The Washington Post’s Ten Best Books of 2024

[@altanava]

Dear Greg, maybe it’s worth looking at other country’s politics and history to find some answers for America, I’m Mexican-American living in Mexico and over here we’re living a glorious political, social, economic and liberal period that started 6 years ago but has its roots in the final years of the 90s. I’d be so glad to let you know all about it so you can regain hope, I used to think it would never ever happen but it did and millions of Mexicans are enjoying the results of years of resistance and hardship.

[@spoonierv1543]

May I ask, are there any English language writers or books, or available in English language translation, that have written about this that you might suggest? Thank you.

[@altanava]

@spoonierv1543 Let me look for it. If I don't find anything good enough I'll try to write something my self.

[@1202mariana]

I deeply appreciate that you make the review of the list. I hold the same core belief that you have about both papers so think of it as a public service to all of us book lovers😊

[@SupposedlyFun]

I do what I can! 😊

[@karakoppanyi3845]

I have stopped my subscriptions to the Washington Post and the NYT but appreciate your comments about this list !,

[@SupposedlyFun]

Happy to share the list for anyone curious.

[@goodcitizen3027]

Me too.

[@martham9980]

My next TBR is a reread of Huckleberry Finn, followed by James.

[@juanasmith7223]

My husband is reading them in reverse. He thoroughly enjoyed James

[@Megora07]

Just a heads up that the first half of the book is almost an exact mirror of Huck Finn. I read them back to back and almost gave up on James, because I felt like I was reading the same book. Everything changes around mid point, and it makes the novel the exceptional work of fiction that it is.

[@MMjones6459]

Thanks for talking about Bezos and The Washington Post. I enjoy reading their book reviews. I'm swayed by the fact that these are real people with ever shrinking journalism careers.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's a good point!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I'm always up for one of your list videos. Thanks, Greg.😀

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! 😊

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! 😊

[@larquel2]

As a bookseller, new shiny objects (covers) coming out and distracting you from what you want to read is such a mood....

[@SupposedlyFun]

It is!

[@dmurfval702]

I happen to like your videos sharing best books...gives me ideas. I have cut way, way back on what I buy from Amazon. If there's a lot of people like me doing this, it could hurt a little.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! And hopefully more people start to cut down on Amazon.

[@monaedoyle3631]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@SupposedlyFun]

Merry Christmas!

[@mame-musing]

James won the 2024 Kirkus Prize for fiction in addition to the National Book Award. The Kirkus Prize is almost never mentioned on Book Tube. At $50,000 for each of the winning authors, it’s pretty significant.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn’t do a dedicated video for the Kirkus Prize, but I believe I mentioned it in my Friday Reads that week. I love Kirkus’ reviews and the Prize is something I like to follow.

[@leslieshort8348]

Just finished listening to “The Overstory” and I recommend the audiobook. I am sure I wouldn’t have been able to get through it otherwise.

[@marylt]

I really enjoyed Colored Television and would be interested in hearing what you think about it. It's nice to see it featured in one of the best of the year lists because it didn't seem to get as much attention as it deserved. I am looking forward to checking out some of her other books.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It definitely feels like the buzz for Colored Television quieted down very quickly. Hopefully, this brings it back!

[@ten3381]

I love your description of books that some people love and some people hate as “cilantro books.”

[@SupposedlyFun]

It tickles me!

[@booksandbags]

I quit the NYT, but I am able to get the book review as a digital magazine from my library for free. You may want to consider that option.

[@melissafirman1962]

I'm in the same situation as you with The Overstory. I started it earlier this summer and keep putting it aside for other books, then coming back to it briefly, rinse and repeat. I always (or, most often) am reading several books at once and The Overstory feels like one best read in longer chunks of time because of the many characters. I have a flight with a 3 hour layover next week so I'm thinking maybe that's the time to finish this. We'll see. Agree with you on the WP and NYT re: the election coverage. It's very distressing and upsetting, especially considering the outcome.

