2024 Reading List
They Never Learn - Layne Fargo
“A dynamic psychological thriller about two women who give bad men exactly what they deserve.”
Just the opening scene had me hooked. I couldn’t get enough of the storyline and protagonist. The ending had me late night binging.
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
“A cautionary tale about genetic engineering that presents the collapse of a zoological park which showcases genetically recreated dinosaurs to illustrate the mathematical concept of chaos theory and its real-world implications.”
EVERY ONE knows about Jurassic Park. I felt inclined to read it, since I have seen every movie, been to the theme park at Universal, and both my children love dinosaurs. I was expecting it to be identical to the movie, but I was very surprised at how scientific it was. It was really descriptive and I could imagine clearly all of the very different scenes not in the film.
As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow - Zoulfa Katouh
“This powerful story tracks the journey to self-discovery and hope of a young Syrian woman whose life is upended by war.”
Talk about a heart-wrenching novel… I could not put it down even though I wept pretty much the whole time. That book lives rent free in my head. I had dreams about this storyline for days after I finished.
Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt
“An exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific Octopus.”
This was surprisingly pleasant change of pace. It was unlike anything else I had ever read which was very nice. A quirky and kind book with just the right amount of intrigue to keep things interesting.
Ariadne - Jennifer Saint
“Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods.”
This was the first of my Greek Mythology retellings and I am hooked. Jennifer Saint really painted such a beautiful picture and gave the myth a modern facelift. I highly recommend diving into this category if you’re into history or Greek Mythology.
The Gentleman From Peru - Andre Aciman
“The Gentleman from Peru is a sultry and spellbinding tale of love, self-discovery, and past lives.”
I read this entire book on a flight to see my brother. There was glimmer of magic throughout the whole tale. My intrigue for this book never failed. There was mystery and a blush of romance. I think it a was beautiful story of soul mates and very much reminded me of Plato’s Symposium and his theory of how soulmates will wander the earth until they find their other half.
Atalanta - Jennifer Saint
“A reimagining of the myth of Atalanta, a fierce huntress raised by bears and the only woman in the world's most famous band of heroes, the Argonauts.”
I think I liked this book as much as I liked Song of Achilles. I felt like I was reading an epic. There was so much depth and so many layers to this story that I wish I could’ve kept reading it.
Lilith - Mikki Marmery
“This epic US debut tells the story of the woman known as Adam's first wife and her fall from Paradise and quest for revenge.”
This one wasn’t my favorite. It had a lot of feminism and instead of a Greek Mythological retelling it was more of a biblical retelling. In some parts of the novel it felt very repetitive. But the overall premise of the novel was empowering.
A Court Of Thorns And Roses - Sarah J. Maas
“When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution.”
Okay, so hear me out… I was not trying to like this book. I simply wanted to read it so I could see what the hype was about. I actually really liked this one. It was fast paced and honestly more action packed than a smutty fantasy. I already have my 2025 reading list picked out or I would probably default to absolutely annihilating more Greek Mythology and the entire ACOTAR series.