Bookish Review of 2024

 

Happy Clean Bedding Day, as Dunk has rechristened Christmas day. Getting up on Christmas morning when you live alone was so low key I just put some washing on and made a cuppa. I find I am very much enjoying the quiet, I have to keep reminding myself that I can do everything to my own schedule.

So onwards to the review of this year's reading (and I am not going to beat myself up about whatever the finally total turns out to be). From the beginning (or rather the end of December 2023) (some links lead to several books):

Being Dead by Jim Crace

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

The Library of Heartbeats by Laura Imai Messina

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otttessa Moshfegh

Books do Furnish a Life by Richard Dawkins

Men Who Feed Pigeons by Selima Hill

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limon

Greek Lessons by Han Kang

Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

The Big Snow by David Park

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad

Breasts and Eggs by Meiko Kawami

Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Outline by Rachel Cusk

Four Seasons in Japan by Nick Bradley

Findings by Kathleen Jamie

The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart

Earthlings by Sayata Murata

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

Winter by Ali Smith

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Cold Crematorium by Jozef Debreczeni

The Advantages of Nearly Dying by Michael Rosen

We All Want Impossible Things by Claire Newman

The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing

The Life of a Banana by PP Wong

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Party by Tessa Hadley

Birnham Wood by Eleanor Catton

The Yellow House by Martin Gayford

Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

35 books. I find on passing by each post that Ann Patchett must be the author I have read most of and loved universally, from Bel Canto back in 2010 through to the Magician's Assistant this year. On reflection I have read some excellent books this year, other top picks being Eileen, Being Dead and Greek Lessons, so I am not going to concern myself with the few that I didn't care for. Currently reading 'On Tyranny' by Timothy Snyder. Having been to hear Richard Powers at the Literature Festival in November (what a wonderful and engaging man) I have 'Overstory' waiting in the pile, very much anticipating, and 'The North Light' by Hideo Yokoyama, that I am reading for a book club at The House of Books and Friends in January.

Stay safe. Be kind. Enjoy your reading.