As always, the best thing about book blogging is the bookish community, online and in “real” life. I have loved getting to know so many passionate readers and bloggers and writers and reviewers and publishers. Thank you for reading and commenting and visiting and chatting and writing and publishing! 🙂
ATLANTIC CANADA
Seven years ago I decided to challenge myself to read more books from Atlantic Canada. As a result, I have read 208 books from Atlantic Canada in the last 7 years.
You can check out results of previous years here: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.
#of Atlantic Canadian books read: 36 (last year, 41)
% of books read from Atlantic Canada: 31% (last year, 34%)
Newfoundland: 10 (last year, 7)
Nova Scotia: 21 (last year, 27)
New Brunswick: 2 (last year, 5)
Prince Edward Island: 2 (last year, 2)
STANDOUTS:
(not necessarily published this year, and in no particular order)
THE REST OF CANADA AND BEYOND!
%CanLit: 72% (last year, 83%)
Out of 72% CanLit, 43% is from Atlantic Canada (last year, 41%)
I know you’re thinking the same thing you were thinking last year… 39 books is too many. But, believe it or not, I was more ruthless than last year and, as a result, have 9 less books on the list this year. So, it’s a win! (My goal for next year is 30.)
Just for you… a Top 10 list (in no particular order)…
Top 10 13 Fiction: (Well, it’s better than 39.)
- Animal Person
- Bird Shadows
- Some Hellish
- Fearnoch
- Decoding Dot Grey
- The Wards
- Monoceros
- The Winter-Blooming Tree
- The Sleeping Car Porter
- Confessions With Keith
- Birth Road
- Sea of Tranquility
- The Love Olympics
Top Nonfiction:
- Driven
- These Precious Days
- Stolen Focus
- The Invention of Nature
- Ordinary Wonder Tales
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST RECOMMENDED BOOK THIS YEAR?
Consumed by Ink 
Thirty-nine books is the sign of a brilliantly sucessful reading year! I’m glad the Patchett made the grade. Here’s to more great books in 2023.
You and I think alike! 🙂
Wishing you more marvellous reads ahead in 2023 Naomi!
Thanks, Madame B! Same to you! 🙂
Looking forward to ’23, Naomi 🙂
The great thing about being a reader is there’s always something to look forward to! 🙂
I love a top 39! It just shows how great your reading year was. My most recommended book was either the Thursday Murder Club series or Lessons in Chemistry. But my FAVORITE books were Unlikely Animals and This Time Tomorrow. Just a slight difference there – sometimes I know a favorite is too quirky to recommend widely.
I agree – two different things! There are quite a few books I like that I’m not comfortable recommending to just anyone.
All your books are on my list! 🙂
The other nice thing about a top 39 is getting to make a collage of all those beautiful book covers!
No, I don’t think 39 is too many. I think we readers are much better off to say what we like, without worrying about some arbitrary number imposed by habit. We have no space constraints, and we can link to our own reviews so that people who’re not familiar with the book can find out why we liked it, plus, loving lots of books makes writers happy too.
I haven’t read most of these, but must comment on the covers: based on what you’re shown here, Atlantic fiction IMO is a standout for cover design.
“Loving lots of books makes writers happy too” – Yes! And that’s one of the reasons I’m here!
Aren’t the covers beautiful? I love these end-of-year collages. 🙂
We overlapped on Sea of Tranquility, and These Precious Days was on my best-of list last year. I have a copy of The Invention of Nature and keep meaning to read it; I don’t think I managed a single biography this year, as I usually find them too daunting and time-consuming.
I listened to The Invention of Nature on audio – otherwise, I might never have gotten to it. It was so detailed and fascinating. I learned so many new things! I’ll have to listen to it again someday, so I don’t forget it all.
Intriguing — I wonder if such books would be more manageable for me on audio (then again, the whole idea of audiobooks is still daunting to me right now since I’ve never listened to one and don’t know how I would). I love the new thumbnail photo of you, by the way.
Thank you! My daughter took the picture. The other one was from about 15 years ago, so I figured it was time for an update. Lol
I felt daunted by audio a couple of years ago, but since figuring it out–when to listen and when not to, what to listen to and what not to–it makes doing to dishes a whole lot more fun!
Even though I read some books from Canada last year, I haven’t read anything on your list except The Sentence, which is not Canadian. I do like Ann Patchett but just haven’t read that one. And lots of people seem to like Sea of Tranquility, but I did not really connect with the book I read by Emily St. John Mandel (The Glass Hotel).
I liked Sea of Tranquility better than The Glass Hotel, I think. I found it more of a page-turner. I love how she pulls in characters and storylines from her other books.
I have only read one by her, so I’m not familiar with that.
You can keep it in mind if you decide to read another!
I loved These Precious Days, which I read on the plane on my way home from Germany. And you know already that I loved Animal Person. Your post has reminded me that I’ve been meaning to get a copy of Lisa Moore’s book. Thanks for your recommendations and happy new year!
There are just some writers that can’t be forgotten – and Lisa Moore is one of them. It’s always exciting when she releases a new book!
Happy New Year, Sarah! 🙂
I admire your commitment to Atlantic Canada, I could do better with Western Australia – I’m sure the populations are similar, though you seem to have a great diversity of writers.
I read 3, I think, Canadians this year, two off your blog – including Son of a Trickster – and one off Marcie’s. I will definitely be reading the next Trickster and another Nalo Hopkinson.
As it happens, the only book we both read this year was The Sentence, which I thought was ok.
Now I’m curious… The Population of Atlantic Canada (as of 2021) is over 2.4 million and of Western Australia is over 2.67 million. So close! I wonder how they compare in authors/books produced… not so easy to just google.
I think you’ve done well to read three from Canada! It’s always fun to see which books you pick. You’ve reminded me that I still have the last trickster book to read!
Nice round-up, and I also admire your dedication to reading more Eastern Canadian authors, you guys have such wonderful gems on that side of the country!
I’m glad you enjoyed Driven, I know Marcello, he lives here in Calgary, so I’ll next time I see him i’ll mention you enjoyed his book, he will love to hear that!
I remember when you read it! You can tell him my sister loved it, too!
will do! haha
Having had the chance to visit (very briefly) Nova Scotia and PEI this past summer I feel like I should read some of these now too, but my list is already overwhelmingly ridiculous.
Hi Geoff!
Whoops, pressed publish before I was done!
I’m so happy you were able to visit NS and PEI. I hope we (and our weather) treated you well!
Weather was stunning and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
Good! 🙂
A great couple of lists! I allowed myself 26 best books of 2022 as was unable to choose!
Love it! I will have to pop over and see them! 🙂
It’s back a few posts now so here’s a direct link: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/12/31/book-stats-and-best-books-of-2022/
Already found it! 🙂