{"id":159984,"date":"2022-02-01T11:17:42","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T00:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/?p=159984"},"modified":"2022-02-10T08:33:51","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T21:33:51","slug":"the-best-books-we-read-in-january-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/2022\/02\/01\/the-best-books-we-read-in-january-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"The best books we read in January 2022!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From “sibling novels” for cult literary favourites to political thrillers from former politicians, here are the best books we read in January 2022. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olivia Fricot – Senior Content Producer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gallant<\/a> <\/em>by V. E. Schwab<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it: <\/strong>One might wonder how V. E. Schwab would follow up The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue<\/em>, a beautiful fantasy epic. Such a novel is hard to beat, but Schwab\u2019s new dark fantasy, Gallant<\/em>, makes a very convincing case. Its heroine is Olivia Prior, a non-verbal 16-year-old orphan raised in a miserable girls’ school with only her mother\u2019s mad diaries and a bunch of ghouls for company. When Olivia receives a letter from her long lost family begging her to come to her ancestral home of Gallant, she leaps at the chance – only to arrive and discover that the manor is hiding some very twisted secrets. Gallant <\/em>is a deliciously dark and haunted mystery reminiscent of Crimson Peak<\/em>, with atmosphere and tension in spades. This is classic V. E. Schwab, and a book you won\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Amelia Morgano \u2013 Community & Influencer Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How We Love<\/a> <\/em>by Clementine Ford<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> One of life\u2019s essential lessons, how to love, is interestingly something we all stumble upon and through. I\u2019m glad that Clementine Ford took on the task of examining this subject matter for us all, and even more glad that she felt comfortable enough to share her personal stories. It\u2019s very different to Fight Like A Girl<\/em> and Boys Will Be Boys<\/em>, but just as raw and vulnerable. I cried and had to take a break midway through, but was pleasantly surprised that this book-induced grief further elevated the meaning that I have come away with after turning the final page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nicholas Wasiliev \u2013 Senior Content Producer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

F**k No!<\/a><\/em> by Sarah Knight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> Sometimes you need a good new year’s resolution book, and this one serves as a great solution to a real problem many of us face. Part of Sarah Knight’s No F**ks Given Guide series, this book serves as a useful handbook to saying one of the most dreaded words in all of language: no. As a self-confessed Yes Man who has found the experience unfulfilling, this book was a much needed guide for me. It also proves that for your own self preservation and care, sometimes it’s more than alright to put yourself first and damn well say no!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arthur Malkoun \u2013 Author & Publisher Liaison<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on a True Story (Not a Memoir)<\/a><\/em> by Norm MacDonald<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> The late Norm MacDonald was one of my favourite comedians, and this aptly-titled book Based on a True Story<\/em>, just might be one of my favourite things he\u2019s ever been involved in. The book reads like a typical memoir at first, but as the book goes on MacDonald\u2019s stories get wilder, zanier and more over the top with events that he passes off as real that are complete fiction, such as a failed attempt to murder a fellow comic as well as a hilarious encounter at a book store with icon Andy Griffith. Quite possibly one of the funniest books I’ve ever read and a painful reminder of the talent that was taken too soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ben Hunter \u2013 Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Candy House<\/a><\/em> by Jennifer Egan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> In what the author has dubbed a \u201csibling novel\u201d to her Pulitzer-winning cult favourite A Visit from the Goon Squad<\/em>, Jennifer Egan exhibits an inventiveness and raw storytelling power that rivals any of the best writers at work today. This is a novel for our times – interrogating frontiers of the self. Just how much of our lives will we make public to participate in the next wave of big-tech innovation and how will these strange new devices change our relationship to memories and the nature of personhood? I was completely spellbound by this form-defying feat of fiction. Dazzling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Robert O\u2019Hearn \u2013 Academic & Professional Category Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Twelve Caesars<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Mary Beard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> Starting with Suetonius\u2019s Twelve Caesars<\/em>, this book looks at the portrayal of these famous men over the centuries. We recognise various faces in art (Julius, Nero, Caligula, etc); but