Friday, January 20, 2023

My Reading List for 2022

Welcome to my 2022 Reading List and end of year report. In addition to my reading list for the year and some numbers on my reading, this post includes some end of year thoughts on things like social media and blogging. As I did in 2020 and 2021, I did write a post on my thoughts regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which you can read if interested. I am not surprised I was able to write a third pandemic post, but there you have it. 

This is the year I finally decided to stop worrying about my professional blog, Notes From a Simple Librarian. I managed to do 21 posts in 2022, with the latest posts in August. I suppose that is not bad for the year. I am pretty much keeping it to posting when I feel like it or find the time. As I have mentioned before, finding time to write about library and information science (LIS) things is not easy for me these days. The dramas that happen in the profession just do not interest me as much, and finding time to write about things I do locally is not easy. They do keep me busy at work, and I am grateful for that. For this blog, I will just take it a step and a day at a time. 

This blog here continues to do well, or at least I feel it is doing well. It is mostly a book blog by now featuring book reviews and other things of interest about books and the reading life. I still did the "Signs the Economy is Bad" feature in 2022, though I am finding myself making the effort for it less often. I think part of it is just me trying to avoid negative things, even if I am poking fun at them here or there. I do not think I will complete phase out the feature, but I may keep it as a less frequent feature. I am happy focusing more on books and reading. I am happy with the blog, and I plan to keep it up in 2022. Posting schedule for this blog is every Friday, plus some special posts on other days here or there.

Oh, by the way, a reminder note and a bit of self-advertising, if you are an author, editor, or publisher, and you think you have a book, or cartomancy deck (and related works), I may want to read and review, please read and check out my book review statement, and let me know. I am happy to consider books if they fit within my reading parameters and interests. For a sampling of what I have reviewed in Tarot and cartomancy, check out the Tarot tag in this blog.

My cartomancy blog, Alchemical Thoughts, continues, and I feel it did well in 2022. To the best of my ability, I aim to post on it every Wednesday, plus a special post here or there on other days. For 2023, I want to focus a bit more on this blog, so stay tuned as I work on some new posts and content ideas. 

This was the year I finally decided to just close down my NewTumbl account. To be honest, much of the site has gone from seedy to somewhat disgusting. As I wrote in my review of the site, if you like porn and lots of it, it can be a site for you. Aside from that, anyone doing microblogging in the style of Tumblr trying to find content other than porn will have a hard time. I like porn as much as the next healthy guy, but it does not mean I want it constantly up and in front. In addition, the regular content I would share there was just not getting any traction, so it was not worth the effort to have another platform open. I just went ahead, deactivated it, and deleted it. It was a learning experience, so I am grateful for that, but not worth it for me overall. I will keep an eye out for other microblogging options, but I am in no rush to jump into microblogging again. 

I mentioned getting a Letterboxd profile last year, but I have not used it much. I was hoping to use it to track movies much as I do book on GoodReads. However, I do not watch a lot of movies in a month, and I can track them just fine here on the blog when I do my monthly media roundups. I may give it a go this year, but it is not a priority. I would like to see what kind of viewing statistics I can get for end of year. 

In terms of movies and media, TubiTv continues to be my go to place. As I have mentioned before, sure it has a lot of schlock, but you do find some good things too. It has gotten better over time in terms of content available. While I do have some other ad supported streamers marked for use, I tend to keep going back to Tubi as I find it to be the easiest to use. One thing I enjoy greatly from Tubi are the foreign/international films; I can often find some very good gems in that category. On a side note, Tubi is now doing their own original films and shows, so that may be something to explore more in 2023.
 
The one new thing in terms of social media this year for me was getting a Mastodon account. I had heard of the site, but I finally got into it shortly after Eli Cologne announced his first intentions to buy Twitter back in April. I did it as a precaution, and given that his eventual purchase of the site later in the year has proven to be chaotic (and that is a charitable way of describing it), I am glad I got into Mastodon. You can find the link to my Mastodon profile and instance on this blog's right column. So far I am pretty happy with it. I have not left Twitter just yet, but I feel I can easily do so when it becomes untenable to stay on Twitter. I have found Mastodon to be a much nicer place and more easy going.  

On another side note, I still have my CounterSocial (CoSo) profile, but I pretty much left it dormant, and I am not really using it. What I wrote in my review of the site a while back is still very applicable, so I am not interested it going back anytime soon. I have logged in once in a while to keep it active, but otherwise have not used it, and I am not likely to keep using. I am just not sure about shutting it down  yet, but that is a possibility. It is just not for me. At this point, this is likely the last time I will talk about CoSo here. 

