5 Star Books of 2024 (So Far)

[@dylannelson501]

The reason why you are great at this is because we can tell you care. A LOT. You can’t fake it. You were meant to do this, we are here to support you

[@KistReadsBooks]

@dylannelson501 that means the world, brother, appreciate you!

[@MHKaneHK]

Also LOVE that you're on KZbin. I've been following you on Instagram as I try to rebuild my near extinguished reading habit and I have loved many of the books you've recommended.

[@michelleizoco]

A Short Stay in Hell was SUCH a wild ride. It packed so much in so few pages and really made me think about what I believe about how I live my life. I'm dying to read Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 so I'm putting that on my TBR for the end of this year. Emma Southern is a new fave for me all because of you, so thank you for sharing her!

[@PoliticalFuturism]

Absolutely fantastic list, lots of things for me to dig into!

[@cj1986x]

I've been following Clint Smith on social media for years, and read all his posts during the time he was researching and interviewing for How the Word is Passed. Talk about dedication. It's just an amazing work.

[@ssj4077]

Best book I read this year is Project Hail Mary, recommended by you. Started the First Law Trilogy also thanks to you. Goal is to finish that whole monster this year.

[@KistReadsBooks]

@@ssj4077 heck yeah, appreciate the update!

[@jm2145]

I really enjoyed your just-enough detailed reviews and highlighting books I don't think I would come across otherwise. Thank you!

[@TimeTravelReads]

I read Destiny Disrupted a while ago. It was very good, as was his other book. Making the Presidency by Lindsay Chervinsky was excellent if you want a new release on American history. The Once and Future Sex by Eleanor Janega was an interesting look at women's roles in medieval Europe. Tradition by Barbara Isenberg was about the making of Fiddler on the Roof. I read the first four books of the Time Traders series by Andre Norton. It's an older sci-fi series featuring time and space travel. It's fun so far.

[@gingerholloway9264]

Glad you started the You Tube Channel! I taught Kindred for the first time last year, and my students loved it. Another book you should absolutely read is Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. The novel follows two sisters and their descendants: One sister is forced to marry the British man in charge of the slave trade at the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana. The other sister is shipped to the US. The novel follows the history of the descendants of the two sisters for generations. The book is amazing.

[@KistReadsBooks]

@@gingerholloway9264 ive got it, been meaning to get to it! And thank you for the support

[@luizappicanco]

This was both enjoyable and informative. Please keep going.

[@Noahhttps]

A Short Stay In Hell makes you think everything you believe could be wrong. It’s hard for your brain to wrap itself around the possibilities or lack thereof once we kick the bucket. Happy you’re on KZbin now 👍🏻🙂

[@KistReadsBooks]

glad you're here too!

[@grand-merev.1104]

Project Hail Mary audio version is pitch perfect. A favorite this year for sure.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

my preferred reading format is physical, but the audio for PHM is the way to go! it really brought my favorites character to life.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

I read 90 books so far this year and so many bangers! I'll have to go through my journal at home and come back to list some out.

[@thomasslonka8879]

I liked Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo and also her 2019 novel Saha published in US in English in 2023. Keep doing it!

[@Insanity0107]

Best book this year would be either Stoner or Augustus, by John Williams. Both are great works of existential fiction, and will haunt you for some time.

[@budcobb8154]

Joe Abercrombie is on my short list of TBR!

[@samuelmonson70]

Knew you'd LOVE Project Hail Mary. Andy Weir legitimately doesn't miss.

[@ryanaustin1576]

Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman is my 5 star read of the year!

[@IAmEric2010]

Lonesome Dove, The Stand, Killers of the flower moon & Project Hail Mary all 5 star for me this year 👐 *Jazz Hands* 👐

[@KistReadsBooks]

I really gotta read those first 3

[@andrewfreer972]

Say Nothing - Patrick Radden Keefe Cuddy - Benjamin Myers The Anomaly - Herve Le Tellier All five star for different reasons. Say nothing is historical narrative non fiction at its finest. It is a David Grann level book for me. Cuddy is historical fiction of such inventiveness that I found it breathtaking. Focusing on St Cuthbert, the patron saint of the northern England, and the foundation of Durham Cathedral. The book tracks four stories over 1000 years with whom Cuddy interacts with. The anomaly - unique and existential. Not more to say

[@KistReadsBooks]

The History Sickos Book Club read Say Nothing recently and it was a hit. Thanks for the other recs!

[@Tastyeconomics]

Ordering these from my local bookstore today!

[@loganrennegarbe7131]

Read King Leopold's Ghost in college for a European History class and it was a haunting book, so well written. I read Project Hail Mary after seeing your recommendation on Instagram and loved every bit of it. 5 stars for sure. A 5 star read for me this year that I don't think gets as much recognition (maybe because its 10 years old) is City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennet. It is book 2 of the Divine Cities trilogy and it may be the best book I've read this year. The first one is great as well a 4 star for me, and I am currently reading the third. Would highly recommend to those that like fantasy/sci-fi and spy thrillers.