[@SupposedlyFun]

At some point, I'll see if the audio of The Overstory helps me get through it. We'll find out!

[@minohan6798]

V13 is a great book. The author maintains a distance with the trial, since he is a journalist, but the compilation of his observations is quite touching. Carrere is a marvelous storyteller.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks!

[@aletachristopherson7847]

I appreciate your conversations w us

[@philstrand]

Colored Television is definitely satire and done very well. I think it would likely appeal to fans of Percival Everett, in general, and Erasure, in particular. Not surprising the two have similar taste in fiction. James and Colored Television are both in my top five books of 2024. James is #1. Congrats to Everett and Senna on their recent success and recognition. Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts, bookish and otherwise!

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's so fun that they both released books this year and have had such success.

[@carriegarlock9194]

I appreciate you doing these lists. Most of the booktubers I watch only go over the Goodreads awards. And I find other books that I have an interest in that are not the most popular books.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@HakimALIGHT]

Great video. I love Carrère and haven't read V13 year, I look forward to it now.

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

Hi Greg! Emmanuel Carrère is an amazing French novelist. I don’t know if the translation does him justice and I haven’t read this one but I’d give this one a go for sure!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@DBabs-b3j]

I'm in the middle of When the Clock Broke. It does dip back even farther than the 90s- Huey Long in Louisiana, Reagan, Duke, and much more. Just so sad how long this has been going on and how entrenched it is.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's good to know--thanks!

[@eheider8820]

Are you going to review the other categories like mysteries? Would love to see more.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I haven't even had a chance to look at those lists yet, but may do so if I can get access to them (I'm locked out of the 50 notable list).

[@pham2438]

Totally agree about your thoughts on When the Clock Broke. I have only read My Friends and James on this list and both were really good.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m glad I’m not alone!

[@18Alpine]

I'm so glad it is not only me when it comes to Richard Powers.

[@SupposedlyFun]

There are more of us out there!

[@AnaReads19]

I've read James and My Friends and they are both great. Personally, I connected with My Friends more, but James is amazing. For genre reading, I liked God of the Woods by Liz Moore for mystery, and loved The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett for fantasy.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I've heard good things about God of the Woods.

[@junipernin]

I think my favorite 2024 release I read this yesr was Coexistence by Billy Ray Belcourt! Short story collection and indigenous & queer (and often both) people. Their work is always so dreamy & imaginative.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I wasn't in love with A Minor Chorus but I thought its intention was fascinating, so I would try another of Belcourt's books.

[@junipernin]

@@SupposedlyFun A Minor Chorus is on my TBR for next year. Ive previously read A Brief History of My Body (essays) & NDN Coping Mechanisms (poetry), and found his fiction to be my favorite so far.

[@ameliareads589]

I've read V13, since I remember very vividly the news about this attack. A devastating read.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It sounds like something I should try to get to!

[@ameliareads589]

@SupposedlyFun Knowing you a bit, Greg, I think it would be hard for you to stomach.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@ameliareads589 Good to know! Thanks.

[@chadbuff]

Thanks for reviewing the list, Greg. I found Colored Television to be just fine and honestly fairly forgettable, but know others have enjoyed it more. I really enjoyed When the Clock Broke; I understand your hesitations, but I really liked the way Ganz covers the events from the 1990s (it's not entirely about the '92 race, by the way) and ties enough together to make the thesis stand on its own.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I have read James My Friends ( highly recommend) I’m currently listening to Playground but I’m not enjoying it in the way I enjoyed The Overstory.

[@SupposedlyFun]

📚 🥂

[@formerrepublican6463]

Sincere question- If we don’t read the NYT or Washington Post, where should we get our daily news??

[@SupposedlyFun]

I've had more satisfying news coverage from NPR. They at least don't publish op-eds promoting terrible people/ideology, and they don't shamelessly seek traffic by platforming bad characters.

[@aamnahere6250]

There are plenty of alternative media websites and channels. The kind of extensive reporting they've been doing for quite a while now has not been seen from the NYT and WP in the last 50 years if not more.

