What I Read and Watched in 2022

A very happy new year to you and yours! For the past three years, I've kept a running list of books I've read over the course of the year; 132 books in 2021 and 170+ books in 2020. Reading is my favourite hobby and bookstores and libraries are some of the places on earth I feel most at home. I hope everyone has the joy and wonder of discovering at least one book that makes them feel at home in this world in 2023.

In 2022 I read 145 books...

Before the full list, here is a best-of digest!

My Recommendations

1. For the historical fiction fan...Dorothy Dunnett, Dorothy Dunnett, Dorothy Dunnett! Finishing the House of Niccolo series this year was one of my reading highlights. I turned the last page of Gemini feeling sad that I will never again read a completely new word of Dunnett's historical fiction. Her writing challenges and rewards the reader in equal measure.
2. For the romance fan...Sarina Bowen is an industry and some of the books in her extended universe are, shall we say, uneven, but I enjoyed the characters and Vermont setting of the True North books an awful lot.
3. For the reader of poetry...Sean O'Brien's The Beautiful Librarians, which I've quoted on this blog multiple times this year
4. For cooks...I had Ching-He Huang's Stir Crazy checked out of the library for several months because there were so many things I wanted to cook from it. Her smoked mackerel, shiitake mushroom, bamboo, and goji berry rice is one of my favourite things I made this year--such a lovely combination of flavours.
5. For fans of fantasy...Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series has been a favourite of mine since I was a child. UK readers will now get the pleasure of enjoying her books too--in 2022, they began being published there for the first time. In June, MWT was in London for an author event in celebration of this UK publication, and I attended. Sometimes, you really should meet your heroes, because they are everyone you imagine they'd be and more. 
   
6. Because I love letters and you should too...Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship: the Correspondence of E.B. White and Edmund Ware Smith. These letters exchanged by two famous twentieth century New England writers, are such fun: breezy and humorous, they provide a lovely portrait of a wonderful friendship.
7. On the silver screen: Fire Island (2022) is very clever and funny. After several attempts over many years, I finally managed to make it through all of Die Hard (1988)--Alan Rickman having the time of his life as the movie's villain is one hundred percent worth the price of admission. As for TV shows, I was captivated by Rings of Power season 1, and loved the performances of Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, and Sophia Nomvete. I also adored Sandman. The way Tom Sturridge's Morpheus switches between moodiness and menace is incredible to watch; and I was astounded by the sixth episode, The Sound of Her Wings.

What would you recommend from your reading, watching, or listening in 2022?

Reading

Fiction 

Anthologies

1. The Penguin Book of Dragons, edited by Scott Bruce
2. Greek Myths: A New Retelling by Charlotte Higgins
3. Sinbad: and Other Stories from the Arabian Nights by Husain Haddawy
4. The Dreaming Sex: Early Tales of Scientific Imagination by Women, ed. by Mike Ashley 

Childrens and Young Adult

1. Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman 

Comics

1. The Outbursts of Everett True by A.D. Condo and J.W. Raper
2. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (on Tumblr)
   

Historical Fiction

1. A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville
   
2. Scales of Gold by Dorothy Dunnett 
3. King Hereafter by Dorothy Dunnett
4. The Unicorn Hunt by Dorothy Dunnett
5. Theodora by Stella Duffy
6. To Lie With Lions by Dorothy Dunnett
7. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
8. Caprice and Rondo by Dorothy Dunnett
9. Gemini by Dorothy Dunnett
10. The Seahawk by Rafael Sabatini (audiobook)
    

Literary Fiction

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audiobook)
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (read on Youtube by Jennifer Ehle) 
3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
   

Poetry

1. The Beautiful Librarians by Sean O'Brien
2. Essential Poems for the Way We Live Now, edited by Daisy Goodwin
3. Off Colour by Jackie Kay
4. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
5. Poetry by Heart: A Treasury of Poems to Read Aloud, with an introduction by Andrew Motion
6. 40 Sonnets by Don Paterson
7. Letters from a Far Country by Gillian Clark
8. All the poems you need to say goodbye, edited by Don Paterson
   

