2024 in Literature
In Reading
In summary…
Reading goal: 10
Books read: 7
My reading list this year felt more like eating popcorn or candy than eating a full meal. I didn’t read much and what I did read, most of it was feel-good (aside from the first) and most I gave 5 stars (including the first). I’m definitely not complaining.
Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World — M.R. O'Connor
A book on our relationship to fire. Prescribed burning, history of wildfire, firefighters and fire practictioners, cultural indigenous burning. Written in a way that’s highly engaging and informative. I enjoyed this book immensely, and got a lot of it. Aside from helping me with some of the fire culture and language in Lookout, it’s just interesting. And it’s incredibly important. Considering the world we’re in today, everyone should understand a thing or two about fire/wildfire. Prescribed burning, too. Fire can be a good thing, or a very very bad thing. This would make a great “intro” to the world of fire for anyone who’s interesting in learning more on the topic.
5/5
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment — Thich Nhat Hanh
Can I tell you a secret? I found this book discarded after a show at the symphony. I took it. It had been on my list for a long time. I finished in the next day. I read it again. Now and again I’ll flip to a random page and try to soak in the wisdom scrawled across every page. I adore Thich Nhat Hanh—truly a visionary. Do your soul a favor and read this book. Read it again. Sit with it. Let it be.
5/5
The Glass Castle — Jeannette Walls
A book club read. A powerful memoir and look into a deeply dysfunctional family—somewhat difficult to descibe, but lucky for you there’s a whole book you can read. And you should. There are some WILD tales in this book. The writing is sometimes blunt and curt, like, here’s what happened. Like a journalist. You get to judge for yourself how absolutely atrocious or absurd it is. I love it.
4.3/5
All the Lonely People — Mike Gayle
Another book club read. I want to like this book more—it’s got such good bones. It’s a really beautiful story, and it’s well written. I don’t really have any specific criticisms, it just didn’t stick with me like some do. Some stories do, some don’t. That’s the beauty of art. I’m glad I read it though.
3.5/5
A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
Yet another book club read—I’m so thankful this book got voted as our read. It’s a perfect book. I thoroughly, immensely loved this story from start to finish. The Count is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read. By far the most likable. READ THIS BOOK!!!
5/5
Anxious People — Fredrik Backman
Yet another book club read. Not at ALL what I thought this book would be, based on the title. But absolutely hilarious. Immensely enjoyable. The premise itself is hilarious—a bank robbery gone totally wrong, leading to an accidental hostage situation in an apartment showing. We get to slowly unravel the story through the perspectives of everyone involved. Please read this book.
5/5
Crazy Rich Asians — Kevin Kwan
Pure joy. These fucking PEOPLE. I tore through this first book in two days. Also, I got to hear Kevin Kwan talk recently which made me like him even more. He mentioned that much of it was anecdotal, written about crazy rich people he personally knows. He said he had to “tone down” some of the details because they were too unbelievable. He told his editor, no, that really happened. Iconic. I’m so glad these stories are so popular, he’s done such an amazing job with this whole series.
5/5
In Writing
Not too much to report in the world of writing—just chugging along with Lookout.