In other news, my politics and social issues moratorium in reading and media continues, and it will continue into the foreseeable future. Despite the Hard Times, I don't think I quite tightened it more in 2022; some things may have slipped, at least on social media. I am making a more conscious effort to avoid the politics, social issues, and activist stuff more, so this may be a year I keep that stuff to a minimum on my social media. I did read some books that would break the moratorium, but I felt they were worth it. I am going to add below the number of books I see as breaking the moratorium to get an idea how well or not I did in this regard. Overall, I keep trying to tune out most news, especially politics, social issues, and activist stuff; it helps me keep my sanity. While I cannot 100% tune out of everything, I am doing a very conscious effort to minimize as much as possible. 

Finally for the status report part of this post, my cartomancy studies continue to do well. If anything, I am finding the urge I need to read and study more in this area, so that is a good thing. I continue to post some things from that journey on the blog Alchemical Thoughts, so if that interests you, I encourage you to check the blog out. Link is up above and on the right column of this blog. My cartomancy is definitely something that helps me personally and does bring me comfort and solace.
 
With the status updates out of the way, let's get to the books and reading for 2022. Things have been rough and hard since 2020, and 2022 certainly was not better. So, here is the list of books I read in 2022. After the list, you can check out my numbers and miscellaneous reading statistics. On the list, a book marked with an asterisk (*) is a book I reread.
 
The reading list for 2022:
 
January: 
 
  • Anthony M. DeStefano, The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese, Mafia Boss.
  • Leanna Greenaway and Beleta Greenaway, Catalog of the Unexplained: From Aliens and Aromatherapy to Zen and Zener Cards. 
  • Jim Davis, Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack, Volume 22. 
  • James Van Praagh, The Soul's Journey Lesson Cards (kit with deck and guidebook). 
  • Jeff Parker, Ninjak, Book 1.
  • Sinclair Sexsmith, Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 6.
  • Rachel Stuart-Haas, Mercury in Retrograde.
 
February: 
 
  • Juan Villoro, Horizontal Vertigo: a City Called Mexico.
  • Jim Davis, Garfield Dishes It Out: His 27th Book. 
  • Debra DeAngelo, Pagan Curious: a Beginner's Guide to Nature, Magic, and Spirituality.
  • Nancy C. Antenucci, Tarot Rituals: Ceremonies, Ideas, and Experiences for the Tarot Lover.
     
March: 
 
  • Darryl Cunningham, Putin's Russia: the Rise of a Dictator. 
  • Various authors, The Cimmerian, Volume 2. 
  • Elie Mystal, Allow Me to Retort: a Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution. 
  • Ed Halter, From Sun Tzu to XBox: War and Video Games. 
  • Corrine Kenner (author) and John J. Blumenthal (illustrator), Tarot de los Magos (deck with companion book).
  • Colette Baron-Reid, The Spirit Animal Oracle (deck with companion book).
  • Thomas Mann, The Oxford Guide to Library Research.
  • Steven Bright, Divination: Your Personal Guide.
     
April:

  • Al Ewing and various artists, Judge Dredd: Blaze of Glory.
  • Various authors, Star Wars Year By Year: a Visual History.
  • Jim Davis, Fat Cat 3-Pack, Volume 2. 
  • Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen, The Library: a Fragile History.
  • Denise Linn, Native Spirit Oracle Cards (deck with companion book).
  • Various authors, Transformers: Beast Wars, Volume 1.
  • Stephan Pastis, Pearls Hogs the Road: a Pearls Before Swine Treasury.
  • Ann Rule, The I-5 Killer. 
  • Leeza Robertson, Tarot Priestess: Using the Cards to Heal, Grow, & Serve.
  • Jan Budkowsky, Runes: Your Personal Guide. 
  • Jim Davis, Fat Cat 3-Pack, Volume 12.*
  • Sandra Anne Taylor, Energy Oracle Cards (deck and companion book set).

May: 

  • Jim Davis, Garfield The Big Cheese: His 59th Book.
  • Sanshiro Kasama (author) and Hikaru Uesugi (artist), Deadpool Samurai, Volume 1.
  • Maureen Johnson (author) and Jay Cooper (illustrator), Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village. 
  • Geoffrey Roberts, Stalin's Library: a Dictator and His Books. 
  • John Lithgow, Dumpty: the Age of Trump in Verse.


June: 

  • Martha Wells, All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, Book 1). 
  • Holly Adams Easley, The History of Tarot Art: Demystifying the Art and Arcana, Deck by Deck.
  • Dan Curtis Johnson, et.al., Chase (DC Comics).
  • Franckie Alarcon, The Art of Sushi.
  • Joe Benitez, Lady Mechanika, Volume 6: Sangre.
  • Leiji Matsumoto, Space Pirate Captain Harlock.
  • Sandy Mitchell, The Greater Good (Ciaphas Cain Book 9, Warhammer 40,000).