Romance

1. Always Only You by Chloe Liese (reread)
2. Ever After Always by Chloe Liese (reread)
3. A Gentleman's Position by KJ Charles
4. The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh by KJ Charles
5. A Fashionable Indulgence by KJ Charles
6. Seven Minutes in Heaven by Eloisa James
7. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang (reread)
8. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (reread)
9. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
10. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
11. A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert (reread) 
12. Untouchable by Talia Hibbert (reread) 
13. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (reread) 
14. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
15. Under One Roof by Ali Hazewood
16.  Everything for you by Chloe Liese
17. Waylaid by Sarina Bown
18. Keepsake by Sarina Bowen
19. Steadfast by Sarina Bowen
20. True North by Sarina Bowen
21. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen
22. Fireworks by Sarina Bowen
23. Speakeasy by Sarina Bowern
24. Bountiful by Sarina Bowen 
25. Ivan by Kit Rocha (reread)
26. Shenanigans by Sarina Bowen
27. The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha (reread)
28. The Rogue Not Take by Sarah McLean (reread)
    
29. Stuck with you by Ali Hazelwood
30. Set On You by Amy Lea
31. Boyfriend by Sarina Bowen
32. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle (reread)
33. Dance with the Devil by Kit Rocha
34. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood 
35. Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne (reread)
    
36. Beach Read by Emily Henry
37. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
38. A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
39. You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry
40. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (reread)
    
41. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (reread)
42. The Bridge Test by Helen Hoang (reread)
43. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
    
44. The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas
45. Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
46. Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
    
47. It happened one summer by Tessa Bailey
48. The Soldier's Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian (reread)
49. The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian (reread)
50. The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastian (reread)
    

Science Fiction and Fantasy

1. Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (reread)
2. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (reread)
3. Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (reread)
4. City of Dragons by Robin Hobb (reread)
5. Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb (reread)
6. Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell (reread)
7. Jovah's Angel by Sharon Shinn (reread)
8. The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn (reread)
9. Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn 
10. Angelica  by Sharon Shinn (reread)
11. Archangel  by Sharon Shinn (reread)
12. Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski 
13. The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
    
14. The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski 
15. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
    
16. The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
17. The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
18. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
19. Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (reread)
20. The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
21. Babylon's Ashes by James A. Corey
22. Nemesis Games by James A. Corey
23. Cibola Burn by James A. Corey
24. Abbadon's Gate by James A. Corey
25. Caliban's War by James A. Corey
26. Leviathan Wakes by James A. Corey
27. Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski 
28. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (second reread)
29. The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield
30. Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
31. Rendevous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
32. Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs 
33. Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
34. How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
35. Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
    
36. Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson 
37. Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley (reread)
38. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley (reread)
39. Magic and Malice by Patricia C. Wrede (reread)
    

Nonfiction 

Advice

1. Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance by Kate Walker  
2. Samaritans: How to Listen by Katie Colombus

Autobiography, Biography, and Memoir

1. Finding Freedom by Erin French 
2. Old Maine Woman by Glenna Johnson Smith
   

Cookbooks 

1. The Easy Vegan Bible by Katy Beskow
2. Hunan: a Lifetime of Secrets from Mr Peng's Chinese Kitchen by Y.S. Peng
3. Asian Green: everyday plant-based recipies from the East by Ching-He Huang
4. Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
5. Bazaar: fresh, flavourful and deeply satisfying recipies for everyday by Sabrina Ghayour
6. Supra: a feast of Georgian cooking by Tiko Tuskadze
7. Ripe Figs by Yasmin Khan
8. Mind Food by Lauren Lovatt 
9. The Nordic Baker by Sofia Nordgren
10. The Apple Lover's Cookbook by Amy Traverso
    
11. Deserts by Pierre Hermé by Dorie Greenspan 
    

Current Affairs

1. The Pink Line: The World's Queer Frontiers by Mark Gevisser
   

Essays

1. The Book of Queer Prophets, ed. by Ruth Hunt
2. The Moth: This is a True Story, edited by Catherine Burns

Gardening and Nature Writing

1. Step by Step Veg Patch by Lucy Halsall
2. London is a Forest by Paul Wood 
3. The Book of the Barn Owl by Sally Coulthard
   

