Best and worst reads of 2024
What's better than a yearly roundup? Not much. So, here is my 2024 Books Wrapped. Hopefully you find some agreement or inspiration.
Best Books
Ultra-Processed People, Chris Van Tulleken: Perfect for anyone curious about the intersection between science, health, and corporate power, Chris Van Tulleken's Ultra-Processed People was a horrifying eye-opener. It has transformed my approach to my food. An unforgettable exploration into the co-option of our food systems, it also illuminates broader socio-political issues, including the role large corporations play in manipulating our desires and basic needs, and the diseases that chemicals within food—branded as food—bring to the indigenous communities they are exported to. Whether or not you care if ‘E202’ or dextrin are in your food (perhaps you should, they can cause DNA damage and insulin resistance respectively), I believe that Ultra-Processed People is a must-read for anyone.
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro: Never Let Me Go is an adroit slow burn, equally haunting and beautiful. Ishiguro sports a distinct narrator voice (that can be challenging to stick with) but that subtly conveys themes of identity, purpose, and the bonds that tie life together. What are we made for? What really matters in our lives? It made me reflect on my own relationships; the people that come and go, but more importantly, those who stay. Despite its lingering pace, it is an incredibly satisfying read—the kind that makes you want to want to reread the novel immediately after finishing it, almost reinforcing the reminiscent nature of the book.
Table for Two, Amor Towles: Amor Towles never disappoints, and this collection of short stories is a nod to his ability to weave wit, intelligence, and heart into an enjoyable and breezy read. My favourite was “The DiDomenico Fragment” for its fictional exploration the history of a real piece of art, and ingenious narrative arc. I also enjoyed the final story, “Eve in Hollywood”, which was a treat for fans of Rules of Civility (my all-time favourite book). Towles always reignites my love for reading and fuels a jealousy for his craft.
Worst Books
The Idiot, Elif Batuman: Despite all its buzz, I found Batuman’s The Idiot a slog. Selin, the protagonist is whiny, conceited, and self-sabotaging. Batuman somehow made the uncertainties and excitement of being a teenage girl at university (with a crush!) feel tedious. An obsessed and delusional character can be fun—even relatable—to read, but The Idiot took more effort to finish than the satisfaction it brought.
Entitlement, Rumaan Alam: Entitlement also demonstrated that an unlikeable main character can make you hate a book. Protagonist Brooke is written to be unlikeable, but Alam does it a bit too well. I was genuinely irritated by certain chapters, and came away with a sour taste in my mouth because of Brooke’s appalling attitude and behavior. Character aside, the themes also felt muddled. Alam touches on feminism, class, race, identity, power dynamics, capitalism, greed, philanthropy—the list goes on—but incohesively. It was also a tad pretentious. Did you know ‘genuflection’ means to kneel on one knee as a sign of worship or respect? I didn’t, and I didn’t think it necessary to the style or voice of the story. To each their own.
