by Don Hall

2022 sucked for me. I mean SUUUUCCCKKKED. I can't believe I survived it without putting a pistol in my mouth. I acknowledge Himmel's belief that if the world ends, I'm one of the few scrappy assholes out there you want to hang with because, hey, I'll find the way out of the scorched earth despite my genetic inability to follow directions. I likewise note that in the number of good and bad years in my life, this one was right there at the top of the shit list.

In terms of the Ape, there are two potential Best Of options: the most read and my personal favorites of 2022.

The 'most read' version of this end of the year list is gonna look like the chapter headings for my book Problematic Movies of the 80s but will also include a piece David wrote back in 2018, my awful recounting of the circumstances of my third divorce, and an article I wrote in 2017 about the monkey's paw.

Like the Blockbuster's of old or any hip bookstore, I think I'll go the route of the Staff Recommendations this year and serve up a list for you to read that reflects my personal favorites for 2022.

My Authoritarian Rabbi Ruined Judaism for Me by David Himmel

I love the fact that HIMMEL eschewed an entire culture out of pique. "They could have their Judaism. I realized I’d be better off not engaging with toxic authority and the kind of people who promoted it." It's also one of my favorite portraits of someone refusing indoctrination from a teacher.

I Give You Nothing by Gabriel Cassidy

Gabriel was a new addition to our digital pages this year and, despite moving from Vegas to Detroit, his writing is filled with wry observation and a dark undercurrent of pathos. This is my favorite of his this year.

The Final Stage of Grief by Don Hall

Sure, it's self-serving to choose my writing but this is the sum-up of my horrible year with a little ribbon of optimism at the end.

The David Himmel Method for Getting Over Breakups by David Himmel

He's right for all the wrong reasons.

The Real Thing by Joe Mallon

Another of our new voices, Mallon has a twisted Mickey Spillane thing going of which I can't get enough.

The End of the Wild Wild West by Don Hall

OK. Two of my pieces? What a narcissist! That being said, this is a farewell to the seediest casino in Vegas as it was bulldozed over this year to make room for a parking lot.

Pictures of Universe Believed to Be Side of God’s Stoner Van by Joe Janes

Joe's The Minutes of Our Last Meeting series is consistently irreverent and cracks me up weekly. Among the 2022 entries, this one is my favorite.

The Wooden Door (3 parts) by Wayne Lerner

Lerner is yet another new Ape and this three-part story is a page-turner (if there were actual pages on the internet).

Jingle Bell by Paul Teodo and Tom Myers

Teodo and Myers are nothing if not prolific. This is a taste. I recommend all of their stuff but highly recommend you go buy their latest compilation, South of Cermak: Chicago Stories.

That's this year's list. I hope you read some of it and subscribe to our semi-monthly newsletter.

From David and I, here's to a much better year upcoming than the year past.