Books I Read (and Loved) in Winter 2024
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Every year, I set both a quantitative reading goal and a qualitative reading goal. For example: This year, I want to read at least 75 books and I want to read more nonfiction than I did in 2023. As a person who writes professionally about books, I often meet the quantitative goal, but not the qualitative. Looking at my “for work” TBR (which is so long, oh no), I think I might actually meet both goals this year. My “for pleasure/personal growth” TBR is very nonfiction-heavy, so we’ll see how things shake out in my end-of-the-year wrap-up.
For now, let’s talk about the books I read in the first quarter of 2024! Of the 27 books I read between January 1 and March 31, a handful stood out, and I’ve written about them below. Not included here are two incredible graphic novels I reviewed for The Beat: The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught, a delightfully cozy fantasy adventure, and What’s Wrong? by Erin Williams, a candid exploration of disability told through profiles of Williams and four other disabled people. Both are brilliant, though as you might have noticed, they are wildly different. I highly recommend both.
Behind You Is the Sea
Behind You Is the Sea follows three Palestinian families living in Baltimore, where their lives as immigrants are deeply intertwined, yet their everyday lives couldn’t be more different. Susan Muaddi Darraj alternates points of view to explore the lives of these characters, and while some feel more developed than others, the connective tissue is strong. As the author finds her rhythm, she pulls you into this world and confronts you with issues of classism, racism, and sexism and how they affect the Palestinian diaspora.
Many have criticized the author’s representation of Arab men as being riddled with stereotypes. While I highly recommend this book, be mindful of this note while reading.
The Chromatic Fantasy
A close friend described The Chromatic Fantasy as “lush,” and it’s the best word I can find to explain its decadent writing, rich illustrations, and saturated colors. This love story between two trans men—one a former nun and one a thief—is suspended in time, anchored by a Faustian deal that leads to rebellion when true love enters the picture. I could not stop staring at the art, even as I wanted to fly through the pages to find out what happened next.
H.A. has created something truly magical here; his work is like nothing I’ve ever read, and I cannot wait for more.
The Cycle
The Cycle is (I believe) the first non-academic text to examine Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), an extreme set of symptoms that affect less than 10 percent of people who menstruate. Through research and candid writing about her own PMDD journey, Shalene Gupta presents available data about the diagnosis in the most understandable way possible, which includes interviews with experts and with other people who’ve been diagnosed with PMDD.
For those who have already done a ton of research into the condition on their own, this book may not be groundbreaking—but for those who are in the dark about their own symptom set or for those who have no idea that PMDD exists, this is an excellent affirmative and informational read.
Interesting Facts About Space
Interesting Facts About Space feels a bit like a grown-up, sapphic version of The Catcher in the Rye—but not nearly as insufferable. As the main character navigates an irrational fear of bald men, caring for her mentally ill mother, and starting a truly unconventional romantic relationship, all while trying to impress her half-sisters and understand the motivations of her coworker and arguably closest friend, the story sort of unfolds around her. At times, the reader is as much in the dark as she is, but at others, we’re able to understand and interpret her confusion through a more distant lens.
TL;DR this book is a little weird and it’s probably not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. If you decide to check it out, I highly recommend the audiobook version.
Land of Milk and honey
Smog has taken over the sky and fresh food is a relic of the past—unless you’re the wealthiest man in the world or one of the few people he employs or invites to lavish dinners at his private mountain retreat just outside of Italy. Land of Milk and Honey is a cutting critique of the 1 percent, our growing climate crisis, and the impact of great food through the eyes of a chef with no ties to anyone or anything save for her cat, who comes with her to work for a mysterious benefactor and his beautiful, razor-tongued daughter.
At turns bewildering and devastating, deeply sexy and shockingly vulnerable, this book is an absolute stunner. For the best experience, listen to the audiobook.
Moby Dyke
There are only a handful of lesbian bars left in the United States, and author Krista Burton visits all of them with her partner in this modern road trip through queer history. In a similar vein to Samantha Allen’s Real Queer America, Moby Dyke explores dyke-centric spaces that were and are staples of the community and, in some cases, beloved even by those who have never stepped foot inside. Throughout, she unpacks the meaning of the term “lesbian bar," particularly in relationship to whether these establishments matter as much now as they used to. (Note: I experienced a fair amount of “COVID ick” while reading, even though the book was clearly written in that brief bubble of hope we all had when vaccines were released.)
I read this for The Nonbinarian Book Club and had a blast reading the book and talking about it with community members.
Nothing Special Vol. 1: Through the Elder Woods
Katie Cook is great at creating whimsical worlds and fully-realized characters, and she demonstrates her incredible storytelling skills in Nothing Special, a Webtoon that’s now being released as a series of printed graphic novels. Fantastical, funny, dramatic, and full of delightful twists, the first volume of this series is fast-paced and deeply entertaining.
I read this comic for an interview with Cook and fell in love with the characters and the world. I’m excited to catch up on the rest ASAP.
Pretty Boys Are Poisonous
In the book’s description, Fox said, “These poems were written in an attempt to excise the illness that had taken root in me because of my silence. I’ve spent my entire life keeping the secrets of men, my body aches from carrying the weight of their sins. My freedom lives in these pages, and I hope that my words can inspire others to take back their happiness and their identity by using their voice to illuminate what’s been buried, but not forgotten, in the darkness.”
Listen to this on audiobook. Hearing Megan Fox read her poems aloud made my chest go tight, but I was all in from start to finish. She talks about codependency, abuse, and recovery from a deeply personal place that undeniably resonated with me.
The Priory of the Orange Tree
I am so late to this party, but now that I’ve arrived, I’m never leaving. This sapphic fantasy epic by Samantha Shannon has everything I want in a high-fantasy series: a kingdom in turmoil, forbidden magic, hot women with swords, secret societies, and dragons. Although the sheer size of this book (848 pages) seems intimidating, it’s quick to pull you in. I devoured The Priory of the Orange Tree in just a few days because I didn’t want to put it down. It consumed me, body and soul, and I am so excited to read the prequel and the eventual sequel.
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