[@readandre-read]

​@@SupposedlyFunI second the NPR recommendation. The coverage is thoughtful without being inflammatory just for the sake of drama. They also have more coverage of how different marginalized groups are affected by policies and world events. On TV I like the PBS Newshour.

[@peaseblossom4252]

The Guardian is a good news site.

[@mradcaqbdb]

Since I dropped the NYT in 2023 and the Post earlier this year, I’ve been considering what other papers are worth following. It seems like the Philadelphia Inquirer is a good one, although I haven’t looked at their Arts coverage. I may get a digital subscription for them. V13 sounds fantastic and I will definitely be reading it. Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have it and I always forget where on their website you can request that they get a copy. The audiobook narrator is terrible from the brief sample I listened to, so I think I’m going to buy this one. I remember the coverage of the Bataclan attack so vividly. The author’s approach sounds not at all true crime, so this could be very interesting. Not terribly impressed with the fiction list outside of James and My Friends. I’m getting a bit tired of Powers being everywhere every time he releases a book.

[@maggs4400]

Interestingly enough, I read Erasure and Colored Television back to back. It might seem like they're tackling similar topics, but I thought they were actually pretty different. While Erasure is more of a satire on the book industry and its approach towards race, I felt like Colored Television had a lot more to say about class disparities and the housing market. I'm also loving all the praise for Percival Everett. James isn't my favorite of his books, but I still highly enjoyed it. My Friends is my favorite of the books on this list.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I think it would be fascinating to read both of those books and see the different directions they go in.

[@AdyGrafovna]

I read the Overstory and Bewilderment and honestly just didn’t get the hype for either of them. I didn’t read Playground because I have a feeling that maybe this is just not the author for me. I think that even critically acclaimed books and writers sometimes just don’t work for every reader. Powers is likely not crying over the fact that a reader from a small town in Michigan isn’t interested. 🤷‍♀️

[@SupposedlyFun]

I feel like Powers is a cilantro author: people either love his work or can't get into it at all.

[@TheLeniverse]

The ending of James is a bit wild, but the ending of Huckleberry Finn is so awful that I was just thrilled to see Everett change it completely 😂 I am one of those who thing that My Friends should have been shortlisted for the Booker, so I definitely recommend it and would love to hear your thoughts on it. Playground, on the other hand, I am lukewarm about. The way the Black character was written made me cringe. And I think that Washington Post reviewer must be a bit limited in his reading if he can't think of any other novel that has... what was it, a more "expansive and disorienting vision" of the earth's plight? I could recommend him a book or two, especially if he's willing to step out of a narrow lit-fic reading list. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson to start with.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I've heard some grumbling about that particular character in Playground, and it doesn't sound great.

[@renee1292]

I agree with everything you mentioned. This election brought out the worst of people. Thankfully we have good books to read. I appreciate and enjoy your videos.

[@debranelson123]

I feel the same way about Bezos and the WP. People only listen to the NYT and the WP because they think they’re going to get closer to the truth but that’s only if they do not let people influence them because of money. Thank you for your thoughts on that subject. Also, thank you for your thoughts on these books lists. Really helpful.

[@lock67ca]

I went out and got the last three Richard Powers novels because of all the hype. I've gotten about half way through The Overstory before it started to feel like a bit of a slog. Fantastic opening chapter, but the longer it went on....I'm starting to feel a little skittish on the other two, even though they're much shorter.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I lost steam the more storylines that got added to The Overstory, but I’ll give it a try again someday.

[@irena7777777]

I found the Overstory a bit messy towards the end. It’s a fine book but definitely not my favourite Pulitzer winner.

[@calebandrews3271]

Was enjoying this until you sang praises for “James” and followed that up with the admission that you couldn’t finish “Overstory,” which is a masterpiece. We - and this is a perfectly fine thing - have different tastes.

