photo credit: Shiv Majmudar
It’s just dawned on me that even though I call this column “The Screen and the Page,” I have yet to do a book review. Well, that ends today. The final column of 2024 will be about the best books I read in 2024. These are the best reads from a whole year of reading. Keep in mind that these are not all books published in 2024, but rather the ones I read in that year. So, keeping that in mind, here are the best books I read in 2024, in no particular order.
Potential books:
“Ohio,” by Stephen Markley 4.7/5 stars
I don’t read a copious amount of literary fiction, so the level at which this novel affected me was quite surprising. It follows a group of high school friends who come back to their hometown of New Canaan, Ohio, ten years later. Gorgeous writing, well-drawn characters, and a shocking twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Set during the backdrop of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the opioid crisis, and the struggles of a Rust Belt town in the 21st century, “Ohio” is a mirror of the America we call home. Some characters, I felt like I knew from another life. Complex relationships, lost dreams, and trainwreck personal lives all make this novel a harrowing and unforgettable read.
“Yellowface,” by RF Kuang 4.8/5 stars
Don’t get me started on this book, because I’ll never stop. Here’s the basic premise: after the death of an Asian American author, her friend June steals her manuscript – a historical novel about Chinese Laborers in World War I – and publishes it under a racially ambiguous name, Juniper Song.
But there’s a problem: June didn’t write the book, and she is not Asian American. The anxiety-inducing spiral that follows is an unputdownable, sharp read that raises questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation in publishing. At once a biting critique of the publishing industry and a hilarious satire, “Yellowface” is a smart, timely book that I could not put down. Those who love an unreliable narrator will dig this book. Kuang is an author who I will be reading in the future.
“The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories,” by Ken Liu 4.4/5 stars
I loved the titular story in this one. “The Paper Menagerie” is a heartbreaking magical realism story that tells the tale of a boy whose mother creates magically animated origami animals. A beautiful immigrant story, wrought with questions of identity, assimilation, and love. The rest of the collection will tug on your heartstrings and your brain. Sometimes cerebral, at times fantastical, occasionally historical—and always original. Whether he’s writing about alien civilizations or immigrant families, Ken Liu’s stories never miss. A true gem of a collection.
“It” by Stephen King 5/5 stars
What’s better than spending a good chunk of your summer break reading about a killer clown who eats children? Jokes aside, Stephen King’s “It” looked like a daunting read from the start. I hauled the book everywhere I went, a giant doorstopper that weighs as much as an infant. “It” uses all of its pages. Each character is explored in such great depth – their thoughts, dreams, desires, and of course fears. I felt at times that I was reading about myself.
This book opened emotional caves in my heart that I did not know existed. “It” taught me the joy and value of childhood. It taught me about the strength of friendship. Although this is my favorite Stephen King book, I advise that those who are new to King (or horror in general) don’t start with this. It is a final exam for any King fan. Who knows what I’ll read in the future, but no matter how many other books I crack open, “It” has a special place in my soul.
“A Song of Ice and Fire” by George RR Martin 4.9/5 stars
I took my first step into this series in freshman year, back in good ol’ 2023. It’s been a staple of my reading life ever since. Most people will be more familiar with the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” but the source material is a pleasure to read. Dragons, magic, and swordplay are all very well, but combine vicious politics, realism, gritty violence, treachery, sex, and a hundred more names and houses than you can remember, and you get ASOIAF.
Each book is fantasy as it should be written – detailed, expansive, and passionately written. The series is full of characters you’ll love (or love to hate). The series can be brutal, and as fans of the show know by now, no character is safe. Even those who are familiar with the show should try the books. Even if one is familiar with the characters and plot, nothing can compare to the wild, grand scope of the series. Oh, and get the audiobooks read by Roy Dotrice. Carrying around the tomes gets tiresome. I can still imitate the narrator’s voice. Safe to say, I am absolutely smitten. Now, where’s the next book?
Closer:
There you have it. The best books I read in 2024. Reader, if your favorite book did not make the list, my apologies. I’m always open to recommendations. No one can read all the books. So ends the last issue of 2024. Stay cool and keep reading.
