Best of 2022: Adult Nonfiction

"After winning America’s Top Model AND Dancing with the Stars, Nyle set out to write a memoir about deafness. Being born into a fourth-generation deaf family, he attended school here in Maryland at the Maryland School for the Deaf and continued at Gallaudet University in DC. He gives an honest and enlightening insight into the deaf community, shares funny stories of his growing up and emits pure delight. Readers who enjoy memoirs and want to learn more about the deaf community would enjoy this read." - Cortney G., Odenton Library

"A deep dive into the romantic comedies from the golden era 80s and 90s (starting with ­When Harry Met Sally), through a dip in the 2010s, and finally to the streaming era renaissance (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before). I had a huge smile on my face, delighting in the author discussing seriously a genre that I love. I was “did you know”-ing everyone I knew for months after with fun facts learned from this book. If you’re a fan of romcoms and pop history, you’ll have a great time." - Leann C., Library Headquarters

"This was a wild ride! Debra yearned to have a child, but as a single gay woman in 1980s California, she had few options. Enter Donor #150 before he began donating to the California *** Bank. Told through the eyes of Chrysta, Debra’s first born, this story is full of personality. Dysfunctional, well-written, and extremely entertaining, this memoir is a page turner. Those that have enjoyed Educated and The Glass Castle will want to add it to their reading pile." - Cortney G., Odenton Library

"As a longtime lover of Kate Beaton's comedic webcomic Hark! A Vagrant - famous for its hilarious riffs on such works as The Great Gatsby, I was eagerly awaiting this graphic novel memoir. Being the first full-length work the rightfully-lauded comic artist has written for adults, expectations were simultaneously high and vague. As it stands Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands works as an emotionally resonant depiction of life as a twentysomething woman working in the Canadian oil fields. Additionally, Beaton has here shown herself to be a top-notch artist of landscapes and natural phenomena, with detailed pencil drawings of oil fields, campgrounds, and natural phenomena throughout. Though also peppered with moments of comedic workplace banter and warm human connection throughout, it must be said that this will not be an easy read for everyone. Readers should be aware that Ducks'... wrenching (though not graphic) portrayals of misogyny and sexual assault will doubtless make it a complex emotional read for some readers. For those ready to face such difficult themes, this is an excellent addition to the canon of autobiographical comics." - Mark S., Glen Burnie Library

"An engaging and illuminating exploration of a continent that is so frequently seen as a monolith, ranging from the historical injustices of colonization to the ongoing competition of what country has the best version of jollof rice. Africa is not a country, and Faloyin shows this by telling stories from all different places and creating a picture of the different countries that showcase how they are unique. I listened to this book, read by the author, and was taken in immediately, as he has such a way of writing that is evocative and informative that no matter the topic, I wanted to learn more. While this book isn't fast paced like a novel, the easy writing style makes this a good read for even a casual nonfiction reader; additionally, it's a great one to pick up if you've ever realized that all the history you know of the continent comes from the Western perspective. A delightful read, really!" - Evangelina H., Mountain Road Library