My reading life continues to delight and surprise me -- I love finding that perfect combination of engaging writing, compelling themes, and a well-paced story! This year, I achieved my goal of tackling longer books like Fourth Wing, Babel, Demon Copperhead, Wellness, The Heart's Invisible Furies, Fellowship Point, and The Lincoln Highway; read several debut novels including Black Cake, The Silent Patient, In Memoriam, Lark at Night, and The Bluest Eye; and for better or worse, joined the bandwagon in reading buzzy new releases including James, The God of the Woods, The Wedding People, and Sandwich. I'm sharing fun stats, favorite reads, and what I've learned about choosing the right books for me.
Highlights:
- 66 titles
- 68% female author
- 30% nonfiction
- 21% BIPOC author
- 17% 2024 releases
- 59% audiobooks
- 2 re-reads
- Went to West Seattle's Silent Book Club with neighbors
- Continued my personalized monthly prompts, and attendance in multiple Book Clubs :)
- Read 7/9 books on my initial reading list for the year
My 5-star ratings are based on how much I enjoyed the reading/listening experience, which is usually a direct correlation with how enthralled I was by the writing/language. How much the story and themes stick with me, and how enthusiastically I recommend to others helped narrow down my very top favorites below:
literary fiction // poignant, beautifully written
#5 The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride🎧
biography memoir // vivid, classroom setting
cozy thriller // Shakespearean, atmospheric
- I must love the immersive quality a great narrator can bring since all my favorites were audiobooks!
- Memoirs are great for reading ruts
- I tend to like the character development that coincides with a higher page count. Just need to accept that I might not be able to fly through it as quickly.
- When selecting nonfiction, choose books based on what interests me most at the time.
- I had a harder time with physical books this year...found myself falling asleep or stalling out. Needs to have short chapters, a page-turner storyline, or else I really have to want to finish it (for book club or personal bucket list).
- Prioritize well-loved backlist titles. New releases aren't typically favorites unless I already know the author.
