For the last time in 2022... Hello Loves!
And just like that, 2022 is over.
This was a good year. Overall, for most part this has been a decent year for me.
I spent six months with my parents in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
And then after 20 months away from home, I came back home, to Mumbai. To my books and my flat and set about finding my way back to my old life,
Before we get to books, let's just talk life shall we?
2022 was different.
Better, so much better than 2021.
I lived in two places.
I spent time with my parents.
Came back home.
Mostly stayed home, I haven't quite shaken off my pandemic mindset, I am hoping to step out and do more in life.
I shopped for little and big things.
Still mostly bought from small businesses.
Got an iPad Mini. A new addition to my reading step-up. I do plan on doing more with it and not just using it to read.
I cooked so much. Like a lot.
Then in April, my left hand just decided to make life difficult. I started having crippling pain and that made life difficult. I've had bouts of Carpal Tunnel before (thank you phone and writerly life) and normally after a few painful weeks it goes away. This time it was something else altogether. I was eventually, I think in June, diagnosed with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis. And he's been a total bitch to live with. It's remarkable but unsurprising how a chronic pain situation can change your life. I still have mild pain and tenderness and for most part I've just learnt to live with the pain. It sucks. I can't lift anything heavy with my left hand and I can't grasp most things. I try to keep off my phone and am very mindful of how I do certain things. But even everyday things like cooking, cleaning and in the beginning even shampooing my hair was hellish.
Ugh. Easily the worst thing that happened this year.
:(
In brighter happenings, I well we, my sister and I started a new IG page for all our planner and stationery nerding and that's been so fun!
I didn't blog as much as I would have liked to. 198 posts in total, which is not bad but I am hoping to be a little more regular in 2023.
I didn't write a word. Nothing. Not a single word. I can't believe this happened. I wrote so much in 2020 and a little in 2021 but in 2022 I completely dropped the ball on writing. I really want to focus on writing more in 2023. Really focus on it.
I didn't travel, not even a little. But it's OK.
I took one flight.
I didn't do a lot, but in spite of it all, life was good and gentle and I was happy for most part.
I spent some time alone, I got be quiet, I journaled, I listened to music..I was happy.
And healthy...apart from my left hand. But overall I am grateful for this year and for everything it brought my way.
:)
xoxo
~~~~
OK, now let's talk books shall we?
Cool.
BOOKISH THINGS:
I read a lot. I read well. Most of the books I read were decent. Some good. Some great. Some outstanding.
I read mostly fiction, which is who I am, so there's no surprise here.
I read more Literary Fiction- which is something I did very intentionally.
I read a fair amount of translations.
I read fewer thrillers, which again was a conscious decisions.
I read some poetry.
And I read a lot of non-fiction, by my standards at least.
For the first time ever, I kept a count of how many books I bought and I added 100 books to life. Most of them physical, some on my Kindle and some were kindly sent to me for review. 100. Wow!
I read physical books- old and new.
I read on my Kindle.
And I read a few books on my iPad.
I bought some beautiful book sleeves and book marks.
I highlighted and underlined my books more.
I read some classics, mostly modern classics.
I made notes as I read.
I re-read a few things.
I read a lot of Indian Lit.
In total I read 229 books (according to my Book Journal and 225 according to my IG). Weird.
I am really proud of my reading life.
I did good.
Now, as is yearly tradition, here are my TOP 22 BOOKS OF 2022.
22 books I loved best in 2022.
In no real order, just books I loved very much and I recommend wholeheartedly.
1. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy. ~~~ I started my year with this, my first read of 2022 and what a brilliant little book this is and it was just what I needed. Perfect in every which way.
2. Tiny Sunbird Far Away by Christie Watson. ~~~ I quite randomly bought this book, a used copy at that. It sounded good and it was. I love chancing upon books that weren't on my radar and this was such a wonderful read. Based in Nigeria, it's about a family adapting to a new way of living. It was moving, funny and poignant and so good.
3. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. ~~~ Young adult + Recent-ish History. Shows what life was really like behind the Iron Curtain and how living under a dictatorship can be stifling and it changes how a family functions and how loyalty can be thrown out the window. Incredible.
4. Next Door by Jahnavi Barua. ~~~ Short stories set in Assam and elsewhere. Wonderful and heartfelt and so so food. I really enjoy Barua's writing and have loved everything I've read by her. These stories were no different.
