Books of 2022

I'm a big book lover, and if you know me well, you already know this! I have found that many people are not aware of this deep love of mine and this year I wanted to do a review of my favorite reads of 2022.

Most read authors: Dee Henderson and Jan Karon.

I read 10 Dee Henderson books this year and it was oh so sweet. Henderson is a Christian author who specializes in the mystery/thriller genre and often dabbles in law enforcement and military as well. I have read her books many times in my adult life and they are definitely a comfort read. I read Undetected and Danger in the Shadows both twice this year, once in January and I circled back again in June and December. One focusing on the inner workings of the Navy and the interesting topic of submarines and the topography of the ocean floor and the other on a kidnapping survivor who is being both hunted and haunted by her kidnapper while navigating a romance. To say I love these books is an understatement. The O'Malley series by Henderson takes on the lives of 6 siblings, working in various forms of civil duty and their journeys to discovering love, God, and solving an incredible crime in each one. I am currently making my way through this series!

Jan Karon is my go to audio book. I listen to audio books while doing things around the house and most often listen to them when I struggle to fall asleep or am awake in the middle of the night. Karon's Mitford series is a hilarious tale about an Episcopal priest and his day-to-day life events. I find myself laughing, tearing up, and all around loving the homey feeling At Home in Mitford and its following books bring. Again I'll label these as comfort reads, I listened to 28+ of her books, with repeats throughout the year. They never get old.

Favorite fiction reads: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh and The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

Both of these books were part of my Fairyloot subscription box. Beautiful special editions, both fall into the YA category and are fun reads. Coming in at 481 pages, The Stardust Thief was one of the bigger books of my year; an incredible retelling of the story of Arabian Nights and the legend of genies, this book kept be gripped and immersed in a new fantasy world that was full of mystery, intrigue, and interest. The world that Abdullah created is rich of color, life, and full to the brim of spellbinding characters leaving you guessing at every turn. Its sequel is easily my most anticipated release of 2023.

Axie Oh is a instant buy. Her book XOXO was one of my top reads in 2021 and this year's release did not disappoint. I love books based in mythology and like so many others of my generation, fell in love with Greek mythology first thanks to Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. As I have grown up, my taste has matured as well, but my love for all things mythology has never left me. Steeped in the history and mythology of Korean folk stories, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a fresh take on, "The Tale of Shim Cheong" where a girl sacrifices herself to the sea god in her father's place and is ultimately returned to land.

Favorite non-fiction reads: Crossway's Union Series

It is exceedingly hard for me to pick a single favorite of anything, let alone in this category, so I chose a whole series. Over the past several years Crossway has been working on a series in partnership with the Union school of Theology in Oxford. Its purpose? To "invite readers to experience deeper enjoyment of God through four interconnected values: delighting in God; growing in Christ; serving the church; and blessing the world." I have yet to finish the fourth book in the series, but the other three blew me away. Deeper by Dane Ortlund takes on the topic of delighting in God. In this treatise, he expounds on the idea that sanctification cannot be increased in any other way than by going deeper into Christ. We cannot do more or become better, but we most go deeper.

“True sanctification, true growth in holiness, is internal. It will manifest itself on the outside; "The tree is known by its fruit" (Matt. 12:33). But the tree creates the fruit; the fruit does not create the tree. Edward Fisher, in his famous Puritan treatise on sanctification, explained that external conformity to rules without an internal reality fueling it is akin to watering every part of a tree except its roots and expecting it to grow. The internal realities of the Christian are what define true growth in Christ.”

Rejoice and Tremble by Michael Reeves clears the clouds of confusion and shows that the fear of the Lord is not a negative thing at all, but an intensely delighted wondering at God, our Creator and Redeemer. This book was a complete perspective shifter for me. I read it cover to cover, put it down, prayed, and then read it again. It has prompted a deep study of the fear of the Lord throughout scripture, what that looks like in everyday life, and so much more. As Dane Ortlund's Gentle and Lowly swept the Christian community in 2020, I can't help but feel that this book should be following right behind. To quote the great Preacher, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." Proverbs 1:7

“When God is so marvelous in our eyes that we rejoice and tremble, we cannot but praise him and throw ourselves on him in hearty and dependent prayer."

Thirdly, The Loveliest Place by Dustin Benge, leads down a path of contemplation on the importance and significance of the church. Benge urges us not to think of the church in earthly terms but to see it as the redeemed, eternal, beauty that it is. Touching on a multitude of subjects including the Trinity, worship, service, and the gospel, Benge pushes us to a new perspective; God's. He asks us to take a minute to examine the priorities we have set in current day churches. This book is a reminder that the corporate gathering of believers is a reflection of God's indescribable beauty.

"The church is beautiful because the lens through which Christ regards her is his cross – the focal point of blood, righteousness, forgiveness, union, justification, regeneration, and grace."

The fourth and final installment of this series is God Shines Forth by Michael Reeves and Daniel Hames and is on my TBR for next year.

Favorite commentary style book: Trusting God in the Darkness by Christopher Ash

This book is a 50,000 mile high fly over view of the Biblical book of Job. I have spent a good amount of time in the book of Job and continually feel confused by it, as so many before me have. This book made a big difference in my ability to understand the overview of the book as well as the main points. 5 stars from me and a huge recommendation.

Honorable mention: Radically Whole by David Gibson. A discussion on the Biblical book of James, focusing on the divisive battle we fight on a daily basis.

Favorite series: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I worked my way through several series this year, but The Lunar Chronicles takes the cake on ingenuity, new subject matter, and maintaining my interest. Meyer began the series in 2012 and more or less sparked the fairytale retelling genre. Set in a Star-Wars-esque world, the series follows the life of Lin Cinder as she and her rag-tag group of misfits lead a rebellion against the Lunar queen and her tyrannical reign. Each of the four main books in the series is from the point of view of a different lead character. Similar to Sarah J Maas's Throne of Glass series, also releasing initially in 2012, the series bounces around often from POV and story-lines. This series is perfect for those who grew up loving Disney princesses and have a love for Sci-Fi.

I had so much fun putting together this post! It was a joy to look back on what I read this year and to take the time to recognize what I liked, what I didn't, and what my recommendations for others are!

Happy reading!

xo,

Ais