Chapter 44 - Best Books of 2024

There are a lot of best books of 2024 lists out right now although 2024 has not quite ended. Penguin/Random House and Harper Collins have their selections out but they are - as you probably guessed - all published by either PRH or HC. The New York Times, Washington Post and The Economist all have their own recommendation but more often than not they are books which have been best sellers. That does not necessarily qualify them as 2024 best book candidates. If that were the case Colleen Hoover books would reign but I'd not vote for any of hers as best book material. Still other lists of best books come from prize winners. As I've said before I sometimes think a book is a prize winner because of an author's body of work not specifically for the book picked.

So where does that leave us as readers with such a large selection of books to choose from? Do we follow the best seller trends? Do we pick only prize winning books? Books cost us in time and money so readers have to be very picky about our book selections. Fortunately there are a lot of resources out there to discover your own "best" books. Some of my favorite go to's for suggestions are blogs like Modern Mrs. Darcy and her podcast "What Should I Read Next?" I also rely on Facebook pages like Silent Book Club and Friends and Fiction. My favorite recommendations come from friends who are readers and who know good books.

Anyway, all this is leading to my own favorite books for 2024. I can't tell you that these are the best books of the year mostly because I haven't read all books published in 2024. I can tell you that these have really stood out to me as worthy 2024 reading.

The Women by Kristin Hannah - In this novel Hannah deals with the Vietnam War and the brave women who served as nurses overseas. Naive, protected, 20 year old Frankie has decided to enlist as an Army nurse. As she becomes more skilled at nursing, she also becomes more traumatized about what she sees. This is a terrific book for anyone who wants to know about the women who served in Vietnam.

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles - During World War I, Anne Morgan, the youngest child of J.P. Morgan, stands up the American Committee for Devastated France and recruits a number of talented women to go repair the damage the war has caused. There are nurses, farmers, mechanics, drivers, all volunteers. Finally Anne Morgan's adds a paid position to her staff, Jessie Carson, a librarian from the New York Public library. What these women do to build back France is nothing short of miraculous.

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra - This was definitely one of my favorites in 2024. Home alone with her young children during a blizzard, a young mother puts her son to bed and hears a noise. Looking up she sees a man at the end of the hallway. She wakes her children and hides them away but realizes she knows the man and what he has come for. This was a great thriller.

When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart - We all know about the American civil war. We understand the issues, the difference between what the North believed and what the South believed. But, what if you were a southerner with no desire to be a part of the conflict. That's what Josetta and her husband believe. They lead a happy life on their small farm with their two boys. One day, the oldest decides to run off and fight. Josetta's husband goes looking for him only to be co-opted into fighting as well. Josetta's story among her not so understanding neighbors is a good story of survival.

Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris - King Solomon and his family have owned their Kingdom outside of a small North Carolina town for generations. After King dies, his family work to keep the homestead out of land developers' hands while dealing with devastating secrets of their own. With so much at stake, will they be able to keep their land or their family against all odds?

What are some of your favorite books published in 2024? Please share!

I am taking off for a few weeks to enjoy the holidays! See you in the new year!