As you likely know if you have been following all these years, I track my reading year from July to July. Nothing fancy, just keep a little tally in my notebook of all the books I read. This year I read 77 books, (eight more than last year) and today I will share with you some of my favorites for the Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024.

Over the past year I have written 53 book reviews, pulling into reviews my favorites of the 77 books. Most of my reading is done on my Kindle while traveling, a few hardback and paperback and a few more on Audible. I like Audible for car trips, mostly because I can’t stand listening to the news on the radio anymore!

So as in the past several years, I’m sharing my most favorites from July 23 to July 24. I have a top ten list, and ten honorable mentions too. Some outstanding novels, biographies, historical non-fiction, as well as Booker and Pulitzer finalists. Other than the number one slot, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, the books are in no particular order. So here we go, my Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024;

My Top Ten

1. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – I really loved this story. I have loved many Patchett books but not all. However, I think this is my favorite of all her works. If you haven’t read it, you should. My favorite book of the past year.
2. Lady Tans Circle of Friends by Lisa See – I have read several of Lisa See’s novels, and I really enjoy the way she brings historic figures into a novel, teaches her readers something new, and entertains all at once.
3. The Editor by Steven Rowley – Rowley has a fun and empathetic writing style that I loved in his Guncle books. In this book, we follow an imaginary story of an author and his editor Jackie Onassis. It made me cry.
4. The Armour of Light by Ken Follett – If you have been paying attention, you know I am a huge Ken Follett fan, particularly of his Kingsbridge series. This latest installment, the fifth, is as brilliant as ever in research and storytelling. If you are new to these books, start with Pillars of the Earth.
5. Absolution – Alice McDermott – I really loved this book, by a new to me author. A story of American women in the early 1960’s who are stationed with their husbands in pre-war Vietnam. It really struck a chord with me.
6. Possession by A.S. Byatt – This Booker Prize-winning book is old, and I am astonished I had never read it. It’s also long, and made for a great Audible on a long car trip in Australia. Byatt, recently passed away, was a brilliant storyteller and everyone should read this beautiful book.
7. Still Life by Sarah Winman – Super fun read, a refreshing new plot and great character development. Still Life is post WWII Italy, full of friendships, love, family and one blue parrot. A great read.
8. Northwoods by Daniel Mason – Such a great story, and so fun to see an author create something so new and fresh. It is a generational story of a piece of land, rather than a family line – peppered with great characters in human, wildlife, flora and supernatural persuasions. Definely a of fav of the year.
9. Loot by Tania James – Another one I really loved for it’s unique story. James creates a fictional tale around a real work of art, that is intriguing and very satisfying too.
10. A Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides – another favorite of the year was an audible, we listened to while driving around Serbia. It was a remarkable true story of the life and death of Captain James Cook. Absolutely fascinating. Highly recommend.

More I loved

In addition to my top ten above, these ten more were fabulous!

Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth – Mind Blowing

The Art Thief by Michael Finkle – True Crime

Chenneville by Paulette Jiles – Heartfelt

March by Geraldine Brooks – A new twist on an old story

Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride – Fantastic characters

The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama – Beautiful

Lincoln on the Verge by Ted Widmer – What if he hadn’t made it?

James by Percival Everett – Rethinking a classic

The Women – Kristin Hannah’s best so far

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson – Hilarious

Summer Break

I’m taking a little summer break from writing, but not from reading! So I’ll be back soon with more weekly Reading Wednesday Book Reviews. Meanwhile, I hope you can find your next great read on this list AND let me know what you think of this list, as well as any recommendations you have for me. I love hearing your ideas and suggestions. Reading is definitely part of My Fab Fifties Life, and is a great way to see the world without ever leaving home. Thank you for reading my Seventh Annual Reading Round Up 2024.

I would greatly appreciate it if you commented on this blog post, shared it with friends and family and on any and all social platforms you might engage with. It helps me so much to beat the crazy algorithm. Thank you – and GO READ A BOOK!

See last week’s book review The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

Check out my 2023 Favorite book of the year The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

And you might like my 2022 Favorite book of the year Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr