The 12 Books On My List This Year
Down from the previous year's goal of 52, which I very much did not accomplish.
Sometime in the middle of last year amongst the stress of career changes, burnout, and general existential malaise, I thought that maybe I actually didn’t like reading. My Goodreads goal of 52 was sitting at a lazy 5 in July, not a great start for the first half of the year. Feeling guilty, I quickly loaded what I thought would be a fun beach read onto my Kindle before a coastal camping trip in late summer.
After that sixth book, I convinced myself that maybe I should just be done with reading for a while. Lessons in Chemistry was my reading downfall.
While I should have loved it - it centers around a female chemist in the 60s who garners no respect from her institution or colleagues. To make ends meet she takes a gig hosting a cooking show on television that becomes a huge success. I should have loved the book by all merits, especially as a food writer with a career in food media but I loathed it. What I wanted to be an empowering read was anything but. I felt triggered, constantly, by her having to morph who she was into what society wanted her to be. How her male colleagues were utter trash, and by her falling for the one person who saw her for her, only for him to die in an awful accident that her dog thinks he caused…
Yes, the dog talks. It could have been cute but instead, it was utterly heartbreaking. So much for an easy beach read. It was a metaphorical microcosm of the anxious feelings and thoughts swirling around in my head.
That lands me here. 6 months later not having picked up one book since.
I’ve always loved reading. My dad read 1-2 books a week growing up and instilled a love of reading in me from such a young age. Wandering around the local used book store or hitting up Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million growing up was my version of teenage heaven. In college, I bonded over my love of reading with a girl who became one of my best friends. My favorite pastime is getting so lost in a book I end up eschewing any and all responsibilities to be able to hole up and read it all in one sitting. Reading was a part of me and to no longer want to read felt like losing a part of myself.
I find it hard to focus these days, I’m sure a lot of you can relate. In an effort to feel like myself but not overwork my brain and instead of setting a ridiculous goal like 52 books - looking at you Dad, I’ve instead chosen 12. One a month. Doable, right?
And if I fail, it’s on the internet for all to see so I better go charge my Kindle.
2024 Reading List
Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them - I’m excited to dive into this book from BBC food journalist, Dan Saladino. Saladino explores the globalization of food and how the source of our food in the form of seeds is controlled by just four corporations. During my time studying Food Studies at UCLA, BBC was a frequent source of class material for their coverage of global food systems. I’m sure this book will both anger and inspire me.
The Sugar Queen - A long-time favorite, I haven’t read it in a few years but I’m one of those people who loves re-reading their favorite books. If you enjoy magical realism, Sarah Addison Allen may just become your favorite author. Easy and cozy, her books are comforting and perfect to escape to.
The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred - Converging two of my favorite things, space and badass women, I’m itching to dive into this memoir of theoretical physicist, Dr Chandra Prescod-Weinstein that’s been on my list for a while.
All Rhodes Lead Here - I love a good romance novel. Cozy mountain town is a plus. Maybe I’ll curl up with this one on a ski trip this winter.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - I’m always a sucker for a will-they-won’t-they romance. Two friends in business with each other that span decades? Sounds great.
Time's Mouth - Honestly, the cover on this one caught my eye but the write-up even more so. Another magical realism book but this time with a dash of time travel and a 1950s California cult thrown in for good measure.
No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating - I adore Alicia Kennedy, the writer of one of my favorite newsletters, From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy. Her take on food media, culture, and politics is one of the highlights of my week. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t read her book yet but it just came out in August which was after my reading strike so I’ll give myself a break.
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad - I loved Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist. I’m pretty terrible at staying creative when stressed so this one definitely earned a spot on the list.
First Lie Wins - Ohhh, I’m s sucker a double identity thriller. I hope this one isn’t too rough, my PG-13 level is more like Rated R but if Reece says it’s good, I bet it’s good.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World - Give me all the tools.
Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World - My sociologist’s heart loves a good culture critique and what better thing to hate on than cars? Tying America’s car obsession and the subsequent parking obsession with broader cultural crises like global warming, obesity, and political and economic shortcomings, it sounds fascinating.
??? - Have a book you think I should read? I’m leaving #12 open-ended for when I inevitably stumble on something that I can’t pass up. Maybe that’s one you know of? Drop your recs in the comments for me and other readers.
