Books 2022

 Trust by Hernan Diaz

This brilliant novel delves into the power of money, and its ability to “to bend and align reality,” with a focus on a reclusive Wall Street tycoon who amasses incredible wealth through the Roaring 20s and even through the Great Depression. Broken into four distinct sections, each of which offers an entirely different perspective on what came before, it also explores a meta-theme of the truths hidden behind our stories, especially stories about the rich and powerful. 

An Immense World by Ed Yong

Ed Yong is perhaps best known for his award-winning science reportage for The Atlantic. With this book, he shares little-known wonders of the natural world, from turtles that can track the Earth’s magnetic fields to bugs that send vibrational messages via plants. It’s a book filled with fascinating discoveries, and a joy to read. This book opened my world beyond stories about people and made me see all the life that lives around us.

The Future is History by Masha Gessen

Though this book came out a few years ago, its portrait of modern Russia is especially significant right now. The book chronicles Russia’s turn from a hopeful new democracy back to an autocracy in a few short years under Vladimir Putin’s leadership. It provides essential context to understand modern Russia and Putin’s disastrous attacks on Ukraine. I read this book with Kim Scott in her book club on Fable and learned so much through her experiences and insights of other scholars in the club

The Nutmeg’s Curse by Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh’s book explores the roots of the climate catastrophe in colonialism. Beginning with the story of nutmeg—a spice that was wildly valuable in 17th Century Europe—and the violence of its trade, Ghosh goes on to frame the inequalities we see today as born of the same desire to conquer and exploit, whether the product is a natural resource or human beings themselves. A sharp and eloquent argument that changed the way I think about society and the climate.

Beowulf by Seamus Heaney

Speaking of older releases, how about one of the earliest works in the English language? We read this translation of Beowulf in Fable’s poetry book club, and I’m so grateful our brilliant moderator was there to guide me through it—this is not an easy read! But it’s an enduring and powerful story, and a wonderful reminder of the ageless human desire for great stories.

Leviathan Wakes by S. E. Corey

I love science fiction—it’s one of my favorite genres. This is a terrific book of sci-fi that also dances toward mystery. The story of an interstellar ice miner who discovers a devastating secret and a detective searching the universe for a missing girl, this book is thrilling and provocative in equal measure. I read this book in our very popular SciFi book club on Fable.

An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo

Poetry is another one of my favorite genres. Joy Harjo is a master poet and the first Native American Poet Laureate of the US. This collection is hauntingly beautiful and perceptive about the bittersweet nature of life, both ancient and modern. I read this one in the Fable Poetry book club as well.

Last Resort by Andrew Lipstein

A great debut novel that explores the cutthroat world of art and publishing, I found this to be a total page-turner. When a debut novelist starts shopping his book, featuring an unflattering portrait of an old college rival, that rival—now an editor at a publishing house—seeks revenge. Such an interesting and entertaining read.