2024 was actually a great year for me, reading wise! I read a lot of books I'd always wanted to get around to (The Trial by Franz Kafka, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, and Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin to name a few). I also read a lot more queer books than I have in previous years and even got to read some that came out this year! (Those being The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville as well as Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, both of which I highly recommend). During the spring, I took a class that had me reading some books I don't think I would have gotten to otherwise, and I also got to discuss them in a group setting which really enhanced the experience for me! I had such a great time with everything I read, I don't think there was a single book I read that I didn't thoroughly enjoy! I'm hoping 2025 is just as good to me.
1. Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
I don’t know what I can really say about the book without spoiling too much, but I will say I loved the Thin Kid so much, one of my favorite protagonists I think. I’m also going to look for more of Paul Tremblay’s work in the future because between this book and last year when I read The Cabin at the End of the World, he might be becoming one of my favorite writers.
2. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
This is a work of pure art. A journey of self discovery, but at the end of the journey you discover that all you have left is yourself. This book is just completely fantastic in ways I’ve never read before. It’s introspective, romantic, and awful all at the same time. A book doesn’t get better than this.
3. Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offil
Department of Speculation was so good and unique in structure that I was about halfway through it when I decided I needed to recommend it to others. One of those books that will be good no matter what the ending is.
4. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite
It was amazing, I thought I knew what to expect but it exceeded it in every way possible. It was visceral, raw, bloody, gross, and all around awesome and beautiful.
5. The Trial by Franz Kafka
The entire story was colored with a sense of futility that was only amplified by the strangeness in the situation.