Become a Member for as little as $4/mo and enjoy unlimited reading of TSLL blog.
So many readers of TSLL community are bibliophiles, a label I will gladly accept, a lover of books!, and as has become tradition here on TSLL when our anniversary arrives (13 years today!), celebrating books I loved reading over the past year are shared. Kicking off the TOP posts of the year (eight more will follow – two each day beginning tomorrow), I thought it be quite fitting to begin with a list of the 12 books I thoroughly enjoyed reading over the course of the past 12 months and am grateful each book crossed my path, even if for different reasons – i.e. a delicious recipe I will continue to make for years to come to life advice that shifted how I approach going about my days in order to deepen my contentment.
Today’s post is available to all readers, non-members as well as members, because I want to share a glimpse into the benefits of being a TOP Tier Member as each of these books were shared in the monthly video chat A Cuppa Moments w/Shannon, talked about in detail during the video chat regarding why I enjoyed the book and sometimes a specific excerpt or recipe is shared, both of which are not shared elsewhere ever or until much later.
Each A Cuppa Moments video begins with a sharing of books I am (1) Curious about, (2) Reading and enjoying, and books I (3) Recommend after having read them and loved them. Sometimes, this list is only three books long, but more often than not, it is quite longer. As many readers know who stop by each Friday for the weekly This & That, books are the first item shared, revealing new and/or soon to be released books that I am curious about and want to alert readers of the blog to; however, I too am picking from this list that is shared, and the culled list of what I love is what appears in A Cuppa Moments.
Each of the books below are now included permanently in TSLL’s Shop – Books, Cookbooks, Francophile Finds and/or British Finds. You can find each of these ’boutiques’ in the Menu on the blog (just below the header image of the woman with the flower basket and pup), hover over Shop and a drop-down menu will appear. Then, click on the ’boutique’ you want to explore.
I have listed them in no particular order, as each book was enjoyed immensely for its unique offering of content. I have listed the A Cuppa Moments episode, the podcast episode or the Show Notes link where I talk about the book if you would like to learn more about why the book was selected.
But wait a minute! Yep, TSLL turns 13 today, and to have imagined back in 2009 the community that now is part of TSLL would have been a far off dream I could have never considered a possibility. As I shared in my post earlier today sharing the details of the cover illustration of TSLL’s 3rd book, I am deeply grateful for each of you, readers of TSLL who stop by once a week, once a month, every time a post is shared, or for your favorite monthly or weekly post, whenever you stop by, thank you. Thank you very much. ?
Now I would be remiss not to share that 2022 brought with it the opportunity I have long wished to be able to do, bring to you the book that is The Road to Le Papillon: Daily Meditations on True Contentment because while I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to bring each of my books to readers, it is this book that I am deeply proud of for a variety of reasons. Yes, it is the first book that I open up my life and share with you the most intimate moments I have ever shared, but also, and most importantly, it is a book that took 10 years to create before I felt confident it would offer daily inspiration for you, the reader who will hold it in their hands as they live their unique life and a book that can be read each year that you are looking for grounding inspiration to honor your true self as well as reveling in the awesomeness of your life in your everyday moments.
Thank you again for making this book possible, for making this book the success it became on its release date and for all of your kind and beautiful reviews (you can read a handful here).
