According to Goodreads, I read 45 books in 2024, and here are some of the ones I enjoyed most:
The frozen river, by Airiel Lawton
This was my favorite book of 2024 – a choice of the Long Island Community Library book group. The novel, based on the real life person of Maine midwife Martha Ballard, brings this late 18th century historical period in Maine history to life in such a vivid way, with humor, good writing, and exceptional storytelling. I was riveted!
Northern lights, by Desmond Holdridge
This is an amazing true tale of three lads who sail a small sailboat in the early 20th century from Nova Scotia to Labrador. I read this book out loud to Michael and we both loved it – the writing, the story, the drama, the setting. Of course, I always wonder about books like this, that are written after the fact, with total recall of details and conversations. But still, a rollicking good yarn!
The Paris novel, by Ruth Reichl
This book came into my life at the perfect time – I needed something light and delicious. I have mostly read Ruth Reichl’s non-fiction, but was eager to read this novel about a young American woman who experiences the culinary delights and experiences of Paris and the French countryside. I loved every page, and the characters and setting. I made me really want to go to France. It was also fun to read the author’s note about who in the book was real – it’s a good sign when a novel makes me want to do more research.
Stability: how an ancient monastic practice can restore our relationships, churches, and communities, by Nathan Oates
This wonderful book introduced me to an idea that was new to me: stability, especially in the concept of the Benedictine vow of stability. As someone who has been married to the same man for almost 30 years, lived in the same house for about 28 years, and has had the same job for over 27 years, this resonated with me. In my younger years I did move around a bit, and while I can still be somewhat restless, I am very content to stay in my home and community – and church! for the rest of my life. Evergreen is a very small island church, but there is a core group of us who show up every Sunday – I am so grateful for those who make that commitment. When we did our independent studies at Evergreen last summer I shared this book, and the concepts within, with my church group. I found the book to be very readable, insightful, and charming.
New girl in Little Cove, by Damhnait Monaghan
I came across this title somewhere and recommended it to the Long Island Community Library to purchase. I am so glad they did, because I ended up really enjoying his wonderful tale of a young woman who arrives in a small outport village in Newfoundland to teach French at the local school. Definitely my kind of book! I especially love the setting – we have been to Newfoundland three times and it’s one of my all-time favorite places on the planet. The author did an amazing job of telling this story, based on her experiences. She hit the right notes of plot, characters, pacing, wit, and the local flavor. I’m also very glad this book is in paperback, as it was perfect to carry on my commute on the ferry.
The sea around us, by Rachel Carson
We had recently read James Stavridis’ The sailor’s bookshelf : fifty books to know the sea, and this was one of the ones he recommended. I was more familiar with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, although I had never read it. But this book, originally written in 1951, was so elegantly and beautifully written, and sheer poetry at times. I read it out loud to Michael, and we loved the enchanting names of geographic places, real and imagined. It’s a timeless classic (although interesting to think of the knowledge we’ve gained since then about the “sea around us”).
Simon the fiddler, by Paulette Giles
Paula Johnson recommended this book to me – I had read “News of the world,” and didn’t love it as much as most people did. But this book is truly magnificent – the characters, setting, and writing. Perhaps it was the music that really pulled it all together. I play the “fiddle” (violin) – poorly, but I still love playing. So this book, about the adventures of a fiddler at the end of the Civil War, really struck a chord. After I finished it, I found out that Simon and Doris were characters in “News of the World,” so I may have to look at that book again to find out how they first appear. I’m so glad the author created this book around them. It was fun to learn that Paulette Giles is also a musician and plays with a band.
Blooming of Delphinium, by Holly Varni
Like The Paris novel, this book came at the right time in my life, when I needed something light and lovely. The characters are wonderful, and the chemistry between the two main characters, Delphinium, a florist, and Elliot, the director of the assisted living facility in Moonberry Lake, was engaging. I loved the seniors who camp out at Delphinium’s flower shop, and the overall warmth and generosity of spirit in the novel. I’m a sucker for most novels about flowers, and people who love flowers, and this one hit the right notes.
