Nothing like waiting until the last week of the year to put out best-of lists. Today I want to share five gems that I adored that didn’t get as much love and attention as they deserve. Hopefully, you got gift cards and pick up at least one of these remarkable novels.
Title links go to my full review
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
Published by Algonquin Books
Publication date: July 26, 2022
Bookshop
This debut novel from a Native American author hits hard. Calling for a Blanket Dance follows the life of one man as told by the friends and family who surround him. The beauty of and respect for a way of life runs deep.
Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannaham
Publication date: August 30, 2022
From profound to profane Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta is the raucous story of one woman’s first 24 hours home from prison after being gone for over 20 years. Beneath the dark humor and Carlotta’s in-your-face attitude is a woman just trying to claim her space.
Joan by Katherine J. Chen
Published by Random House
Publication date: July 5, 2022
Bookshop
Ever wonder what Joan of Arc might really have been like? Joan is Katherine Chen’s outstanding portrayal of a young girl too tall and too strong in body and spirit to accept her lot in life. Fearsome and fabulous.
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Published by Flatiron Books
Publication date: May 3, 2022
Bookshop
More women who didn’t give a damn, even if they were mythological. Elektra burrows into the lives of Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, and his daughter, Elektra as well as the ill-fated prize-of-war he brought back from Troy, Cassandra. Lots of vengeance and rage in this page turner.
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
Published by Pamela Dorman Books
Publication date: November 29, 2022
Bookshop
John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a favorite of mine so I’m extremely happy that his latest novel, All the Broken Places, was so exceptional. Gretel lives with a haunting past and her part in it in this story of the choices we make and how they define us.
Did you have any gems you loved this year that didn’t get much attention? I’d love to hear about them!
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Great list! I haven’t read any of these! My best under-thr-radar books were ‘All That’s Left Unsaid’ by Tracey Lien and ‘Kaleidoscope’ by Cecily Wong. I think I heard about the first one from Annie Jones or her staff at The Bookshelf and the second was a recommendation from Susie!
I don’t know All That’s Left Unsaid! Adding to my TBR now. I tried Kaleidoscope and didn’t like it. Not right for me, but I haven’t formulated my thoughts yet.
I’m reading Light Pirate now and don’t want to put it down!
I recently wrote up “Elektra” in my blog “All About Books” (bestlau.wordpress.com) and have both “Joan” and “All the Broken Places” on hold. Nancy Pearl is the one who told me about your blog (she said your and mine are the ones she reads), and I’m wondering if now that you’re back in Seattle you are interested in attending the KCLS gala on March 4. Nancy will be the emcee and Isabel Wilkerson is the speaker, and there will be 25 other authors, mostly local, as well. I’m on the committee and have a couple of seats left at my table – it would be a pleasure to meet you!
That is high praise coming from Nancy Pearl! I’m so flattered and thank you for inviting me. I’ll going to email you for more info.
I look forward to hearing from you. Happy Reading in 2023!
Have you read Dinosaurs: A Novel by Lydia Millet? I believe I first heard about it on the podcast From the Front Porch where it made it to both commentators’ Top Ten of 2022 list. I just finished it and loved it. The story was rich and the characters sympathetic, interesting and flawed. I cared about almost all of them but especially Gil, the protagonist.
It’s the story of a man who walks from New York to the home he bought sight unseen in Arizona. He walks for the experience and because it’s part of his healing process before starting his new life. Without any family of his own, he develops a relationship with the family next door especially the young son who he takes under his wing. Gil has a few old friends too who match his warmth and quirkiness.
Birds play a significant role in the book both as part of the plot and as metaphor. The title is a reference to modern birds being able to trace their origins to a branch of the dinosaur family tree.
I haven’t read it, but just got a copy from a friend so am thrilled to hear from someone who loved it.
Calling For a Blanket Dance is on my TBR!
It is so good! I wish everyone would read it.
Yeah I’m most interested in the Joan of Arc book you liked. I got it from the library but then I had to return it, ugh. Looks interesting. I like gems.
The time period has kept a lot of people away, but I wasn’t bothered at all. I loved it. I want it to be a movie with Gwendolyn Christie.