📚🎉Top Reads of 2024

[@Yesica1993]

I never thought I'd write this sentence: My top book of the year was Moby Dick. That book hated me for YEARS. Years. I started it several times and I swear, it was like it was written in a foreign language. I could not follow it for anything. I even bought one of those abridged children's versions and barely got through that. It became an obsession to conquer it. (Fitting, given the themes.) I cannot explain why or how, but this August, it "clicked" for me. I could not put it down. It was a slog at times. But I kept on, and I wanted to keep on. I finished it standing outside, under the porch/stairs, reading by the light of the motion sensor, during an insane thunderstorm. It was PERFECT.

[@dougirvin2413]

Hi @Yesical, congratulations on your Melville! I used to tell people who struggled with Moby Dick (what with not being written in English and all LOL!) to read The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger. It's a great read and kind of helps get your sea legs underneath you before you try for The White Whale. It's like reading The Hobbit before the LOTR trilogy, gets you used to the atmosphere of Middle Earth. Ever tried Joseph Conrad's ocean stories?

[@mickeyhank]

I love your story!

[@Ael-tt6bd]

I seriously appreciate this channel existing! Happy new year!

[@anthonysuppa1118]

I read East of Eden about ten years ago, and one line always stood out to me. I'm paraphrasing here, but Steinbeck said that all ideas must begin with an individual. The masses can improve on ideas, but the idea itself must be born within the individual. I was shocked when I read this because it seemed to me to be in stark contrast to his collectivist ideas of the 1930s. This to me shows the strength of a writer. Steinbeck's views changed as he grew and evolved and as the circumstances of the world changed, and I really admire that. It's is so completely absent from our society today. Anyway, thank you so much for your wonderful channel. I love spending my time listening to your insights. Happy new year!

[@LuxVi7]

I also read Lonesome Dove in 2024 and is on my top reads of the year! Cannot wait to hear your review about it as well as East of Eden (one of my favorite books of all time) Happy new year Alana and thank you for all your work!

[@colorswordsandlearning]

Love Steinbeck and Camus . Haven't read East of Eden yet but read many other books from him esp the Grapes of Wrath . It's on my list alongwith Lonesome Dove to read in 2025 .

[@justafan9665]

I read East of Eden this year too. It is my new all time favorite. I think about it every day.

[@thelifeandtimesofjames4273]

Very interesting list. Combining some of my other booktubers most shouted out books/authors and some classics also. What I worry about in following you is I’m just following another beautiful woman who talks about books, books I like no less… my problem being I should really be here for the books. I find this conflicting. But will maintain until I can figure it out.

[@mikegseclecticreads]

I haven't read any of the others, but you picked a good one for your favorite this year

[@GreenGranny]

I just found your channel and subbed! Yes! Love your humor and style.

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

East of Eden was my # 1 book this year too. I was caught up in the exquisite characters. Timshel became an important word for me.

[@ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

My top book this year is I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. I was so blown away by it that I don’t know what to do with myself.

[@davidbucci973]

The Red Pony by Steinbeck is one of my all time favorites. Steinbeck is definitely one of the greats. Well done Alana.

[@juliaf3044]

Thank you - It looks like a good list. Could you please list the books with author names? I didn't catch some of the names.

[@mm34815]

My top five books of the year were (in no particular order): The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo Cathedral by Ben Hopkins All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Family and Friends by Anita Brookner All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (yes, it was a re-read) I'm also glad that you recommended The Lonesome Dove. I saw it in a bookstore once, and was intrigued. I see that you have Cold Mountain on your shelf, and I read that book this year. I thought it was pretty good, and I loved Inman as a character due to him being a strongly principled and masculine man. I agree with what you said about books being too female-saturated these days. As a woman who has two younger brothers, it saddens me to see that when they go to the local library, it's so hard for them to find good stories about boyhood and adventures, with strong and honorable male role models. I'm currently reading Anna Karenina, but I'm definitely not finishing it this year. I want to savor Tolstoy.

[@robinkirk1821]

“Definitely not a Justin Bieber fan.” 😂

[@purrfectlypatti9836]

I scored a used copy of A Fine Balance for a dollar at my library. I hope to read in the first quarter 2025. I'm so glad you adored Lonesome Dove!!!! McMurty is a good writer. Yassss! East of Eden. That was my number 1 in 2023. This year, I think my number one is Dawn by Octavia E Butler. I highly recommend this trilogy if you haven't read it. Happy New Year!

