Time for my 2024 reading list. It was an incredibly busy year and I was surprised when I looked back to see what I was able to read. A somewhat expected, somewhat eclectic list this year. Let me know what you're reading!
Books I loved and recommend:
The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown
This was a second or third read for me and I enjoyed it regardless. Even though you know what is going to happen, it is still edge of your seat reading. Our book group read it and had a wonderful discussion. What a wonderful and true story. Gil and I saw the movie and thought it was so-so.
The Giver of Stars, Jojo Moyes
I listened to the audio book and can't help wondering if/how this influenced how much I LOVED (!!) this book. WOW! It was as if Moyes took The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek (far below) and I Know Why the Crawdads Sing (didn't like from a few years ago) and showed both authors how to write a book. I loved the relationships, I loved the story, I loved getting to know about the packhorse librarians, and I loved the setting though at times had trouble remembering this was 1930s America.
Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall
I've always loved geography. In grad school, my favorite class was an undergrad geography class about how the land/topography influenced settlement patterns in the US. Fascinating. This book is kind of the same thing but on a world scale. An interesting look at how the land influences so many things.
Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
I loved this book. I love the idea of giving a person a purpose and how much that purpose can pull them out of their despair. I loved the intrigue, the political maneuvering, I loved the conflicting religious sects... such an enjoyable read.
Tress of the Emerald Sea, Brandon Sanderson
A second or third read of this book. We read it for our book group and I loved it as much this time as I did the first. A sea-going world where the ocean is not water and a heroine who thinks through her decisions instead of dashing off without care. So many little jewels of wisdom in this book too.
The ABC Murders, Agatha Christie
Another book group read. Agatha Christie is always a winner. This book was a bit more of a psychological thriller than a mystery or suspense. I'd figured out most of the main structure of the book, but reading and filling in/finding the details was fun.
Think Again, Adam Grant
A non-fiction about changing your mind. It was a really interesting read. I've read a few of his opinion pieces as well and agree with most of what he says. I think a big take away for me was how we're willing to change our wardrobe, change the pillows on the couch, change out our phones without much trouble, but change our minds? Nope. Also, he says it's okay to give up on something. While effort is important, if it's not producing results, we need to change the way we're going about it or stop all together.
Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr
My brother-in-law's wife suggested this one. It took me a while to get into it but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It is a bit raw, but I really enjoyed how the one story/book was woven through the different timelines in such a beautiful way. A book about the influence of a book.
The Arrival, The Centaur Hero Book 1, Stormin Brooks
This book took up a little over six months of my year. A friend from grad school asked if I'd be interested in helping her husband edit his story. I thought, why not. I had no idea how I'd be sucked in to this project and thoroughly enjoyed it. Stormin was able to self-publish in November. A story of mental health and healing set in a fantasy world. Be prepared for plenty of 80s and early 90s references!
Books I enjoyed or found interesting but would not necessarily recommend:
Deliberate Cruelty, Roseanne Montillo
I was looking for available audio books for a road trip and the title interested me. I had no idea who Ann Woodward was, or Truman Capote's swans. Interesting as far as it's a true story of a time I'm not as familiar with in US history, but not much past that.
Educated, Tara Westover
The only reason this is here and not in the "not recommend" section is the wonderful discussion I had about it with Gil. This was also an audio book. I enjoyed the beginning, then I started to doubt how true the story was, and then it started to get repetitive, "that one line changed my life," "that one lyric changed my life" over and over.
The Running Grave, Robert Galbraith
Whoa! Was this an eerie book! Number I don't know in this mystery series, this book revolved around a cult and it is just eerie. Loved it, but caution for strong language and violence.
The Princess Bride, William Goldman
I read this book probably ten years ago and didn't remember what I thought starting it again. I've always loved the movie and when it was suggested for our book group, I was excited to reread. It was fun, but I found myself not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. Goldman is a excellent writer though. Our book group discussion was mainly quoting the movie.
Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
A recommendation from a friend. It's the first book in the series and I need to read at least one or two more since this was mainly set-up/intro of the main character. It didn't strike me as a mystery, though it's touted as such. The writing is excellent.
Defiant, Brandon Sanderson
The final book in the series and it almost felt like Sanderson was just trying to finish so he could move on to projects he was more interested in. It had also been awhile since I'd read the prior books in the series so I was a bit lost due to things I'd forgotten. Don't know if I'm up to reading the whole thing again though just to see if I change my mind.
The Sunlit Man, Brandon Sanderson
One of Samderson's Secret Projects. An interesting place where the sunlight can kill you and the population is constantly moving in order to stay ahead of it. There were some references to other books that I didn't understand and that was a bit frustrating but an enjoyable story with plenty of suspense.
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
A roommate many years ago said this was her favorite book and I've been meaning to read it ever since. After listening to Deliberate Cruelty, I decided it was time. I can't imagine how much time Capote spent researching this book, talking to people, getting to know the people involved. An incredibly well-written account of an atrocious murder. Caution for language and violence.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
This was a book club book pick. We will discuss it in Feb. I loved the writing. Loved it. The story itself was okay, a bit too far-fetched for my taste which put it on this list, but I loved the light and airy feel of the writing.
The Maid and The Mystery Guest, Nita Prose
A friend recommend the first book in the series and I found it quite enjoyable. The main character is on the spectrum (are we allowed to say that?) which makes everything very literal for her. A fun mystery that kept me guessing on the perpetrator until the end. The second book was an interesting read as well, quite the mystery. The stories are interesting but I think the writing is a bit weak.
The Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese
This book was a recommendation from a friend and with her nursing background I can see why she enjoyed it so much. It's loooong, wow, but I made it through. I read a book last year that took place in India and I wasn't impressed so I was a bit hesitant to read this one. I was surprisingly interested in the medical side of the story, somewhat drawn into the lives of the people, not impressed with the twist at the end, and salivated when food was described. I was inspired to get an Indian cookbook and have a new, incredibly flavorful, favorite meal from it.
Books I did not like and would not recommend:
The Narrow Road Between Desires, Patrick Rothfuss
Another novella by Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind. I was very confused throughout this whole book, not sure at all what was going on and really didn't care for it at all. I don't see how it fits into the main story either.
The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
I was about a chapter in when I realized what I was reading sounded familiar. I'd tried a few years ago to read this book and just couldn't get into it. I decided to make it all the way to the end. Meh. A scavenger hunt in print, I guess, but not for me.
Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe
I was really interested in this book when I stumbled across it. I'd always wanted to learn more about the IRA and the conflict in Northern Ireland. This is not the book for that. The first two thirds has too many people and jumps around way to much to make sense of what's going on. People are in prison, and then they're not but its earlier in the timeline, not after their release. There's a bomb, but then it's earlier in the timeline... Was this conflict every really resolved? After so many years did folks even remember why they were fighting? The last third of the book is the conflict over the interview tapes of those involved. That was very interesting to me. I would like to read more about "The Troubles" but with a better written book.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Kim Michele Richardson
Wow, I really did not like this book! After reading The Giver of Stars, I wanted to read more about the packhorse librarians. This was not the book for it. The motivations of the characters were not believable and too often I felt the author was telling me how I should be feeling. As I've said before, if you write the story well, you don't have to spell out to the reader how they should react. Also, a Kentucky blue person is not the same as a black person. Using a derogatory term for one on the other really riled me.
