This year was a great year for books for me especially as I regained the ability to physically read books again. I used to love settling into a book but as my cognitive function declined I lost the ability to read. I read some advice by Hannah Hodgson on getting into reading and I began with reading some graphic novels as well as poetry; I really enjoyed reading Hannah’s own work. I then progressed onto reading books. I did have a time this year when I did lose the ability to read again but thankfully I’m back reading again.
Now onto my best books of 2024 - these were all the books I rated 5/5 and some memorable 4/5 books in my bullet journal list of books for 2024. I’ve listed them in order of reading.
* Spoilers may be revealed *
‘The Silence Between Us’ by Alison Gervais
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This has to be my top book this year I absolutely loved it. It’s a YA novel and it follows the main character Maya who is Deaf who moves to a new part of the USA and so has to start attending a hearing school. She became Deaf a few years ago after falling ill with meningitis. At her new school she has an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter as ASL is now her primary language.
The book brakes down barriers such as how d/Deaf people like Maya can still speak but choose to sign instead, and the difficulties of lip reading and wearing hearing aids. The author also brings into the story whether d/Deafness is a disability of not and also the division in the d/Deaf community over cochlear implants. The book also covers relationships between d/Deaf and hearing people. Another topic the book covers is the lack of support and how few interpreters there are in education for d/Deaf students especially when Maya was looking at going away to college.
In the book one of Maya’s classmates who initially didn’t understand d/Deafness learnt ASL so he could communicate with Maya in her language. I liked the acknowledgment that he was particularly stepping into her world. This proved useful at one point in the book when Maya had to take her brother to the hospital and her mum was away on business and the hospital’s electronic service for ASL interpreters was down so her friend stepped in to help interpret.
The storyline follows Maya settling into her new school, getting ready for college, making friends and also developing a relationship. A classic Young Adult coming of age novel.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable book and I loved the storyline, it was really well put together and it made a really good listen (or a read). I’d highly recommend this book!
‘A Litter of Bones’ by JD Kirk
This was a Crime Mystery novel which I read.
It was set in Scotland in the Highlands and followed a child going missing, for DCI Logan the case reminds him of a case he’d work on in the past.
I really enjoyed this book and it was quite memorable, I’d be interested to read more in the series either reading or audio as I liked the style of writing and the characters in the book too. (I did find myself reading it in a Scottish accent in my head!) It was very realistic as some police crime novels are a little unrealistic on how the characters operate as police officers, this was very true to life I found, or as I imagined policing to be like. The storyline in the book was very good and well thought out too.
If you’re looking for a new crime novel series then I’d recommend reading this one.
‘One’ by Sarah Crossan
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This was a book that I got for Christmas that I read. I head about this book from one of Hannah’s book reviews on her YouTube channel* (I often find good books there).I thought this book would be a good book to get be back into reading as it’s written in prose so a bit different and a style I’d never read before.
The book follows the lives of conjoined twins; what it’s like to live as conjoined twins the two different personalities of Grace and Tippi. In the prose you can see the two different personalities.
The book follows as Grace and Tippi start a new school after always being homeschooled and how each of them adapts to going to school and making friends and also relationships and also life changing decisions.
They are two different people but one body at the same time.
This is another Young Adult coming of age book. This is another book that I’d highly recommend and don’t be put off by it being written in prose you will love this book and feel a rollercoaster of emotions especially at the end.
‘A Danger to Herself and Others’ by Alyssa Sheinmel
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I sort of stumbled across this book but I’m so glad I did as I really enjoyed it and it was a fantastic book (I listened to this book).This book genre of this book is Young Adult Fiction.
It follows the story of Hannah who is wrongly put in a mental health unit and the story unravels from there. There were lots of twists and turns and things I wasn’t expecting to happen.
It was really really well written and the ending was just not what I was expecting at all. I’d definitely love to see if this author has any other books.
The only thing I would say about this book is that it does have a few trigger warnings around mental illness subjects.
Other than the trigger warnings if this book is okay for you to read then this is another great book that I’d highly recommend and is well worth reading or listening to.
‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ by Holly Jackson
This is the first book in a trilogy; I much preferred this first book to the following two books in the series and I gave them a lower rating.
It’s a Young Adult crime/mystery novel.
The book is about Pip who is doing an Extended Project at her sixth form college. For her project she decides to invest a local murder for who she believes the wrong killer was wrongly accused and she sets out to find the true killer.
The book is full of twists and turns and things you do and don’t expect to happen.
All-in-all it was an enjoyable read and it was well written. I listened to the audio version of the book which was partially dramatised, such as sound effects for when Pip was using her voice recorder for and when she was interviewing characters in the book on her voice recorder different people’s voices were used. So if you do listen to audiobooks I would recommend listening to the audio version of this book just for the effects.
The book has now been dramatised into a television series on BBC but I’m yet to watch it to compare it to the book.
‘Time After Time’ by Chris Atkins
This book was a sequel to the author’s book ‘A Bit of a Stretch’ which documented Chris’ time in prison for tax crimes.
In this book Chris speaks with offenders themselves to explore why people reoffend. As the book came from the point of view from reoffenders themselves it gave a really unique and interesting perspective into why people reoffend and also what they as offenders feels needs to change to reduce reoffending rates, especially as reoffending rates are so high in the UK.
Some of the topics covered in the books was the probation service and how that needs to change to reduce reoffending, also other support for prisoners once they leave prison. Other issues around reoffending that the book covered included housing and homeless, finances and turning back to crime for money therefore they end up back in prison, education and employability was another issue, even individuals enjoying life in prison so they reoffend just to return to prison.
Chris writes in a really personable and relatable way. Though he hasn’t reoffended since leaving prison he has the experience of being in prison himself so you can tell that he really connected with the people he spoke with for this book.
I think this book also makes a great resource as we’re hearing from reoffenders themselves what the problems are that make them reoffend so it could be used to changes services like the probation service and other services that help those newly released from prison to try and reduce reoffending rates.
It was such an interesting book/audiobook to read/listen to. It really educated me and made me more aware. It’s a book I’d highly recommend.
‘Things The Eye Can’t See’ by Penny Joelson
This is a Young Adult mystery novel.
In all of Penny Joelson’s books she has a main character with a disability or chronic illness. In this book Libby is visually impaired and has a guide dog called Samson.
What I like is the barriers Penny breaks down around disability, such as in this book the focus is around Libby’s disability. We learn that blind or visually impaired is a spectrum and most people still have some vision, even if you have a guide dog. Also Libby’s hobby is photography and her favourite subject is art, things visually impaired people can still enjoy, they just adapt to meet their needs. We also learn about ableist attitudes towards disability in the book and online hate. The book showed that Libby was just as capable she just needed help with guidance and a few other areas of support as well as using adaptations to be independent and capable and able.
The book follows Libby and a couple of her friends as she tries to find someone she knows who is in trouble and in danger.
Other issues the author brings up in the book is county lines and the dangers of it, including getting set up buy higher up the chain drug dealers to put people in debt. It also brings in another related issue which is cuckooing where a vulnerable person’s home is taken over by drug dealers and how they are exploited. The book also explains how people are drawn into county lines such as by being given money and being bought new mobile phones or trainers.
I think for a Young Adult book discussing disability awareness and also awareness about county lines is really important.
I really enjoyed reading this book and following Libby as she investigated her friends disappearance and as she searched for him concerned for his welfare.
‘Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas’ by Adam Kay
This is my annual Christmas go-to that I never tire of and it’s wildly hilarious with a festive twist. The audiobook is read by the author and he’s a great narrator bringing the book to life. As well as being a doctor (who’s now hung up his stethoscope for writing) he’s a great comedian.
The book is in diary format following the various years he worked as a doctor over the festive period each year. In each year he recalls excerpts from his diary of different cases, often festive related cases. Amongst the hilarious cases he does also recall the more difficult cases in his career and also the downsides to working over the holidays such as the strain it put on his relationships.
If you’re looking for a festive laugh then this is the book for you.