The fifty best books of 2022
As we enter into the second half of the 20th century, it feels like there is a new book released every day. Books are no longer just for entertainment or for learning about historical events; they are tools for self-growth and change. And that’s why we’ve compiled the 50 best books of 2022. Whether you’re looking to learn how to start your own business, find happiness in your relationships, or take control of your life, these books will have something for you. So dive in and enjoy!
It’s been a great year for books, with everything from anti-romance and horror to sharp essays and state-of-the-nation novels. The top picks from BBC Culture are listed below.
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. Animal Farm by George Orwell
7. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
8. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
9. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
11. The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
12. Beloved: A Novel of Toni Morrison
13. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
14. House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski
15 . Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 16 . Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 17 . Brave New World Aldous Huxley 18 . Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, 1951-1982by Audre Lorde 19 . Dubliners: Stories 1987-1991by James Joyce 20 . Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut 21 . One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel Garcia Marquez 22 Death Comes to Pemberly Georgiana Darcy 23 . Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad 24 The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath 25 Go Ask Alice stephen king 26 1984 George Orwell 27 Brave New World Aldous Huxley 28
Andrew Holleran’s The Kingdom of Sand
The Kingdom of Sand is a lyrical and atmospheric novel about love, loss, and the power of storytelling.
In The Kingdom of Sand, Andrew Holleran tells the story of two families whose lives intersect in a small desert town in the American Southwest. Told alternately by Donny, a teenage boy who loves sandcastle building more than anything else in the world, and his mother, a fading beauty whose love for her son is as fierce as it is uncertain, The Kingdom of Sand is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
With luminous writing that evokes the endless openness of the desert sky, Holleran casts a spell that will bring readers deep into the lives of these characters—and into their own imaginations.
Jonathan Coe’s Bournville
If you’re in the mood for a thoughtful read, then Jonathan Coe’s Bournville is perfect. Set in a fictional English town during the 1950s and ’60s, the novel follows the lives of its inhabitants as they navigate their way through love, heartbreak, and politics. From start to finish, the book is full of lush detail and rich character development. Whether you’re a fan of classic literature or simply looking for something good to read, Bournville is a must-read.
A “powerful reworking” is the contemporary interpretation of David Copperfield by Barbara Kingsolver.
David Copperfield is one of the most beloved novels ever written. It tells the story of a young man who, after losing his parents and being sent to live with his evil stepsister, undergoes a series of amazing adventures that change his life forever.
However, the novel isn’t simply a sentimental tale about a young man overcoming hardship. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns. Copperfield was originally published in 1849, but has been re-worked several times over the years to keep up with changes in literary fashion.
Today, there’s a new version of Copperfield available: Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, which updates the story for our modern world. Like all great literature, Copperfield speaks to our own lives and our struggles as humans. It’s a powerful reworking that deserves your attention.