A Year in Review: Best Reads of 2022
It’s been a funny old year for me in terms of reading.
2022 started strong, and I felt had a good balance between reading for pleasure and reading for work or studies, but as we reached the final quarter, reading the books that I wanted just for the pleasure of reading pretty much became non-existent.
That said, I’ve had the real pleasure of reading some gems this year, and in true book reviewer fashion, I’m finishing out a year of great reviews with a list of my top eight ‘best’ reads for 2022.
Enjoy!
Fiction
Sadvertising: Stories From the Margins of Creativity by Ennis Ćehić
The debut collection of short fiction from Ennis Ćehić takes its starting point from his wide-ranging career as an advertising copywriter, brand strategist and creative director - and follows this point into a weird, surreal and utterly inventive metaverse of the advertising world. A heady mix of micro, flash and short fiction, Ćehić’s writing oozes sophisticated meta-charm while simultaneously poking fun at an industry that seems to take itself much too seriously. I still think about some of his characters, which testify to his incredible writing prowess in short literary formats
Read my full review here.
Total: Stories by Rebecca Miller
Total is Rebecca Miller’s second collection of short stories, and it did not disappoint. I positively devoured this one, swept along by the impeccable wit and emotional complexity of the characters. From Dublin to Martha's Vineyard, the anxious comforts of motherhood to a technologically infected future that mirrors today with dark prescience - the seven stories contained predict and lay bare a world entirely of their own, a world that at first glance might seem far-fetched but on deeper reflection is closer to home than we might want to acknowledge. Total is a must-have reading experience.
Hydra by Adriane Howell
I didn’t see this one make much of a mark across bookstagram this year, but it definitely should have. Telling the story of Anja, a young antiquarian passionate about clean, balanced mid-century furniture, she is intent on classifying objects based on emotional response. When her meticulously planned career falls apart, Anja finds herself unsure how to move forward - confessing her rage and intimate thoughts with the reader with humour and honesty. Anja finds herself taking refuge in leasing a derelict, isolated property from a neighbouring naval base. It seems the perfect place to pour her restoration passions into - until another presence begins to make itself known. Impressively suspenseful but filtered with black humour, Hydra was a stand-out for me this year.
Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
Winner of the inaugural Novel Prize, Cold Enough for Snow (2022), is a slim, unassuming novella that quietly opens the door to a depth of everyday thoughtfulness that too often passes us by. It is the second book from Jessica Au and has quickly established her as a writer to watch. On the surface, Cold Enough for Snow is simple in its premise; a daughter has invited her mother on holiday with her to Japan. Both characters remain unnamed throughout, but we learn early on that there is a fracture in their relationship. It’s a novella that will softly pad up behind you, leaving a whispered mark in your ear with its vivid imagery and powerful sense of nostalgia. Well worth getting your hands on.
Read my full review here.
Seeing Other People by Diana Reid
It’s no secret I was a (surprised) big fan of Reid’s debut, Love & Virtue, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest release earlier this year! The so-called ‘tricky’ second novel I know brings gripes for many authors, but Reid does not fail to deliver. Following the story of two very different sisters, Eleanor and Charlie, as they navigate significant changes and simmering resentments, the two must learn to navigate what they want - from each other and themselves. Reid is a masterful teller of female dynamics, and while there were similarities to her first novel, she also provides us with a unique, darkly funny narrative that will have you glued to the very last page.
Poetry
Clean by Scott-Patrick Mitchell
And the award for the only book that made me cry this year goes swiftly to SPM. Mitchell’s debut full-length poetry collection feels like a quiet honour to spend time with - the amount of care and heart poured into this melts into every page. Scott-Patrick Mitchell is a gem of the Western Australian poetry scene. Mitchell, a seasoned performance poet, has toured Australia with their works, won several prestigious literary awards, and published several chapbooks. Clean is divided into three parts, Dirty, The Sleep Deprivation Diaries, and Clean; Mitchell takes the reader by the hand and coaxes them through their journey. The collection was written across a decade of Mitchell’s own experience with addiction and recovery - with a heavy lean into the recovery part that will leave readers inspired.
Read my full review here.
Red Low Fog / Transcript by Melissa E. Jordan
Winner of Animal Heart Press’ Annual Poetry Collection Contest 2022, Red Low Fog / Transcript by Melissa Jordan, is one of the most unique, intricate and spellbinding collections I’ve read to date. The collection stood out for me for the carefully crafted ways it stays with traditional poetic forms but uses these forms to create distinctive narratives and voices throughout the collection. Telling the story of a ski lodge bombing in upstate New York, Jordan weaves an intricate tale of love, gossip, urban myth and story-telling through the prose. In her notes on the collection, Jordan clarifies the styles chosen for each character or group of characters and the style's origins. It’s one that requires multiple readings to carefully tease out the full intricacies that Jordan has woven throughout, and the perfect poetic homage to small-town crime thrillers that I never knew my life was missing.
Read my full review here.
Bath Songs by Lia Dewey Morgan
I squeezed this read in late this year, and I am so thankful I made space for it, as it is a collection that deserves all the space it can find and more. Lia Dewey Morgan is a trans poetess grounded in Naarm. Her work embraces her trans body as “an incubator for resilience”. Morgan uses her debut collection to bring us a hybrid of contemporary and ancient poetic practices that she has accumulated throughout her life and “works to develop a sincere response to the profound intensity of our time.” Bath Songs is a powerful ode to compassion and vulnerability, and will find you returning to it over and over, hunting through the pages for the magic within.
Elaine Mead is a freelance writer and book reviewer, currently residing in nipaluna (Hobart), Tasmania. She is passionate about the ways we can use literature to learn from our experiences to become more authentic versions of ourselves and obsessed with showing you photos of her Dachshund puppy. You can find her online under www.wordswithelaine.com.
