We are well past the halfway mark for 2024. A time to step back to gauge how the reading year has been.
This year, I have veered towards lighter reads and re-reads. 2024 has not been kind. A lot has been happening on the personal and professional front and reading time has been limited. I have also been very picky and shelving books that were not working for me. Another year of record DNFs, some I might come back to later.
I have dropped the ball on the reading updates. Course correcting, I share my favorite picks of 2024 so far. Consider it a half-year reading update although I am a good month overdue. Books not necessarily published in 2024, but the ones I read this year. It was difficult to limit myself to 12 books and you may find a few from the feel-good books list I shared last week.
On the top of the list is a book close to my heart. My first anthology.
Brave Inked Emotions is a collection of 31 soulful life experiences of women across all ages. Personal stories by women who took challenges head-on. Presented and edited by Roma Gupta Sinha, a book that not only empowers but also inspires and uplifts.
Although a contributor, reading the consolidated stories was quite an experience. Check out the spotlight on the book including interviews, reviews, and inputs from the co-authors. I cannot recommend the book enough. It has already begun making an impact with readers finding solace and hope in the experiences shared.
Healing and compassion all with a remarkably bright giant octopus.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is the story of a recently widowed Tova who still hasn’t found closure for the accidental death of her only child 30 years back. About an escape artist Marcellus, a giant octopus who dreams of returning to the sea.
Suchita Agarwal chose the book as the prize for winning the Bookish League March Blog Hop and I got myself a copy too. So glad I did because I absolutely loved the book. My top read of 2024! A book definitely worth the hype.
Living on a magical island as an author’s sidekick? A booklover’s dream and Lucy Hart’s too as a child. So much so that she ran away from home to be one.
The Wishing Game, a bookish Willy Wonka, is about children’s books and the charm that never fades away. A feel-good book with riddles to solve. About good deeds and kindness. The magic of books. The joy of reading.
If you enjoy reading books about books, pick this one. You will not be disappointed.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library had been doing the rounds on social media earlier this year and I had been avoiding it for the same reason. Hyped books often end up disappointing. But when my favorite bookstagrammers recommended it, I knew I had to pick it up.
Sayuri Komachi is a librarian who can sense the right book for the borrower. A collection of 5 stories about characters at the crossroads saved by the right book. Sometimes all we need is a change in perspective, a gentle nudge.
Do pick the book if you haven’t already. Another one worth the hype.
Meddy and Nathan land in Jakarta after their honeymoon to celebrate the Chinese New Year with the family. With Aunties around, things are bound to go haywire. And they do.
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is the final book in the Aunties series and a riot. Over-the-top plot, wild banter, hare-brained schemes. Throw some crime lords in the mix.
I am going to miss the loveable characters and their antics but the author’s new one looks equally promising with the madcap first book – Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.
Senior Citizens’ Social Club members join forces with the kids at the day care center to save their community center building. Clare Pooley does it again with a heartwarming read with loveable characters. The book is a riot.
The author explores topics such as ageism and aging, infidelity, and teenage parenthood without being preachy. The seniors are the stars of the book refusing to be relegated to the background. With septuagenarians and octogenarians in the family, I could relate to the book.
Highly recommended if you need a pick-me-up or otherwise. Can someone option the book for a movie, please?
Three lonely, broken souls (two kids and a much older lady) strike an unlikely friendship. Brought together by grief and loss. Unfortunate events tear them apart only to be brought back together as life comes full circle.
Spanning decades, Xanadu is a heartwarming read about friendships, hope, and found family. About finding peace and paradise.
I have the privilege of calling Harshita Nanda a friend and am a big fan of her writing. Her debut book was long overdue and I picked it up on a particularly overwhelming day. It sure did lift my spirits and left me with a smile on my face.
Manali Desai is a prolific writer who has authored 8 books across genres. A blogger friend who can spin stories out of thin air.
Heartstrings and Harmonies is a collection of 29 stories across themes of love, hope, and resilience. Some that make you introspect, some comforting, and some that bring a smile to your face. A compilation of prompt-based stories on her blog beautifully interwoven around a Bollywood song.
True to its name, the stories tug at the heartstrings with harmonies for comfort.
Is my taste actually my own? Or is it one curated by equations developed by Silicon Valley engineers?
Filterworld by Kyle Chayka explores how the algorithm influences almost every decision of our life. Art. Literature. Movies. Food. Travel. Fashion. Dating. So much so that choosing an experience that is not engaging feels radical. How we as content creators are helping flatten the curve by feeding the beast. Although based on anecdotes and observations, it does make an interesting read.
Florence Day is dealing with a writer’s (read ghostwriter’s) block all thanks to a nasty break-up. She returns home after a decade to help her family bury her father. Only to find a ghost at the funeral parlor’s doorstep.
Although marketed as a love story between a ghostwriter and a ghost (editor), The Dead Romantics is a lot more than that. It is about grief and healing. About family coming together to celebrate the lost one’s life. About closure and self-belief. It reminded me of a particular episode in the Ghost Whisperer series but in a good way.
Highly recommend it although it can be triggering with the grief aspect. Do check out The Seven Year Slip by the author too.
60% of the world’s population is directly affected by disability. Be it a person with a disability or a caregiver. Truly an invisible majority.
