Top Reads of 2024
Jan. 2nd, 2025 01:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silverseaI set my 2024 reading goal at 50 books, but I smashed through it at 136 books! Excluding light novels and rereads, I've read 98 new books in 2024! I had way more free time last year, so I was able to read more. I’m not sure if I can keep this up for 2025, but I do hope I can at least reach 50 books again.
Without further ado, here’s my top reads of the year.
Translation State by Ann Leckie
I love how hard and weird science fiction Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch series can be at times, and this book is perhaps the best hard weird so far in the series. I’m also so obsessed with how deeply trans Translation State is. Everyone’s basically genderqueer, but we also have a literal trans revelation, and there’s so many trans allegories in the narrative! I love how the Presgers are a constant terrifying off-screen threat throughout the series, and this is no different though it’s the closest they’ve come. We get to learn more about Translators, which is “oh um wow this is super messed up,” but I'm delighted to learn more about them and the Presgers by extension.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
It took a while for me to get into it, because the book immediately drop you in the story with several disorienting and conflicting information, but once I got into the story, I was hooked. Amazing writing, incredible story, definitely something I’d like to reread at some point in the future. I haven’t read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell yet, but I’m excited for it.
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
This was my first book by McKillip, and what a lovely introduction to her writing! Her writing is very lyrical, fairy tale-esque, but still completely accessible. The story was short, but it didn’t feel rushed at all, taking its time to set us in Sydel’s history and world. I got the 50th anniversary edition, which has some gorgeous illustrations to go along with the fairy tale atmosphere of the story. I'm eager to read more by her.
Human Acts by Han Kang
I read The Vegetarian years ago but it didn’t really stick with me, so I wasn’t expecting much from this. However, Kang’s writing completely blew me away, so many memorable quotes. A poignant and timely critique of the South Korean government and governments everywhere that are willing to commit atrocities, the story follows various people connected by one personal tragedy in the Gwangju Uprising. Certainly a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and Emily Wilde's Map of the Motherlands by Heather Fawcett
Super fun! It took a while for me to get into the story, but once I reached the halfway point in the first book, I was absolutely hooked! I’m usually not into romantasy, which is so bizarre because I really love fantasy and romance, but so many of the romantasy books I’ve tried just didn’t work for me. This one is a winner though. Wendell reminds me a lot of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, so I’m rather fond of him. Very charming series, and I can’t wait to read the third book.
Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
I read this about two or three weeks before my graduation so I found this incredibly relevant at the time. Kafkaesque and dream-like, it’s about how academia can transform you and the allure and dangers of the transformation. I’m not sure if I’ll reread this because I’m terrified of what my opinion will be like now that I’m no longer in “super hyped for graduation, can’t wait to peace out” mood. Absolutely great timing to read it.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
I’m not sure why I expected more fantasy, but this was very low fantasy. Either way, it’s a great queer reimagining of the Ming Dynasty founding. I love how horrible everyone are, but Ouyang’s angst and self-hatred in particular grabbed my attention. Such a brilliantly written character. I actually haven’t read He Who Drowned the Moon yet, but I hope to get around to it soon.
The Dream-Quest of Vellitte Boe by Kij Johnson
This was my final book of the year, but I swear there isn’t any recency bias in including this. It’s such a gorgeously written story, and I love Johnson’s imaginative descriptions of Vellitte’s adventure.
Without further ado, here’s my top reads of the year.
Translation State by Ann Leckie
I love how hard and weird science fiction Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch series can be at times, and this book is perhaps the best hard weird so far in the series. I’m also so obsessed with how deeply trans Translation State is. Everyone’s basically genderqueer, but we also have a literal trans revelation, and there’s so many trans allegories in the narrative! I love how the Presgers are a constant terrifying off-screen threat throughout the series, and this is no different though it’s the closest they’ve come. We get to learn more about Translators, which is “oh um wow this is super messed up,” but I'm delighted to learn more about them and the Presgers by extension.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
It took a while for me to get into it, because the book immediately drop you in the story with several disorienting and conflicting information, but once I got into the story, I was hooked. Amazing writing, incredible story, definitely something I’d like to reread at some point in the future. I haven’t read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell yet, but I’m excited for it.
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
This was my first book by McKillip, and what a lovely introduction to her writing! Her writing is very lyrical, fairy tale-esque, but still completely accessible. The story was short, but it didn’t feel rushed at all, taking its time to set us in Sydel’s history and world. I got the 50th anniversary edition, which has some gorgeous illustrations to go along with the fairy tale atmosphere of the story. I'm eager to read more by her.
Human Acts by Han Kang
I read The Vegetarian years ago but it didn’t really stick with me, so I wasn’t expecting much from this. However, Kang’s writing completely blew me away, so many memorable quotes. A poignant and timely critique of the South Korean government and governments everywhere that are willing to commit atrocities, the story follows various people connected by one personal tragedy in the Gwangju Uprising. Certainly a story that will stay with me for a long time.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries and Emily Wilde's Map of the Motherlands by Heather Fawcett
Super fun! It took a while for me to get into the story, but once I reached the halfway point in the first book, I was absolutely hooked! I’m usually not into romantasy, which is so bizarre because I really love fantasy and romance, but so many of the romantasy books I’ve tried just didn’t work for me. This one is a winner though. Wendell reminds me a lot of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, so I’m rather fond of him. Very charming series, and I can’t wait to read the third book.
Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
I read this about two or three weeks before my graduation so I found this incredibly relevant at the time. Kafkaesque and dream-like, it’s about how academia can transform you and the allure and dangers of the transformation. I’m not sure if I’ll reread this because I’m terrified of what my opinion will be like now that I’m no longer in “super hyped for graduation, can’t wait to peace out” mood. Absolutely great timing to read it.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
I’m not sure why I expected more fantasy, but this was very low fantasy. Either way, it’s a great queer reimagining of the Ming Dynasty founding. I love how horrible everyone are, but Ouyang’s angst and self-hatred in particular grabbed my attention. Such a brilliantly written character. I actually haven’t read He Who Drowned the Moon yet, but I hope to get around to it soon.
The Dream-Quest of Vellitte Boe by Kij Johnson
This was my final book of the year, but I swear there isn’t any recency bias in including this. It’s such a gorgeously written story, and I love Johnson’s imaginative descriptions of Vellitte’s adventure.
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Date: January 2nd, 2025 01:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: January 2nd, 2025 07:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: January 3rd, 2025 12:21 am (UTC)Vita Nostra is one of my favorite books ever, 10/10 amazing concept and impeccable execution.
(no subject)
Date: January 3rd, 2025 01:57 am (UTC)