FAVORITE BOOKS READ IN 2022 AND 2023 (Haiku Reviews)
FICTION
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley. Novel.
Random commuters
Interact for their own good
And the readers’ good.
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. Novel.
An artist’s journal
Brings six people together
Most wonderfully.
The Laughter by Sonora Jha. Novel.
Exploration of
Race, woman’s rights, religion
In a page turner.
The Cactus by Sarah Haywood. Novel.
A prickly woman
Begins to flower and grow
I laughed and I cried.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Novel.
Gutsy heroine
Finds love, battles sexism,
And makes readers laugh.
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. Novel.
A dark comedy
Of lust and the writing life.
And what an ending!
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz. Mystery.
Twisty mystery
With great characters and laughs.
I love this series!
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman. Mystery.
Smart, feminist book.
Atmospheric mystery
With a shocking twist.
I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown. Thriller.
Clever, fast-paced book
With a dose of comeuppance.
A thrilling thriller.
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson. Romance.
Funny send-up of
Writers and their publishers.
And it’s romantic.
NONFICTION
Maus by Art Spiegelman. Graphic Novel.
Holocaust horrors
Narrated by cartoon mice.
It works brilliantly.
Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco by Steven Talty. Nonfiction.
Everything went wrong
And so many people died.
Thrilling and chilling.
People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn. Nonfiction.
Insightful essays
On antisemitism.
Heartbreaking but great.
Oscar Wars by Michael Schulman. Nonfiction.
Drama nerds like me
Should adore this thorough book
About the Oscars
In Defense of Elitism by Joel Stein. Nonfiction.
If you want humor
And a lot to contemplate
Read Joel Stein’s essays.
This Is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan. Memoir.
Her boyfriend’s illness
Made him not recognize her.
A poignant memoir.
How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key. Memoir.
Marital troubles
Recounted in full detail
As he made me laugh
We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu. Memoir.
The harsh struggles of
An Asian-American
Who found great success
Red Comet by Heather Clark. Biography
Massive bio of
Sylvia Plath’s life and death.
An outstanding book.
Shy by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green. Autobiography.
A children’s author,
Composer, and Sondheim friend
Who dishes the dirt.
FAVORITE CHILDREN'S NOVELS
Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros.
My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee.
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani.
Operation Do-Over by Gordon Korman.
Wish by Barbara O’Connor.
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee.
The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett.
Worser by Jennifer Ziegler.
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers.
WhatsHisFace by Gordon Korman.
Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes by Kristi Wientge.
FAVORITE YA NOVEL
Rules We’re Meant to Break by Natalie Williamson.