It's been a while since my last Top Ten Tuesday post, but I take time every January to reflect on the new authors I read the previous year. In 2024 I read twenty-three new-to-me authors and had a surprisingly difficult time narrowing that list down to just ten favorites. Here they are, listed in the order I read them.
FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS, 2024
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
James by Percival Everett
Absolution by Alice McDermott
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Frances Riddle, translator
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi
Hildegarde Serle, translator
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
What new authors did you discover in 2024?
This was definitely at popular 'Top Ten Tuesday' event. Been commenting all over the place on blogging friends' posts. I haven't read any of your favs as yet, but this event has put a number of names on my 'to be read' list. Thanks, JoAnn!
ReplyDeleteKay - I've been doing this particular TTT for years, but I have completely lost track of the prompts lately. Leave it to my blogging friends to get me back on track!
DeleteHuh! I discovered 23 new authors, as well. I listed almost all of them on a comment to Deb, so I won't do that here. Monica Wood and Alison Espach are new to me, too. I almost listed Catherine Newman, but remembered that I had previously read We All Want Impossible Things. Gosh, I loved that book. I plan to look at my new-to-me author list and see which of those made my Top Ten and Honorable Mention lists. That way I can plan to read more of their books. Always planning! :)
ReplyDeleteLes - I had to go over to Deb's blog to see you new author list.. so funny we both had 23! If I read another book by each of my discoveries, it would amount to nearly half of my reading for the year. Kind of a scary thought. Still, I do want to read We All Want Impossible Things, along with The Trees by Percival Everett, and a few more!
DeleteI see you comment about planning to read Fresh Water for Flowers some time this year. Let me know when, and maybe I'll join you. I have a copy as well.
DeleteLes - That would be great! It's on my shelf in CT, so it will be at least summer before I read it.
DeleteThe Mountains Sing was a book club favorite for one of my new book groups. I wasn't with the group when they read it, but it's one I really hope I get the chance to read just the same. I read James last year too and thought it was great. Sandwich was one I read this year. I haven't read anything by Newman before. And I really want to read Xóchitl González's book. So many great authors here, JoAnn! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWendy - I enjoyed The Mountains Sing so much that I bough her newer novel, Dust Child. Now the trick will be to see if I can get it read this year!
DeleteI'd say Valerie Perrin was my top new discovery of 2024. I loved Fresh Water for Flowers. I recently finished her first novel, Forgotten on Sunday, which isn't as good as Flowers, but still really good. Hope more of her work is being translated.
ReplyDeleteAmy - I have Fresh Water for Flowers on my shelf and plan to read it this year. Have you read her novel Three? I've seen it at our local indie and it looks good.
DeleteNot yet, but I'm going to!
DeleteAlice McDerrmott and Alison Espach were new to me as well. I liked both of those books very much. Nice list!
ReplyDeleteTina - I could have sworn I'd read Alice McDermott before... it was really surprising that Absolution was the first one.
DeleteJames and Sandwich were much loved by me. I have The Wedding People but man, I gotta finish The Brothers Karamazov. This week, this week.
ReplyDeleteTi - The Brothers Karamazov is quite an undertaking... good luck finishing this week!!
DeleteIf Catherine Newman is new to you via Sandwich, I recommend her earlier book, We All Want Impossible Things.
ReplyDeleteDeb - If you and Les both recommend We All Want Impossible Things, then I know it's well worth reading!
DeleteI haven't read any of these but I have several on my TBR - especially Sandwich and Beach People. Looks like you found some fantastic new to you authors.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Both of those are well worth reading. Hope you enjoy them, too.
DeleteThis is a good list! On your list: I still want to get to Nguyen Phan, Gonzalez, and Espach. Some new to me authors that impressed me in 2024 were: Tan Twan Eng, Alice Winn, Paul Lynch, Jayne Anne Phillips, Tammy Armstrong, and Laura Spence-Ash. Recommended.
ReplyDeleteSusan - You've read some good one, too! From your list I'm most interested in getting to Tan Twang Eng and Alice Winn.
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