Loved the interview. I always love talks with authors. Always so insightful!
Maybe it’s my age, but I lose track of all the books I read. I actually now am keeping a handwritten notebook. I’m such a boomer.
Books I read this year that stood out: Morning in this Broken World, The Covenant of Water, The God of
the Woods, Tell Me Everything.
Currently reading: We’ll Prescribe you a Cat, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, The Little Lost Library and A Christmas Carol ( with George Saunders group on Substack which I think you are a part of?)
Anyway, I am taking time off of work and we are heading east for Christmas including near our old weekend home in New Hampshire. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year. Look forward to more reading and your terrific posts.
I'm glad you appreciated Desiree's insights! I've added your books to the list. Loved Tell Me Everything. I'm especially interested in We'll Prescribe You A Cat - I have a friend who will love that book.
I'm not participating in the discussion of A Christmas Carol with the Saunders group but was immediately intrigued. I hope I can follow it as it unfolds.
Thank you for the holiday wishes - right back at you! I look forward to hearing more from you in 2025.
Thank you, Bernadette! These are fantastic recommendations. I loved Keegan's "Small Things" -- a big book in a very small package. The others, with the exception of Tom Lake, are all new to me. Thanks for them all!
Thanks for highlighting Desiree’s work. I love your tree photo. Three books I really enjoyed this year are Birding to Change the World, Splinters, Happiness Falls and several Simon Rich books I read at the start of the year.
I would like to check out "Birding to Change the World." Birds never fail to fascinate me even when I know little about the species or their habits. Did you ever read "The Genius of Birds" by Jennifer Ackerman? It opened my eyes.
2024 Recommendations: "The Women" (Kristin Hannah); think women serving in Vietnam. "The Days I Loved You Most" (Amy Neff); think suicide by parents. "Neighbors & Other Stories" (Diane Oliver); Jim Crow era tales. "Table For Two" (Amor Towles); marriage & old Hollywood tales., & "Remarkably Bright Creatures" (Shelby Van Pelt); think end of life and the connection between animals (octopus) & humans.
I love this list. I'm especially interested in the Oliver collection and Remarkably Bright Creatures. Your description evoked a memory of the first time I watched "My Octopus Teacher." Just thinking about that movie makes me cry inside.
I read Table for Two and am a Towles fan all the way, with some minor hesitations.
Hard to cut it down to five (okay, six). But here we go (in alphabetical order by author). 1) "Clear" by Carys Davies. A gorgeous, short novel set in 1843 Scotland during the "Clearings," when Scottish landlords cleared their land of annoying peasants to make more room for sheep. 2) "Chenneville," by Paulette Jiles. Shortly after the Civil War, a badly wounded former Union soldier recovers and hunts for a man who killed his sister and her family. 3) "Reunion" by Elise Juska. Three former classmates meet and interact in sometimes unexpected ways during their 25th reunion at a fictional Maine college strongly resembling Bowdoin. 4) and 5) "The Soldier" and "Stella Maris," the last two Cormack McCarthy novels before he died. These two feature the same extremely close brother-and-sister pair--The Passenger," mostly from the perspective of the brother, a diver and adventurer, the second, "Stella Maris" (the title is the name of the mental institution in which most of the narrative takes place), from the sister's perspective; she is a beautiful, brilliant mathematician in the process of losing her sanity. 6) "The Alice Network," a WWWI spy thriller based on the real, women-run Alice Network operating in a part of occupied France. Excellent character development, and tension throughout.
This is a pretty rich and wonderful list. I've been wanting to read another Paulette Jiles book and I've wondered if all her novels are in some way connected through various characters who are minor in some novels and at the forefront in others? Is there an order that would make sense to read them in?
I have read two other recent books of hers, "News of the World" and "Simon the Fiddler." Both are wonderful. Beyond their settings (post-civil war western U.S.), I don't remember much that connects them. In this case I don't think the order in which they are read matters.
McBride and French are both authors I want to read and have not yet read. I'm lookinng forward to reading some of their work in the new year. Your other books are new to me and I'm going to check them out!
I loved The Amado Women too, which I think.you turned me on to...now I can't wait to read Dispossessed. I grew up in LA, in a Mexican American family and my first published short story was set in Chavez Ravine, though it's told from the POV of a dog.
My favorite read this year was Floreana my Midge Raymond. Set on an island in the Galapagos it is so good on so many levels, plus penguins! I also loved The Night Child by Anna Quinn but it's a tough read about a woman recovering memories of childhood abuse, so it's definitely not for everyone.
I've been looking forward to Floreana (penguins!) and learned it just came out on Dec. 1. Did you read it as an advance copy? It's also a bit of an historical novel, yes? Very fun. I just read the opening pages of Night Child and can tell by the writing that I would be in sure hands with Quinn. I may have to save it for a time when I can handle the topic but it looks like a lovely read.
Loved the interview. I always love talks with authors. Always so insightful!
Maybe it’s my age, but I lose track of all the books I read. I actually now am keeping a handwritten notebook. I’m such a boomer.
Books I read this year that stood out: Morning in this Broken World, The Covenant of Water, The God of
the Woods, Tell Me Everything.
Currently reading: We’ll Prescribe you a Cat, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, The Little Lost Library and A Christmas Carol ( with George Saunders group on Substack which I think you are a part of?)
Anyway, I am taking time off of work and we are heading east for Christmas including near our old weekend home in New Hampshire. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year. Look forward to more reading and your terrific posts.
I'm glad you appreciated Desiree's insights! I've added your books to the list. Loved Tell Me Everything. I'm especially interested in We'll Prescribe You A Cat - I have a friend who will love that book.