[@dhrutipatel4307]

oh my goodness you don’t know how happy it makes me to see fine balance in one of these types of videos !! truly life changing read

[@suzilahlah]

Cathy Ames is a great antagonist. I enjoyed East of Eden. My favourite read in 2024 is War & Peace. I did a 365 day read-a-long with a Substack group, where we read one chapter a day, and doing it that way just sucked me in. I look forward to your videos. HNY to you 🎉

[@christiearnold2781]

I definitely agree with you on the female perspective, and wanting something different. Great video. You always introduce me to something new I want to read. Actually read Jane Eyre and Dracula finally this year, and I'm no spring chicken. Both great.

[@garyjthorn]

Great list! Planning on reading A Fine Balance soon. My fave read of 2024 was Under the Volcano, which finally clicked with me after numerous attempts. Left me shook!

[@dougirvin2413]

Hi Alana, can't thank you enough for that Lonesome Dove rec. I'm NOT a westerns kind of guy and I'm sure I would never have been tempted to pick up a 900+ page dusty cattle drive if it hadn't been for you. It was definitely my top read of 2024. Many thanks.

[@margot_polo]

Great list, Alana! I knew that Steinbeck was gonna take your #1 spot. Perfect book. Happy New Year🎉

[@Yesica1993]

I could just kick myself that I sold my copy of EoE. I did read it some years ago and while I enjoyed it, I always have a hard time with family sagas with a bunch of names. It's so hard for me to keep the family trees straight. Also, how I loathed THAT WOMAN. You know the one! And holy cow, she has the same name as the one from Wuthering Heights, whom I also hated with the passion of a thousands burning suns. What is with that name?!

[@Logoslover]

East of Eden may be my first read of 2025. My top read of 2024 is The Count of Monte Cristo. ❤

[@josryder7841]

Im on page 900 of Monte Cristo! Dumas is masterful

[@oakleywyatt1717]

My top read is a tie between White Teeth by Zadie Smith (absolutely brilliant! can't believe it was her first novel) and the Bee Sting, by Paul Murray (over 600 pages but breezed through). Highly recommend both if you want a rich, multi-perspective story!

[@leopercara3477]

Tremendous. These are my 10: Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel (this was my favorite) The Force by Don Winslow The Silmarillion Wellness by Nathan Hill A Much Younger Man by Dianne Highbridge The Pugilist at Rest by Thom Jones Thieves of State by Sarah Chayes Erasing History by Jason Stanley Happy holidays.

[@livinglifewithjazz24]

Will have to read some of these next year 🎉

[@MoneyCodez]

You sold me with the existential dread description, ill be adding Myth of sisyphus to my list. thank u

[@Burneeka]

Even though we don't read the same kind of books, I love that I can still watch your vides for the chuckle, lol.

[@mattkean1128]

I need to read East of Eden and Lonesome Dove. I've read several other Steinbeck already and enjoyed them. My favorites this year are probably either Look at Me by Anita Brookner or A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar.

[@afroironknight]

I finished East of Eden a week ago, and I haven't recovered. I wept. Only the Bible moves me that deeply 😂

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

I have no idea what book will be my favorite of the year. I've read some good shit this year. Hoping to finish Remains of the Day by Ishiguro today or tomorrow and it might be the winner but it's going against some gats. Flowers for Algernon, Slaughter House Five, Piranesi, The Road and a few SFF bangers as well. Steinbeck is now on my TBR. Thanks for the rec and this was an amazing video. Happy Holidays.

[@kfa6830]

Squealed when this video popped up. All the books now on my TBR except East of Eden which I was obsessed with as a teenager! Need to re-read. Merry Xmas!

[@josryder7841]

Rich rich reading year! Cant WAIT for your in depth East of Eden review! Guess I’ll have that on my list for 2025! 2024 two of my top reads are Great Expectations and The Street by Ann Petry

[@dougirvin2413]

Hi @josryder, I knew someone would have a C.D. at the top of their list! "Get the movable property Pip"

[@josryder7841]

@@dougirvin2413😂😂😂

[@JulianWyllie]

The Myth of Sisyphus seems like a book I'll enjoy but will be painful to read.

[@JohnSeney-t1i]

My year's favorite turned out to be Steinbeck's "The Pastures of Heaven," an early book of loosely connected stories that I figured must be okay but it turned out to be excellent. Now I believe I've read all of Steinbeck EXCEPT "East of Eden." I even read his much-overlooked last novel "The Winter of Our Discontent"

[@sandyrivers3037]

The mini series knocks it out of the park!! It is so good! Wish I had read it first. I have not read the book.

