The Best Books I Read in 2022
Wednesday is about books and writing. Today it's my faves of the year: Old, new, here's some of my favourite reads from 2022 - all new to me in this year.
I read a lot of books this year. I had books out from the library, I had books I bought, books that were sent to me to review, books I borrowed from other people, and of course books that had sat on my shelf for years and I finally got to them. I also had books on my Kindle, and audiobooks too. Some people get very funny about counting an audiobook as “reading” but I certainly added them to my Goodreads list.
My reading goal for the year was about 150 books I think, then I extended it, and then extended it again to 240. I blitzed it. Clocking 264 books. Some of these are volumes of poetry, some of them are graphic novels, there are Kindle Singles and short collections, even a single story or two, so it’s not 264 textbooks or novels. But it is a lot of reading, however you slice it.
I told you about some of my very favourite books as I was reading them, while I was still in them, or after I finished them. I’m going to go through the Goodreads list now and pick a few highlights. Old and new, these were the books – brand new to me this year – that I loved the most.
Big fan of Grady Hendrix – great horror novelist, and great non-fiction writer. So that means I’d probably read anything he handed in anyway, but I’m also a huge fan of martial arts films, particularly from the 70s and 80s, so this book was just a knockout for me. Loved it. Filled with great information, a really interesting cultural examination with some film theory on the side.
Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head by Rob Chapman:
This one had been on my to-read list for about a decade. Finally got to it, after delving back into the early Pink Floyd material. I have read other books about Barrett, and plenty about Floyd, but I’d say this was the best Barrett-focused one. Such a strange tragedy. Was he a genius? Sometimes, at least.
Blood on Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks on Vinyl by Aaron Lupton and Jeff Szpirglas:
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was how much it made me want to spend on Italian horror movie soundtracks on imported reissued vinyl. A wonderful tome for horror-heads and soundtrack fanatics. And you will know me well enough to know that I am both of these things.
The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker:
I had a great year rediscovering horror novels and finding new ones too – and of all my horror reading I think the revelation was finally reading Barker. The movie Hellraiser is one that stays with me to this day – I haven’t yet seen the remake nor rewatched the original but I must do both after finally getting to the source material.
Having and Being Had by Eula Biss:
I adored this book! Basically, it’s mini-sized essays (column length) that argue against capitalism and fight for the right to a life in the arts. But it’s razor-sharp, not deluded idealism. Very thought-provoking. Amazing writing.
Vacationland: True Stories From Painful Beaches by John Hodgman:
I’d long enjoyed John Hodgman’s unique comedy stylings, but it was finally getting to his written words that made me realise what a brilliant (and funny) writer he is. This book was so much fun to read, and so clever.
Elevation by Stephen King:
This book doesn’t seem to rate too highly among the King fanatics but I loved it. A short wee story (novella, maybe?) that is an argument for something charming and kind, written in frustration in the Trump era. What I loved most about it was the chance to read it in a single sitting, while recovering from COVID. I had spent days wanting to read and struggling past about 10 sentences. This book gripped me and that’s when I knew I was on the mend.
Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk:
Another COVID-recovery read for me, and one I wrote about here already. Love Bob so much. So was always going to dig this.
Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of An American Troubadour by Rickie Lee Jones:
Here's another one I wrote about already (mentioning Tricky’s excellent memoir too). But I’ve thought far more about the Rickie Lee Jones book since, particularly I love the way she really covered only her early years. The fame was irrelevant, the least important part – it was about the survival. So much survival on the way to making it. And just so beautifully written. It was almost not a music book, and certainly a book where you don’t need to have any interest at all in her music career. (I will mention here though that I’m an enormous RLJ fan. Some days I’m sure there’s no better singer on this earth).
Grand: Becoming My Mother’s Daughter by Noelle McCarthy:
Pretty much the book of the year, if you ask most bookstores. Especially NZ bookstores. What a book! And of course, I wrote about it at the time. But this was truly something special. Just a wonderful piece of writing. Memoir-as-page-turner.
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl:
I really loved this – and I didn’t think I was going to. I’m not a Foo Fighters fan, but I am a bit of a Grohl fan, and I certainly have been in the past. So this book was fun, because it was a reminder of just how many people he’s intersected with – people at the very top of the list, and the height of the game. And the Nirvana years, the post-Kurt grief, was very well handled. A nice surprise. And a great holiday read.
