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What a great list, Elizabeth! I started Winter Counts but got distracted and am definitely going to go back to it now. And I didn't have time to get to The Woman They Could Not Silence before it had to go back to the library, but I just put it on hold.

These are my best books this year:

Nonfiction:

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski (don't judge this one! it's super good)

Syllabus: Notes From an Accidental Professor by Lynda Barry

Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh

Everything I Have is Yours by Eleanor Henderson

Fiction:

Outlawed by Anna North

Barkskins by Annie Proulx

Casebook by Mona Simpson

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Matrix by Lauren Groff

Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza

I also discovered the Cat Kinsella series by Cat Frear and have really enjoyed those -- it's been a long time since I've found a new mystery series that I like.

(My year isn't done yet, either!)

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author

I haven't read Heartland but really loved Sarah Smarsh's book on Dolly Parton.

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I had no idea she wrote a book on Dolly Parton -- but she's a good enough writer that I'm intrigued about anything she has written.

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Dec 6, 2021Liked by Elizabeth

A few of my favorites by category...

Favorite non-fiction on everyone's list: Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Favorite non-fiction I wish got more attention: There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America by Amy Argetsinger

Favorite true crime: Last Call by Elon Green

Favorite mystery: Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

Favorite contemporary fiction: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

Favorite memoir: Seeing Ghosts by Kat Chow

Favorite biography: Mike Nichols: A Life by Mark Harris

Favorite cult book: Don't Call it a Cult by Sarah Berman

Favorite music book: Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Sanneh Kelefa

Favorite essay book: A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib

Favorite short story collection: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

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I love that you have a favorite cult book. (FWIW my favorite cult book this year was cultish.)

This is list is reminding me that:

1) We have remarkably similar taste.

2) My list could have been WAY longer.

3) I have to add all of these that I haven't read to my TBR.

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LOL, I probably read at least 5 cult books this year and I did love Cultish! There were SO many good books this year.

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Great list! I really want to read that beer book.

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I feel like it might give you some of what you wanted from the poker book w/o the misogyny.

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Thanks for books, I try to read Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

Manga : https://aemanga.com

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Love the comments of what others are reading. I added several form the newsletter and also a few from the comments to my TBR. It is so easy to add books to my TBR :)

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I went to college with Eman, so it was lovely to see her book on your list!

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