With a decade of research and personal stories, The Invisible Majority is a sensitive, holistic view of the lives of persons with disabilities and how we can make India a more inclusive nation. Beyond the mere tokenism. Tackling myths and prejudices.
It is high time we stop expecting them to adapt to the world instead of the other way around. This book is a must-read.
A city with such a rich history and monuments, Delhi has its fair share of supernatural stories too.
The Haunting of Delhi City is a collection of 9 horror stories set in Delhi. From Connaught Place to Mehrauli. From Lutyens’ Delhi to a nondescript tree in Dwarka, Sector 9. Tales quintessentially Delhi. Tales sure to give you goosebumps.
Urban legends or true? We never know. If you are a Delhi-ite like me, you would surely not see the places the same way ever again.
Hope I have made another dent into your TBR! How has your reading year been? Do you have some recommendations for me? Do share in the comments below.
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.
Photo credit: Canva.com
August 3, 2024 @ 10:54 am
Thanks, Ritu..I always go to your blog posts whenever I need to get a new book. Every recommendation of yours is worth a buy..
August 3, 2024 @ 11:51 pm
I reached the list till Xanadu and was already smiling because I loved that book and then beneath it I saw Heartstrings and Harmonies which was totally unexpected. Thank you so much Ritu! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me seeing my book on this list and that you were finally able to not only read one of my books but that you also enjoyed it big warm hug 🤗
August 4, 2024 @ 5:20 am
That’s good reading. I have bookmarked Everything You Are Looking For Is In The Library and The Haunting of Delhi (simply because we live here).
August 6, 2024 @ 9:19 am
How to Age Disgracefully has hit your top list. Yes, so this definitely will be my next read. I think I need some laughs after finishing an intense current read.
August 7, 2024 @ 5:02 pm
Two Of the books in the list I read so far and the remaining also look very promising to me and I think I should pick a few of your recommendations for my read. Thanks dear for the recommendations.
August 8, 2024 @ 4:41 pm
Lots to read. I am planning with xanadu and Manila Desai’s book Heart strings and Harmonies. How to age disgracefully is already recommended in an earlier post. Oops too many to read.
Noticed a broken link in the first suggestion in this blog post:
About an escape artist Marcellus, a giant octopus who dreams of returning to the sea. ( The flow I felt was missing)
August 7, 2024 @ 9:37 pm
Brave Inked Emotions is on the top! Your favourite books are all a treasure. You know that I admire your reading choices although I cannot read much. Right now going through physical illness which is giving me lots of anxiety. I wish I had a magic wand to cure me.
August 9, 2024 @ 8:14 am
Ritu, I always check out your blog for books recommendations. Your book choice is worthy. I wanted to read Manali book and Age disgracefully. I also wanted to check Braved Inked Emotions because it is collection of all bloggers stories whom I know.
August 9, 2024 @ 3:14 pm
What an amazing list of fav reads Ritu… loved their diversity. I will be honest, I wasn’t aware of Heartstrings by Manali… I read about it in another blog too this week. I will surely read that if not any other.
August 9, 2024 @ 6:16 pm
I am so happy to see Brave Inked Emotions on the list. I have read the book and it is very good. I am going to read How to Age Disgracefully next. Someone told me it is about characters my age 😀
August 9, 2024 @ 9:56 pm
I love how you just love books 🙂 this is a lovely collection of different kinds of books, and i am adding a few of them to by TBR. Just picked up What you are looking for is in the Library.
and I am so glad you loved all the authors writings in the anthology 🙂
August 10, 2024 @ 11:57 am
I always check out blog posts like this when I’m looking for new book recommendations. I’ve read only two of the books listed here; I’ll buy the rest in December based on your suggestions.
August 10, 2024 @ 12:16 pm
I had read only Brave Inked Emotions on your list. I would really love to read the light fictional ones and the haunting one too. Bookmarking this list.
August 11, 2024 @ 10:33 pm
These are some really amazing recommendations. I think I read about The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties in one of your previous posts too, if I am not mistaken. I have my eye on this book and am planning to get into it soon. Even the book ‘How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley’ sounds very interesting. The plot is so movie worthy.
August 12, 2024 @ 10:23 am
Wow, such a great collection of the book. I would love to read these books especially to start with, I am going to pick The Wishing Game and The Haunting of Delhi City. Saving it right away to collect all these books for my home library.
August 12, 2024 @ 5:47 pm
That’s quite a varied list of titles you’ve read till now, Ritu. Happy to see Brave Inked Emotions as your top pick. Manali gifted me her book the other day at the Blogchatter meet, can’t wait to dig into it.
August 30, 2024 @ 5:16 pm
I haven’t read any of these books. Each book shared by you is a treasure to read and enjoy. I have book marked this post to choose my next book. Thanks for sharing these.
September 7, 2024 @ 12:41 pm
Ritu, I don’t know what to say. I always look forward to your listicles and to see my book there is so overwhelming!! Thank you so so much!
Regarding the rest of the blog post, I added so many books to my TBR after reading your blog posts. Haunting in Delhi and Dead Romantics is going on the TBR. Jesse Sutanto is a brilliant writer and her Vera Wong was one of my top reads this year.
September 15, 2024 @ 11:01 am
It’s, again, a lovely list; the post looks SO attractive because of beautiful covers.
I have heard a lot about The Haunting of Delhi City. The author writes very engaging Twitter posts.