[@readandre-read]

I love James and My Friends was also excellent. I was disappointed with Colored Television. Sharply written and often funny but the second half sort of fell into tropes for me. But the reviews are great, so it's obviously working for a lot of people!

[@franciscaneumann1803]

The endorsment to Kamala Harris would have not made a difference

[@Book-noob]

That's not the point though it's the fact the owner of a paper had stepped in and censured the reporters from endorsing a candidate, something that most publications do.

[@SupposedlyFun]

👆 👆 👆

[@joanwoodbury8905]

Stone Yard Devotional is not out in the US yet.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Good point. 🤪

[@schmup53]

I couldn’t finish Overstory either. I’ve always assumed something was wrong with me.

[@SupposedlyFun]

There are many of us out there! But lots of fans as well.

[@ericgeneric135]

I'm glad that Bezos didn't step in and tell the editors they couldn't take a side on which were the best books of the year! 😆

[@SupposedlyFun]

😂🤣

[@scotthacker2265]

I have read Erasure, Colored Television and James. I feel the best book was James.

[@SupposedlyFun]

James is an incredible book.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

I stopped my NYT subscription this summer. Horrible coverage.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It’s almost like they’re trying to be awful.

[@amandatrask9695]

I am experiencing the same quandary regarding NYT and WAPO, but understand that many of the reporters were not responsible for the owners/editors’ actions. Sigh. Having trouble navigating this dissonant and frightening world.

[@bstephens44]

Those who work for these captured media companies are victims too but that does not outweigh the fact that what used to be journalism is now simply a support structure bowing down to the emerging fascist state. Maybe the employees should quit en masse and start their own newspapers. It would not be the first time newspaper employees did that, although previous examples were from an era when people had the courage of their convictions. So sad that the Washington Post, the paper that doggedly stayed with the rotten Watergate story and essentially defined investigative journalism, has now folded and abandoned democracy. Shameful.

[@amandatrask9695]

You are right.

[@junipernin]

Also the english translation of Mammoth by Eva Baltasar came out & wow that book is amazing!! Finishes out a novella trilogy of sorts about lesbian women who are somwhat stuck or lost. This one was just… wow… touches on survival & intimacy idk read it!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I keep requesting that my library purchase Mammoth and they haven't. I may need to get my own copy at some point.

[@junipernin]

@ I’m unsure of if it is within your taste and I can’t think of any comp titles truly… but I hope they order it and you can spend a sitting immersed in it!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@junipernin I loved Boulder! The library purchased that, so it's annoying that they wouldn't get Mammoth.

[@junipernin]

@ Ohhhhhhh yeah you’ll like it!!! I’ve also read Boulder but I enjoyed Mammoth more… have yet to read Permafrost. Now that I’m thinking about it I might have read Boulder because of your reccomendation… so thank you!

[@annegibson6072]

I read Danzy Senna's book Caucasia. It was her first novel. It explores the issue of biracial people. I have not read Colored Television.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’ve heard good things about Caucasia.

[@junipernin]

On I Heard Her Call My Name - A Memoir of Transition, I did it on audio and found the first bit charming and zany! It kinda lagged on a little, and I left it kinda confused as to my takeaways. I’m proud of her, but it was not the most unique memoir. As a trans woman though, maybe I was approaching it with different expectations than a cis reader. Would be interested to hear your thoughts, but I’d personally skip it (shrug)

[@junipernin]

I guess hearing about later in life transition was interesting just wish she waited a few years to write it

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's interesting perspective--thank you for sharing. I may still try it at some point!

[@DanDonahue-s2w]

First time watching one of your videos. I must be honest, at six minutes in and you still haven’t even started with the first book l, you are losing me.

[@1guiltfree]

Yea 2024 is done!!! Lets move on.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m feeling pre-exhausted for what 2025 will bring in the news.

[@nataliemerryman3520]

John Ganz is not a simplistic thinker. One of the most interesting experts relating to the history of the right and great guest on multiple podcasts long before this book.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I'm not trying to say that he's a simplistic thinker, just that I'm not convinced you can point to one single event as the thing that led to where we are.

