I wanted to read more actual books than audiobooks in February, but the way I accomplished this was to barely read or listen. I mean, I know this looks like a lot of books, but I have SO MANY on my TBR pile and waiting for me on my Kindle. AND! A brand new Sarah J Maas on Audible. MUST. READ. MORE. BOOOOOOKS.
Titles I do not recommend
Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover: You can skip this romance for sure.
It. Goes. So. Fast by Mary Louise Kelly: I wanted to love this memoir about life and motherhood and empty nesting, but I just didn't, quite.
Back list great ones-- BOTY, except not from this year.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas: This author! Is a genius! So many complex fantasy worlds living in her head and just tumbling out fully formed. I am a fan. **Audio
Go As a River by Shelley Read: This is terrific. May be a little more telling than showing, but I loved the main character, and she was so weird in her internal life that when she had normal interactions with people and when I was reminded that she, like, ran her own business, etc, I LOVED that we were really just learning about part of her through her thoughts. **Audio
2024 good reads
The Clinic by Cate Quinn: This was told from multiple POV but everyone sounded the same, which bothers me. Still-- fast-paced and twisty. **2024
Twenty Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate: A good, quick thriller. **2024
Northwoods by Amy Pease: I bought this with my audible credit thinking it was a different book with a similar name, but you know what? I liked it anyway. **Audio **2024
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata: This was a really delightful romance. **Audio **2024
Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvlli: This is so great! I LOVED the Hansel and Gretel playfulness set against such a starkly sad and violent story. **2024
The Guest by BA Paris: My favorite kind of quick and serviceable thriller **2024
BOTY contenders
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston: Ok, probably not one of the best books of the year, but my favorite thriller that I have read so far. **2024 **Audio
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange: I loved this generational family saga that was so sparely written. That's Orange's genius for me-- he can zoom out and tell the story of a person's whole life in just a few pages, giving the reader just enough detail to feel like we can imagine everything. Then, in the next sentence, he zooms waaaaaay in, and we get a granular look at someone. And both styles advance the plot/argument. Love it. **2024
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: This is an ideal book club book, and I wish my IRL book club were reading it because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS. I really liked what this book made me think about. If you read it, let's talk.
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid: I loved Such a Fun Age, and this book is even better. The dialog! The characters! The absolute skewering of the world we live in! **2024
 |
| **chef's kiss** |
THE STATS
This month: 14 books
5 Audio
9 Print/Kindle
10 books published in 2024
This year: 29
14 Audio
15 With my eyes
11 books published in 2024
The Orange, Akbar, and Reid are on my TBR... Great to know you think highly of them!
ReplyDeleteI would love to chat with you, so I guess I need to read Martyr! ;)
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I have been seeing everyone rave about Go As A River and I haven't read it because someone in my online book club said "for fans of Where The Crawdads Sing" and I was instantly a no. I just did not love that book - it was fine, but just fine - and so GAAR fell off my list. BUT if you say it was really good, maybe I should give it a try. It's so hyped up! Perhaps I'll put it on hold at the library and by the time I get it I will have forgotten all the hype. Yes, that's what I'll do! BRB, bye.
ReplyDeleteHi Harry,
ReplyDeleteI loved your book reviews. You have a great taste and a way with words. I also enjoyed The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Have you read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab? It’s a brilliant book about a woman who lives forever but is forgotten by everyone. I think you would like it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
The Reid, Paris, and Orange are all on my TBR! Glad they were hits for you!
ReplyDeleteThis is Lisa. I also loved GAAR! It was one of my best books of 2024! What does your IRL book club read? I don’t think I have heard you talk about that group! I feel like I have heard Martyr discussed on book podcasts. I loved Reid’s first book so can’t wait to read this one!!
ReplyDeleteI left a comment on this already! WHERE DID IT GO? It's been a bit minute since I read There There. Do I need to reread to prep for the Orange book?
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to be talking about that Sarah Maas series now- I guess I need to read it!
ReplyDeleteI already added Come and Get It to my TBR based on your rec, and now I'll also add Go As A River!
ReplyDelete