History 

1. The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak
2.  Black on Both Sides by C. Riley Snorton
   
3. The Wordhord by Hana Videen
4. The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry
   

Letters and Diaries 

1. Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship: the Correspondence of E.B. White and Edmund Ware Smith

Running

1. Out of Thin Air by Michael Crawley

Travel

1. The Peak District (Slow Travel) by Helen Moat
   

Viewing and Listening

Movies

1. Pride and Prejudice (2005) 
2. Thor: Ragnarock (2017)
   
3. God's Own Country (2017)
   
4. Persuasion (2022)
5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
6. Iron Man 2 (2010)
7. Fire Island (2022)
8. Fellowship of the Ring - extended edition (2002)
   
9. The Two Towers - extended edition (2003)
   
10. Return of the King - extended edition (2004)
11. A New Hope (1977)
12. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
13. Return of the Jedi (1983)
14. The Phantom Menance (1999)
15. Attack of the Clones (2002) 
16. Die Hard (1988)
17. Jurassic Park (1993)
    

Podcasts

1. Ali on the Run
2. Citius Mag Podcast
3. Maine Historical Society Podcast
   

TV Shows

1. Bridgerton (Season 2)
2. Heartstopper (Season 1)
3. Young Royals (Season 1 and 2)
   
4. Shadow and Bone (Season 1) 
5. Stranger Things (Season 4)
   
6. Farscape (Seasons 1)
7. Supernatural (Season 1 Unfinished)
   
8. Poldark (Season 1 Unfinished)
9. Merlin (Season 1 Unfinished)
10. Robin Hood (2006), (Season 1, Season 2 unfinished)
11. Warehouse 13 (Seasons 1-4)
    
12. The Sandman (Season 1 unfinished)
13. Rings of Power (Season 1)
14. Obi Wan Kenobi (2022)
    

Youtube

1. Yoga with Lena 
2. Paola La
3. Brad Evans
4. Vlogbrothers
5. Todd in the Shadows
6. Yoga with Adrienne 
7. Jill Bearup
   

The Year of the Aubergine

Until I sat down to make this list, I hadn't realised just how many aubergine recipes I had tried in 2022. The wonderful farm from which I get biweekly vegetable deliveries has yet to include aubergines in my vegetable box, but luckily for me a new Asian supermarket opened near campus late last year. They have a beautiful produce section, which includes a rainbow of eggplant in different colours and sizes, including the excellently named graffiti aubergine.

I took this picture to amuse students in my class on ancient graffiti.

During Lent, I tried to keep a vegan or vegetarian diet, which explains the large number of vegan recipes I tried in the first half of the year. Despite this, I have yet to find a vegan cookbook I want to buy--even the ones that claim to be 'easy' are overly fussy or full of ingredients that are hard to find in Lincolnshire. Plus, it seems that many vegan cookbook authors try to sell veganism by focusing on creating taste-and-texture equivalents for recipes based on animal products, and pretending to eat meat never quite works for me. So far, I can always taste the difference, and would rather eat tofu or tempeh or legumes because they taste good as themselves and the recipe that uses them exposes me to a new flavour or technique. My absolute favourite tofu recipe from the list below was the Red-cooked Smoked Tofu, Aubergine and Potato Stew from Asian Green by Ching He Huang--red cooking is a new taste and technique for me, and I loved it.

My public library's cookbook section continues to be a wonderful source of ideas. Although I try not to purchase new cookbooks, I am almost certainly going to add Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang to my collection. Her instructions are very clear, all of the recipes I have tried have been excellent, and they usually make two servings, which is perfect for a solo cook. For the number of recipes of hers I've tried, I ought to have called this post the year of Ching-He Huang.

I hope you have been cooking and eating well this year!

