2022 WRAP UP - MY TOP 5 READS OF 2022

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Although 2022 has been a year of a mixed bag, personally and professionally, it has been a tremendous bookish year for me. I had always stayed in my comfort zone of historical fiction, women's and contemporary fiction In the past. But this year, not only did I explore more books in other genres like non-fiction, mythology and thrillers, which I usually don't pick up, but I also enjoyed reading them to a great extent. I also completed my reading goals for the year, another new habit I started this year. There were a lot of books that I loved, and a few were underwhelming as well. Below is a list of the books close to my heart and my top 5 books of the year 2022. 





BECOMING BY MICHELLE OBAMA

This has to be my best pick for the year, hands down. Even months after finishing the book, I still feel the lines lingering in my head. A must-read memoir from one of the most potent and admirable women. It's not just her personal account. It's also every woman's voice suppressed under the million noises that try to push her down. Recommended for men and women, fiction and non-fiction lovers alike, irrespective of their political stance. This is also the first book that I marked and annotated on. 





VALLI BY SHEELA TOMY ( TRANSLATED BY JAYASREE KALATHIL)

I am a self-proclaimed huge translated fiction fanatic, and If you know me, you will know how much I love this book. A book I have been recommending over and over to my friends and fellow readers. This magnificent eco-fiction was short-listed for the JCB prize for literature for the year 2022, and though it did not win, it won over its readers' hearts. From folklore to female friendships to stories of perseverance, this book has it all. The translation was absolutely perfect invoking interest in the readers to know what it feels like to read the original. The essence of the book was never lost in translation.

Pick this book up now as your next read, and I  can assure you it will be your top read too. I am probably going to keep recommending the book for years to come.





THE MAP AND THE SCISSORS BY AMIT MAJMUDAR

My first and foremost preferred genre for reading is historical fiction, and this was my first ever book on the partition. I was very sceptical before starting the book. Based on the cover depiction, I presumed the book would be discriminatory, and I was baffled to find out it was totally not. The book was partly based on facts and partly fiction, and there is a clear line of distinction. It was such a delight in terms of literary creativity with humour, wit and facts in equal proportions. If you are looking for historical fiction or partition-based books, it is simply the best one out there.





WHEN BLACKBIRDS FLY BY HANNAH LALHLANPUII

My 'another first' in the list of 'first times' accomplished in the year 2022. While I have read diverse historical fiction books based on different parts of the world, this was my first book based on North-East Indian history. A tale of loss and love described from a child’s perspective with an innocent unnamed narrator. The book is simple yet soul-stirring and sublime and evokes many emotions in the reader. A must-read for adults and children and historical fiction fans.





THE STORYTELLER BY DR. HAMNA LABEEB (UNDER PEN NAME SANA ROSE)

I never imagined that a psychological thriller would be on my favourite book of the year list until I came across this one. This book taught me that reality could be written to perfection in the form of fiction and be well-balanced too. A book that spoke immensely on mental health, domestic abuse and parenting. A book that taught me not all main characters need to be perfect. Rather, they could be morally grey yet likeable. A book that did not glamourise suffering and did not glorify the bare minimum. This book is to stay on my list forever. 





I am immensely proud how four out of five of my top reads are by Indian authors and would recommend everyone to make these their next picks. If you loved any of these books, leave your thoughts in the comments and what were your top reads of 2022? 


#penbooksandscalpel




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