Such a rich list. Bel Canto was my top book of 2024, with Intermezzo a close second, so I hope you love it! I’ve also had Underground Railroad, Corrections, and Fates and Furies on my shelf for a while, so curious to hear your thoughts about those.
This is such a good list with several of my fav books. I love this idea of creating a lighthouse list. I hate the idea of reading as obligation but this makes sense to me.
So many good reads, and I love reading why you want to read them! I also didn't know Bel Canto (one of my all-time favorites) has a new annotated edition, so THANK YOU! I really liked Underground Railroad. I look forward to reading your thoughts on all of these!
Great list! Several of your picks have been on my Kindle for a while, but I have yet to read them: Fates and Furies; Girl, Woman, Other; Men We Reaped, and The Warmth of Other Suns. I've read Bel Canto (and would love to have the annotated edition), The Underground Railroad, and The Vanishing Half, and they are all well worth your time. East of Eden and Two-Step Devil are on my TBR. There are several titles I have never heard of on your list, but I'm especially interested in Poetry Unbound and The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories. Happy new year!
Vanishing Half was fantastic! I read Fates and Furies years ago and it frustrated me. I have wondered if my opinion would change if I were to reread it.
I have two that overlap with you, and it's a weird mix haha. East of Eden is up for a reread this year, really looking forward to that. The first time I read it, it immediately jumped into my top 5 novels. The other is the Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories. Picked it up last year and never got it started. It looks like a great selection though. Great list!
Great list! I somehow never read Bel Canto and I ordered a personalized signed copy of the annotated book. However, I need to read the original Bel Canto before I read the annotated version (per Ann’s request in the author’s note)…if you want to do a buddy read for Bel Canto, that would be fun!
Great recommendations! I love the reasons you shared about what remains in your TBR. I too can become obsessive about a cover and am drawn to botanical, and tapestry covers with rich colors of red, blue and green. I will also puchase a book that is well hyped but not read until later. The Booker Prize long and short list is a great place to pull for future reads, I love the diversity in selections.
Absolutely great recommendations. Thank you .
My pleasure!
Such a rich list. Bel Canto was my top book of 2024, with Intermezzo a close second, so I hope you love it! I’ve also had Underground Railroad, Corrections, and Fates and Furies on my shelf for a while, so curious to hear your thoughts about those.
Now I’m even more eager to read Bel Canto!
This is such a good list with several of my fav books. I love this idea of creating a lighthouse list. I hate the idea of reading as obligation but this makes sense to me.
Also, I spent the morning making my own list which I can’t wait to share with you. 🥰
Yay for lists and reading good things!
So many good reads, and I love reading why you want to read them! I also didn't know Bel Canto (one of my all-time favorites) has a new annotated edition, so THANK YOU! I really liked Underground Railroad. I look forward to reading your thoughts on all of these!
I’m just here to serve. 😀
Great list! Several of your picks have been on my Kindle for a while, but I have yet to read them: Fates and Furies; Girl, Woman, Other; Men We Reaped, and The Warmth of Other Suns. I've read Bel Canto (and would love to have the annotated edition), The Underground Railroad, and The Vanishing Half, and they are all well worth your time. East of Eden and Two-Step Devil are on my TBR. There are several titles I have never heard of on your list, but I'm especially interested in Poetry Unbound and The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories. Happy new year!
May we both cross off some titles on our TBR this year!
This is a great list! I loved a bunch of these, but especially Another Brooklyn, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, and The Underground Railroad
Vanishing Half was fantastic! I read Fates and Furies years ago and it frustrated me. I have wondered if my opinion would change if I were to reread it.
I loved The Vanishing Half, such a wonderful book. Have you read Caucasia? It seems to have a similar theme and similarities.
I haven’t even heard of it! Running to look it up now.
I’m planning to read Caucasia soon. I make seasonal TBR lists (12-14 books) and it’s on my Jan-March list!
I have two that overlap with you, and it's a weird mix haha. East of Eden is up for a reread this year, really looking forward to that. The first time I read it, it immediately jumped into my top 5 novels. The other is the Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories. Picked it up last year and never got it started. It looks like a great selection though. Great list!
Great list! I somehow never read Bel Canto and I ordered a personalized signed copy of the annotated book. However, I need to read the original Bel Canto before I read the annotated version (per Ann’s request in the author’s note)…if you want to do a buddy read for Bel Canto, that would be fun!
Great recommendations! I love the reasons you shared about what remains in your TBR. I too can become obsessive about a cover and am drawn to botanical, and tapestry covers with rich colors of red, blue and green. I will also puchase a book that is well hyped but not read until later. The Booker Prize long and short list is a great place to pull for future reads, I love the diversity in selections.
Best reading to everyone!
The Warmth of Other Suns is a great book!
The Corrections by Franzen stood out to me. Let me know what you think of that one!😊
The Warmth of Other Suns is one of my favorite books of all time. I also love Ann Patchett!
Elizabeth Strout is one of my favorite authors!
I can’t imagine you wouldn’t enjoy her books .