Goodreads Book Challenge 2022 – 40+ Books Read

Yes, I did read and listen to this book numerous times. I loved the audiobook because there were different accents of different characters. Multiple generations, multiple countries. An all-around great read. You can read my full review on Goodreads.

It is a story of secrets. Secrets that are kept for a long time. Secrets between parents and children. Secrets between friends. Secrets between partners. And the consequences of keeping those secrets.

What a wonderful story. I recommend that you listen to it. With various voices it is rich. Even though it was fourteen hours l listened to it over 2 days as I could not put it away.

I desperately wanted my book club to read the book and then read the list of books throughout the year.

This was a great story about intergenerational relationships and how books can bring people together. Everyone (except that one book club member) really enjoyed it.

This would be East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I had been the choice of one of my book club members before the entire membership rebelled and said no to this 612 tome. It was 25 hours as an audiobook. I could never have read the hard copy. I am glad I completed it but it was tough.

I am going to defer to Lisa Goodmurphy’s review on Goodreads of Five Little Indians because she did a fantastic job! This should convince you to read this CBC Canada Reads finalist.

4.5 stars – Five Little Indians is a powerful story that portrays the trauma inflicted on First Nations children who were stolen at a young age from their families and placed in residential schools.

Michelle Good’s award-winning debut novel tells the interconnecting stories of five survivors of a residential school in British Columbia who end up in Downtown Eastside Vancouver after their release from The Mission.

The novel touches on the physical and sexual abuse that the children endured at the hands of the priests and nuns at the school but the focus is the aftermath of the abuse and how it affects the lives of the five over several decades as they try to overcome the trauma and make lives for themselves in the city.

A story of unimaginable suffering but also a story of strength, resilience and healing and an important read for all Canadians as we come to terms with the legacy of residential schools and the trauma and injustice that Canada inflicted on generations of First Nations children, their families and their communities.

Lisa Goodmurphy

Holy smokes. I had to re-listen to the last 30 minutes at least 3 times. Why? Because it was powerful, full of life’s lessons and emotions. Many, many emotions.

It hit so many chords l did not even know existed in me. This mémoire is compelling, at times hard to listen too, but enlightening.

I learn so much about African American culture, stigmas, and realities l would not have known are possible. At times it felt like a Ken Burns documentary on the struggles of poverty and domestic abuse and violence but written with a nod to Toni Morrison.

It is worth the read but if you can, listen to it. Viola Davis’s voice is visceral, raw, tender and empowering. Yes, empowering!

This may be my favourite book of 2022.

Because you need to know the difference between jealousy and envy. They are two distinctly different emotions. This is an entire book filled with emotions: what they mean, how they affect you, and how you can deal with them.

Just listen to it and then let it sink in. You will read it again and again, trust me. It’s a gem and beautifully illustrated.

Truly an amazing memoir. It is very descriptive and informative of both Ai Wei Wei and his poet and activist father Ai Quing.

Both of their lives have been lived through art, activism, incarceration and rebellion. It is incredible.

If you just want to know about Ai Wei Wei, read from Chapter 9 on. You may feel bogged down by his father’s life.

It is however so very interesting reading about his life of “active resistance”. I knew his art was always political. A way of protesting through art.

I highly recommend this memoir to help understand this engaged and engaging artist.

You need to read and listen to this book – OFTEN. A few Christmases ago, my eldest daughter gifted me this book. I loved it then. I love it now.

It’s 45 minutes worth your time. Give this book to your daughters and your sons.

It is so true: we should all be feminists.

Short and sweet.

Motivational.

Kickass

An excellent audiobook because Stanley Tucci reads it himself. It is a delightful book that talks about his early obsession with food as well as a memoir of his life.

You can almost taste the dishes he discusses with each mouth-watering ingredient and delicate method of cooking. The hard copy edition has the actual recipes. I may listen to it again.