[@sandy23stories40]

Amazing list !!!! I also want to read Grapes of Wrath, my top favorite of the year is the Age of Innocence

[@mr.moonmouth4404]

I discovered your channel fairly recently and like you’re not really influenced by theory or ideology or critical precedent but give your opinion as you read it, forgoing the pretensions that classics are often burdened with - I’m sure you read more than classics but since that’s 90% of what I read that’s what I’ve seen of your channel. When I read a book I trust my comprehension and discernment and the books value is weighed upon that rather than accepted opinion or even perhaps author intent. It’s not to say I don’t watch or read commentary at times but what others think of a book doesn’t hold a lot of weight for me. We seem to have similar taste(big Russian classics fan over here which are the authors I’ve read the most) so it’s nice to see a likeminded reader. Despite being American I’ve forgone an embarrassing amount of American classics, east of Eden being one. I bought it this last year planning on reading in ‘25 and seeing this gets me more excited to read it. Thanks

[@TheBookThing]

Great list. I’ve only read Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck and I loved both of them, East of Eden, Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat have been on my TBR for a while. I’m currently about halfway through Germinal by Emil Zola which shares a lot of DNA with Steinbeck’s writing so it might be a nice primer for East of Eden.

[@karlmatsumoto9281]

It's funny that you've discovered East of Eden in 2024! One of my all-time favorite novels of all time and it inspired two great movies, one with James Dean and the 1980 miniseries with Jane Seymour as Kate! You must see the latter if you loved the book. We have a lot in common. Jane Eyre is at the top of my list too but East of Eden is in the top ten, if not higher.

[@__-yw1hb]

my favourite was Becky Chambers 'Wayfarer' series, particularly books 1-2. she captures alternate identity and otherness perfectly. also enjoyed Stoner, Small Island, and The Eye in the Door, second in Pat Barker's first world war Regeneration series

[@Natalie-is6zh]

You are definitely right! East of Eden really encapsulates everything that makes a novel great! It is the one book I have on constant rotation and I find new perspective. My top read for this year was Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. That book just blew me away! Thank you for another great video

[@lisafall3561]

Three old favorites- East of Eden, A Fine Balance, and Lonesome Dove-and two I will have to try. Thanks!

[@kurapikalazy_0240]

From truant to anime screen writer by mari okada a short autobiography. I have never seen myself in pages of a book so closely. it was a new a feeling to be a seen in and relate to someone else on a level so profound.

[@devinimnottellin]

You are still effortlessly hilarious! This was a great review. Hope you and the fam had a great Christmas and cheers to 2025!

[@natedaug1]

Good review. I am reading Wind Up Bird Chronicle. Have you read it?

[@gail1249]

One of my favorite reads is Butter by Asako Yuzuki and The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone

[@kathab8826]

This was a tough year for reading ,due to studying, but my favs of this year were Dracula, The Virgin Suicides and White Nights. I also read The Myth of Sisyphus but I need to reread it due to its complexity 😂

[@tam876]

A Fine Balance, Lonesome Dove, East of Eden - all the ❤! East of Eden was my top read of the year as well; the Easter eggs were so fun to find.

[@teakara]

Happy New Year 🫶🧿🍀🫂✨🕊️ greetings from Bosnia

[@migdalahb]

I reread Jane Eyre this year and I’m 2 chapters from finishing The Fellowship of the Ring. Those have been my favorites this year by far! East of Eden is on my radar for the next year so I look forward to your review on it! May God bless you in the next year!

[@Yesica1993]

Yay, two of my all time favorites!

[@nikkivenable73]

Lonesome Dove!!! Yeah! My favorite read was North Woods. Actually it’s up there with Lonesome Dove and Stoner as my favorite books ever.

[@leafsonata]

Lady Alana! Again, thank you for providing so many good recs! I am purposefully slowing down next year to enjoy my physical TBR and savor the writing. I devoured thrillers on audio this year and read few classics than usual. My top reads of 2024 were James by P.E., The Girl Who Lives Down the Lane by Laird Koenig, Rebecca by D. D., Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by PKD, and An Anonymous Girl by G. Hendricks and S. Pekkenan. I had an amazing reading year. I'm hoping for the same next year.

[@dougirvin2413]

Hi @leafsonata, what a bunch of wonderful picks! Did PKD ever write anything bad? We Can Remember it for You Wholesale is really good too. It was the story that became the movie Total Recall, if you like Arnold.

[@radiantchristina]

I love these favorites videos! You read some wonderful books! My standout favorite for the year was Stoner. Also, now in my all-time favorites. Others I loved were The Bluest Eye and Sula / Toni Morrison, A thirst for Salt/Madelaine Lucas, and for nonfiction - The Loneliness Files / Athena Dixon .

[@lucas8409]

I love your sense of humor😂 I'm learning english and i love your videos. Greetings from Argentina

[@capturedbyannamarie]

My number one was Kristin Lavransdatter for sure.

