Wednesday 28 December 2022

Books Read In 2022

I haven't read anywhere near as many books as I usually do this year and there's two reasons for this, firstly, I did say at the end of last year that I was going to cut back on the amount of time I devote to reading to give me more time for other things. I've definitely achieved this. Secondly, I just haven't had as much time to read this year with a house move and all that entails, and to a lesser extent, a wedding to organise. I did still manage to read forty seven books though.

I decided this year that I was going to read some classics. Although I read plenty of books, it's usually contemporary fiction that I reach for so I thought it was about time that I had a go at some of the classics. I've read one a month and they've been a bit hit and miss, some I've thoroughly enjoyed and others haven't really been my thing. I think my favourite is Great Expectations, and I also enjoyed A Christmas Carol, so I definitely want to read more Dickens.

I've continued reading Miss Read books. I've now finished the Fairacre series and have embarked on the Thrush Green series. It's fun getting to know all the new characters and I'm still enjoying reading all about village life from yesteryear.

There have been new releases this year from some of my favourite authors, Alexander McCall Smith, Amanda Prowse, Dani Atkins to name a few. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the two follow ups in The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman.


The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Village Affairs - Miss Read

Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe

The White Robin - Miss Read

The Memory Box - Kathryn Hughes

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

The Little Teashop in Tokyo - Julie Caplin

Village Centenary - Miss Read

Summer at Fairacre - Miss Read

The Little Swiss Ski Chalet - Julie Caplin

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell

Persuasion - Jane Austen

Mrs Pringle - Miss Read

The Cosy Cottage in Ireland - Julie Caplin

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

The Woolworths Saturday Girls - Elaine Everest

All My Mothers - Joanna Glen

These Wonderful Rumours - May Smith

Changes at Fairacre - Miss Read

Farewell to Fairacre - Miss Read

The Wedding Dress - Dani Atkins

Far From the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

Six Days - Dani Atkins

A Daughter's Hope - Donna Douglas

A Peaceful Retirement - Miss Read

Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

Tales From a Village School - Miss Read

The Foundling - Stacey Halls

To Love and Be Loved - Amanda Prowse

Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

Thrush Green - Miss Read

A Song of Comfortable Chairs - Alexander McCall Smith

A Room with a View - E.M. Forster

Winter in Thrush Green - Miss Read

Making Waves at Penvennan Cove - Linn B Halton

Our Missing Hearts - Celeste Ng

The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman

The Christmas Castle in Scotland - Julie Caplin

Remember Me - Charity Norman

The Jane Austen Society - Natalie Jenner

News From Thrush Green - Miss Read

The Long Long Afternoon - Inga Vesper

Women at War - Jan Casey

Thinking on my Feet - Kate Humble

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens


I don't have an overall stand out book this year but a couple I really enjoyed were All My Mothers by Joanna Glen and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. Another one I thoroughly enjoyed was Remember Me by Charity Norman, she's such a fantastic author and there isn't one of her books which I haven't loved, this was one of her best in my opinion.

In 2023 I plan on finishing the Thrush Green series by Miss Read and I'm going to continue to read some classics. I've had a few more bought for me for Christmas and I shall pick up some more as I go along. I think I've got a nice balance now of reading what I want to read but also setting aside some time for other things so I'll be pleased if I can continue in this way.

Have you got any reading goals this year?

18 comments:

  1. My total was 116 and I've been spending ages writing a post about my favourites!
    The Fairacre school was just like my primary and I have all Miss Reads book to read again sometime - lovely books

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  2. I think my goal is going to be to read Miss Read.

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  3. No particular reading goals personally for 2023, but my reading group members have decided to make choices from The Big Jubilee Read next year. The leaflet is available in libraries, listing 70 books from Commonwealth authors. I think we might be busy for some time!

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  4. I don't make reading goals. I just keep my shelf active with The Libby App and enjoy audio books. I always feel like I should be doing other things if I'm reading, so the audio books gives me the ability to do other things while listening. I listen while I knit, while I walk, while I do household chores. Did some classic back in the day when it was mandatory in school and never enjoyed them. I wonder if I would now as an adult? Might keep that in the back of my mind, but for now my list is fairly substantial. I don't know how many books I've read/listened to...will have to go check Good Reads and see. You have me curious. Glad you accomplished your goal both of cutting back in order to do other things and to read some classics. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
    Sandy's Space

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  5. No Jo, I've no goals for reading & ever since we moved here my reading has been very lacking due to a certain person being retired now & trying to keep this wayward backyard up to scratch. Sometimes I'd like to get back into reading, but time just doesn't seem to allow it. Thanks for sharing, take care & hugs.

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  6. That is an admirable amount of books read.

    I think my only reading goal this year is to finish what I start (well, unless it is a REALLY stinky book. Then I can quit part way through.)

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  7. It's great to have the record of your fantastic 47 books so you can check back in years to come. Here's to 2023's exciting reading.

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  8. I had a good year reading, but as I have always said I am a bookworm, hopefully you will have plenty of time to read in the new year.

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  9. It's strange, my OH who doesn't read much crime , loved the Richard Osman books. I, on the other hand (who loves crime fiction) didn't enjoy the first book at all - I was bored by it - and didn't finish it. I've not read the others.

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  10. That's still a good number, and well done on reading some classics among them, especially Dickens which I always enjoyed. I've yet to read the Richard Osman books. As my insomnia has been bad again I've reread a lot of books during this year. Happy reading. xx

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  11. I don't have reading goals as such, more a "just read something" kind of attitude. I'm *very* fond of re-reading books I love so I've got plenty to keep me going both on my bookshelves and on my Kindle. Happy times are often found in a book!

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  12. Even though you say you haven't read as much this year it's still a good number. I didn't like the Thursday Murder Club so didn't read his others but I must re-read some classics next year, perhaps try to fit one a month in as you have done. I set my reading goal each year on Goodreads, sometimes I meet my challenge, sometimes I don't, this year I have so I'm please with that

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  13. Wow, 47 books seems like a lot of reading to me! I loved all the Miss Read books. I never remember to keep a record and then always wish I had as I have no idea exactly what I have read. My total will be much much smaller than yours though as I average a book a month, maybe less.

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  14. You have done well with your reading.
    I always have a book on the go, and one author that I keep meaning to read is Miss Read, perhaps sometime during 2023 I will get around to it!

    Enjoy these last few December days.

    All the best Jan

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  15. I have been rereading all the Miss Read books ths year but cannot find a few of them to buy anymore like Mrs Pringle, The World of Thrush Green and the Howards of Caxley as they are out of print and the library don't do them. I will have to search the second hand shops to be able to complete all she has written. I have a few books noted to read next year from the many bloggers like yourself who review a book - it is always quite helpful so thank you for taking the time to tell us what you are reading.

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  16. I like a wide variety of genre. That is still a lot of books, such an interesting list! All the best for 2023.xxx

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  17. I got so behind with my reading this year and only read a couple of books, although I did fare better with audiobooks. I keep meaning to pick up Richard Osman's books as they seem like something I would enjoy. I really wanted to read A Christmas Carol this Christmas but didn't get around to it, but I will endeavour to pick up a copy ready for next Christmas.

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  18. Wow! Some wonderful reads there.xxx

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