My Favorite Reads of 2024
I finished my very BEST book of the year yesterday!
Welcome to another installment of Linkpso, where I take a piece of content (article, essay, book, video… anything I can link to) and use it as a prompt for writing. I might be in conversation with the piece or use it as a springboard to go in a completely different direction. I also included a few more interesting links to inspire some Linkspo of your own.
Hello Friends,
Coming in hot and just under the wire with my favorite reads of 2024. And thank goodness, too, because I finished listening to my very BEST book of the year yesterday!
Here are a few patterns I noticed about my favorites this year:
Dark, but true
One foot out of reality
An author who came to the page with something to say
The books my kids read
Fiction
There, There by Tommy Orange: Page-turning literary fiction.
"In the dark times
Will there be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times."
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck: I love a book with one foot outside of reality. A newlywed couple grapples with the fact that one of them is becoming a great white shark. You either love this kind of book, or you don't. If you've ever cared for a loved one with a terminal illness, this will hit you hard.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub: This time travel novel is just the right kind of magical realism for me. Also, the story itself felt so personal to the author (I subscribe to her substack) that it was easy to connect to the characters. Gorgeous language.
James by Percival Everett: A re-telling of Huck Finn, but from Jim’s perspective. Just read it.
The Round House by Louise Erdrich: Erdrich is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. She puts story first and defines the literary thriller genre with stunning sentences. “I stood there in the shadowed doorway, thinking with my tears. Yes, tears can be thoughts, why not?” ... I mean, come on! Thinking with my tears??? Tears as thoughts!!! Beautiful!
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han: My 11-year-old daughter asked for this book for Christmas and I wanted to talk to her about it.
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott: I love this book because I never felt comfortable, even when I was laughing. It's meta without being pretentious. The story came alive before my eyes, and even in the parts I wish didn't happen, I couldn't look away out of respect for the characters. It all felt so personal, so real, even in a world where impossible things happen.
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley: No one does big-hearted found family stories like Steven Rowley! Anytime I finish one of his books, I want to hug it.
The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins: My 13-year-old and I read this whole series this year, and it was so fun. We both can’t wait to read Sunrise and the Reaping.
The Push by Ashley Audrain: “This book!” is what I said after finishing this absolute page-turning literary thriller.
Non-fiction
How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis: "Laundry is morally neutral." FINALLY, a self-help book that skips all the pseudo-science b.s.! I love Brene Brown, but man, sometimes all the facts and figures add up to an extra 100 pages of nothing, and I end up thinking, "This should have been an essay."
Liar’s Club by Mary Karr: Second read: When it comes to memoir, this book is canon. The hard parts were just as hard the second time around, and some scenes were even harder.
We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgarain: Deeply researched well, told, propulsive story, and if you are half awake, it will break your heart and overwhelm you with how big and entrenched CPS, foster care, and adoption systems are.
I Shouldn’t be Telling You This (But I’m Going to Anyway) by Chelsea Devantes: Smart, funny, entertaining, good storytelling.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller: Powerful, important, and well-told. I was especially drawn in by the scenes in the hospital and her thoughts on her sister, parents, and boyfriend. Probably not the healthiest decision to read right before Trump was elected for the second time, but I'm glad I was reminded that in this system, "My pain was never more valuable than his potential.”
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett: Ann Patchett's nonfiction is an automatic read for me, usually more than once, and this was no different.
Oath and Honor by Liz Cheney: On policy, I disagree with most of what Liz Cheney stands for, but after observing her during the January 6th hearings and how she has stood up for what's right, I have no doubt she has a deep love for her country.
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger: If it wasn't for Article II of the Constitution (yes, I looked that up), we could have had him... Instead, we are stuck with a corrupt clown. (Inset shrug emoji) This man is fascinating. The book is filled with interesting anecdotes from his three lifetimes (bodybuilding, acting, and politics), and I enjoyed the nuggets of wisdom.
Slow AF Run Club by Martinus Evans: “If you're running, you're a runner.”
Mother Nature by Jeddidiah Jenkins: The love between mother and son is complicated.
Last One Best One
This book has been recommended to me about a million times. I have the audio and hardback… It’s taken me a year to build the courage to read it. I’m happy it was my last book of the year.
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney
"A heart that hurts is a heart that works."
This book is pure TRUTH! Delaney writes about the ugly, mean, and ungrateful parts of having a sick/dying/dead child. It makes the beautiful parts of loving and caring for that child shine so much brighter. The entire 192 pages (mercifully short) were utterly devoid of cliches or platitudes. No "everything happens for a reason" or "better place” bullshit. He didn't give a moral lesson learned or pound you over the head with "how he changed." (because, of course, he changed! his kid died!) It was just a man and his family moving through the worst possible thing that could ever happen to anyone. It was a breath of fresh air.
I've spent the better part of a year working up the courage to read this. I, too, lost a beautiful blue-eyed baby boy to brain cancer, and I knew this story wouldn't just hit close to home... it might blow up my whole house. But I finished the audio in one day, and then the next day (12/31/24), I opened up the hardcover and started again from page one.
There are two things I didn't like:
1. At the end where the robotic narrator comes on and says, "We hope you've enjoyed this unabridged production of..." ENJOY!?! I wish I could punch that AI voice dude in the throat.
2. Henry had a "good death" at home in the arms of his mother. My boy didn't, and sometimes I have really ugly and resentful feelings about that... I think Rob Delaney would understand.
This is where I am today. Thank you for listening.
Emily
What are your favorite reads of 2024? Share in the comments below.
#2 on your list of dislikes is really beautiful, maybe in the way you felt the whole book to be. I’m glad you got to end the year with a voice and story that rang so true.
What a great list, and good on you for taking on that last book…I imagine how hard it was (I have books I have also avoided because they cut too close), but it sounds like an incredible read - I’m adding it to my ridiculously long list. I loved Chanel Miller’s book, too, so brilliant and impactful.
And, I’m so happy to see that you include books that you’re reading because of your kids. I have felt so lucky the last couple of years because my son is letting me read to him, and we’ve picked some classics and some young adult books I never had a chance to read. Happy New Year!