By Ron Charles, book critic for The Washington Post
2024 will be full of fascinating events (“Lake of Creation”), touching (“Someone Like Us”), surprising (“differentiation”), fun (“All Fours”), educational (“What the Chicken Knows”), entertaining (“All Fours”)“Color TV”) book.
Looking back at the past 12 months, here are five of the best of the best.
WW Norton
“playground,” Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers, this is a brilliant novel about artificial intelligence and the race to save Earth’s oceans. The story features a computer genius, a famous oceanographer, and a small island in the South Pacific.
Powers brings these stories together in an incredible way that will change the way you see the world.
Read an excerpt: “Playground” by Richard Powers
“playground” Written by Richard Powers (WW Norton), available in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
Richard Powers (official site)
double day
Move on, Mark Twain: A Novel by Percival Everett “James” A revolutionary response to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
Everett retells Twain’s story from the perspective of Huck’s enslaved friend Jim. You won’t believe how a change in perspective will change your mind. all A sometimes funny, sometimes scary satire on racism and American culture.
Read the excerpt: ‘James’ by Percival Everett
“James” By Percival Everett (Doubleday), available in hardcover, large print, ebook, and audio formats via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
Also from Percival Everett: “Dr. No” (book excerpt)
WW Norton
Every family has secrets. Claire Messud has written a wonderful novel centered around the hidden events of her family. “This strange and eventful history” It travels the world over three generations, from World War II to the 21st century.
The narrator is a curious young woman who decides to become a writer. No different from Mehsud himself.
Read the excerpt: “This Strange and Eventful History” by Claire Messud
“This strange and eventful history” Written by Claire Messud (WW Norton), available in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
clairemessud.com
Penguin Press
Here is the memoir of a writer who struggled with mistaken identity for decades. Finally, in 2021, at the age of 66, she wrote a letter to about two dozen friends announcing that she was transgender and would be known as Lucy.
“I heard her call my name.” A brave and timely book that depicts the life of Lucy Sante and her struggle to be true to herself.
Read an excerpt: “I Heard Her Call My Name” by Lucy Sante
“I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition.” By Lucy Sante (Penguin Press), available in hardcover, trade paperback, ebook, and audio formats via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org
Riverhead Books
You might think you know your world map pretty well, but Atossa Araxia Abrahamian explains how special economic zones, tax havens and free ports are carving up the planet for the highest bidder and leaving millions of people worse off.
“Hidden Globe: How to Hack the World of Wealth” It makes very complex financial and legal topics clear, interesting and profound.
Read an excerpt: “The Hidden Globe” by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian
“The Hidden Globe” by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian (Riverhead Books) (hardcover, eBook, and audio formats), available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org
atossaaraxia.com
This is what the Book Report is about. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you all year long about great books. There’s more to come in 2025.
My name is Ron Charles. Until next time, keep reading!
For more information:
For more reading recommendations, check out Ron Charles’ previous book report feature.
Produced by Robert Marston. Editor: Joseph Frandino.
