What Are Your Best Books of 2024?

ForkSnorter on 17/12/2024 - 17:31
Last edited 17/12/2024 - 17:57

I'm trying to get back into book reading, not only non-fiction, but also novels.

If you read some great books this year, would love to see some recommendations.

Personally, I didn't read too many books this year. A few I enjoyed were "American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins, a novel about Mexican immigrants to the US escaping from Mexican drug cartel violence, and "Innocent" by Scott Turow, which is the sequel to the novel "Presumed Innocent" that the Apple TV+ series was based on. I also read part of "Hyperion" (SF novel) by Dan Simmons, it was impressive but I couldn't finish it. Maybe I'll go back to it. Also "The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry 1’s Dream" by Charles Spencer, which is a history book about British and Norman history just after the viking era. It was pretty exciting and reads a bit like a novel.

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Comments

  • duk242 on 17/12/2024 - 18:11
    +1

    Brent Weeks - Night Angel Nemesis
    Brandon Sanderson - Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
    Sarah J Maas - Throne of Glass Series

    All fantasy :p
    Probably my 3 standouts from this year… Been reading way too much -_-

    • ForkSnorter on 17/12/2024 - 18:19
      +3

      Been reading way too much

      Can never read too much.

      • fantombloo on 17/12/2024 - 23:00

        My wife averages 2 books every 3 days except during really busy times, then maybe 1 per few days. On holidays at least 1 per day. I kid you not. IMO it's too much. When not reading she's listening to audiobooks.

        • elgrande on 18/12/2024 - 07:46

          That is hardcore. What do you do with all your free time?

        • ForkSnorter on 18/12/2024 - 08:06

          I envy her. There are so many good books to read, so much information to absorb, and so little time. How does she read so fast? Did she practice it, or she just naturally reads fast?

  • sharkyoz on 17/12/2024 - 18:28

    Lee Child….In too Deep.
    latest Jack Reacher, no29

    • coxjon on 17/12/2024 - 20:31

      I didn’t rate this book this year for some reason…

    • pjetson on 17/12/2024 - 21:05
      +1

      I was a Lee Child/Jack Reacher fan for the first dozen books or so, but Lee (and now Andrew) just seems to be writing the same book over and over again now.

    • ForkSnorter on 17/12/2024 - 18:37

      Thanks. I'll check some of these out.

  • j1nk0r on 17/12/2024 - 18:54

    My favourite this year was James by Percival Everett.

    • ForkSnorter on 18/12/2024 - 10:19

      That sounds pretty good. I might read it.

  • Mango1 on 17/12/2024 - 21:14

    Way of Kings series by Brandon Sanderson

  • 0FoxGiven on 17/12/2024 - 21:37

    The KingKiller Chronicles book 1 & 2 (Fantasy). Waiting on book 3 to get a collectors edition boxset if imthey release one. Probably one of the best fantasy books i have ever read

    • dtc on 18/12/2024 - 09:45

      You are never going to get a book 3…

  • miwahni on 17/12/2024 - 22:25
    +1

    Standout novel for me in 2024 The Rules of Backyard Cricket by Jock Serong. The novel traces the childhood and adult years of two brothers who grow up playing cricket in the backyard, and go on to play for their state / country, as told by the younger brother. Disturbing but engrossing, like watching a slow motion train wreck. You don't need to be a cricket tragic to enjoy the book as the game is not the focus, rather it's the rivalry between the brothers.

    Book review from Goodreads:
    "It starts in a suburban backyard with Darren Keefe and his older brother, sons of a fierce and gutsy single mother. The endless glow of summer, the bottomless fury of contest. All the love and hatred in two small bodies poured into the rules of a made-up game.

    Darren has two big talents: cricket and trouble. No surprise that he becomes an Australian sporting star of the bad-boy variety—one of those men who’s always got away with things and just keeps getting.

    Until the day we meet him, middle aged, in the boot of a car. Gagged, cable-tied, a bullet in his knee. Everything pointing towards a shallow grave."

    No spoilers, that's actually how we first meet Darren.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 17/12/2024 - 22:48

      The rivalry sounds like 3 brothers from South Australia, one of whom i played against.

  • Crow K on 18/12/2024 - 01:14

    Not a 2024 release but "The Steerswoman" by Rosemary Kirsten was probably my fiction book of the year. The best advice I can give (parroted from the xkcd comic artist) is read the blurb on the back and if that interests you, go in with no further research and let the tale and its surprises come naturally.

    First in a series of four fantasy novels with excellent world building.

  • Nugs on 18/12/2024 - 06:00

    The book of jv, it's based on a true story
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/14180/comments
    .

  • dtc on 18/12/2024 - 09:58

    What kind of books do you like? The books you listed are very diverse! Hyperion is a pretty difficult SF book, so if its not for you then you arent the first to make that conclusion.

    I enjoyed books this year from (not all are 2024 books, some are quite a bit older)

    fantasy: Megan Whalan Turner, Robert Bennet Jackson, Tad Williams, Lisa Cassidy, Fiona Mcintosh, Freya Maerske Django Wexler (I mostly read fantasy and these are the books I read this year, although if you want fantasy recommendations then I can give you a gazilliion)

    SF: Martha Wells

    Mystery: Peter Lovesy, Asako Yuzuki (sort of a mystery), Tana French, C. J. Sansom (Shardlake series), PA Thomas, the Slow Horses books (although I think the TV show might be even better)

    and plenty more.

  • cashless on 18/12/2024 - 21:03

    Love novels
    Emma Cline. The Guest
    Sally Rooney. Beautiful World Where are you?
    Philip K Dick. The man in the high castle
    Hiro Arikawa. The travelling cat chronicles
    Mark Watson. Contacts
    Nikki Mottram. Killarney

    Also travel
    Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent. A short ride in the jungle

    History
    Michael Palin. Erebus

  • OZB Al on 19/12/2024 - 17:09

    My Favourites for the year were:
    Question 7
    Shalimar the Clown
    City of Thieves
    Prophet Song

    The Tough Guy Book Club back catalogue is a good place to start if you're looking for ideas, or if you're Guy identifying join your local TGBC chapter.

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