Welcome to the second part of my best books of 2024 lists! This post features my favorite books I read last year that are considered backlist titles, meaning they were published prior to 2024, and I've also included some honorable mentions that are 2024 releases I also loved, but didn't include in my previous list. This all sounds a little confusing when I try to type it out, but the gist of everything is: all of these books in my first post and this post are fantastic reads that I would recommend. My yearly stats post featuring all sorts of fun bookish stats (genres I read, length, format, etc.) will be up either by the end of this week or the beginning of next, so stay tuned for that! Now, let's get to the books.
Backlist Titles (anything published pre-2024)
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
Johnny Got His Gun was written in 1938 and is often described as one of the greatest anti-war books. It is indeed an intense, often scathing look at the physical, psychological, and social effects of war. We spend the novel trapped inside the head of our protagonist, an injured soldier who has lost his limbs and his face and is himself trapped inside his own head. This was a difficult, gruesome, and oftentimes horrendous read, but it's such a worthwhile one and left me with so many feelings of anger, hopelessness, and a deep sadness. It was all of these things that made this such a standout read for me, and reminded me how important novels like these are (I first read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien in high school, and since then I've always held an appreciation for these stories). I really recommend it, but just keep in mind that it's really a pretty rough read and can be hard to stomach. The author, Dalton Trumbo, was also actually a screenwriter (known for movies like Spartacus, Roman Holiday, etc.) who was part of the "Hollywood Ten" blacklist from the mid-twentieth century.
Heartless by H.G. Parry
I have loved just about everything H.G. Parry has written, and this was no exception. I devour pretty much any Peter Pan retelling out there, and this has easily become one of my new favorites. It's dark and heartbreaking and bittersweet and complex and just perfect. I also appreciated how much Parry paid respect to the original text while makingt his her own. It made me very sad, which is exactly what I want from a good Peter Pan retelling, and left me with the largest book hangover. If you are at all a fan of Peter Pan retellings, this is one you must check out.
Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration by David Roberts
As I slowly work my way through as many exploration/survival stories of the Arctic and Antarctic, I have the pleasure of finally reading about Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition and it was truly an exceptional read. Reading stories like this always leave me feeling so in awe of the feats that humans are capable of, and how much a desire for survival can really drive us. So many books claim to be the greatest survival story, and so many of them are accurate because they're all absolutely incredible and insane.
On Writing: A Memoir of The Craft by Stephen King
People are right, this really is a great book for writers! I'm really glad I finally got around to it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this on my favorites list because I wasn't sure if it really was a favorite. When I first started reading this book, I was a bit thrown off because the first part of it is a bit more biographical with Stephen King talking about his own life, but it's the second half where I feel he really shares some great writing wisdom and insight and made it something I wanted to highlight and think about it, and so for those reasons I've included it here on this list. If you're a writer, intend to write, or just want to read about writing, then this is a great book to pick up.
Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time by James Gurney
Dinotopia is an illustrated fantasy story of a father and son who are shipwrecked on an island where dinosaurs are sapient and coexist peacefully with humans. This is honestly one of the coolest books and I so wish I had known this existed when I was a kid. I would have absolutely devoured it and it would've sparked my imagination to insane levels. The artwork is genuinely stunning and the sheer creativity and imaginative qualities of this book are amazing. Whether you're a kid or not, this book is amazing and I can't imagine you won't find something in it to appreciate. Thank you to Greg from Greg's Book Haven for talking about it so much over the years that I finally actually picked it up!
The Rent Collectors by acclaimed journalist Jesse Katz is a nonfiction account of Giovanni Macedo's experiences as a member of the Columbia Lil Cycos. Katz covers Giovanni's upbringing and discovery of street gangs, including his attempt to kill someone to become a member and subsequently accidentally killing a newborn instead at just nineteen years old. From there, Katz takes us on a journey following Giovanni as the gang attempts to kill him for his failed job and eventually to his arrest and life behind bars up until this point in the present day. This is a harrowing journey, but it's one that kept me absolutely glued to the pages as I was led into the history of MacArthur Park and its vibrant street vending history, to better understanding immigrant stories of those vendors, and to learning more about the ins and outs of some of the 18th Street Gang and Mexican Mafia and what their rule on the streets really means. Overall, this is a nonfiction read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys true crime, gang-related history, or maybe someone who lives in Southern California/LA like me and enjoys learning a bit more about where they live. This was, at times, a brutal story, but it's one that gave me a lot to think about and for that I'm very grateful.
The Phoenix Keeper - Review
The Phoenix Keeper has easily become one of my new favorite books and is one I absolutely could not get enough of. I may or may not still be harboring hopes to work at a zoo one day, so this book pretty much felt like a love letter to zoos and my desire to be a part of taking care of so many different animals and making sure they are happy and healthy, and even helping those who are slowly inching towards extinction (something that seems to be happening more often these days). MacLean captured an extreme love and passion for animals and animal care in this book and it showed on every page. She also mentioned in an author's note that she grew up visiting the San Diego Safari Park (or Wild Animal Park, as I recall it), and I loved connecting over this since that is also a place that holds a special place in my heart.
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
Almost everything written by T. Kingfisher feels like magic, and this was no exception. I really love reading books where so many of the characters are exceedingly competent and make generally good decisions and yet there's still plenty of crazy plot happenings that can still happen. I love that all of Kingfisher's books, whether strictly horror or not, have some sense of immense weirdness and a layer of darkness sitting in the atmosphere, and this book had all of that and so much more.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley - Review
The Ministry of Time is a charming, insightful, and oftentimes bittersweet story that perfectly mixes time travel, a bit of spy thriller (but not in an overly action-packed way), humor, and even some romance into a story that provides endless entertainment and thoughtful discussion. This was such an entertaining read that even if you’re not a fan of time travel, I’d encourage you to give this one a shot. I really enjoyed this one and found it be as funny as it was poignant. This is the perfect entertaining read that has a little something for everyone and I'm curious to see how it will be adapted!
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
I've read so many Greek myth retellings lately that I keep thinking I'm burnt out on them, but then I start reading one like Natalie Haynes' Stone Blind and I can't help but forget that I'm tired of them–this was stunning, hilarious, and tragic all at the same time. I really enjoyed getting to spend this story in the head of Medusa and experience Haynes' thoughtfully crafted exploration of Medusa's story. This is a great read for any mythology fans!