Where The Devil Don’t Stay: Traveling The South with the Drive-By Truckers by Stephen Deusner:
One of my favourite bands of the last 10 years or so would be Drive-By Truckers. I know they’ve been a band for a quarter-century, but I was a bit slow to get fully on board. They are masterful though, incredible songwriters, and great grit in the performances as well as the writing. This thoughtful band biography is a wonderful summary of a hardworking, successful band that continues to chip away from the sidelines of the mainstream.
Mean Baby by Selma Blair:
Another “surprise” memoir. When I started it I didn’t really know why I was going in – beyond hearing some advance praise. It really is a wonderful book, one of the better actor-memoirs I’ve read. Some real soul, wisdom and heart in this book.
Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris:
I will read anything by David Sedaris. I’ve read everything he’s released. So I was always going in for this – but it contains some of his finest stories/essays in quite a while, and was a return to his regular format after publishing closet-clearing ‘best ofs’ and diaries.
Broken Horses by Brandi Carlile:
Another beautifully written memoir. I respect Carlile as a songwriter and performer, but ahead of reading this I was barely a fan. I went into this book purely based on recommendations. And I’m so glad I did. It pairs well with the Rickie Lee Jones memoir.
Windswept and Interesting: My Autobiography by Billy Connolly:
There’s really no greater stand-up comedy icon – particularly from the 70s/80s/90s. Certainly not one that’s still living. You read this for the stories. The yarns. And there are so many good yarns in here. I loved this so much.
Porcelain and Then It Fell Apart both by Moby:
In one of the weirder self-sabotages, Moby effectively got himself cancelled while trying to do promo for his second memoir. I hadn’t yet read the first so that put me off even bothering. A few years down the track I decided to dive in and read both, back to back. And they are really interesting books. I really enjoyed them. Got me back into his music a bit too…
Needs Adult Supervision by Emily Writes:
I loved this book. And I wondered, briefly, if a third book by Emily would be as good as the others, but I really think it’s her best yet. I said this here at the time of course. And a reminder, if you’re not already reading, following, supporting Emily on Substack you should. She’s the reason I started a Substack. (She made me do it! So, you can either thank her, or blame her. Your call).
Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen:
Another memoir that I didn’t bother with at the time – I guess I kinda wanted to, but I just fall in and out of love with Bruce’s music. He bugs me no end. Then something utterly floors me. And I’ve realised now, only recently, that’s just how it will be. But this is seriously one of the very best music memoirs I’ve ever encountered. Bruce is still Playing Bruce (my biggest problem with him) but here it’s revealing, charming, interesting, wise, and never really as annoying as when he is Playing Bruce as a writer/performer.
Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kroger and Melanie R. Anderson:
Well, the title explains it really. Due to sexism, and short memories, some of the greatest writers that put horror and sci fi and speculative fiction on the maps have been overlooked, ignored, forgotten…this shines the light on Shirley Jackson and Mary Shelley and many others. A wonderful book. Some great stories here.
Alfred Hitchcock and The Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello:
I told you recently, that I’ve gone in deep on Alfred Hitchcock, give me the movies, the docos about him, books, everything. So, I loved this book because of the timing of reading it. But it’s a really well put together story that charts Hitchcock via the making of Psycho. Now I need to watch Psycho again. (And again…)
Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius by Nick Hornby:
I read four or five books about Prince this year. Like I do every year I guess. But this was the favourite. Nice to read Hornby again, after many years off. This slim volume is fun and wise and a great gift for the reader, or writer in your life. Hornby has a go at comparing and contrasting Prince and Charles Dickens for the very best reason in the world: He loves them both. They are enduring icons and heroes to him and this personal book is his way of shining a light on two prolific creatives that he has taken some inspiration from. I loved the idea of the book. And then very much loved the execution of it.
There you go, that’s some highlights from this year’s reading. To look at this list it’s basically all books about horror or memoirs. There were more novels in there – and you can see the full lost of what I read here. But I thought mentioning some of the favourite-reads within that big list might inspire some last minute Christmas gifts, or some summer holiday reading.
So, tell me, what was the best book – or books – you read in 2022, regardless of whether it was a new release or ancient history?
And see anything here you like the sound of?