Well, the year is winding down. Christmas is around the corner, and New Year’s Day is less than four weeks away. Can you believe it?
I know that many “rabid readers” will continue to read over the course of these last 25 days of 2024. However, today I’m going to ask what your favorite reads of the year (so far) were.
When my first book was published back in 1984, a paperback book had approximately six to eight weeks on the shelf of a brick and mortar bookstore. After that, they were stripped of the cover, the books destroyed, and the covers sent back to the publisher by the bookseller for a refund. Unless you were Stephen King, Nora Roberts, or another major bestselling author, that six to eight week window was the one chance for a book to sell. After that, your fans could only find your book in a used bookstore, if then.
No matter how you feel about ebook readers (I happen to love my Kindle), the truth is they have been a wonderful way for authors to have their books stay in print, year after year after year. There is no longer just a six to eight week window. My novel that was first published in 1999 can be easily purchased 25 years later—and that makes me happy.
Add to the above the improvements in print-on-demand options that have kept paperbacks available and the digital downloading that has made audiobooks more affordable to the masses. (I remember when an audiobook with 12 disks cost about $65 or more! Now, I can download to my phone for less than $10.)
I share the above information because it all means that when I share what my favorite books are with you, even if the books aren’t a major bestseller, even if they were published ten or fifteen or twenty years ago, chances are you can still purchase them if you want. And that is great news for readers as well as authors.
As for me, I’ve read some wonderful books this year. At this writing, I’ve finished 82 books for the year. Most books I love get 4🌟 from me. That rating means, “Loved it. Will recommend to others.” I’ve got lots and lots of 4🌟 reads in my list this year, books I would definitely recommend that you read.
For a book to get a rare 5🌟 from me, it has to be “Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.” I gave a 5🌟 rating to seven books this year, four of them were fiction and three non-fiction.
Here they are, along with links to my reviews on Goodreads:
FICTION:
- Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
- The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
- The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
NON-FICTION:
- How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig
- It is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross by Charles Martin
- The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance by Randy Alcorn
Your turn. Please share your favorite reads of 2024 (so far).
~robin
PS If you like my reviews, feel free to follow or friend me on Goodreads. Just visit my profile and see the button under my picture (the friend option is next to the follow button by clicking the little down carrot).
Robin Lee Hatcher
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I’m pretty free with my 5 star ratings so they make up a majority of my list. (Maybe I’m just good at picking books? LOL) A couple of my absolute favorites so far were Reason to Breathe by Deborah Raney (I could NOT put it down), The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano (the meaning behind the garden… just WOW), Rocky Road by Becky Wade (SO much fun!), and The Cowboy’s Marriage Bargain by Deborah Clack (marriage of convenience is my favorite trope!).
I have Edenbrooke and A Gentleman in Moscow both on my TBR so sounds like I should bump those up for 2025!
Joy, my ratings are a majority of 4 and 5 stars too, maybe only 3 books below that. I think that’s because I try to pick books I know I will like and read authors I love.
Betty, except for my book club selections (a couple I haven’t liked at all and didn’t even finish), my books are mostly 4 and 5 because I too choose authors I know I’ll love.
Joy, I very rarely rate a book less than 3.5, although I don’t consider a 3 an insult. It’s a good book, but maybe not in my wheelhouse. But like you, I mostly have fours and fives. Yes, move those two books up in your list. And after you read A Gentleman in Moscow, if you have Paramount+ streaming, watch the series. They did a great job, but I’m so glad that I read the book first.
Awww, thank you so much, Joy. I’m so glad you enjoyed Reason to Breathe. And Robin, I’m loving all these great recommendations! Thanks for this post!
Outstanding reads for me out of the 64 I’ve read so far are:
A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay
The Seamstress of Acadia by Laura Frantz
Thanks for sharing, and Merry Christmas Robin!
I loved both A Million Little Choices and The Berlin Letters. Haven’t read the Frantz one. Writing down the title now.
I usually balk at this question, but I realized there are several books I read this year that I’m continually talking about, thinking about, and recommending, so I guess those are the ones!
The Women by Kristen Hannah
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe
A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander
The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese
The Imposters series by Roseanna White
I enjoy sooooo many other books, but these are the ones that have stuck with me long after I finished.
I have looked at The Women so many times, but haven’t jumped because of the Viet Nam war part. Strange, since I read a lot of WWII books. Maybe because it was so personal with many classmates serving.
Thank you for this post – I appreciate it for several reasons:
1. On a personal level, I wrote a non-fiction book and I learned last year that after 19 years of publication, it was no longer going to be in print. The publisher went on to say, “But don’t worry, it will still be available as an ebook.” Yet, I was disappointed. But after reading your blog, it helped me to realize the ongoing value of an ebook – there’s no expiration date and I found myself instead of being down about it, being grateful to the Lord that it could even be an ebook. Your blog was such a sweet encouragement to me.
2. Also, I so enjoy reading your books (and I’ve read lots of them!). How good to know that ones I have missed from earlier years can still be read through ebooks!
3. Finally, I appreciate the way all of you authors on “Inspired by Life …. and Fiction” support each other. I never hear one hint of jealousy coming through. When one of your fellow authors is honored – you’re all quick to cheer for her. When one is hurting or experiencing great loss, you are there for each other. What a beautiful Christlike friendship you share together. It reminds me of the verse in Psalm.131:1 that says, “How good and pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters 🙂 to dwell together in unity…” That verse says it’s not only good, but it’s also very pleasant when this happens! That good and pleasant unity comes through all of you who share on the “Inspired by Life… and Fiction” blog. Thank you for taking the time out of writing for demanding book deadlines and busy schedules to share simple words of hope.
Thanks for letting me know that my post encouraged you about your book. Thanks also for telling me that you’ve enjoyed my books. And finally, yes, I love this fellowship of believing writers on Inspired by Life. It is, indeed, a very pleasant thing.
Thanks, Robin, for reminding us about the shelf-life of a paperback book. I used to work in a bookstore–and I remember how horrified I was to remove books from the shelf & tear off the covers to be returned to the publisher–while the book itself was dumped in the trash. I didn’t think it was fair to the authors. I am glad the e-book format has allowed those books to return!
My favorite read for this year–is usually the last book I’ve read. Some memorable books include two by Cathy Gohlke–Night Bird Calling and A Hundred Crickets Singing. Such memorable and wonderful characters!
I have loved quite a few Cathy Gohlke books. Don’t know how many. I read A Hundred Crickets Singing but not the Night Bird Calling. Need to jot it down.
I loved A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I agree about ebooks and audiobooks.
I’ve read 67 books so far this year, with a few to finish up this month. I think my top favorite for the year is Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson, After finishing it, I immediately reread it. I also enjoyed Isaiah for You: Enlarging Your Vision of Who God Is by Tim Chester with the Bible study group at church. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know For Sure You Are Saved by J. D. Greear was quite helpful.
In fiction I “discovered” Amanda Dykes with Whose Waves These Are, which I dearly loved. I’m on a mission to read the rest of her books. Same with Amanda Cox and The Edge of Belonging. Pepper Basham was another new-to-me author with Hope Between the Pages–two timelines, both involving books! And I loved For a Lifetime and Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer.
I’m endeavoring to read the Dickens’ books that I haven’t yet. I really enjoyed Dombey and Son and wasn’t nearly as fond of Martin Chuzzlewhit.
Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) was different from my usual reading, but very good once I got into it.
Adorning the Dark is one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. When a non-fiction book about creativity can make me cry, I know it’s a gem. I read it two or three years ago, and it still lingers in my mind.
Adorning the Dark lives on my rolling reference cart in my office. I loved it too.