 

July:

  • Miles Harvey, The King of Confidence: a Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets, and the Murder of an American Monarch.
  • James Tynion IV, The Joker War Saga.
  • David Javerbaum, The Book of Pslams: 97 Divine Diatribes on Humanity's Total Failure.
  • Ann Rule, Practice to Deceive.
  • Sanshiro Kasama (author) and and Hikaru Uesugi (artist), Deadpool Samurai, Volume 2.
  • James Tynion IV, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
  • Jim Davis, Garfield: What Leftovers?: His 71st Book.*
  • Serhy Yekelchyk, Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know.
  • R.A. Salvatore, The Dao of Drizzt.
  • Cullen Bunn, Shadowman, Book One.
  • David A. Ross, Tarot and Tequila: A Tarot Guide With Cocktails.

 

August: 

  • Disney, The Empire Strikes Back Screen Comix. 
  • Stephan Pastis, Pearls Gets Sacrificed: a Pearls Before Swine Treasury.
  • Michael Benson, Gangsters Vs. Nazis: How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis in Wartime America.

 

September:

  • Eric Berkowitz, Dangerous Ideas: a Brief History of Censorship in the West, from the Ancients to Fake News.
  • Tsugumi Ohba (author) and Takeshi Obata (artist), Death Note, Volume 1: Boredom. 
  • Greg Pak, Star Wars Age of Rebellion: Heroes.
  • Jim Davis, Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack Volume 20.
  • Nicholas A. Basbanes, Every Book Its Reader: the Power of the Printed Word to Stir the World.
  • Clive Barker, Clive Barker's Hellraiser, Vol. 1.*

 

October:

  • Alana Fairchild (author) and Jimmy Manton (artist), Kali Oracle: Ferocious Grace and Supreme Protection with the Wild Divine Mother (kit with deck and companion book).
  • Guy Haley, Flesh and Steel: a Noctis and Lux Novel (Warhammer Crime). 
  • Greg Pak, Star Wars Age of Rebellion: Villains.
  • Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Batman: The Long Halloween.*
  • Jim Davis, Garfied Fat Cat 3-Pack, Vol. 14.*
  • Karin Lee (creator) and Kipling West (author), The Halloween Tarot (kit with deck and companion book).
     

 November: 

  • Katie-Jane Wright (author) and Nikki Strange (artist), Spirit Animal Wisdom oracle cards (kit with deck and companion book).
  • Karen Kuykendall, Tarot of the Cat People (kith with deck and companion book).
  • Sherry Shone, Hoodoo for Everyone: Modern Approaches to Magic, Conjure, Rootwork, and Liberation.
  • Jennifer Jacquet, The Playbook: How to Deny Science, Sell Lies, and Make a Killing in the Corporate World. 
  • Amelia Pang, Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America's Cheap Goods. 
  • Jake Richards, Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure Folk Magic from Appalachia.
  • John Severin, Bomb Run and Other Stories. 
  • James Swallow, Nemesis (Horus Heresy, Book 13). 

 

December: 

  • Jessica Dore, Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth.
  • Andrew Kirtzman, Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America's Mayor.
  • Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo: Bunraku and Other Stories. 
  • Claire Cock-Starkey, A Library Miscellany.
  • Ann Rule, Lust Killer. 

 

Number of books read in 2022:  82, including 5 re-reads.

 
Number of books reading in 2021: 69, including 3 re-reads (the 2021 list).
Number of books read in 2020: 80, including 5 re-reads (the 2020 list).
Number of books read in 2019: 72   (the 2019 list).
Number of books read in 2018: 74, including 2 re-reads (the 2018 list).


 
 
 

 
Commentaries and thoughts on numbers
 
I read a total of 82 books in 2022, including 5 re-reads. That is 13 more books than the previous year of 2021. To be honest, I am a bit surprised that I managed that in the ongoing Hard Times. I think one of the reasons I managed to do it is I focused a bit more on my reading challenges for 2022, and that helped me read a bit more. That may be a strategy to follow in 2023. As before, I am not setting any specific reading goal in terms of number of books to read given the uncertainty of the Hard Times. We'll just see how it goes, and I will be grateful with whatever number I end up at the end of 2023. 
 
In reading challenges for 2022, I completed the two challenges I started this year. For the Mount TBR Reading Challenge, I managed to finish it with one extra book. For the NetGalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge, I committed to 10 books,and I finished that one with 14 books. Pretty good I would say. As of this post, I have not decided which reading challenges to do for 2023. I will possibly sign up for Mount TBR and NetGalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenges again. Stay tuned. When I decide, I will post the link to my new lists of reading challenges for the year in the right column of this blog.
 
