Even though 2024 isn't quite over, I'm ready to list my favorite books of the year. I may still finish another one or two, but can safely say they are not contenders. I'll have a second wrap-up post with my 2024 reflections and statistics, along with intentions for 2025 in early January... once we're back in Florida.
Overall, 2024 was a pretty good reading year. I was slightly under my usual pace of one book per week, but that was mostly due to reading longer books. I did not set a numbers goal this year or participate in the goodreads challenge because I found that I was selecting shorter books in order to meet that goal rather than reading the longer books on my priority tbr. To bolster my resolve, I started 2024 with a 900+ page book that ended up on my favorites list (Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher) and tackled the colossal nonfiction Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin over the summer... also a favorite.
I did not consider rereads when selecting my favorites, but Persuasion by Jane Austen would certainly be here otherwise.
FICTION FAVORITES
(read/listen combination)
James by Percival Everett
(read/listen combination)
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
(print only)
Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring
(print only)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
(read/listen combination)
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
(read/listen combination)
Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro
translated by Frances Riddle
(read/listen combination)
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
(print only)
Honorable Mention
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated by Tina Cover
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González
NONFICTION FAVORITES
(read/listen combination)
(audio, narrated by the author)
Whoohoo! I love these year-end posts and am glad you are sharing yours a few days early. Like you, I read several BIG books this year, and will definitely not avoid those in 2025. It's wonderful to settle into a long, detailed story. I only wish there were more of Pilcher's to read. I may give Herman Wouk's The Winds of War a try, though.
ReplyDeleteTo your list... I have Tell Me Everything in my stacks. James will be a book club read. Coming Home might wind up on my Best of 2024 list. I have Where the Forest Meets the River in my stacks. The Wedding was very enjoyable, but probably won't hit my list this year. Same for Sipsworth, although I do find I'm still thinking about Helen. Ina Garten's book was fabulous and will make my list, I'm sure.
You've inspired me to get crackin' on my list. I still need to post my December reads first, though. I just started a long book, so I think it's safe to wrap things up today. This has been a slow week for reading. I've actually "taste tested" at least two dozen books that have been languishing on my shelves. Many were passed on to me by my mom and they aren't calling to me, so I'm giving them back to her. I actually have gaps in my bookcase! There's something about winnowing down the choices...
Enjoy these final days of the year!
I loved Coming Hom, it's one of my all time favorites for sure. I also agree about The Wedding People - it was a surprise. Can't wait for the Shannon Bowring book and I just got the Ina Garten memoir. Will check out your other titles.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to our buddy read in February. I saw on the Classic Club site they are doing a spin so, maybe I will try and get a list ready for that and future spins.
A book a week is a pretty good clip--although book length tends to sway the numbers. I truly appreciate your blog as so many of these books you enjoy are ones that I also enjoy but might never have thought to pick up. So thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am still psyching myself up to read James--for some reason it seems daunting. I got Where the Forest Meets the River from the library in early December, but then holiday reading crowded it out so I will try again in January.
Best wishes for a satisfying reading new year!
Great list. I read several of them this year as well. And Jane Austen is always the best. I wish she had written more.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I haven't read any of these but I see a few that I want to check out.
ReplyDeleteI loved both The Mountains Sing and James. I liked The Wedding People. And, I have Tell Me Everything on my shelves to read in 2025. Great list!
ReplyDeleteJames was my favorite of 2024. I enjoyed Tell Me Everything, also. Last year The Mountains Sing was on my best books list. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI have a number of your faves on my TBR list. So many tantalizing books to start the new year!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like some good reading in 2024. Great list!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a great year of reading!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy new year
I loved Team of Rivals, but I won't finish it until January 1st. Thank you for recommending it.
ReplyDeleteI read and enjoyed many of the same fiction titles you did. I think we like a lot of the same kinds of stories.
Looks like a great list! I should think about whether I want to an end-of-year post... but I'm lazy, haha.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking I will reread a Pilcher book and I remember loving Coming Home. Just looked back. Read it in 1995 - maybe I should do a 30-year reread - what do you think? Hope you guys have a nice end to 2024 and I'll watch for your 'welcome 2025' post after you get back to Florida. Take care, JoAnn and big hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these, but a few of them are on my wish list. I hope you have a great week and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI'm still settling on my First Book of the Year! And here it is Dec. 29th.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list! Almost all of your fiction list I've seen reviewed and mentioned often, but have not yet read.
I think I need to get my TBR more organized. I end up picking things based on availability at the library, and then when books I've been waiting forever for come in, I'm not ready for them. I've been waiting for the new Elizabeth Strout forever!
I enjoyed The Wedding People and will take a look at the others. Happy New Year and all the best in 2025!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t read any of these but I’m going to put Ina Garten’s book on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this post! Always great to see your favorites. I too loved James & Tell Me Everything. Good picks. I read James but like to listen to Strout's books via Kimberly Farr who is the characters for me. I listened to Bowring's first novel and see that Patricia Shade also reads book 2. I will get to it. I should also get to Sipsworth and The Wedding People. I'm glad you liked these. Happy reading in 2025!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found so many good books! Elena Knows is one I want to read.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt is currently reading Tell Me Everything and texting me about it. I need to read it. I loved Olive Kitteridge but haven't even read the follow-up yet. I didn't love The Burgess Boys so I think that's thrown me off a little bit. I hope you find even more books to love this year!
ReplyDeleteA lot of people read James last year from what I see. I will have to look it up. Looks like you had a great year of reading!
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about Wedding People and James and I really need to do a Rosamunde Pilcher reread. I also need to read more Elizabeth Strout. I've really enjoyed what I've read from her. Great list!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'm on hold at the library for the Strout but I just found out a friend (and sponsor of the library reading challenge) will be at the local indie bookstore AND the store has a 30% sale so maybe I should buy it? Exciting to see Sipsworth here! Will go add the Mountains Sing book to my tbr. Happy New Year! I wasn't sure where to write you - but I also never got to my Holiday letters :/
ReplyDeleteI have heard such great things about The Mountains Sing and Sipsworth. This is a great list, JoAnn! You read many wonderful sounding books this past year. I hope you have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAvoiding a numbers-based goal this year to allow yourself to commit to some longer books really paid off! Smart idea.
ReplyDeleteI usually quite like audiobook memoirs that are read by the author — looks like I ought to add Ina Garten's to my TBR based on your recommendation :)