I'm not participating in the discussion of A Christmas Carol with the Saunders group but was immediately intrigued. I hope I can follow it as it unfolds.
Thank you for the holiday wishes - right back at you! I look forward to hearing more from you in 2025.
Fascinating post. BTW Dickens wrote some historical fiction! Tale of Two Cities and Barnaby Rudge come to mind.
I've just read Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature's Secrets to Longevity
by Nicklas Brendborg. It's a really good book on the science of ageing.
As it happens, I just started A Tale of Two Cities. Thanks for the recommendation, too. The title is intriguing!
Hi ya Betsy!
I am now reading (and loving it) at the end of 2024: Miriam Toews' Fight Night.
5 books i absolutely loved this year:
Tom Lake (Ann Patchett)
Preparation for the Next Life (Atticus Lish)
The Postcard (Anne Berest)
Small Things Like These (Claire Keegan)
The Paper Palace (Miranda Cowley Heller)
Maybe I will tackle more Dickens in 2025! You continue to inspire me! XO
Thank you, Bernadette! These are fantastic recommendations. I loved Keegan's "Small Things" -- a big book in a very small package. The others, with the exception of Tom Lake, are all new to me. Thanks for them all!
Thanks for highlighting Desiree’s work. I love your tree photo. Three books I really enjoyed this year are Birding to Change the World, Splinters, Happiness Falls and several Simon Rich books I read at the start of the year.
I would like to check out "Birding to Change the World." Birds never fail to fascinate me even when I know little about the species or their habits. Did you ever read "The Genius of Birds" by Jennifer Ackerman? It opened my eyes.
I haven’t but I will add it to my list. Thank you!
2024 Recommendations: "The Women" (Kristin Hannah); think women serving in Vietnam. "The Days I Loved You Most" (Amy Neff); think suicide by parents. "Neighbors & Other Stories" (Diane Oliver); Jim Crow era tales. "Table For Two" (Amor Towles); marriage & old Hollywood tales., & "Remarkably Bright Creatures" (Shelby Van Pelt); think end of life and the connection between animals (octopus) & humans.
I love this list. I'm especially interested in the Oliver collection and Remarkably Bright Creatures. Your description evoked a memory of the first time I watched "My Octopus Teacher." Just thinking about that movie makes me cry inside.
I read Table for Two and am a Towles fan all the way, with some minor hesitations.
Hard to cut it down to five (okay, six). But here we go (in alphabetical order by author). 1) "Clear" by Carys Davies. A gorgeous, short novel set in 1843 Scotland during the "Clearings," when Scottish landlords cleared their land of annoying peasants to make more room for sheep. 2) "Chenneville," by Paulette Jiles. Shortly after the Civil War, a badly wounded former Union soldier recovers and hunts for a man who killed his sister and her family. 3) "Reunion" by Elise Juska. Three former classmates meet and interact in sometimes unexpected ways during their 25th reunion at a fictional Maine college strongly resembling Bowdoin. 4) and 5) "The Soldier" and "Stella Maris," the last two Cormack McCarthy novels before he died. These two feature the same extremely close brother-and-sister pair--The Passenger," mostly from the perspective of the brother, a diver and adventurer, the second, "Stella Maris" (the title is the name of the mental institution in which most of the narrative takes place), from the sister's perspective; she is a beautiful, brilliant mathematician in the process of losing her sanity. 6) "The Alice Network," a WWWI spy thriller based on the real, women-run Alice Network operating in a part of occupied France. Excellent character development, and tension throughout.
This is a pretty rich and wonderful list. I've been wanting to read another Paulette Jiles book and I've wondered if all her novels are in some way connected through various characters who are minor in some novels and at the forefront in others? Is there an order that would make sense to read them in?
I have read two other recent books of hers, "News of the World" and "Simon the Fiddler." Both are wonderful. Beyond their settings (post-civil war western U.S.), I don't remember much that connects them. In this case I don't think the order in which they are read matters.
it sounds amazing! I've been reading the James McBride books and love them
McBride has been on my list for so long. I'm looking forward to finally reading him.
Thanks Betsy! I always enjoy reading your takes.
Thank you, Stephanie!
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
James McBride
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store-
James McBride
James-Percival Everett
God of the Woods-Liz Moore
All the Colors of Dark-
Chris Whitaker
The Hunter -Tana French
+
The Searcher-Tana French
———
The story I am most glad to have read-
Sipsworth-Simon van Booy
McBride and French are both authors I want to read and have not yet read. I'm lookinng forward to reading some of their work in the new year. Your other books are new to me and I'm going to check them out!
I loved The Amado Women too, which I think.you turned me on to...now I can't wait to read Dispossessed. I grew up in LA, in a Mexican American family and my first published short story was set in Chavez Ravine, though it's told from the POV of a dog.
My favorite read this year was Floreana my Midge Raymond. Set on an island in the Galapagos it is so good on so many levels, plus penguins! I also loved The Night Child by Anna Quinn but it's a tough read about a woman recovering memories of childhood abuse, so it's definitely not for everyone.
I've been looking forward to Floreana (penguins!) and learned it just came out on Dec. 1. Did you read it as an advance copy? It's also a bit of an historical novel, yes? Very fun. I just read the opening pages of Night Child and can tell by the writing that I would be in sure hands with Quinn. I may have to save it for a time when I can handle the topic but it looks like a lovely read.
I have been binge reading mysteries written by Catherine Steadman! They are way above average for the genre - really on the edge of your seat stuff.
This is a new name to me. Thanks for the rec, Cheri!
She’s an actress as well. I think maybe she was on Downton Abbey.
This is great -- love Désirée's work!
Me too!