The best books of 2022, according to Barnes and Noble
With all the books available at any given time, the only problem is one of abundance. Given the volume, sorting out new releases can sometimes feel like a full-time job.
So when you’re done with the latest Read With Jenna pick (or whatever good book you’ve recently gotten lost in), check out the picks on Barnes and Noble’s list of the best books of 2022.
Selected by booksellers, the list of 10 book ranges includes fiction and non-fiction, ranging from a celebrity memoir that flew off the shelves to a fantasy novel set in a rich world. There’s a book written by a former first lady and a former child star; one on cells and another on chemistry. Chances are there’s something for you.
In a statement to TODAY, Shannon DeVito, director of books at Barnes & Noble on B&N’s best books of 2022, said: ‘Our booksellers have been devouring books all year and we’re thrilled to have ten books for readers in many categories. Although genres and subject matter vary, what these stories all have in common is the tremendous impact they have had on every book lover. Readers will laugh, scream, cry and contemplate their very existence; it’s safe to say that if it’s on this list, you’ll want to read it!
Below, find the top 10 books of the year, according to the bookstore.
‘Babel’ by RF Kuang
At over 700 pages, “Babel” is a tour de force, a novel steeped in dark lore and academia that will appeal to anyone who enjoys intellectual thrills. Robin Swift, an orphan from China, is brought to the UK and cared for by a linguistics teacher, in the hope that one day he can join the prestigious Babel school, where you learn to speak several languages. In doing so, they become key skeletons for the empire, able to navigate situations with ease (literally). But is that where Robin wants to be?
“I’m Glad My Mom Is Dead” by Jennette McCurdy
For many millennials, Jennette McCurdy was a mainstay in their childhood, appearing on beloved Nickelodeon shows like “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat.” But in these memoirs, told in almost breathless prose, McCurdy describes what was really going on behind her smile, detailing her relationship with her abusive mother and her experiences with eating disorders. Talk to TODAY, Jennette McCurdy said she “set out to write a good book,” first and foremost. “I wanted it to be entertaining and I wanted it to be funny,” McCurdy said. “The fact that this is my life is really secondary to me.”
“Chemistry Lessons” by Bonnie Garmus
What should a person do when they are more ambitious than society will let them be? “Lessons in Chemistry” is an experiment centered around this question – with a funny and relatable narrator as well. Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant 1960s chemist who has to think big in order to use her brain.
“Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng
After two family sagas, Celeste Ng returns with a book set in the distant future, an America where freedom of expression is forbidden. Twelve-year-old Bird knows enough not to ask questions – like where his mother, a poet, went and why is his father now storing library books when he used to be a linguist?
Prisoners of the Castle by Ben Macintyre
The author of ‘Operation Mincemeat’ (recently made into a Netflix movie) brings another example of life during World War II, this time in the castle of Colditz, which the German army used as a prison camp of war for allied soldiers.
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by AF Steadman
Move on, riders of dragons. This mid-level novel is set in a world of unicorn riders, and Skandar has just joined their leagues. Unicorns aren’t fuzzy, cozy creatures, far from it. In order to tame a unicorn, Skandar must first brave them.
“The Cell Song” by Siddhartha Mukherjee
“The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama
Former first lady Michelle Obama returns with another collection of wisdom, following on from her memoir “Becoming.” Obama described the book as a “toolbox” for coping with difficult times. It takes the form of a “collection of stories and practices that have helped her sort through all the challenges and questions that keep us awake at night: How do I know if I’m good enough? How can I bring all my being at the table? How can I overcome my fears?”
“The Hutch” by Tess Gunty
Tess Gunty’s debut novel has been critically acclaimed. Set in an Indiana town like the one Gunty grew up in, the author’s stated goal was to depict the sultry texture and landscape of his childhood. The book follows several characters over three hot days and how their lives converge.
“A World of Curiosities” by Louise Penny
Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache mystery series is booming – and at 18 pounds, still acclaimed. In this latest episode, two adults return to the small town where their mother was murdered long ago, reopening old wounds (and literally secret rooms).