January 2022

• Peanut, Sesame and Coconut Aubergines from Masala by Malika Basu
• Greek Pumpkin Pie from World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey
  

February 2022

• Yuxiang Aubergine and Shiitake Stir-fry from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang
• Red-cooked Smoked Tofu, Aubergine and Potato Stew from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang
• Vertuta (Moldovan Giant Cheese Twist) from Mamushka by Olia Hercules 
• Brussels Sprout Pottage from Twelve Months of Monastery Soups by Victor-Antoine D'Avila-Latourrette
• Guitaang Mungo (Mung Beans with Coconut) from Sundays at Moosewood
• Sticky Hoisin Broccoli  from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang

March 2022

• Shepherd's Pie from Sundays at Moosewood
• Veggie Ants Climbing Trees from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang
• Sweet and Sour Cabbage from World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey 
• Mother Wolff Soup from Sundays at Moosewood
• Winter Tabbouleh from Easy Vegan Bible by Katy Beskow
• Soy, Lime, and Peanut Stiry-Fry Easy Vegan Bible by Katy Beskow
  

April 2022

• Teriyaki Tempeh with Broccoli from Asian Green by Ching-He Huang
• Dry-fried Chicken from Hunan by Y.S. Peng
• Lentil and Rice Mujaddara from Breaking Bread at Central 
  

May 2022

• Miso Asparagus with Mushrooms from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• Cabbage and Sesame Salad from Bazaar by Sabrina Ghayour
• Kung Po Tofu from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• Aubergine in Spicy Peanut Sauce from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• Fish Fragrant Aubergine from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• Spicy Soy and Oyster Sauce Tofu from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
  
• Oyster Sauce Chicken from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang   

June 2022

• Sichuan Tofu with Celery and Roasted Peanuts from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang 
  
• Spicy Oyster Sauce Squid with Peppers from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• Chili Peanut Lamb from from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang 
  
• Spicy Honey Garlic Prawns with Water Chestnuts from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
  
• Vegetarian Soup Kharcho from Supra by Tiko Tuskadze
• Three Cup Chicken from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang   

July 2022

• Spiced Carrot Soup from Ripe Figs by Yasmin Khan
• Smoked Mackerel, Shiitake Mushroom, Bamboo and Goji Berry Rice from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
• General Tso's Tofu from  Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang 

August 2022

• Cardamom Egg Toast from Ripe Figs by Yasmin Khan
• Veggie Dan Dan Mei from Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang  
• Besan ka chilla from Masala by Malika Basu
• Sabzi Bhaji from Masala by Malika Basu
• Ajadsandali (Aubergine Stew) from Supra by Tiko Tuskadze
• Anytime Tea from Mind Food by Lauren Lovatt
• Harak Osbao (Tagiliatelle with Herbed Lentils) from Ripe Figs by Yasmin Khan

Goals for 2022

At the very beginning of 2021, I wrote a post about my goals for the year. Revisiting them in November enabled me to take pride in what I had accomplished during the year and begin thinking ahead to the new year. Which is now here!

We made it through another year of plague, friends. Hoping you and your loved ones are hale, hearty, and hanging in there. What do you hope the days ahead have in store?

Here are my goals for 2022--high but hopefully achievable. Let's see what I can do.

 

"Resolutions and goals" by creepyed is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

As a blogger, I will...

1. Write at least six posts about researching or teaching late antiquity and the Middle Ages.
2. Post at least six translations of Latin texts (or excerpts thereof).
   
3. Write at least one more post about medieval mitten miracles.
4. Share at least one post on Facebook or LinkedIn...even though I rarely use social media and am uncomfortable with the idea.
5. Continue to find and share contemporary poems about the late Roman period or late antiquity.
6. Post at least four substantial translations of Latin texts, aiming for a range of periods, genres, authors, and topics.
7. Produce at least twenty-six posts over the course of the year--aiming for two a month, or one every fortnight.
   

As a historian, I will...

1. As I wrote last year, I want to be the kind of person who enjoys a colleague's article or book, hears about their grant or job success, and always sends them a note of congratulations.
   
