The first quarter of 2024 went by in a blur, and we Hoarders are awash in books, from new releases to patient titles that have been sitting on our shelves for far too long. For this summary, I’ll start with my favorite books, and will then briefly mention the books that just didn’t thrill as much as I had hoped.
2024 to date: Elizabeth’s Favorite Reads
James by Percival Everett
I typically save my top read for the end of the favorites list, but not this time. I’m starting with
James because it’s now one of my all-time favorite novels, and James (Jim) is now one of my
all-time favorite literary characters. This Pulitzer Prize finalist is nothing short of a masterpiece. I
noted on Goodreads that 10 stars would not be enough, and I predict that James might be my
favorite read of 2024. I had never read Percival Everett before, but I’ve already remedied that by
buying his 2021 novel The Trees and ordering his 2002 novel Erasure (which is the backbone of
the 2023 Oscar-nominated movie American Fiction). Everett’s wit and intellect gleam in James,
as he reimagines the classic Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. While
telling the story from this angle, Everett pulls the reader into a new and necessary perspective. I
can’t recall if I’ve ever read a book that made me enraged and delighted in equal measure. How
can a novel be both maddening and funny? This story is poignant, smart, witty, important, and it
writes Jim with such heart that you will wholeheartedly miss him when it’s over. In a recent CBS
News story, Everett noted that “In ownership of language there resides great power.” For me,
this was the thread that pulsed through every moment of James, and I’ll never forget how he
used language as a profound tool. I could go on about this book for pages, but I’ll stop here.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Bright Young Women did a remarkable job chronicling the capture of a famous 1970s serial
killer while simultaneously focusing on the women he impacted. The killer, whom I will not name
since the author refused to, ran free for far too long thanks to inept authorities and unbridled
misogyny. It’s mind boggling to think that the pursuit of justice was mired by sexism, lewd
remarks, dismissed eyewitness accounts and questionable investigations. And with a deft eye and skillful prose, Jessica Knoll made sure that the women of the story were heard, from those who lost their lives to those who tirelessly fought to put the killer behind bars. This is an empowering page-turner that I highly recommend, but be prepared for your blood to boil.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
This is a sweet and fascinating read that kept me riveted until the last pages. Be ready for some
serious back-and-forth, as the author twists timelines throughout the story. But don’t get
frustrated, because once you get the hang of the format, you’ll be enveloped in magic, love, and
a beautifully written cast. Start the book for the wildly clever plot and stay with it for lovely
character arcs (some of which may break your heart). I’m not one for love stories, but this one
stole my heart.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
This was my second novel by James McBride, and I’ve committed to reading everything he
publishes moving forward (if you haven’t read his 2020 novel Deacon King Kong, I highly
recommend it!). This novel is about people. People from different faiths, different backgrounds,
different social standings. People. Reading about how they care for one another and help one
another is reason enough to run out and get a copy. I know that this novel will charm you and
will help restore your faith in humanity – it certainly did these things for me. And if you’re open to
the audio version, narrator Dominic Hoffman is beyond brilliant.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I know – I’m very late to this Greek Mythology party, but WOW is this book perfection. Miller’s
lyrical account of Achilles is all-consuming, and I hung on her every word. Her story also had
the courage to embrace the love between Achilles and Patroclus rather than hiding it (I’m
looking at you, Troy movie). Even though you know how the story ends, Miller sweeps you into
her expansive version, immerses you in color, fierce battles and blinding love, and still manages
to leave you broken hearted when it’s over. 5+ stars from this reader.
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
Lovely. Adorable. Sweet. Uplifting. This is the perfect novel to pick up if you just want to smile. If
you love British Baking Shows (this reader certainly does), and stories of true love and
kindness, then this is the book for you. Main character Jenny and her husband Bernard will steal
your heart, and the people that surrounded them were entirely genuine (with – wait for it – no
ulterior motives). But what I loved most about this novel was the fact that Jenny became a
contestant on a nationally televised baking competition at the age of 77. Pick this up if you need
a little soul balm and want to be reminded that you can do thrilling things at any age.
I Wanted to Love These…
I don’t like to spend much time on novels that I didn’t love, because every book represents
tireless work by devoted authors. However, I suppose if I get to talk about the books I couldn’t
put down, then it’s fair to briefly mention those that I (sadly) looked forward to putting down. One
sentence for each should do the trick:
– The Women by Kristin Hannah: happy to be in the minority with the opinion that this is my first and likely last novel by this author, since I was left rolling my eyes at this lengthy mashup of M*A*S*H and Harlequin Romance.
– The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan: Interesting to learn about the British and Japanese
occupations of Malaya, but this history lesson could not make up for some of the most
unlikeable characters I’ve encountered in a long while.
– North Woods by Daniel Mason: I loved his novel The Piano Tuner, but this disjointed series of
stories that revolved around a single location left this reader feeling detached (although I loved the message that places have memories).
– A Wild and Heavenly Place by Robin Oliveira: I adored her novel My Name is Mary Sutter, so
was surprised when I was expecting more female empowerment but wound up with a romance.
And those were some of my standouts in Q1 2024. Were there others? Absolutely – I’m still
reading the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King (Finder’s Keepers was excellent), I finally picked
up The Maid by Nita Prose (really enjoyed Molly’s observations), and there were other successful reads that were supposed to make a dent in my TBR pile. They didn’t.
Next up: looks like Hoarder Penny and I will soon be tackling some chunky books, including
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, The Bee Sting by Paul Murray and Anna Karenina by Leo
Tolstoy. We’re hoping to read a couple of these together, since we’re constantly sharing
thoughts about our current reads anyway. What a great way to tackle the classics!
Happy Spring reading!
