My 2022 in Media

[forestofglory]

2022 was a year where I struggled to focus on reading and watching things. The pandemic and my own health issues both contributed. Even though tendentious is physical ailment, I found dealing with it very stressful and that affected my ability to focus

I'm going to discuss first the books I read and then the shows I watched.

Books

I read 68 books in 2022, five less than the 73 I read the year before. I’ve read less books than I used to ever since the pandemic started.

In 2022 my ability to read original fiction worked in fits and starts. I had times where my ability to read novels was strong and I read several in a row and times where I could only read fic or non-fiction or sometimes nothing at all.

2022 was better for my short SFF reading, than the previous two years. This is in part because I supported several of my favorite zines and got ebook copies of things I could have read online. I was also just more able to engage with novelty in my reading.

I read 14 non-fiction books in 2022. All of these were either for my urban planning book club or about Chinese history. I'm still enjoying reading academic monographs though it would be nice to read them a bit faster.

Some of my favorite books I read in 2022 where:
Forgotten Disease: Illnesses Transformed in Chinese Medicine by Hilary A. Smit
Making a Yellow River Delta: An Environmental Drama in Song Dynasty China by Ling Zhang
Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
Across a Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki


Shows

In 2022 I mostly watched things with other people. I am in a regular online group watch and we watch both live action and animated things on different days. Otherwise I watched a few dramas on my own but I really struggled to focus, especially in the last few months of the year.

Here's a list of what I watched. Shows with an * are ones I watched with the group watch

Finished shows:
Nirvana in Fire* (started 2021)
Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty*
Hilda, season 2
Link Click*
Beryl and Sapphire*
Jun Jiu Ling
Who Rules the World
White Cat Legend

In progress:
Laid Back Camp*
Love Between Fairy and Devil*

On hold/dropped:
My Fair Princess (I don't know what happened I was enjoying this but then suddenly couldn't focus on it anymore)
Qing Luo (This one I gave up on because I got frustrated with the level of miscommunication)


My main goal going forward is to enjoy media when I have the time and energy to do so. I hope I'm more able to focus in the coming year.

Whatever you choose to read and watch in 2023 I hope it brings you joy

Comments

[lingeringdust]

Wow! You still made great progress with reading/watching!That's awesome. Here's to another year filled with more media, focus, time, and energy!

[forestofglory]

I know so many people who read or watch a lot more than I do! It's hard to remember there are plenty of people who read and watch less too.

[merit]

Light from Uncommon Stars was such an interesting read - the meld of genres and perspectives. Definitely a hard book to describe!

Here's to a happier 2022!

[forestofglory]

Yes, I like weird mash ups but its not for everyone.

[lunabee34]

I hope you're more able to focus too!

[forestofglory]

Thank you!

[solo]

In 2022 my ability to read original fiction worked in fits and starts.

I find it really hard these days to read origfic. It's like, bordrline emotionally scary? (Granted, I haven't had the best 2022). When I read fic it's fanfic, or origfic I have read several times already. Just feels safer.

Forgotten Disease: Illnesses Transformed in Chinese Medicine

I downloaded the sample for this on your recommendation but with one thing or another haven't got around to it yet. Looking forward to it though.

Wishing you all the focus you would like going forward!

[forestofglory]

I know what you mean, new stuff is just a lot harder. I hope you enjoy Forgotten Disease when you get to it!