What a year, as all of the end-of-the-year wrap ups say. We still have COVID, only now we’re dealing with COVID’s angrier little brother, who wants to make sure that none of us make it out of this without at least a nip from its tiny, sharp teeth.
Despite everything, I have been writing more fiction this year, and, happily, publishing more of it (eight published stories and thirteen acceptances!). I have been battling my imposter syndrome and my capitalism infection and my guilt gangrene and all the rest of it, and am in the process of editing the second novel I have written, in the hopes that this one, after beautification by a real, professional editor, will be the one that is worthy of representation.
About the books I read!
I made an effort this year to read more female-identifying authors (since, after all, I am a female-identifying author), though when it comes down to it, I only read a little over half (54) that fit into the category, around the same as last year. I blame Georges Simenon for that, because I read thirteen of his books this year (again, much like last year), and they are short and irresistible. Some year, I will run out of these and then my ladies will rise to the top. Another area in which I hope to improve are the writers of color on my list. There were only twenty-one this year, and that is not acceptable. Watch this space for improvement in 2022!
There are more nonfiction works on my list this year, thanks to reading nonfiction while hunched over myself with one arm draped across my daughter’s belly, the only way I know to get her to go to sleep. I reviewed the best of these, but I must mention again Lisa Taddeo’s THREE WOMEN. All those one-word reviews (“Stunning!” etc.) are true. Please buy it.
Thirty of the books on my list were audiobooks (compared to twenty-six last year), which is bittersweet, because this was the last year that my beloved SoundCommentary.com published reviews. I’m hoping to continue reviewing audiobooks, though my attempts to secure these gigs have not been successful. Editors, hit me up. I’m really good at it.
Finally, my favorite. if I had to narrow it down to just one, I would nominate GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernardine Evaristo. This one will stick with me for a long time, long after I return the book to my friend Shana.
Love to all, and here is hoping for a better and more literary 2022.