2. Submit a draft of my chapter on Annie Parker and her family to History of Universities by the end of January 2022.
3. Submit revisions on my 'Epistolary Miracles in Late Antique Gaul' article by the end of February 2022.
   
4. Submit a draft of my chapter on scale in the letters of Sidonius Apollinaris to the Shifting Frontiers volume by 4 March 2022
5. Submit the following book reviews as close to on time as I can.
   
1. a double review of translations of Fortunatus' Life of St Martin to Plekos.de by 1 April 2022
2. a review of Latin Poetry and its Reception to Bryn Mawr Classical Review by the end of May 2022.
   
3. a review of The Carolingian Revolution to Speculum by July 2022.
4. Not commit to any more book reviews! Exceptions will be made if someone asks me to review a book on the Merovingians or Latin epistolography. Or poetry. Or something else I want to learn more about.
   
6.  Work on my modern languages! I want to read at least two substantial pieces of academic writing in French, German, and Italian over the course of the year, and practice regularly, using tools like Duolingo, children's books from the library, and maybe even a language class or two.
   
7. Work on my Latin--once a week, I aim to translate at least three sentences of prose or poetry, as well as work through one grammar review book over the course of the year.
   

As a knitter and sewist, I will...

1. Knit a ten-stitch blanket for myself...or possibly someone else. I love the pattern so much!
   
2. Finish my mother's long overdue and patiently awaited birthday afghan.
3.  Make at least one square of a quilt or some other beginner project in order to get more comfortable using my sewing machine.
4. Attempt to learn nålebinding and complete a small project using this technique.
   
5. Make four pairs of socks.
6. I struggle with lace and multi-colour work, so I aim to complete a small project using either technique.
   
7. Cast on and knit at least one part of a sweater. Triple bonus points if it is a pattern by Alice Starmore.
   

"Love book" by Shaun Amey Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As a reader, I will...

1. Read at least 52 books this year.
2. Read at least three books on current affairs and issues, including at least one on anti-racist pedagogy.
3. Read at least three history books written for a general audience.
4. Go to the public library at least once a month.
   
5. Finish reading Dorothy Dunnett's House of Niccolo series.
6.  
   
7. Read at least two books of essays.
   

As a runner, I will...

1. Try to beat my current best parkrun time of 24:36, which I set in Oxford on 11 September 2021.
2. Try to beat my current personal best 10k time of 49:24, set at the Run Your Heart out 10k in Scunthorpe on 23 February 2020.
3. Do a core workout every Monday.
4. Purchase new shoes from my local running store.
5. Try at least one new thing. Ideas: adult ballet, anything in a gym, pilates, street dance, or speed workouts on a track.
   
6. Enter and finish two half marathons.
7. Do my best to finish a marathon sprinting, smiling, uninjured, and in less than four hours and fifteen minutes.

As a teacher, I will...

1. Update my participation marks regularly, the evening after each class (or that weekend).
2. Read at least one book on pedagogy and at least six blog posts on teaching in the university classroom.
3. Post all my lecture slides before the lectures.
4. Write a content notice for my class on Roman women and discuss it with my students.
5. Go back to writing up quick notes for myself after each lecture, focusing on the traffic light system (i.e., make quick notes on what I will start, stop, and continue to do the next time I teach the material).
6. Look for opportunities to learn from other teachers--by attending history teaching conferences, listening to podcasts, or observation opportunities.
7. Learn all of my students' names, despite my embarrassment that I have to ask so many times.
   

As a writer, I will... 

1. Pitch at least one story to JSTOR Daily.
2. Draft and submit least one new article--perhaps even on the mitten miracles I've been having such fun collecting! Possible destination: Piecework, my favourite magazine.
   
3. Organise and/or participate in some sort of NaNoWriMo challenge, especially something for academic writing.
4. Retell a fairy tale.
5. Unearth my space opera retelling of the Histories of Gregory of Tours from whichever hard drive it is currently lurking on and mess around with it.
6. Pitch an essay about time-traveling historians to Tor.com
7. Hold Friendship in the Merovingian Kingdoms: Venantius Fortunatus and His Contemporaries in my own two hands.