“As long as you’re living on this planet, you have to be serious about something, but it’s better to be serious about a limited number of things.”
For hundreds of years, books have been one of the most powerful ways of getting people talking and thinking about the issues around them. Literature can be unapologetically thought-provoking in a way few other means can, and plenty of talented figures have been able to establish themselves as hugely influential commentators on the back of one groundbreaking release. With times becoming increasingly polarised, check out some of the most thought-provoking 2022 fiction books about society at What We Reading.
Nobody Gets Out Alive – Leigh Newman
Named A Most Anticipated Book by Vogue, Literary Hub, The Millions, Good Housekeeping, and Oprah Daily, Nobody Gets Out Alive: Stories is a dazzling debut novel by Leigh Newman. The book is a collection of stories from different women living across Alaska attempting to not only overcome the freezing temperatures and wild animals, but also the social constraints of the time. Told across multiple narratives across different eras, these eight tales are jam-packed full of wit and a touching exploration of how love and familial connections are the greatest legacies we can seek.
The School for Good Mothers – Jasmine Chan
Jessamine Chan’s stunning debut novel, The School for Good Mothers is a dystopian take on how far the Government’s reach extends when it comes to children’s welfare and parental fitness. The story follows Frida Liu, a struggling-yet-devoted mother who is placed into a gruelling Government program that is designed to rip custody of her daughter Harriet away from her if she slips up even in the smallest of ways. Chan challenges the traditional views of the perfect ‘middle class’ family presented so often, whilst also captivating audiences with one of the most enthralling fiction books about society this year.
Diary Of A Void – Emi Yagi
Emi Yagi’s stunning debut novel is a powerful approach to the continued issues women face in the workplace. Diary of a Void follows a thirty-something woman named Ms. Shibata who picks up a new job in Tokyo after being harassed by her male colleagues in her previous workplace. After discovering she is the only woman in her new position, Ms. Shibata spins a lie that she is pregnant – meaning she is no longer asked to clean up, carry objects, work overtime or made to put up with any unwelcome advances. Detailing all the comical ways in which the protagonist goes in order to keep up her lie, Diary of a Void is a witty but also an essential addition to any feminist commentary collection.
All The Lovers In The Night – Mieko Kawakami
Japanese author Mieko Kawakami delivers an enthralling and mysterious story of detachment and societal norms in All The Lovers In The Night. One of the standout 2022 fiction books about society to have emerged from Asia over the course of the year, the novel follows a freelance editor named Fuyuko Irie who, after one day catching her reflection in a shop window, decides to reinvent her drab thirty-something existence into something more fulfilling. Delivered with quips that will make readers laugh as well as cry, it is a powerful look at pressures, expectations, and the pain involved with self-image.
Check out some of the best books for understanding the Russian invasion of Ukraine here.
If I Survive You – Jonathan Escoffery
Jonathan Escoffery’s If I Survive You is a stellar piece of fiction that follows a Jamaican family landing in America and attempting to forge a better life together. Told through eight short stories, it is a timely and relevant work told powerfully by Escoffery’s unique style of writing. Whilst the bulk of themes revolve around race and the experiences endured by immigrants in the contemporary world, the sombre notes the book hits is well-balanced by enough quirks and quips to keep things feeling fresh and honest.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
