The Best Books of 2024 (so far) according to Time

Here I discuss Time magazine's top 10 books of 2024 so far, what I want to read and the books I'm not so keen to get to. Click ‘Show More’ for info & links.
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Join my bookclub: / thelonesomereaderbookclub
Time's best books of 2024 so far: time.com/6984306/best-books-2...
Books discussed & purchase links:
There's Always This Year, Hanif Abdurraqib
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978024...
Martyr!, Kaveh Akbar
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978103...
Beautyland, Marie-Helene Bertino
James, Percival Everett
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978103...
Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Xochitl Gonzalez
Coming Home, Brittney Griner
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978191...
Splinters, Leslie Jamison
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978178...
Real Americans, Rachel Khong
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978152...
The Book of Love, Kelly Link
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978180...
We Loved It All, Lydia Millet
uk.bookshop.org/a/9054/978132...
My full reviews of some of these books:
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
• Does Literature Give L...
James by Percival Everett
• James by Percival Ever...
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[@sgaston3969]

I have read Hanif Abdurraquib's book There is always this year, it was fantastic! He is a poet and his writing is both beautiful and economical. It really is not about basketball. It is about his life

[@hayleystenger2799]

He is one of my favorite authors. His writing brings me to tears.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Great, thank you

[@hrh597788]

Beautyland and The Book of Love are two that I hope to read. I just finished The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. It seems to be flying under the radar but it is terrific. Highly recommend!

[@joanneorrico1761]

Currently reading Beautyland and thoroughly enjoying it; didn’t think it was my type of book, but it is beautiful and riveting.

[@joanneorrico1761]

Hi Eric! As always, I enjoy the way you talk about books. I am currently immersed in Beautyland. Didn’t think it was my type of book, but it is riveting; beautiful, insightful, and charming. One of NYT best books of 2024 so far as well. Heard good things about Real Americans; put a library hold on it. Thank you for another great video.

[@lindysmagpiereads]

It’s funny (and relatable!) about your confusion between two authors. Even though I have loved some (not all) of Kelly Link’s short stories, I haven’t tried her novel-mostly because the length is daunting. (Magic for Beginners is the collection I recommend.) Also, I really enjoyed Nell Zink’s novel Mislaid, which has a unique (absurd) premise and a whimsical tone.

[@brendalogan7940]

Hi Eric 👋. I always enjoy your videos on books and recommendations. Of these books I enjoyed listening to James. The narration was wonderful! Coming Home, Real Americans and We loved it all would be future books of interest for me to read. Thanks and Happy reading 📖

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thank you! 😊📚

[@amtm1982]

Amo tus videos! 🇲🇽

[@Rosiemayj]

From this list I have read James, which I loved and have just started reading Martyr!- I recently watched The Waterstones Debut authors shortlist- Interviews with 6 current authors including Keveh Akbar, they are all such engaging interviewee's Akbar in particular has some really interesting thoughts about writing, life and reading. I'm also looking forward to reading Splinters, and Real Americans at some point.

[@markhnk]

I'm almost certain that Carmen Maria Machado must have recommended Kelly Link. She blurbed some of her books and they had events together. I loved Kelly Link's short stories, and I have a copy of The Book of Love, but it's such a long book that I haven't gotten to it yet.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Ah, that solves the mystery! Thank you!

[@maureenjones6459]

I read Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez and probably didn't appreciate the many art references. I found her previous book Olga Dies Dreaming more approachable.

[@debbienutt5339]

I’m surprised The Women by Kristin Hannah isn’t on your list. It’s a story that’s a long time in coming.

[@bc-mv5se]

Yes. Martyr. Best of thecyear. But I'm sorry to notice we're not hearing more about Maniac. Also best.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

If you mean Labatut’s novel Maniac that was first published last year

[@maratrenzas673]

Donde se puede hallar justicia?

[@dqan7372]

Machado has a Kelly Link quote tattooed on her bicep.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Oh wow! Guess it was Kelly Link she recommended then. 😄

[@dqan7372]

@@EricKarlAnderson Maybe she lost a bet. ;) But, nah, she considers herself a Link Superfan and has shared the stage with her a handful of times at festivals, etc.

[@SelinaAllinson]

I feel like I must read James, immediately 😬

[@EricKarlAnderson]

There's no rush - but it is soooo good. 😊

[@jamesduggan7200]

Jamison's Splinters novel immediately brought to mind my current read, The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton. The poetess married and soon had a child but - like the protagonist of "Yellow Wallpaper" - was committed to a hospital with a diagnosis of Post-Partum Depression, a malady which perhaps returns the next year with the birth of her second child. I don't know exactly when Anne's marriage fell apart but I suppose you're aware of her eventual fate. As a single man in his 60s it isn't always easy for me to sympathize with some of the crises younger women must deal with.

[@giantcupofcoffee]

This is an odd list, I have to say. The chatter about Anita de Monte is that the author borrows too much from the life of the real person and doesn’t add enough original content. And I’m not interested in redeeming Brittney Griner. However one feels about ~substances, she knowingly brought them into Russia. The US had to trade dangerous criminals to get her back. She really, really screwed up. I’ve noticed that this has been a really weak year for literary releases that aren’t retellings.