Books

My favourite books of 2024

6 min read

My goal for this year had been to read 36 books. During the summer it looked like I wouldn’t hit that number as I was way behind target. However, thanks to a few very short books and a renewed reading mojo I managed to make my way through 40 books so far!

It’s not the most I read in a year but I am pretty content considering that I had a baby this year! When Lulu first was born I would have had time to read but I just didn’t want to. My own life felt so full (in a really good way) that I felt no need to add any other stories or information to my brain.

However, I am glad to be back to my normal reading habits as they bring me lots of joy!

Out of the 40 books I read, I gave 5 Stars to 17. So almost half were excellent! (There were also some really terrible books but I won‘t talk about those!)

It was quite difficult to create a ranking because how do you compare a devotional book to a thriller? Either way, here‘s my top ten!

My 10 favourite books of 2024

“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This was my absolute favourite book this year! I had it in my library (i.e. the audio file on my phone) for at least a year before I finally listened. The descriptions I had read of the book sounded interesting but also a bit dry.

Kimmerer is a botanist and also a member of the Potawatomi and she combines her scientific and indigenous knowledge in this book.

I had heard many good things which finally convinced me to give it a go. And you guys, this was such a fascinating read. I learned so much, was drawn in by the stories, felt many emotions and came away so inspired and encouraged.

You might know that I feel very passionately about protecting our natural environment. In recent years I have become quite discouraged and almost gave up trying to live sustainably. This book has helped me see that there is hope and that my efforts matter.

I would love to read this again together with some other people and discuss it. So if you’re interested do let me know!

“Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett

Of course, a book by Ann Patchett is bound to be in my top 10. The audio version is read by Meryl Streep and the whole experience was such a delight. Such beautiful writing and a great story. I read this in January but this would be a wonderful summer read as the story happens largely during summer and gives such wonderful summer feelings. Just wonderful.

“Go as a river” by Shelley Read

This was heartbreaking but so beautiful. The book is set in the late forties to seventies and tells the story of a young woman from Colorado who falls in love with a Native American.

It was interesting to read this after having read Braiding Sweetgrass knowing a bit about the horrific way indigenous people have been treated in the US.

Despite many very sad moments the book feels so hopeful. The characters were really believable and I missed Victoria a lot after finishing the book.

One thing a lot of my favourite reads seem to have in common is that nature features quite heavily, in this book the land is almost its own character. I am craving a hiking holiday!

“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore

I normally don’t read thrillers but I had seen this book recommended so much that I decided to read it.

I read the nearly 500 pages in just three days! It was so so good. Scary stories are not my thing and this book isn’t really scary at all. It features a lot of really interesting, unconventional female characters which I absolutely loved.

If you need a page-turner definitely give this one a go!

“Soldier Sailor” by Claire Kilroy

I read a few books about motherhood this year and this was by far my favourite. It very aptly describes the utter devotion of a mother and the mundanity of her days. It’s depiction of the roles that the mother and father take on is rather brutal and its accuracy is shocking and also hilarious. I laughed and shook my fists in anger and felt very seen. Plus, anything read to me in an Irish accent is a winner!

“Slug and other things I’ve been told to hate” by Hollie McNish

This book contained essays and poems on a variety of topics such as grief, masturbation, periods and parenting. I haven’t read much poetry thus far as I am never quite sure if I am clever enough to understand all the hidden meanings of metaphors and line breaks and what not. Hollie McNish writes poems without hidden meaning – they are clear and thought-provoking and funny. I absolutely adored this book and think about it very often.

“Praying like monks, living like fools” by Tyler Staton

I have read a fair few books on prayer as it’s a topic I am fascinated with and really want to grow in. Tyler Staton’s book is well founded, very practical and easy to read. I highlighted so many passages and felt so encouraged to pray and petition God about small and big things. This is another book I would love to re-read in a group and discuss.

“Zwischen den Sommern” by Alexa Henning von Lange

This is the second book of a trilogy. The author has based the story on the memories of her grandmother of her life during the second world war. It’s such a close look into the thought life of someone witnessing the horrors of Hitler’s regime and their fear to rebel against it. If you speak German and enjoy historical novels I’d highly recommend this one!

“The Unplugged hours” by Hannah Brencher

In many ways the subject matter of this book is nothing new. We all know that spending more time away from our devices would do us good. However, Hannah Brencher brings this topic to life in such a fresh way. She gives some easy tips and practical steps on how to live a more present, unplugged life without having to move to a cabin in the woods with no internet access.

“Broken Waters” by Amy Bornman

Another book of poems! I am a huge fan of anything Amy Bornman writes. She publishes a newsletter with essays on motherhood and often expresses things that I have felt and experienced but lacked the words for. She is such a gifted writer. Her poems were no different. She processes her pregnancy in these poems and reflects on the motherhood experience of various figures in the Bible. I absolutely adored this little book.

My favourite books of 2024