Less delicious than the food recommendations, but more so for the soul. My recent 2022 reading and listenings, yes I am a recent audiobook convert. Two I would highly recommend from the below: the biography of James A Baker III, which reads like a podcast version of the West Wing; and, sticking to the theme, Ron Silver aka Bruno Gianelli narration of Phillip Roth’s masterpiece, Plot Against America.
Other highlights: fanboying over Olga Tokarczuk. Also, I have a tendancy of reading multiple works by same author, finally got to Echo Maker after loving the Overstory; did not disappoint but did not surpass. And I’ve gone through five or so Phillip Roth pieces, starting with the unforgettable Portnoy’s Complaint. But Plot Against America was stunning!
October 2022 Update: I’m not sure where to put this, but my best friend recommended a few mangas. I’ve put my nose up long enough - dove into the Solo Leveling, absolutely gripping. Will continue and let you know, some 200 chapters later :)
| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| The Echo Maker | Richard Powers |
| Klara and the Sun | Kazuo Ishiguro |
| The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III | Peter Baker & Susan Glasser |
| Churwell & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom | Thomas E. Ricks |
| Flights | Olga Tokarczuk |
| Plot Against America | Phillip Roth |
| Broken Earth Trilogy | NK Jemisin |
| Descrates Bones | Russel Shorto |
| The City and the City | China Melville |
| Dutch House - Tom Hanks (!) narrated | Ann Patchett |
| Song of Achilles | Madeline Miller |
| Books of Jacob | Olga Tokarczuk (again) |
| Giovannis Room | James Baldwin |
| The Witcher: The Last Wish | Andrzej Sapkowski |
| The Power | Naomi Alderman |
| Civilizations: A Novel | Laurent Binet |
| Finding Me: A Memoir | Viola Davis |
| Black Cake | Charmaine Wilkerson |
| Three Body Problem | Liu Cixin |