[@hopek7033]

American Fiction was a good idea, but it wandered around too much

[@user-if4ux9io8q]

Books have been not so great this year. Besides James, I haven’t been too excited for the drops this year.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It has definitely been a good year for books!

[@user-if4ux9io8q]

@ do you do a “best of 2024” list? If so, I’ll check out your recommendations. Our tastes are very similar in books. Which is why I love your page!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@user-if4ux9io8q We do film a best of the year video! We wait until the year is officially over, so it's usually the first video of the new year.

[@tidyhippie]

Really appreciate you calling out the NYT for their anti-trans reporting. There may be a way to subscribe to just the book review, at least in print. I read Colored Television as an audiobook and thought it was just okay. I was mainly disappointed because it wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be. I haven’t read Erasure, but I really enjoyed American Fiction, and I didn’t think about its similarities to Colored Television, even though I was aware of the connection between Senna and Everett. It’s an interesting point, and I’d be curious to hear what you think of the book! My Friends is on my list as well. :)

[@1Marshanne]

i Stopped my subscriptions also.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m a big believer in voting with your wallet!

[@DeniseVaughn-l1e]

I wish the books were listed. No need to listen to someone talk about books they haven’t read.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Congratulations on missing the point, going out of your way to be snarky about missing the point, and ignoring the fact that if all you want is the list all you need to do is literally look at the list instead of watching this video. You've achieved quite a lot today.

[@melanietoth7015]

I am so not interested in your political opinions

[@SupposedlyFun]

Congratulations? Good news: you can either skip over parts of a video or (radical idea here) just not watch at all.

[@monaedoyle3631]

I’m sorry but who are the people that pick these books ? There is never any romance books on their lists at all. Does nobody at the Washington Post ever pick up a romance book ? They have discounted many good romance books that should be on their list.

[@karakask5488]

"Best of" lists for some reason hate genre books. They might throw one onto their "notable" list, just to show how they really don't look down on genre, maybe.

[@SupposedlyFun]

The Washington Post does specific lists about the best books in genre categories, but it is disappointing that the genre books don't break into the overall top ten.

[@debbieharrison4288]

The WP often lists romance books in their Book Section that comes out on Sundays

[@johnwmclaverty]

Supporting the Washington Post at any level after the cowardly decision of their billionaire owner's decision to not support either political party is amazing so who cares about their opinion on such important issues such as books. Great comments on Amazon and WP. It is more than wierd. It is totally disgusting

[@Vyborne]

I was all set to listen to your video but you had to continually mouth off about politics so I will not watch. Who cares about your politics? I thought it was a list of books? You guys need to get over the election which was weeks ago -- stop being sore losers.

[@Robin-c9p]

Your definition of a sore loser is incorrect. A sore loser is someone who whines for four years about a "stolen election". 🙄

[@SupposedlyFun]

🙄 🙄 👋 👋

[@audreyh7892]

You aren't going to watch but you can't resist being a jerk in the comments....:). Says more than you know.

[@Vyborne]

@@audreyh7892 So what does it say that you stooped so low as to bother to reply to me, a stranger? Are you not interested in the video? Lame. I have a WP subscription and can read the list in 30 seconds; the sorry ass dude talking about politics in a book video said upfront that he didn't read the books. So why are you here? Small channel.

[@maria83maria]

Sorry i'm not American and i don't want to insult anybody, but my question is what do you read generaly? Books are sometimes political, classics are. Why even write a comment if you can not be nice?

[@AdyGrafovna]

I read the Overstory and Bewilderment and honestly just didn’t get the hype for either of them. I didn’t read Playground because I have a feeling that maybe this is just not the author for me. I think that even critically acclaimed books and writers sometimes just don’t work for every reader. Powers is likely not crying over the fact that a reader from a small town in Michigan isn’t interested. 🤷‍♀️

[@SupposedlyFun]

Definitely true that not everyone will be into a particular book or author. And that's fine!