YOUR 2022 BOOKS
Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
Ida: Searching for the Jazz Baby by Frank Prem
Moose by Ron Potter
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Pinball 1973 by Haruki Murakami
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
Resurrection of Tatsuko by Hidenori Hiruta
Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami
The Light in the Cave by Tricia Sankey
Copper Yearning by Kim Blaeser
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The Anthropocene Hymnal Anthology edited by Ingrid Wilson
The 13th book, as yet unpublished:
“Day for Night II” by Stacey Bryan
Not a great number of books but each one was worth the read and enjoyable. Hoping to read more than this amount in 2023.
Tao-Talk 
I did not read much this year either. But thus is a good list. (K l
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Thanks, Kerfe. I do think I will be reading more in 2023.
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I love Murakami, but I haven’t read Hear the Wind Sing. How was it?
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It’s his first book and comes as a pair with Pinball because it’s the same main characters. It’s OK but not memorable beyond introducing the characters that get developed in Pinball, which is much better.
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That’s 13 books more than I read, Lisa. Shamefully, I haven’t read a book in many years.
My lame excuse is that reading is such a huge part of my job that I don’t want to the same during my spare time. Of course, the kind of reading I do as part of my job in PR is very different from novels and other books. Another challenge I have is a short attention span – if it takes too long, it discourages me.
I know the above is a sad state of affairs. But unfortunately it’s the truth, at least at this time!
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Christian, understandable considering your profession. I remember when I was in grad school we had to read so much that reading definitely became a chore. It took me years to re-acquire the taste. Now I’m mostly reading blogs and other internet things and writing rather than reading books, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing or not. Definitely want to read more this year.
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I’m sure I’m missing out by not reading books, so kudos to your plan to read more books!
I don’t know what the best way to resume reading books is. Perhaps I should start with short stories, so it’s not as daunting as reading a full-fledged book! :-)
It also doesn’t help that I’m a relatively slow reader. I hope I’m going to figure it out…
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You might start with an author you know you like? Short stories is a good idea. Do you like scary stories? I have a couple of suggestions for you if you do.
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You mean scary short stories? :-)
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yes
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Okay, sure! :-)
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Understand some of these stories aren’t easy to forget. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! “Haunted,” by Chuck Palahniuk, and “Burnt Tongues: An Anthology of Transgressive Stories,” edited by Chuck Palahniuk, Richard Thomas, and Dennis Widmyer.
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Thanks, sounds like it’s not exacting bedtime reading! :-)
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Probably not, unless you’re into nightmares ;)
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Oh my god, I was going through your list thinking–this is impressive. I’d be embarrassed to list at least 1/4 of the books I’ve read, lol !! They all sound so literary–and props for being able to get through In Cold Blood. I can’t stand stories about senseless murder. That’s why I never read serial killer novels! But I know Mr. Capote was a master. Andthen I saw the last book on your list! You really made my day, Li. Even though I do not deserve in any way, shape, or form to be on a list with Mr. Capote, for one, and probably everyone else there, lol !! But I thank you! I’m sending out queries and chapters and blurbs and synopses and even delving into agents a little bit this time instead of just straight to publishers… so we’ll see. Thanks for sharing your list (which, of course, I’ll have to jot down all the titles there for my wish list) and your support and encouragement!
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Stacey, I read 20 lifetimes of pulp fiction as a youngster — it was the only thing that kept me sane, no joke — and I’m thankful those volumes were available. My best friend who lived across the alley had a dad who voraciously mowed through books and she was always able to sneak us out some copies. Some were enough to make my ears burn, but they did have my full attention. The ones I read now have to have substance, but not so much cerebral density as to seize up my decreasing quantity of firing synapses. Honestly, Stacey, In Cold Blood is about the life stories of the victims and the killers that is told independently and only briefly do their pathways intersect, as hideously horrifically as it was. I wish you’d read my review on it, you might be more convinced to see what it offers. OK enough about Capote’s book. YES YES YES glad you are taking steps towards getting an agent. Your book needs to be published AND PROMOTED. BOTH OF THEM. Happy to support and encourage you and will reflect those thanks back to you as you’ve done the same for me <3
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Well, I will read your review now, for sure! I do love reading about old-timey people anyway, and their way of life. One of my favorite books is Sister Carrie. I also loved Mildred Pierce and I forgot which one by Zora Neale Hurston and of course Nathanel West. Also understand totally about the pulp fiction and your sanity: same here, with just about anything in a book, but especially adventure novels. What year/month is your Cold Blood review? :)
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Link to the review: https://tao-talk.com/2022/01/09/book-review-_in-cold-blood_-by-truman-capote/ Wow almost a year to the day. I wrote Sister Carrie and Mildred Pierce (didn’t they make a movie of that one?) I was introduced to Zora Neale Hurston while reading a book of essays by Alice Walker. I also did some research on Nora and wrote a poem (after giving a quote of hers as a prompt for dVerse.) See here: https://tao-talk.com/2021/07/19/dverse-prosery-ama/ That said, I have not read any of her work.
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Ooh, thanks for the links. I appreciate it!
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My pleasure, Stacey.
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Great review, Li. Yeah, the build up and aftermath sound like they almost overpower the actual gruesome act. To be able to gain a little perspective from the “bad guys'” point of view…and maybe even find out how and why they became that way definitely makes for three-dimensional storytelling. I definitely will read In Cold Blood one day…maybe even soon!
PS: Of your favorites paragraphs, I also loved the description of the tom cats that prowled the streets and knew where to find the remains of birds killed in the car grilles. Amazing! What a detail!
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Honestly, Stacey, it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
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I wish I could read fiction more…I get stuck on bios so much but I really enjoy them. I have to admit the Pinball 1973 looks pretty cool.
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Pinball is a pretty good book. Some of his descriptions of the landscape in it are quite breathtaking. Also the part about the pinball game in there is very mysterious and something you might enjoy. Bios are good. I enjoyed Keith’s. I want to read Bono’s soon.
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I can count the number of fiction books I’ve read on one hand…I’m NOT bragging…I want to do better. Two SK books, The Harry Potter books, and a fiction story of a guy going back in time to meet the Beatles at different stretches.
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Really, Max!? Maybe set a goal of a couple every 6 months? Biographies are probably the kind of book I’ve read least.
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We need to switch up lol. I’m currently on a Grateful Dead 22 hour book lol. You are right…I need to change up…you know what I’ve always wanted to read but never did? A Mark Twain book… I may have read some in school but not because I wanted to…know what I mean? I will pick a few out this year.
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p.s. Also Michael K. Williams, the actor who passed away in 2021, wrote a book, I really want to read. He was such a good actor and I still can’t believe he’s gone.
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Oh yea…the actor that played Omar.
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He was also in Hap & Leonard and in Lovecraft Country. Interestingly he plays gay characters in those also.
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Yes that is right. Yea he might have got cast because of the Wire in some ways. He was so impressive in that. That was a career-changing role. So sad that he passed away so young.
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