[@KistReadsBooks]

thanks for the PHM update and the rec!

[@level10wizards9]

Another Banger Michael! Defo putting a few of these on my next book haul collection. ‘A time of blood’ book 2 in the ‘Of blood and bone’ series by John Gwynne for me has been my favourite read so far. Fairly new into the reading scene and it’s been magical!

[@KistReadsBooks]

@@level10wizards9 love Gwynne, gotta try that series (and thank you!)

[@jenniferst.george810]

if you haven't read it, I recommend the Poppy War by RF Kuang. (she borrows themes from the Nanking atrocities)

[@thebrothersgwynne]

Abercrombie is just beyond awesome! King Leopold's Ghost is very high on my list.... Will

[@KistReadsBooks]

@@thebrothersgwynne it's a crazy ride

[@eddiemcfellow1351]

Could you make a video about the best history books for beginners to quickly get a good overview?

[@IndoorSasquatch]

Love all of these picks, Destiny Disrupted was actually a textbook in one of my lectures a few years ago and it easily made that class my favorite to prepare for. Total non-sequester but as a book influencer do you ever feel pressured to give a book, specifically fiction, that is very popular online a higher score?

[@KistReadsBooks]

@@IndoorSasquatch that's awesome! And no, I think the most important reviews are when you are lower than the consensus and you have to explain why, I think it builds audience trust

[@kevintowle9665]

Awesome video!

[@MHKaneHK]

I've been contemplating picking up Project Hail Mary lately, because I have had literally a dozen people recommend it, but I've been hesitant because the last Andy Weir book I read was Artemis which was... incredibly, exasperatingly disappointing, to put it the nicest way I can. Is it genuinely that good?

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

PHM is really good.. I recommend the audiobook.. for reasons.. 😊

[@_manule]

HUGE THANK YOU for the recommendation of A Short Stay in Hell. Exactly like you said, read it in a couple of hours and count out it down. Can you recommend similar books or stories like that?

[@elzbietasmela7998]

Nuclear war and The Challenger are my 5* so far this year.

[@FrazCrowe]

Another banger already! You've actually got me considering reading Andy Weir again. Loved The Martian, but Artemis was one of the worst cases of an author doing a pretty terrible job at writing a female lead character, in my opinion, but the concept for Hail Mary sounds perfect for me. Keep em coming 😁

[@KistReadsBooks]

appreciate the support!

[@joshgilbert5885]

4 Books have gotten 5 Stars from me so far this year: The Last Wish - An incredible short story compilation in the world of The Witcher Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - The novel that inspired the Bladerunner universe, but a much different tone than the films Batman: The Killing Joke - The ultimate Joker origin story The Road - As a dad to two young sons, this book absolutely wrecked me emotionally

[@KistReadsBooks]

I read Killing Joke recently and it was awesome, and YES to The Road, I've read it twice and it has broken me twice

[@theclassy4]

Have you read any of the Suneater series? I feel like it would be right up your alley

[@KistReadsBooks]

I havent yet but I have book one and am clearing some space before diving in. Also debating on waiting a touch more as it's unfinished.

[@mathiassommer1851]

I read the First Law trilogy this year so that is a 5 star for me. Other than that Piranesi is a 5 star, yet to read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell!

[@KistReadsBooks]

Piranesi was very cool

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Yes!! I think Abercrombie steps his game up in The Age of Madness. The writing and plot is much tighter than the previous trilogy. Yes, First Law has the best characters, hands down, but TAoM is a better overall trilogy imo. Excellent video my man.

[@KistReadsBooks]

yeah like A Little Hatred compared to The Blade Itself.. it's night and day imo.. like there's an actual plot haha and the pacing is tighter, just a more polished book 1 overall

[@hughgeaney8901]

The best book I've read this year has to be The Wager by David Grann

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

loved that one! read it last year.

[@Chronatoss]

Reading Destiny Disrupted after Rape of Nanking and I definitely gotta get my hands on How the Word is Passed

[@KistReadsBooks]

tremendous lineup!

[@martialonso8983]

Algorithmic comment

[@davidkivo6245]

I need NEED to read Project Hail Mary. The only thing that’s stopped me from buying it yet is that I live in Ireland, so we get the UK editions, and the UK cover is awful, which may be a petty reason, but it’s enough for me

[@KistReadsBooks]

Oh yeah that cover is BUSTED lmao

[@davidkivo6245]

@@KistReadsBooks UK editions man…

[@suadasheikh9298]

Do you plan to write your own book at any point?

[@KistReadsBooks]

@suadasheikh9298 I plan on procrastinating about it yeah

[@marciaalbaum2597]

bear jilia phillips