I saw this floating around the book-blogging world, so I figured I’d play along. 2024 has been a most unusual year, as long-time readers may know. I’ve been reading “in public” for seventeen years now, and while my approach to reviews and my opinions on certain ideas and topics have changed, the one great consistency is that I always read far more nonfiction than fiction. Some years nonfiction is ahead by 30 points! This year, however, fiction is leading at 56%, which is …interesting. Part of that owes to grad school and work stress, but I’ve also been loosening up in general the last year or so, and perhaps exploring the world of fiction beyond science fiction and historical military fiction is part of that. At any rate, it’s led to my finding quite a few new blogs this year, which I’m enjoying. As far as my annual projects go: the science survey is quite healthy, with 8 out of 12 categories filled, and my Classics Club reading is….dismal, with only two books for the year. Ebooks are well ahead of print media at this point, accounting for 62% of my reading to date.

I’m testing the table of contents block, which I had no idea was even a thing until I saw it over at Dark Shelf of Wonders.

1. Best Book Read This Year:
2. Best Sequel I’ve Read this Year:
3. New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want to:
4. Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of 2024:
5. Biggest Disappointment:
6. Biggest Surprise:
7. New Favorite Author:
8. New Favorite Character:
9. Book That Made You Cry:
10. Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought or Received This Year:
11. What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year

Best Book Read This Year:

Honestly, I loved What You are Looking for is in the Library.

Best Sequel I’ve Read this Year:

Warbow, Wayne Grant. I really liked falling into this medieval adventure series featuring a young bowman out to serve his lord and avenge his murdered father.

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want to:

Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt, on mental illness & Gen Z.

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of 2024:

Living in Wonder, Rod Dreher. On disenchantment and reenchantment.

Biggest Disappointment:

Video Game of the Year, Jordan Minor. Not only were PC games consistently short-changed (including Civilization, Half-Life, and Starcraft), but several insignificant games were spotlit and there were a lot of irrelevant tangents.

Biggest Surprise:

How to Stay Married, the memoir of the author Harrison Scott Key and his wife working through the discovery that she was having an affair. I went for it because it received high praise from one of my favorite authors, and I’d just read Key’s memoir about growing up in rural Mississippi and enjoyed it. As a chronic bachelor I was surprised by how intense this was.

New Favorite Author:

Rachel Joyce!

New Favorite Character:

It’s hard to choose between Harold Fry, The Major, and Amelia from The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

Book That Made You Cry:

Men only cry at their mother’s funeral, their daughter’s wedding, or at the death of a dog. However, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye and How to Stay Married were both emotionally powerful.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought or Received This Year:

If we’re talking about the beauty of the book’s contents, How to Stay Married was for me a testament to how challenging and meaningful love can actually be. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is probably the prettiest cover.

What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year

The Classics Club list is in dire need of attention. I’ve only managed two this year.