I really enjoy doing this blog post each year even though I feel overwhelmed when I first sit down to begin it. 2024 was a okay to good reading year for me with not enough "5" books. I read fewer books than last year, which is really neither here nor there as it's the quality that matters more.
Here's a wrap up of my reading in 2024:
Goodreads reading challenge (note: I set a lower expectation for myself this year at 100 books so I am glad I surpassed it even if it's only by 2 books)
Number of re-reads: 1 (Orwell's 1984)
Non-fiction: 15 (15%) and Fiction: 86 (85%)--HUGE imbalance!
Adult books: 90 (89%) and YA/children's books: 12 (10%). I really am not reading YA at all these days.
Shortest and longest books
Most and least popular on Goodreads
Countries visited through reading: 29 You can see where I read at my 2024 Google Map.
Australia, Cambodia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Palestine, Poland, South Africa, Spain, St. Lucia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam.
US states visited through reading: 42. You can see where I read at my 2024 Google Map.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, DC.
I have never been good at picking one favorite book so I have listed my favorites in various genres.
ROMANCE
HISTORICAL FICTION
LITERATURE
GRAPHIC NOVEL, MEMOIR, and LGBTQIA+
MYSTERY/THRILLER
NONFICTION
YOUNG ADULT
Book you were excited about but didn't love as much as you expected?
I was looking forward to reading Anil's Ghost by Michael Ontdaanje because my daughter really liked it. But I ended up not finishing it. I think it was too introspective or theoretical for me.
I was looking forward to reading Anil's Ghost by Michael Ontdaanje because my daughter really liked it. But I ended up not finishing it. I think it was too introspective or theoretical for me.
Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2024?
I am going to go with one of my last reads of the year: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter. I loved that it was a nod to Agatha Christie.
I am going to go with one of my last reads of the year: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter. I loved that it was a nod to Agatha Christie.
Book you pushed most people to read in 2024?
This has to be James by Percival Everett. I know it's gotten a lot of press, but this one has really stuck with me.
This has to be James by Percival Everett. I know it's gotten a lot of press, but this one has really stuck with me.
I don't really have a favorite new author from 2024. There is no one that I feel I need to go out and read all their backwork. Hmmm. It would be fun to find that person in 2025.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2024?
Hmmm. This is a tough one because I read a number of books that I wanted to keep reading into the night. Instead of choosing just one, I am choosing these two:
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2024?
I am all about covers and am definitely a visual person when it comes to choosing books. The covers I liked the most this year were ones whose colors appealed to me, they were evocative of a the novel's contents, or they just made me smile.
I am all about covers and am definitely a visual person when it comes to choosing books. The covers I liked the most this year were ones whose colors appealed to me, they were evocative of a the novel's contents, or they just made me smile.
Most thought provoking or life-changing book of 2024?
I am going to go with James by Percival Everett because it's the book that really made me realize that I need to have diverse input when I talk about books with other people so that I get all the nuances. Hearing the author spoke also really helped me better understand the novel.
Book that put a smile on your face?
Many of the books I read put a smile on my face this year. All the romance books I read definitely fall into that category.
Book that made you cry in 2024?
It is not difficult to get me to cry while reading a book. And I usually cry about the good stuff, the touching stuff. But this year, nothing really got me going.
It is not difficult to get me to cry while reading a book. And I usually cry about the good stuff, the touching stuff. But this year, nothing really got me going.
Best bookish photo you took in 2024?
I have two bookish photos that I took this year and they happen to be in the same place: Montana. There were a number of local/indie bookstores, but I particularly liked the Country Bookshelf. And, this is how my family vacations.
Best event you participated in?
I went to an event at our local university to hear Percival Everett, author of James, speak. He was interesting to listen to and he clarified a number of things about his book, which I really appreciated.
Reading challenges completed in 2024? Here's a link to my challenges page and while I didn't necessarily complete them all, I did well. I never finish the Literary Escapes challenges, but I love doing them.
I went to an event at our local university to hear Percival Everett, author of James, speak. He was interesting to listen to and he clarified a number of things about his book, which I really appreciated.
Reading challenges completed in 2024? Here's a link to my challenges page and while I didn't necessarily complete them all, I did well. I never finish the Literary Escapes challenges, but I love doing them.
Books you are most anticipating in 2025?
I am looking forward to reading Tommy Orange's Wandering Stars. I meant to read it this year, but then I got tickets to hear him speak in January so I am making it my First Book of 2025.
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