[@hiverampiveram]

You read some bangers this year! I love Lonesome Dove and it is a joy to reread. I have only read East of Eden once and it was long ago, but I recall loving it also. Your description of it makes me want to read it alongside A Hundred Years of Solitude since the themes line up so nicely. I would say my top book the last year was Weaveworld by Clive Barker. Thanks for the video-you have a great channel.

[@briandzwoniarek8952]

Holy shit.. a book a week!! you are a freaking beast... beautiful, but beastly.. I'm at a good, "5" per year.

[@CedricsMom]

IDK, Boo. I read East of Eden this year and I felt like Steinbeck dropped the ball at the end. All that fabulous storytelling led to a dry heave and a sigh at the end, as if he just gave up. And WTF did he do with Cathy, the #1 most intriguing character of the book?! I was not convinced. I did however love the character Lee and I'm sure that was a new choice in that time to have a Chinese American in the story. And I did NOT appreciate his use of the N word and his representation of us. RUDE. But you and my girl Leynes over at Goodreads think it's All That, so perhaps I need to re-read it. But first, Grapes of Wrath. Happy New Year!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

If I could only choose 1-- Daniel Deronda by Eliot. It's stuck with me all year.

[@1c1pal]

The Wall and The Jib Door, both by Marlen Haushofer - hands down.

[@JagRaj98]

Finished the 'The Brothers karamazov' and what a way to end 2024 on a high note :)

[@rafm3068]

Great selection! Have a great 2025!!

[@dougirvin2413]

Happy New Year Alana🎊

[@Scr3675]

Great reading year! Steinbeck ❤. I cannot wait to read Lonesome Dove and Faces in the Water! My top read was The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, it’s a new all time favorite. Fayne and The Covenant of Water was a perfect read and The Idiot is definitely going to be a favorite!

[@kathleenkemp1030]

My favorite read was a non-fiction read. "The Sun Does Shine" by Anthony Ray Hinton.

[@zimtkind2255]

That's been on my tbr for a while!

[@stkcrvn]

Perfect timing! I just sat down to eat my dinner. Definitely adding Faces in the Water to my tbr and you've convinced me to finally start reading Steinbeck. This year was weird for me in terms of reading. It was the first year (since primary school, really. Which is crazy) I've read a decent amount of books, clocking in at 64 books read. But most of them were so unsatisfying!!!! I ended up liking the three non-fiction books I've read the most: Arrangements in Blue by Amy Key, Killing Thatcher by Rory Carroll and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe.

[@robinkirk1821]

My top read of 2024 is The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers. It was the book I needed at the time.

[@JordynWise-f8j]

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 2. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr 3. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel 4. Mr. And Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan 5. tied: Genesis by Bernard Beckett; Chess Story by Stefan Zweig

[@Yesica1993]

Aww, Little Women is such a comfort read for me! I re-read either this year or last year.

[@LuxVi7]

Like water for chocolate is such a great book!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Lonesome Dove!!!🎉🎉🎉 Preach!!! And yesss that #1!!!🎉🎉🎉 Two of my favs!!!

[@robyn905]

I love this video, and your thoughts :)

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

HNY!⚛❤

[@stephenn3727]

Thank you Alana.

[@KobeLincoln-us3uu]

Love your #1 pick!!

[@khadijaawais2071]

Could you do a review of my dark vanessa by Elizabeth russell? Anyways love your videos❤

[@R.V.I.]

Great video as always!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@amyslibrary]

East of Eden is on my list for next year, so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! For some reason it intimidates me 😂

[@MusidoraKeller]

The 1st book has a pretty cool cover. At first I thought I'm not seeing right 🤣 I really want to try the Lonesome Dove. Sounds like a such a cool book. I said to myself that I don't want to order new books, but the title caught me 😊 that cover for East of Eden is gorgeous 😍

[@FinallyMajor]

Belieber made me CACKLE. Not even 3 mins in omg 😂😂

[@TwoMinutesonBooks-bt8lg]

My top fiction read was The Women by Kristen Hannah, and a close second was The Reformatory by Tannereve Due. I am mostly a nonfiction reader, however.

[@444Raine]

My top read was The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy. I think it is a masterpiece.

[@__-yw1hb]

that novel surprised me too, for all its goriness, so well written and such a page turner. i also read The Big Nowhere a few weeks ago and was shocked

[@444Raine]

@@__-yw1hb I read The Big Nowhere about a month ago. I was also shocked by how good it was. On to LA Confidential soon.

[@SheanaJo]

💖

[@sandyrivers3037]

The mini series knocks it out of the park!! It is so good! Wish I had read it first. I have not read the book.