And now back to the list of my favorite books of 2022! While I shared in the title there are 12, there are actually . . . 16! Why? Because I kept remembering one more book I could not leave off the list, and while I wanted to stick to 12 to adhere to each month, I just couldn’t. ☺️
Oh! You will also no doubt catch that not all of the books listed below were published in 2022. One was published more than 10 years ago in fact, so the criteria is merely that they were discovered, read and enjoyed in 2022. Because books cross our paths at different points in our lives that don’t necessarily align with publishing dates, it is never a bad idea to explore new and old titles. All the more to peruse, non? ☺️
My Favorite Books of 2022
À Table: Recipes for Cooking and Eating the French Way by Rebekkah Pepper
Recommended in February’s A Cuppa Moments
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom by Rick Hanson with Richard Mendius
Buddha’s Brain was the focus of episode #327: How to Change Your Brain So Your Mind (and thus you!) Can Thrive
Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth by Deepak Chopra
Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth was the focus of episode #326, A Life of Abundant Bliss: A Natural State of True Contentment
The Flavor Thesaurus: Pairings, recipes and ideas for the creative cook by Niki Signet
The Flavour Thesaurus: Pairings, recipes and ideas for the creative cook is recommended in May’s A Cuppa Moments and in episode #3 of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen cooking show (Season 5)
Warming Up Julia Child: The Remarkable Figures Who Shaped a Legend by Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz
Warming Up Julia Child is shared as a book I am reading and quite enjoying in May’s A Cuppa Moments
The Home Cookbook by Monty and Sarah Don
The Home Cookbook was shared in July’s A Cuppa Moments
All The Queen’s Men by SJ Bennett (2nd in the series)
All The Queen’s Men was recommended in July’s A Cuppa Moments
How to Build a Healthy Brain: Practical Steps to Mental Health and Well-Being by Kimberley Wilson
How to Build a Healthy Brain was the focus of episode #336: How to Live a Life that Nourishes Your Brain, Thereby Elevating the Quality of Your Entire Life
Lucy Worsley’s book on Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman
Agatha Christie:An Elusive Woman was recommended in October’s A Cuppa Moments and shared as a book I was Curious to Read in September’s A Cuppa Moments
Gateau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes by Aleksandra Crapanzano
Gâteau was shared as a cookbook I was enjoying in October’s A Cuppa Moments and I shared the recipe for Gâteau au Yaourt Citron was the Petit Plaisir for episode #342
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Set Boundaries, Find Peace was the focus of episode #343: How Setting Healthy Boundaries Contributes to True Contentment
Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Watch January 2023’s A Cuppa Moments to discover why I thoroughly enjoyed Moonflower Murders even more than I enjoyed its prequel (Magpie Murders, admittedly, it may have been because I had Lesley Manville in my head as I read Susan’s narration ?).
The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier and Longer by Rodney Habib and Karen Shaw Becker
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (1999) by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now was recommended in December’s A Cuppa Moments.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A practical guide to the fulfillment of your dreams by Deepak Chopra
Remainders of the Day: A bookshop diary by Shaun Bythell
Thoroughly enjoying Remainders of the Day and will be talking about why in January 2023’s A Cuppa Moments
So many wonderful books to read this year. Looking forward to discovering what 2023 has in store and sharing all that I discover here on TSLL. Below are past book shares of favorites you may want to peruse.
10 Favorite French Cookbooks for Your Kitchen Library
~an all-time reader TOP post~
Explore the TOP Posts of 2022
Look for this post to go live on the blog Tuesday December 27th at 4am Paris time.
Hi Shannon, a very grateful Thank you for this posting! Again, you have outdone yourself. Am I ever glad I’m a subscriber! You make my day. Wishing you a continued Christmas season. Enjoy!
— Teresa
P. S. Re: books. So many books and not enough time!
Hi Shannon, thanks for this post, I love that you included 16 because you just couldn’t choose – so many of the books I read are based on your recommendation and they never disappoint! Congratulations on your 13th anniversary, it must be so fulfilling to imagine how many lives you have touched in the years through both your teaching at schools and teaching on TSLL. Also, thank you for the daily inspiration that you have given me through the “Road to Papillon” – I’ve started many mornings in 2022 with a much more positive mindset, having spent a few minutes with your words of wisdom. 2023 is a year of major transitions in my life and I know I’ll be stronger and better equipped to embrace the change because of TSLL. Enjoy your in between the years time!
Shannon thank you for sharing. Have high regard for your reviews. I have a couple on my list but still not ordered them. You get through so many books . Where do you find the time? Have s lovely week of chilling ( pardon the pun) Kameela ?xx
Shannon, I so respect your suggestions , curiosities about, and reviews of books. Several recommended books have been old friends perched on my bookshelves for some years, (books can be quite cacophonous as they ruminate and jostle against their neighbors, have you noticed?), and I have been encouraged by your interest to revisit. Several I borrowed from the library to see if they would fit in with me and the other tomes before purchasing. (Usually a resounding yes, much to the almost-despair of the ever-increasing and weighty TBR list).
The best gifts I received from my lovely husband this Yule celebration was ‘The Year of Wonder’ and ‘The Flavor Thesaurus’. I was in transports, probably aided by the Bailey’s in my coffee, but nevertheless. He also became quite intrigued when I showed him and explained the gifts each of these wonderful books would reveal. So thank you, Shannon, for enriching both of our lives. It means the world to me. May your ‘Between The Years’ time bring contentment, inspiration, a blossoming of creativity, and a humble certitude that you, (and your pupper help-mates) bring much contentment, inspiration, and creativity to many, many more around this little blue marble we all call home. Peace & namaste. xx