With the end of 2024 approaching, you may find yourself searching for gift ideas, reading suggestions for holiday travel or checking out recommendations for a cozy staycation.
On Wednesday鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air, we discussed the best books published this year with St. Louis County Library associate Tammy Albohaire and Ted Reidy, materials selector at St. Louis Public Library.
Their favorite 2024 reads are listed below, including brief notes from each of them.
TED REIDY鈥橲 LIST
FICTION
鈥淭he Dispossessed鈥� [50th anniversary edition] by Ursula Le Guin
鈥淭his is a classic science fiction novel by my favorite author. It is centered around a scientist who leaves his very unfamiliar society to go to one that is much like our own. Le Guin had a talent for creating deeply human stories in a genre that is usually about the more fantastic, and this novel is one of the best examples. The blend of political machinations with the whims of the individual feels very relevant today.鈥�
鈥淏lurry鈥� by Dash Shaw
鈥淏lurry is a graphic collection of short, almost mundane stories 鈥� ones that feel like they have happened to everyone many times. It鈥檚 a unique genre of slice-of-life fiction that is both meditative and engrossing. It is a centering title that is perfect to have on a nightstand to be read, in pieces, before bed.鈥�
鈥淢artyr!鈥� by Kaveh Akbar
鈥溾�楳artyr!鈥� is hard to sum up. It鈥檚 both funny and inspirational 鈥� a character study and family drama. The book follows a newly sober and orphaned Iranian American through a search for their identity. The prose in this novel is wonderful 鈥� the kind of writing that should be savored.鈥�
鈥淭he God of the Woods鈥� by Liz Moore
鈥淎 blend of family drama and crime novel, 鈥楾he God of the Woods鈥� excels at both. Centered around a child鈥檚 disappearance at a summer camp owned by her family, the plot twists and turns in every direction. This title is effortlessly engaging and a perfect title for somebody who is looking for a book to really suck them in.鈥�
鈥淥rbital鈥� by Samantha Harvey
鈥淏ooker Prize winner 鈥極rbital鈥� takes place over 24 hours 鈥� and 16 pairs of sunrises and sunsets. Set on an orbiting space station manned by six astronauts and cosmonauts, the writing is lyrical and profound.鈥�
NONFICTION
鈥淪tranger Than Fiction: Lives of the Twentieth-Century Novel鈥� by Edwin Frank
鈥淭his book reads like a pop biography but focuses on 20th century literature. It provides context for famous novels 鈥� some you may or may not have read 鈥� and provides almost gossipy anecdotes about the literature and their authors. Reading about reading has never been so exciting. You鈥檒l want to brush up on some classics you skipped in high school.鈥�
鈥淐ue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV鈥� by Emily Nussbaum
鈥淎 very readable modern history of reality television, Nussbaum examines the genre from all angles 鈥� as art, as a clever strikebreaking tactic and as a force that has brought great success and great sorrow to its subjects and creators. Both reality superfans who haven鈥檛 missed an episode of 鈥楾he Kardashians鈥� and people who couldn鈥檛 pick them out of a lineup can enjoy this book.鈥�
鈥淏ackyard Bird Chronicles鈥� by Amy Tan
鈥淏irding has been a trending topic in books this year, with books about birding popping up in many genres. There are even a handful of romance novels about birding! I picked this title because it鈥檚 a more personal examination of birding 鈥� a sort of memoir through birds. If you weren鈥檛 interested in birding before, reading this book will ensure you are.鈥�
鈥淏eautiful Shells: George Perry's Conchology鈥� by Mark Carnall
鈥淭his is a reproduction of an 1811 book about, well, beautiful shells! Originally published during a time when shells were trendy, this book will make you much more appreciative of shells. It will also help you appreciate the history of natural science and the mundane things that make up our world.鈥�
鈥淭he Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War鈥� by Carl Sciacchitano
鈥淭his is a graphic novel that takes a very personal look at war, post-traumatic stress disorder and a psychological journey. Sciacchitano writes 鈥� and draws 鈥� about his father, a Vietnam War veteran, and is equally personal and scientific, with a mix of interviews that feel like a father telling his son war stories, along with research to place one man鈥檚 experience in the broader context of one of history's most infamous wars.鈥�
LOCAL
鈥淪t. Louis Black Women鈥檚 Quilting and Cuisine: Stories of Love and Hope鈥� by the Rev. Paulette Sankofa
鈥淭his is a wonderful collection of stories from local women, focusing on their quilts, cooking and art in general. As the title suggests, this book has recipes and tips for quilting but also includes wisdom and grace, as well as life stories and life lessons. You don鈥檛 need to be a quilter or a cook to appreciate this title!鈥�
鈥淢apping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps鈥� by Andy Hahn
鈥淔rom local publisher Reedy Press, this book collects 40 different historic maps of St. Louis, along with stories and expositions that reveal the history of St. Louis. The maps let us glimpse the past through familiar yet unfamiliar locations, and they track the changes to our city over the centuries.鈥�
