At the beginning of the year, I set my goal at 100 books. I had read at least that in the previous two years, so it seemed attainable. It turns out that opening a business and publishing two books cuts into your reading time…who would have thought? Part way through the year I adjusted my goal to 50 books, and today I sit at 48 read, fully confident I will reach my adapted goal.
Of my 48 books read, 13 were audiobooks on Libro.fm, 12 were on e-reader, and 23 have been physical books.
5 Star Reads (in order that I read them)
The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Looking back at these reads, I feel pretty good about rating them five stars. The only one I would question is Summer Sisters. With some time now between finishing it, I am not sure it stands at the same level as the others on the list, but it is still a high four star read for me. Picking a favourite from that list is difficult, but there are three that rise to the top…
- The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (e-reader) – I still can’t stop thinking about this book. It was at times heartbreaking and at others hopeful and joyous. Following multiple characters through the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s, a group of friends is decimated by the disease. Years later, haunted by those they lost, the friends who are left find their way back to themselves and to healing. Haunting and engaging, I could NOT put this book down.
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (audiobook) – After this book, Kimmerer will now be an auto-buy author for me. I am a little bit late to the party on this book, having heard about it for years. Covering the history of her people, the relationship between humans and nature, and the interconnection of all species, this is a book everyone should read. I listened to this book and Kimmerer’s words were both meditative and inspiring. Kimmerer’s latest book, The Serviceberry, just came out and I cannot wait to read it as well!
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus (physical book) – I LOVED this book. It reminded me of The Rosie Project and The Big Bang Theory and it was wonderful. The idea women could be so much more than the housemakers that society expected of them and a TV show with a “difficult” host could inspire that belief, just worked for me. I’ve never thought about it before but difficult or curmudgeonly characters being wonderful, complex, and completely lovable really works for me – one of my favourite books of all times if A Man Called Ove, after all.
I didn’t purposely pick a book from each format for my favourites, that is just how it worked out. And while reading a physical book will always be my preference, other formats help me to read more books, especially when I’m in the vehicle or travelling.
What are your top reads of the year? I would love for you to share them with me! Thanks for following along for 2024 and all the best in 2025. Happy reading!