5. Boys Don't Cry by Meghna Pant.~~~ I meant to talk about this book but never quite around to it. So let's do it now. You have to read this book. From what I understand, this book is based on the author's own life and experience and surviving an abusive marriage. This book will get under your skin. This marriage, the relationship- one that starts out with love and romance, turns into a veritable nightmare. Marriage is hard but then you add a total sociopath and his evil family and it's a recipe for disaster. This was so good.
6. Winter in Sokcho by Elise Shua Dusapin, Trans. by Aneesa Abbas Higgins. ~~~ This book is a whole vibe. Not very plot heavy, this short read is about two people meeting in the cold month and in desolate tourist town. It is quiet and still. The kind of book that's perfect for winter and great for when you want to read something good and moving.
7. A Friend for Poochi by Meera Ganapathi. ~~~ A sweeeeet little book, perfect for kiddos and you.
8. Beauty is Missing by Priya Kuriyan. ~~~ Gorgeous art and a lovely little book for littles and you.
9. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. ~~~ A thriller/horror mix. A true crime blogger is hell bent on solving an old case from her town. A perfectly atmospheric read and genuinely creepy and spooky. This was such good fun.
10. Heartstopper Vol. I to IV by Alice Oseman. ~~~ Just alll the feels with these books. So darling and reminded me so much of being young and falling in love for the first time. Just perfect.
11. 3 Ray by Satyajit Ray. ~~~ Ray will always make it to my list of favourites. This year I read quite a lot by him and it was all very good. This book features not just Satyajit but his father Sukumar and grandfather Upendrakishore. An amazing book.
12. In The Language of Remembering by Aanchal Malhotra. ~~~ This might just be the best thing I read this year. A piece of powerful writing and stories and people that we need to read about it. Just so good. This is something I'd recommend everyone read.
13. Seeking Fortune Elsewhere by Sindya Bhanoo. ~~~ A collection of short stories I enjoyed immensely. Mostly about South Indian immigrants and their lives in America. Funny, sharp and moving and so real.
14. The Beauty of All My Days by Ruskin Bond. ~~~ Of course a Bond makes it to my faves list. This is a memoir, not too detailed or in depth, but it had these beautiful pictures from his life and stories from his life and as always Bond is always a good time.
15. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. ~~~ A short but wonderful book that I absolutely loved. Set in Ireland, during the years of the troubles and is a story of a little village and a horrible thing that's happening quite casually and a man who decides to be kind. A fantastic little book. My favourite from the Booker Short List this year.
16. Chronicles of Lost Daughters by Debarati Mukhopadhyay, Trans. by Arunava Sinha. ~~~ A historical novel about women that are lost in the pages of history. Women who suffered and survived. Wonderful and infuriating and such a good read.
17. The Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina Ahmed. ~~~ A debut novel that I loved so much and didn't talk about enough. Set in Pakistan in the 1960s, this is about a young man, a cop goes to investigate the murder of a young sex worker/courtesan in the red light area and is reminded of his own early childhood, spent in the same neighbourhood. Told from a couple of different perspectives, this is the story of identity and power and how some lives seem to matter more than others.
18. The Books of Indian Ghosts by Riksunder Banerjee. ~~~ Of course I loved this mini encyclopedia of Indian Bhoots. This book was both fun and educational. If you love ghosts (you know what I mean) as much as I do. you have to pick this book up.
19. Normal Family by Chrysta Bilton. ~~~ A memoir of a very, very not-so-normal family. If dysfunctional, yet loving family units are your thing you'll enjoy this book. I did, very much.
20. A Bend in the Ganges by Manohar Malgonkar. ~~~ India in the 1930s and 40s will always be one of my favourite things to read about and learn about. This one took me by surprise. Loved it and can't recommend it enough.
21. The Mendicant Prince by Aruna Chakravarti. ~~~ A fictionalized account of a true incident, one that is full of intrigue and even nearly a 100 years after all this went down, it still makes people wonder about the Bhawal Sanyasi, and his return from the grave. Loved this book and how it handled this narrative and the research that must have gone into it.
22. No Way In by Udayan Mukherjee. ~~~ This book, that I read in December might be my favourite fiction read of the year. Set in Calcutta in 2014, this is fantastically done look at how the changing social climate in the country effects the daily life and equations of people. This was such a nuanced look at the ways in which things have changed in India in the last few years. So so so good. I will do a full review soon.
~~~~~~
I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve.
Have a fun time and I hope you are warm and safe and happy.
Thank-you for reading my posts and hanging out with me this year.
I will see you next year.
:)
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