My Favorite Books of 2024

Otter’s Dance by Bob Budd came into my life at the perfect time. Mid-September, I was perusing the shelves of my local library when I happened across this powerful book about stewardship, conservationism, and connection to this place I call home. The book is categorized as “Nature Essays,” but this is far more than that. It’s a book about life and about choosing what to value. I can’t recommend it enough

I read *Flowers for Algernon* directly after the previously mentioned book, and together, these two books were essentially a one-two punch knockout. This book made me think about lot about my own intelligence, and put me onto the path of some pretty bleak novels (which would likely be the theme of 2024 for me, as far as reading goes). This book is seared into my memory.

2024 was the year of the audiobook for me. Getting myself set up on the Libby app and being able to rent books that I could listen to at work was a major aspect of being able to read as much as I did. Dune, the first book in the series by Frank Herbert, was exceptional. I likely would not have read the book had it not been for the constant recommendation of it by YouTuber ParkerNotes (I’m trawling for some Philip K. Dick novels next). Dune is a gateway drug to Sci Fi, and one I’m glad to have taken. Now I’ve got some 2025 Science Fiction reading prepped with Andre Norton, C.J. Cherryh, and Orson Scott Card.

I didn’t realize there was a movie about WtCS until after reading the book in November. I have to say, the book is better. It took some getting used to in audiobook format (sometimes the thick accent takes a little bit of the immersion out of it), but narratively, wow! No spoilers here, but the feelgood (or at least the end-of-the-story feelgood) aspect was a relief after slogging through dystopia after dystopia. Funnily enough, three books I’ve read this year mentioned Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, so it’s been added to my reading list.

I love Michael Crichton books, stemming from a childhood obsession with Jurassic Park (the movies first, then the books). The atmosphere is always foreboding but rarely ever bleak, which is something I admire. The book wants to give you a message, not punish you for reading it. Comeuppance at the end of the novel is nice, and it was a crisp ending to my year.