last book of the year is Copy This Book by Eric Schrijver.

My most common page range is 200-300 pages. Reading more than that needs determination and I don't know if I have them.

Most of the titles that I've read are Fiction (20) and Nonfiction (8)! That's a sharp increase on the non-fiction category. I've been trying to expand my reading repetoire, most of the nonfics are self help books, design books, and biography.

MOODS

Top five: Emotional, Reflective, Mysterious, Informative, Funny.

I read to feel something? What else can I say about it?

GENRES

It's pretty self-explanatory. I love Contemporary Lit, Literary Fiction, Asian Lit, YA, LGBTQIA+ but i am definitely expanding my repertoire.

Now, to the best books that I've read in 2022 in no particular order...

1. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

This book rocks my world upside down. It would be considered as non-fiction, she was writing from her own experience taking care of her dying mother and how she would reconnect with her own culture through food and internet. She has this poignant writing voice that's flowing and so easy to read, the theme, grief, is something that I'd like to read although it hurts so bad.

I cried so many times reading this book, also breaking the record of many places I cried while reading a book. First I found out through Justin H. Min's Instagram book recommendation, the title is a bit foreign to someone who doesn't live in the US, but H Mart is basically the huge asian store across America.

I feel a little sentimental reading about family when I was away from my own family, familiar food, and everything. I would recommend this to anyone... literally. Thanks to this book I got to know more about Japanese Breakfast and the woman behind it: Michelle Zauner. Love love love.

2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

I know, I know, there is no need for me to talk about this book. This book is everywhere in all the bookstore across the world. There's a reason for it: I just think that they have practical action plan. Oftentimes when I read a non-fiction self-help book it's all bullshit, this books actually taught about reasons for how to make your life better and how to build your habit. Even after almost a year I still think about this book from time to time.

3. Mythos by Stephen Fry

This was the first book that I listen using my Audible credit and I did not regret!

In my head when I was reading books sometimes I'd like to think that Stephen Fry is narrating my books: and it came true. There is something about his voice that's very soothing and just nice but lso a little witty. I'm a huge Greek Mythology nerd since I picked up Percy Jackson when I was 12, I enjoy this book immensely since it goes in kind of chronological order.

Stephen Fry's retelling is very fun, it does not change a lot of details but he explained it as if he's my funny and intelligent uncle. A lot of Greek stories are WILD, my favorite that I just discovered from this book is definitely the story of Eros and Psyche. It's so strange it sounds like a soap opera, although this story is so old it might be the godfather of soap opera I think.

It is also very beginner friendly, if you don't know anything about greek mythology, he explained everything in a way that's easy to understand.

4. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I have to admit this is not the first time that I read this book. It's a reread. I've been obsessed of this book since I was in high school. Now, age 24, I finally could see the original Goldfinch at Mauritshuis, more than once. I see the places that were briefly described in Goldfinch. It's purely for sentimental purposes too. Donna Tartt's words mesmerized me, her words are so pretty, adding so many layers and nuances to the story without hindering the story.

This reread is only possible also by listening to the Audiobook via audible. It's a gift from me to myself since I read it around my birthday in October. I got some Goldfinch memorabilia which I'm very happy about it too!

My favorite moment by myself this year was when I paid another visit to Mauritshuis, the 2nd time. Not only I get to see The Goldfinch but also to see Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson and hear the description by Theodore's mom, she was analyzing the painting. Audrey Decker is also my new favorite character in this book after this reread, I relate to Audrey so much.

I fell in love again with adult Theo, but to see that he's deeply flawed and troubled. He's a very charming businessman and he definitely dresses well, but he got drug addiction and he's paranoid. His relationship with Kitsey and Pippa. I found a huge soft spot for Theodore, still one of my favorite characters in the fictional realm.

Honorable mention: Neil Gaiman's Make Good Art Speech, Haruki Murakami's After Dark, Sally Rooney's Beautiful Where Are You, Amy Tan's The Joyluck Club, Bo Seo's Good Arguments.

I can't really say that the other books are in the same... tier as them. But definitely, those are really good read. Just with various degree of subjects and flaws.

I really enjoy my 2022 reads. Meeting new people this year and expanding my reading list (my friend just sort of reminded me how important it is to read design books... and she's right.) or books about how to improve yourself. Still strange for me that the fiction book didn't make it to the top cut.

Here's to many more books in 2023!

p.s. i also visited a lot of libraries / bookstores in 2022, I'm gonna try to compile them somehow.

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monologue narratives.

My 2022 in Books

1. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

3. Mythos by Stephen Fry

4. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

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