I’m finally finding my way back to reading after the pandemic disrupted my reading rhythms and ability to concentrate, but I’m far more relaxed about tracking and pushing myself to read more. Now I’m more concerned with reading what I want, when I want, and not feeling guilty if I’m not setting “reading records.”

So here are my Top 10 books of 2022 in the order that I read them:

1 – The Love Songs of W. E. B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (2020)

This National Book Award Winner did not disappoint. I listened on Audible and was immediately captivated by Ailey’s coming of age story. Ailey’s search for identity involves exploring her family’s past as she forges her way forward. It’s a commitment at almost 800 pages (or 30 hours of listening), but the story is well worth the time.

2 – Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari (2018)

This book hit at the perfect time for me. A trusted colleague recommended this and thought it would be worth discussing in my senior classes. Hari unpacks the rewiring of our brains – going far beyond the true but cliche answer that “technology is the problem.” And I appreciate that he doesn’t offer easy answers but rather encourages people to lean into the struggle of figuring out what is right for themselves. The line “We’re in the Jungle Room!” is now a part of my permanent language; read this to understand.

3 – Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017)

At 500 pages, this is another long book but reads much faster than would seem for the length. Sunja’s story spans generations and all of the wins and losses that come with being an immigrant family. While much of the action revolves around men, this is a story of the resilience and determination of women.

4 – East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952)

What can I say? I like big books. East of Eden (600 pages) was a reread for me but it’s been a while (like a couple of decades). I try to reread one book that I loved from when I was younger, and this has been on my reread list for a while. I was excited when my pastor referenced this during a sermon as he was rereading at the same time. First, I love a good villain: enter Cathy Trask. Then the story of Cal and Aaron and all of the allusions detailed as only Steinbeck can checks all of the boxes for me.

5- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (2022)

This may be my favorite book of the year. This futuristic story of Olive is hauntingly beautiful. She’s a mother, a wife, a writer caught in a life of time travel and decisions with broad implications. I am also in awe of how Mandel weaves in plot points from Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel throughout this story. And unlike my other books, this story is only 225 pages long but will stay with you for a while. Enjoy!

6 – Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (1985)

This book is hard – historically, thematically, and stylistically (even though I LOVE McCarthy’s postmodern writing style), but it is well worth the read. The book is filled with violence, brutality, and carnage, but McCarthy pulls the reader in to a world of despair continuing to stay with the kid to see him through. This book is not for the faint of heart, but I highly recommend. (Also do not let this picture deceive you – not a beach read. What is wrong with me?)

7 –The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon (2022)

This collection of poems inhabits the liminal space of loss and life, pain and joy, uncertainty and resoluteness. The new Poet Laureate makes a strong statement taking the reader through the seasons, but that strength is balanced with delicacy. Favorite include Sanctuary, It Begins with the Trees, The First Fish, Cyrus and the Snakes, and Privacy.

8 – Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng (2022)

This book is dystopian and is centered on book banning so it immediately had my interest. I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced readers copy and read through this within a couple of days after receiving it. The ability to write something so timely in a way that exposes the cracks in society is a gift, and Ng answered the call with this book. This is contemporary fiction at its best.

9 – Fairy Tale by Stephen King (2022)

I’m fairly neutral on Stephen King (heresy for an English teacher I realize), and fantasy is not my genre of preference. But this book really surprised me. Like others on the list it’s a commitment with a listening time of 24 hours (that’s just one day, right??) I fell in love with Charlie immediately and was along for the ride as he was swept into a whole new world. I would recommend this to Stephen King for beginners.

10 – Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022)

I was fortunate enough to hear Barbara Kingsolver speak a couple of months ago on this book tour and was fascinated with the back story. She knew she wanted to address the opioid crisis in Appalachia. While visiting a the home of Charles Dickens, she was inspired and decided David Copperfield was the perfect story, and thus Demon Copperhead was born. This is classic Kingsolver and also comes in at over 500 pages, but it reads fast.

That’s my Top 10 of the year. I’d love to know what stood out in your reading and why in 2022.

Susan Barber teaches AP Lit and Writers Workshop/Advanced Composition at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia and serves as the College Board Advisor for AP Lit and on the NCTE Secondary Steering Committee. In addition to reading, writing, and investing in the next generation, she loves watching college football with her family especially when Alabama is playing.