A Book A Week

2022 was a banner year for A Book A Week in more ways than one. In January, I celebrated my milestone 10th anniversary of the blog. It is crazy to think I've been doing this for as long as I have. The connections this outlet has afforded me have been the number one thing sustaining me through all these years. I'm so grateful for the friendships I've made and the fantastic books I've been exposed to. 

In addition to this being a landmark year for the blog, I also achieved a personal best of reading 59 books this year. There are always way more books on my TBR than I have time to read. I'm at a point where I enjoy reading most of the books I pick up (I usually set a book down if I don't like it), so distilling my reads down to 5 favorite titles proved to be more challenging than usual. I was surprised that the books I most enjoyed were also all published this year. That speaks to the quality and diversity of selections that were published this year. Without further ado, here are my Top 5 Favorite Reads of 2022 listed in the order that I read them. 

Unmasked by Paul Holes

Part memoir, part true crime, Unmasked sees Paul Holes recall his life as a criminal investigator on some of the most high-profile cases in recent history. From bringing the Golden State Killer to justice to investigating the murder of Laci Peterson and the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard, Holes has had a front-row seat to the headline-grabbing crimes that have captured our nation. He writes of balancing the pressures of his demanding work with trying to be present for his young family. The book succeeds as both a fascinating inside look at the mechanisms of solving a crime and as a memoir of one man who has dedicated his entire life to seeking justice.

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Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alsion Espach

The loss of a child brings the kind of inconsolable grief that defies comprehension. Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance sees Alison Espach present her own contemplations upon grief and loss through the eyes of a young woman directly in the process of dealing with it. Espach doesn't pretend to have answers. Instead, she writes an intimate novel that allows her characters to naturally go through life, making decisions that seem authentic to each of them. I was riveted by this challenging yet rewarding work. 

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Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

It is hard to comprehend that Nightcrawling is a debut novel. Mottley has crafted a narrative akin to the best writing from the most seasoned and celebrated authors. Inspired by the true story of a young girl who was physically and mentally taken advantage of by a group of corrupt police officers, Mottley weaves the crumbs of that reality into a sobering portrait of poverty in America. Nightcrawling is a phenomenal debut from a promising author who is worthy of all the hype and praise she has already received.

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The Measure by Nikki Erlick

What would you do if you knew the exact length of your life? In her debut novel, Nikki Erlick takes this grand "what if" concept of moral ambiguity and unleashes it upon an ensemble cast of well-crafted characters. Erlick effortlessly shifts perspectives as she tells the stories of people coming to terms with the lengths of their lives. The Measure is a novel that dares its reader to contemplate their own life and place within the world. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the final page.

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

It is rare to find a nearly perfect book, but this one is. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a big book filled with big ideas, all grounded through some of the most brilliantly crafted characters I've ever read. We follow these characters through three decades of life, feeling companionship, exhilaration, frustration, and heartbreak. Zevin shifts perspectives between the main characters, ensuring the plot moves in a way that is authentic and ever-compelling. By the end, Sam and Sadie are completely known to us, as real as the people we know in our own lives. I don't often heap universal praise upon a novel, but this is easily my favorite book of the year. 

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Have you read any of these books? What was your favorite read of 2022? As always, thanks for supporting A Book A Week. I can't wait to share all the great reads that 2023 will bring. 

What makes a great book? I'm at that point in the year where I'm beginning to reflect on which of the many books I've read this year have been my favorite. Pondering the various titles I've consumed has left me considering what elements make up a great read. I think the essential pieces would be the same for most readers. In fact, in the ten years that I've reviewed every book that I've read, the key components of what makes a good read to me have remained unchanged. The best books have an intriguing plot, consistent pace, and most importantly strong characters. Bonus points go to any book that I can't shake thinking about when I finish it. With my reading year winding down, I didn't expect to have another book that would wow me to the point of considering it my top read of the year. But then my friends at Alfred A. Knopf sent me a copy of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It might just be the best book I've read this year. 

Sam and Sadie were an unlikely pair when they first met at the children's hospital. Sam was there recovering from a debilitating foot injury resulting from a horrific car crash. He hadn't spoken a word since he arrived. Sadie was there visiting her sister who was fighting a battle with cancer. There's a lot of downtime in the hospital. Recovering from an injury takes time, and Sam had plenty of it. As the healthy child in the family, Sadie also had a ton of time to herself. She encountered Sam playing Super Mario Bros, and the two started a conversation. Over the coming weeks and months, the pair became best friends, bonding over their love of video games. 

Years later their time together became nothing more than a memory. A childhood spat left a rift between Sam and Sadie, and they didn't speak to each other for years. The pair didn't reconnect again until a chance encounter on a subway platform thrust them back into each other's life. It was as if no time had passed at all. Their friendship rekindled, and the two college students joined forces to build upon their childhood obsession. They agree to make a game together. 

There are times when a book seems to come out of the ether to infiltrate our lives. Zevin's novel is that kind of book. I have a quiet familiarity with video games, but I would never dare to call myself a gamer. In fact, my Nintendo Switch is turned off much more frequently than it is turned on. As such, I began reading with a hint of trepidation. Was this material going to resonate with me? As I let Zevin's words take hold of my imagination, I quickly realized that my worries were unwarranted. You see, Zevin has written a novel that, at its core, is about friendship. We follow these characters through three decades of life, feeling companionship, exhilaration, frustration, and heartbreak. By the end, Sam and Sadie are completely known to us, as real as the people we know in our own lives. Zevin shifts perspectives between the main characters, ensuring the plot moves in a way that is authentic and ever-compelling. I was glued to the pages, experiencing the emotions of each moment along with the characters. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a big book filled with big ideas, all grounded through some of the most brilliantly crafted characters that I've ever read. I don't often heap universal praise on a novel, especially one as hyped as this one has been. In this case, though, I feel the praise is warranted. This is a great book.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.  

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