Favourite Fiction Reading of 2024

I have been looking back at the books I read in 2024, and realising how many I have really enjoyed, but here are the ones which I loved reading the most. Please note that they were not necessarily published in 2024, and that on another day I might choose a slightly different list.

Novels

I adored Angie Kim’s Happiness Falls, an American novel about a family coping when a father fails to return from a walk. Everything about it appealed to me – the characters, the narrative voice, the interesting ideas. I agree with Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, who described it as a ‘brilliant, satisfying, compassionate mystery that is as much about language and storytelling as it is about a missing father’. I found it utterly engrossing.

Translated Fiction

Abigail by Magda Szabo is a fascinating novel. It’s Hungarian and was first published in 1970, but is set in 1943/44. A teenage girl is sent to a strict boarding school, and initially hates it before coming to appreciate some of its benefits. The closed community helps to make the relationships interesting, and there is a growing amount of tension as it becomes a thriller. I liked the comments which indicated how she felt as she became much older and reflected on this period. It was a compelling read.

Classic Crime Reprint

Christianna Brand has written some of my favourite classic crime novels, and London Particular (1952) is one of the best of these. It has an atmospheric beginning with someone being murdered in the fog, and is interesting throughout. I thought it had very good characterisation, and some brilliant court scenes; probably the best I have ever read. Overall it’s a very impressive crime novel, and I loved it.

Fantasy

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher  was a superb read with some excellent characters. I loved Cordelia, the girl who has been very badly treated by her controlling sorceress mother, and Hester, the older woman who assists Cordelia. The mother is a magnificently awful villain. There is a good amount of humour as well as much exciting action, and some distinctly frightening moments. I couldn’t put it down.

Children’s Fiction

In some ways, little appears to happen in Anne Fine’s On the Wall (10+), but there are actually significant changes in people’s characters and relationships. The relative lack of action makes this a book which would probably most appeal to  a thoughtful child. It follows a class through their first year at secondary school, and focuses on Finley who is happy in himself, and, almost inadvertently, helps both fellow students and teachers. It is very readable, and cheered me up!

YA Novels

I was entranced by Mary-Louise Fitzpatrick’s Sisters of the Moon (12+). It is mainly a realist novel with just a touch of fantasy, and tells the story of Suzy who is grieving after the death of her mother and a move to a new place. She looks up at the moon, wishes that her life would improve, and almost immediately things start to get better. Although it deals with serious issues, this is not a heavy book. There is some dry humour, and I found it heart warming and absorbing.

I hope you also read some excellent books in 2024.

Happy Reading!

Frances