Yes, I am still using GoodReads in a minimalist way to track what I read. This was the year I decided to test out some alternatives to GR. I opened accounts and started trying out BookWyrm (link to my profile) and Storygraph. To be perfectly honest, while I am intrigued by their potential, if they have hopes I would leave GoodReads completely to go over to one of them they can pretty much forget about at this time. A big issue for both of those services for starters is their extremely poor bibliographic data and cataloging. BW is the worse of the two, but Storygraph is not that much better. For BW, the fact it is part of the Fediverse is a mixed bag. It is decentralized, but it can suffer some of the same performance issues that Mastodon has been having lately due to growth. When you want to do something simple like add a book to your reading list, and the site just goes down, that is frustrating. And before anyone protests "oh, but GoodReads is owned by Amazon, more robust structure, blah blah," yes, one I am fully aware, and two, I have been with GR since before the Big A bought them, and from experience I can tell you they've gotten worse over time. That is why I am hoping for an alternative, but at this point the alternatives, which are touting themselves as alternatives to leave GR, are just not there yet. They have a lot of work to go if they want people, regular people, to take them seriously. For now, I will keep BW and Storygraph, and I will write a review for both on this blog when I feel I've had enough time to really get a feel for them. On a side note, I do have an account on Library Thing that I have not used, but it is active. I may go back and give another go  to Library Thing. We'll see how that goes.
 
Let's have a look at my reading numbers for 2022:

Book re-read: 5

Best reading month: April with 12 books.
Worst reading month: August with 3 books. 
 
Number of books read in print:  50.
Number of books read as e-books: 32, this includes books read via Netgalley and Edelweiss as well as any e-books from the public library, say via Hoopla, Overdrive, etc.
Number of books read as audiobooks: 0. I did not pay much attention to this format in 2022. I am not a huge fan, but I am good reading in audio once in a while. We'll see if we add one or two audiobooks in 2023. 

Number of graphic novels (includes graphic novels and comics, not manga): 28.
Number of manga: 4.

Nonfiction: 42
Fiction (does not include mange nor GN): 9. This is pretty consistent for me. I tend to read more nonfiction than I read fiction. To be honest, 9 pieces of fiction this year is pretty good for me. 

Library books: 
  • Public Library (mainly from Berea branch, Madison County, KY Public Library):23.
    • Hoopla:1.
    • Overdrive: 0.
  • Hutchins Library: 8.
    • ILL (via Hutchins): 1.
 
Books I own: 18. As I look back on this, had I read 6 more I could have made the next level of the 2022 Mount TBR Reading Challenge. I completed the challenge with 13 books (needed 12 to complete the first level).
 
Books borrowed from anyone (not family) or recommended by others: 0
 
Other numbers of interest (to me at least):
  • Erotica: 1. I've mentioned this before, but Hard Times are not conducive to reading erotica for me. Nothing ruins the mood for this kind of reading faster than the clusterfuck shit show we live in these days.
  • LIS, including reference works: 9
  • Tarot and oracle: 9, including companion books for specific decks.
  • Other esoterica/pagan/spirituality: 7.
  • NetGalley: 26
  • Edelweiss: 2
  • Other books offered for review, not from NetGalley nor Edelweiss. These may be books I got from a publisher, an author, etc. because I requested or they were offered for review: 2.
  • Books in Spanish: 1. I am just not finding much of interest to read in Spanish. The local public library's Spanish offerings are fairly poor, and they mostly feature Spanish translations of pop English books like celebrity biographies and self-help books that I could read in English just fine if I was interested. One way I often do find something to read in Spanish is because a book somehow hits it big enough to get a translation in English, and I go back and find the Spanish original. 
  • True Crime: 4.
  • Food and Drink: 2.
  • Poetry:1.
  • (New category this year) Books that broke the "reading moratorium": 7. I want this number to be zero or as close to zero as I can get it, so 7 out of 82 is not too bad. One of these was the poetry book. This is the first time I track this category, so we'll see how it goes in 2023. 

This time last year I was reading the following books. I did finish them, and I reviewed them. Links go to my reviews:

 
As we start 2023, I am reading the following books. This was a rare year where I finished everything I had from 2022 before the end of the year, so I am starting with new to me books: 

  • Brian Keene, Earthworm Gods.
  • David G. Marwell, Mengele: Unmasking the Angel of Death.
  • Joe Benitez, Lady Mechanika, Volume 1: the Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse.
  • Ru-Lee Story, Your Tarot Toolkit: Simple Activities for your Daily Practice.
 
Finally, to close this post, here is a small list of of other bloggers who have done end of year lists, compilations, etc. To be honest, this part of the post keeps getting harder over time as bloggers either go on hiatus for various reasons or just go extinct. Makes me a bit more grateful I am still willing and able to keep blogging. The list is in no particular order: 

 

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