My books of the year are drawn from those I gave five stars to. At one time, that would be enough to automatically qualify them for the final list. I must be getting soft, or I’m reading more books of extremely high quality, but these days I have to sift them. And I usually do that by putting them in categories.
So here we go, for books I read in 2024. 24 five star reads from 72 books read. That’s 33%. That is a higher percentage than usual, although I also abandoned more books than usual. Maybe I really am reading more high quality books.
middle grade / children’s
Hunting Gumnor, Awful Auntie, and Coraline are all so brilliant, and so different, that I’m not going to select a winner.
historical
City of Silk, The Silver Pigs (reread after over 25 years!) and Saltblood… same applies really.
mystery
Although One Summer in Tuscany, and Happy Bloody Christmas were both great fun, I don’t think either make the final shortlist
fantasy
Swords and Deviltry, the Songweaver’s vow, Fire: demons dragons and djinns, the Language of Power, Air: sylphs, spirits and swan maidens. All brilliant Fantasy books. Air is the best anthology of the year. I think Language of Power makes the final shortlist, but it is the final book in a series.
non-fiction
Although 1066: the Year of Conquest, Drunk Chickens and Burnt Macaroni, and Space Oddities were excellent, the Bletchley Girls was even better.
science fiction
The Last Murder at the End of the World was brilliant, To Be Taught, If Fortunate stood up well on a reread, but Ichor Well really impressed.
time travel
Paris Adrift, the Life Impossible, the Ministry of Time… almost impossible to split. But I have…
My Book of the Year for 2024 is…
practically perfect in every way….
honorary mentions
small press BOTY: City of Silk
Indie author BOTY: Ichor Well
I’ve only read one of these, Jacky, so I am adding to my TBR list. I do love time travel books.
A lot of these that I haven’t read, though I added many to my TBR as you reviewed them.
Hi,
Inspiration for next year, thanks.
2025 already underway, I know,
but we’ve been awol, and are now snowed out –
car abandoned.
Perfect chance to read in peace.