perhaps these identities are merely symbols based on falsehood, politics, expediency or fancy? Acclaimed historian Mary Beard reveals that many of the characteristics of these faces were actually formulated in much later times. This fascinating book is a landmark piece of art history, showing the ways we see (and the ways we choose to represent) people are intertwined with all kinds of complex agendas. Beard is as witty as ever as she shows us statues whose attributions and subjects have changed time and time again, as curators assess and reassess. All is not as it seems and the truth gets slippery. A formidable book for art-lovers, classicists, and history buffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shanulisa Prasad \u2013 Lifestyle Category Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Son of Sin<\/a><\/em> by Omar Sakr<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> This novel is so powerful and poetic. It’s a deeply personal exploration of family, sexuality and the push and pull of growing up between cultures in Western Sydney. Definitely one to look forward to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hannah Armstrong – Assistant Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Circe<\/a><\/em> by Madeline Miller<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> This is a masterfully woven epic about the goddess Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, and better known as the witch from Homer\u2019s The Odyssey<\/em> who turns Odysseus\u2019s men into pigs. This iteration finds her an outcast and powerless at the whims of her father and cruel siblings, until the day she learns she can manipulate the shape of any living being through witchcraft. She is banished to the abundant and wild island of Aiaia, where she discovers an entirely new sort of power – resilience and strength in the face of adversity. This is a fierce and feminist retelling of Circe\u2019s life, centring her and freeing her from being a side player in the stories of men. Miller\u2019s signature spellbinding prose made me both ache with sorrow, and also wish I could be a goddess banished to a beautiful island to hang out with lions. You won\u2019t want this book to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cassandra Sharp \u2013 Assistant Non-Fiction Category Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Psychic Tests<\/a><\/em> by Gary Nunn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> If you\u2019re ever looking for a conversation starter, this book could be it. Journalist Gary Nunn was curious after reporting on a court case where a CEO\u2019s psychic adviser took the stand, leading him to wonder what would draw powerful people to having such faith in fortune telling. He sets out with his sister Taren to explore the belief horseshoe – from devotees to sceptics, and those in the middle – examining the psychic world from angles like crime investigations, grief and misinformation. Nunn is thoughtful and considered with his interviewees, suggesting that perhaps the human connection of being heard is what people really want. Perfect for fans of Jon Ronson and Louis Theroux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ashleigh Berry – B2C Campaign Planner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Such a Fun Age<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Kiley Reid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> It has taken me far too long to read Such a Fun Age<\/em>, and despite hearing nothing but amazing reviews it still managed to surpass all of my (very high) expectations. When Emira is apprehended at a supermarket for ‘kidnapping’ the white child she’s babysitting, her employer Alix, a feminist blogger with a ‘personal brand’ and the best of intentions, resolves to make things right. Kiley Reid’s debut is an astonishingly engrossing read, exploring complicated nuances of race and privilege in today’s society. The story weaves back and forth between Emira and Alix as they each struggle with the aftermath of Emira’s devastating public humiliation. This is an empathetic must-read that’ll stay with you long after it’s finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Karen Robinson \u2013 Territory Relationship Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

State of Terror<\/a><\/em> by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why I loved it:<\/strong> This is the best political thriller I\u2019ve read in years. The combination of Rodham Clinton\u2019s knowledge from her life in politics and Penny\u2019s writing experience makes this a fast-paced, timely and intelligent page turner that I finished in 24 hours. Highly recommended!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy it here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Books by V.E. Schwab, Omar Sakr, Jennifer Egan and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":160017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[6678],"tags":[14284,8718,9268,14283,14232,14288,13702,2778,10611,9012,3424,13730,14285,4484,8600,14287,10841,10219,14233,14286,13735,8707],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/BestBooksJanuary2022-Social.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159984"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159984"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160639,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159984\/revisions\/160639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.booktopia.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}