How has your week been? What have you been reading lately? I finished The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling, which is a cute rom-com with witchy vibes. “X” was also the final letter for me in the A to Z Book Titles 2024 Edition so I’m done with that one! I also finished The Teacher, Freida McFadden. Ooh that book – I had all the feels, to rolling my eyes at the bad choices one of the main characters kept making *and being wrong and strong), to feeling some outrage, to feeling sad for the bad choices … such a good book. I would reach for another one by McFadden to read – but I’m trying to stick to my November 2024 Reading Plans. Now, on to the 10+ things I bookmarked recently.
one+ The Best Books of 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors is one I look forward to seeing every year. It has 20 books recommended by the editorial team, and their #1 pick is The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory, Thomas Fuller. There is also a Top 100 Favorite Book Recommendations in Your Favorite Genres … but I’m noting here that there is no horror category (gasp! and insert sad face here).
two+ Libro.fm’s Bestselling Audiobooks of 2024 list was also recently released as was Time Magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2024. So many “best books” it’s become overwhelming, but I’m compiling my list of books to read next year based on some of the “new to me” titles I’m seeing.
three+ Voting is open now for the Goodreads Readers Choice Awards Opening Round. It’s time to vote for your favorite books, but also, I find that it also time to check out some new to you book titles in all the categories. There’s a new Audiobook category this year as well.
four+ Read What’s Something Beautiful You’ve Read? and then dive into the comments. Just absolutely a treasure trove of beautiful words for your day, week – bookmark and come back again and again. I found one commenter that left this: This is a letterer from EB White, written to someone who had lost their faith in humanity. It’s been giving me some comfort during these difficult few days, and I hope it helps you all too. Hang on to your hats: https://fs.blog/eb-white-humanity/. And when I read it – I was like wow!
five+ The Winner of the Booker Prize 2024 was announced as Orbital, Samantha Harvey – which surprise, surprise – is the buddy read for Novellas in November.
six+ I’ve not linked to many interviews with authors in the past and I want to change that. Meet the 2024 National Book Award Finalists – Quick Questions for the Year’s Best Writers, Poets, and Translators was such an interesting read. A few of the authors said the worst writing advice they ever received was “Write what you know.”
seven+ For your #SciFiMonth reading check out The Most Iconic Speculative Fiction Books of the 21st Century … So Far. It’s not only science fiction books, but I bookmarked this for when I’m looking for my next read. I’ve already read quite a few of the titles, but loads more are new to me.
eight+ I’ve mentioned in the past that dystopian is one of my favorite sub-genres of scifi, so I saved this list of 8 of the Worst Science Fiction Worlds To Live In – mostly because it reminded me that I haven’t yet read all of Octavia Butler’s books and I need to get back to her soon.
nine+ The Barnes & Noble Book of the Year is James, Percival Everett. Well deserved!
ten+ Off the Books – Which movies have you enjoyed watching recently? I watched Killer Heat (based on The Jealousy Man and Other Stories by Jo Nesbø), which is a noir-style detective show that was OK. Also Hotel Artemis which was an insanely good shoot-em-up crime thriller – recommend. And a cute period drama, The Courtship – another one I would recommend. On my agenda this weekend – something from The Ultimate Guide to Hallmark and Lifetime Holiday Movies for 2024.
P.S. I think this is a pretty good deal at Libro.fm if you usually spend at least $15 per month on books – when you start a new 1 credit per month membership at Libro.fm (which supports local bookstores) with promo code SWITCH, you will also get two bonus audiobook credits at sign-up.
—- Cheers to the weekend and week ahead!
