Top books that I have read in 2024
A book is a holiday in your own head. Even at my lowest ebb, I have found that I can escape into the characters and plot of a good story. During this year of ups and downs, I have really enjoyed the following books. January is the perfect month to hibernate with a good book and I hope that you find some inspiration here.
The Wedding People - Alison Espach
This heartwarming and funny tale deals with a very heavy subject matter. The struggles of infertility, divorce and the death of her beloved cat, leave Pheobe at the lowest point in her life. Dressed in an emerald gown, she books herself into a suite of a grand hotel in order to end her life by taking her cat’s painkillers. However Pheobe is intercepted by bride to be Lila, who has hired the hotel for her ‘perfect wedding’ and will not be inconvenienced by a corpse being wheeled through the lobby.
Pheobe and Lila develop an unlikely friendship based on sharing their repressed feelings. Before long, Pheobe is swept up by the bridal party and starts to see that her life can move forward in a different direction. I highly recommend this comforting book with such lovable characters and theme of the enduring human spirit.
“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”
Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly - Joanna Glen
This book tells the story of Addie and Sol, two damaged individuals who find comfort in each others’ company but can’t risk falling completely and madly in love because of past dysfunctional relationships. The characters are beautifully developed and ultimately the story is about personal growth and learning to trust again.
The main pleasure of this book lies in Joanna Glenn’s magical descriptions of the natural world along the Northumberland coast. The story is set on a fictional island that can only be reached at low tide by bridge. The isolated location is well matched by the loneliness of the characters and their connection to the land and sea.
The Glass Maker - Tracy Chevalier
This historical novel transports the reader to Murano, Venice and follows a family of glass makers over a period of 500 years. The reader must suspend their imagination as the author plays with the timeline and we watch the Rosso family experience the Italian Renaissance all the way up to the Covid Pandemic.
The writing is absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the role of women evolve over time as well as learning about Murano culture and glassmaking.
..beads brought colour and beauty...There was a pricelessness to these tiny, hard things. They endured, and retained the history of their owners, and their makers'.
Caledonian Road - Andrew O’Hagen
This is dense book with a huge variety of themes and characters. I would recommend reading Caledonian Road if you are ready to take a deep dive into contemporary politics and economics and are looking for something chunky and challenging.
The story follows privileged art historian Campbell Flynn and his relationship with Milo, a brilliant young man of mixed heritage and voice of a new generation. Through their discussions, the themes of corruption, human trafficking arise, forcing Campbell to question his luxurious life amongst aristocrats and links to Russian Plutocrats. Set against the background of Caledonian Road, an area notorious for corrupt landlords, the novel has a Dickensian quality as it looks at the greed and class division of our society.
‘Sandwiched’ is the position that women find themselves in when children are leaving home and parents are ageing. . Rocky is in the sandwich and she seems to be constantly making sandwiches for these members of her family. Set on a family holiday in beautiful Cape Cod, we watch Rocky navigate this stage of her life with the added fun of menopausal symptoms.
If you are in the sandwich, I have no doubt that you will empathize with the main character as she reflects on past decisions, manages the needs of her adult children and forges a path ahead with her partner.
“Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other”
This is a devastating and funny book about motherhood, family, fame, art and addiction. Sisters Nora and Mattie embark on a road trip accross America and try to untangle their terrible childhood with their famous mother Iris. Sisterly love saves the day and with the help of Matties fabulous daughter Beans, the girls find a way they can move forward in their lives.
The heavy subject matter is lightened by Kirsty Cape’s witty writing and the beautiful characters that she creates. ‘Girls’ is a very clever depiction of the complexities of mental health and family dynamics.
I have read some fantastic books over the past year but these are some of my favourites. If you look further back over the blog you will find more recommendations. I would love to hear about the books you have enjoyed in 2024. Please add your favourites to the comments below.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year
Sophie