Top 15 Books of 2022

Here’s a list of my favorite books from 2022. Links to my reviews of each book down below.

3 weeks late isn't *that* bad, right?

0:00 Intro
1:10 The Kindly Ones
2:43 Osebol: Voices from a Swedish Village
3:55 Salka Valka
5:33 Poguemahone
7:05 The Gormenghast Trilogy
8:21 Terra Nostra
10:28 Tomb of Sand
11:36 The Catholic School
14:05 The Neapolitan Novels
15:30 Island of the Doomed
17:02 Ice
18:46 Maidenhair
20:21 The Notebook Trilogy
21:39 Solenoid
23:09 Septology
24:17 Honorable Mentions

Top 15:
The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell (trans. Charlotte Mandell):

Osebol: Voices from a Swedish Village by Marit Kapla (trans. Peter Graves):

Salka Valka by Halldór Laxness (trans. Philip Roughton):

Poguemahone by Patrick McCabe:

The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake:

Terra Nostra by Carlos Fuentes (trans. Margaret Sayers Peden)

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree (trans. Daisy Rockwell):

The Catholic School by Edoardo Albinati (trans. Antony Shugaar):

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante (trans. Ann Goldstein):

Island of the Doomed by Stig Dagerman (trans. Laurie Thompson):

Ice by Anna Kavan:

Maidenhair by Mikhail Shishkin (trans. Marion Schwartz):

The Notebook Trilogy by Ágota Kristóf (trans. Alan Sheridan, David Watson, and Marc Romano):
Coming soon-ish, probably

Solenoid by Mircea Cartarescu (trans. Sean Cotter):

Septology by Jon Fosse (trans. Damion Searls):

Honorable Mentions
Sea Above, Sun Below by George Salis:
Coming soon

Doom Town by Gabriel Blackwell:

The Doloriad by Missouri Williams:

Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz (trans. Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff):

The Plains by Gerald Murnane:

Suicide by Édouard Levé (trans. Jan Steyn):

Amygdalatropolis by BR Yeager:

America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic by Phillip Freedenberg:

Warlock by Oakley Hall:

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[DarkRuins]

im a relatively new subscriber and i deeply appreciate your organized, coherent and thoughtful reviews. im dipping my toe in more, lesser known literature because mainstream reads are simply what the masses follow. ive got a huge list now to work through, but im really excited to broaden my mind with these stories, especially the now critically acclaimed solenoid.

[kanvi-sx]

I'm deeply fascinated looking at the thickness that all your books have

[sarahrobinson]

I like long books too. These are great recommendations!!

[BookishTexan]

Tomb of sand is definitely on my list for this year.
Agree with everything you said about Septology.

[SherdsTube]

Fabulous list, Sean! Keen to try pretty much every book on it! I own quite a few of them and I'm hoping to get to some of them this year - Septology, in particular. Very pleased to see you that enjoyed Anna Kavan's 'Ice', which is favourite of mine. Great to see 'Amydalatropolis' mentioned, too - a brilliant book that might need its own 'dishonourable mentions' category. ;)

[jacksonfowler]

Can’t believe I have encountered your channel until now! Superb video, instantly subscribed

[Paromita_M]

An update:
I have since tried many of the titles on this list and actually just finished the Notebook trilogy by Agota Kristof.
Truly thankful for the recommendations for:
Septology, Solenoid and The Notebook Trilogy. I would not have picked up any of these books were it not for your channel and reviews and I am just blown away by these works of literature.
Heartfelt thanks 🙏🏽.

I really really want to read Osebol but can't seen to find even the ebook in my region. Will wait!

[michelleyoung]

Gormenghast is such an incredible work. The characters, the castle!!

[BrandonsBookshelf]

I was saving this till I had some time and access to my Goodreads to add want-to-buys. Such a great list and a wonderful year!

[knapptrapp]

I finished the 1st book (My Brilliant Friend) in the Neapolitan Novels and went in hesitantly as the cover seemed a bit cheesy but the praise around it pushed me through and once I started I fell in love. I cannot quite pinpoint why the book was soo good but it was! I loved it so much. Cant wait to finish the series.

[johngoodwin]

For anyone who enjoyed Solenoid: read Blinding too! Imo it is a bit more difficult in its shifting narration and time periods but it is so rewarding. One of the most epiphanic reading experiences I’ve ever had.

[SpringboardThought]

So happy Gormenghast and Tomb of Sand and Ferrante made the cut! Ohh Island of the Doomed sounds interesting. Unless it’s actually freaky I don’t like reading actually scary books, typically. I am about halfway through Septology and really enjoying it so far. I’m glad I waited for the bindup because it really does just pickup immediately after the first one.

[foxedfolios]

Fantastic list. The Notebook trilogy is so good. I can’t understand why it it’s more widely read. I have Poguemahon on audio waiting for me. I love Patrick McCabe’s books (at least those I have read to date), so I have high hopes.
Wishing you great reading in the Year of the Rabbit.

[authorleetee]

Great list, Sean. Warlock & that Dagerman have long been on my list (they were out of print for quite a while). Currently into the wondrous Solenoid.

[barroerabonatarda]

Hi, new subscriber here! Some of my fav reads of 2022 were, in no specific order (also the first year in forever where I've actually sat and read for fun outside of uni!):
- A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. I now consider it my favorite book of all time; I have never been a very vocal reader, but this book had me audibly laughing on every single passage.
- Concrete, by Thomas Berhard. Loved his style, loved the topics at hand, love the author's backstory.
- Sent to the Silkworm House, by Gwen Hilton. Oh my God, she has a very refreshing and shocking voice! This is her debut novel, published by Expat Press, and I just really really really loved this incredibly funny and powerful autofiction book. A highly recommended read.
- Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk. I just loved the translation (can't say the same for The Books of Jacob :c), it was a very fun read, and I felt very drawn to the location(s) depicted in the book.
- Crucifeminació, by Manuel de Pedrolo. A very interesting and experimental book by one of the most important catalan writers of the last century, I doubt there will ever be a translation of it due to its format, but it was a very nice read about how things come to happen, myths, religion and all that.
Also, I have always been an avid manga reader (the exception to what I said on the first line), but sadly no manga has enthralled me this year, but I will say that Taiyo Matsumoto's art in both Sunny and specially Takemitsu Zamurai are incredible.

[yahaira_f]

My most anticipated video! This and the big books update 🙃 ok gotta watch

[AdrianasWonderland]

I honestly love this video and coloured books, read. I need more of those sort of literature in my life.

[qinlkpah]

Great list! I just finished The Notebook Trilogy last week and I expect it will be in my 2023 Top Ten.

I think you would enjoy Max, Mischa and the Tet Offensive by Harstad, but not sure it has been translated into English yet.

[devoncop]

Thanks for this great review of your top 15 Sean.

Thanks to your recommendations I also have "The Catholic School" in my best of 2022 along with "Book of Memories " by Peter Nadas but my favourite had to be "Europe Central" by William T Vollman.

I have "Terra Nostra" and "Solenoid" on order right now so I am expecting a challenge in 2023 :-)

Fosse is definitely on the list for 23 as well.

All the best

Ian

[charlesring]

I don't spend a lot of time on YouTube, but this channel I always come back to! The best book review channel on here! I've found many interesting reads thanks to you, so thank you from Sweden! I read 250 books in 2022 and Septology was by far the best (Agota Kristofs Trilogy was also one of the best). I'm gonna try Laxness next, which book would you start with?

Keep it up and take care!