TAMMY ALBOHAIRE鈥橲 LIST
FICTION
鈥淟ight Comes to Shadow Mountain鈥� by Toni Buzzeo
鈥淚t鈥檚 1937, and Cora Mae Tipton is excited about electricity coming to Shadow Mountain. But not everyone in the small southeastern Kentucky town is excited about the government鈥檚 Rural Electrification Act. Can Cora Mae Tipton convince her biggest opponent, her mom, and the townspeople how important and life changing electricity can be? Read this award-winning book to find out. This is a great book to read aloud with your family.鈥�
鈥淪ky Full of Elephants鈥� by Cebo Campbell
鈥淥ne day, an apocalyptic event occurs, and a group of people walk toward the ocean 鈥� and they all drown. The only group that is left has to learn to navigate in a world where they are the only ones left. Intertwined in the apocalyptic event is Sydney, who begins a journey to find her identity and her biological father.鈥�
鈥淭he Improvisers鈥� by Nicole Glover
鈥淚n this standalone novel from the 鈥楳urder and Magic鈥� series, we meet Velma Frye, a pilot and a bootlegger. Someone is using dangerous artifacts to cause havoc and sometimes death. Velma is on a quest to find the artifacts and the people responsible before more people are hurt. This book is for fans of adventure and mystery.鈥�
鈥淛ames鈥� by Percival Everett
鈥淭his 2024 National Book Award winner is a retelling of the classic Huckleberry Finn story but from the point of view of runaway slave Jim. Jim is on the run after being told that he will be sold. He escapes to Jackson Island and is joined by young Huckleberry Finn, who faked his own death to get away from his abusive father. These two young men began their treacherous journey down the Mississippi River. For those who enjoy the classics with a twist, this one is for you.鈥�
鈥淣eighbors and Other Stories鈥� by Diane Oliver
鈥淭his collection of short stories is a masterpiece and destined to become a classic. Diane Oliver, who died too young at the age of 22, has left us with a collection of stories with unforgettable characters that portray African American life during the Civil Rights Movement. Rachel Eliza Griffiths, author of 鈥楶romise,鈥� says: 鈥業ntelligent, brazen, voracious 鈥� Diane Oliver is nobody鈥檚 ghost.鈥欌��
鈥淏itter and Sweet: A Lowcountry Novel鈥� by Rhonda McKnight
鈥淔or fans of a dual timeline, this book is for you. When Mariah and Sabrina鈥檚 grandmother sends them a text message summoning them to Georgetown, South Carolina, to help save the ailing family restaurant, these sisters 鈥� with the help of their great-great-grandmother's letters 鈥� find the courage to confront past traumas and learn the power of forgiveness.鈥�
鈥淎 Love Song for Ricki Wilde鈥� by Tia Williams
鈥淩icki Wilde knows there is something more to life than just being a socialite. She moves to Harlem to chase her dream of becoming a florist. Along the way, she meets a mysterious man from the past who has stolen her heart. Will Ricki fall in love or run away from the very thing that鈥檚 missing in her life? Read this book to find out, and create your own love songs playlist.鈥�
NONFICTION
鈥淐oming Home鈥� by Britney Griner with Michelle Burford
鈥淭his book tells the story of WNBA鈥檚 Brittney Griner after she was detained by Russian officials in 2022 for a contraband substance found in her luggage 鈥� and of her journey home. It is indeed a compelling story that will grip you from beginning to end.鈥�
鈥淎 Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton鈥� by Deb Miller Landau
鈥淚n 1987, Lita McClinton, a beautiful Black woman, was gunned down in an affluent Atlanta suburb. But this wasn鈥檛 just any random crime, as Lita was from an affluent family herself and was married to a wealthy businessman. Follow this story as it takes you through many twists and turns. This book is haunting and will leave you speechless. 鈥極prah Daily鈥� calls this book 鈥榦ne of the best true crime books of all time.鈥欌��
鈥淐onnie, A Memoir鈥� by Connie Chung
鈥淭his 鈥榯ell-all鈥� memoir chronicles Connie Chung鈥檚 life as a mother, wife and a pioneer in the field of journalism. Even though journalism was a male-dominated profession, Connie Chung, through hard work and dedication, has become a household name. This is a no-holds-barred, candid memoir, which will be talked about for many years to come.鈥�
LOCAL
鈥淵ou Had Me at Pie: Fruit, Custard, Meringue, and More from Kitchen Conservatory鈥� by Anne Carpenter
鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 love a delicious piece of pie? Impress your family and friends by learning to make delicious pies from the recipes by Kitchen Conservatory鈥檚 Anne Carpenter. From the beautiful pictures to the easy-to-understand recipes, you鈥檒l become the pastry chef you鈥檝e always wanted to be.鈥�
鈥淢apping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps鈥� by Andy Hahn
鈥淔or lovers of St. Louis history, this is the book for you. Hahn tells the story of St. Louis from 1764 to present day, with 40 maps, short essays and illustrations. This book is captivating and will be a great conversation piece for many years to come.鈥�
鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is produced by , , , and . Jada Jones is our production assistant. The audio engineer is .
