Movies

The 10 Best Fiction Books of 2024

BBG News

As a voracious reader and a connoisseur of literature, I have been utterly captivated by the extraordinary collection of books that graced the list this year. Each title showcases a unique voice, a fresh perspective, and a profound understanding of the human condition.

2021’s standout fiction introduces characters who often feel out of place, whether they’re among loved ones or in their own skin. Some are immigrants in their cities, others struggle to fit into their own lives. Remarkably, three of them have been resurrected. One is an undercover extraterrestrial dwelling in Philadelphia, observing life from a unique perspective. As these solitary figures journey through worlds crafted by authors such as Kelly Link, Kaveh Akbar, and Percival Everett, their narratives challenge us to reevaluate our attachments to the places we cherish and the groups we associate with. Collectively, these books serve as a poignant message: even those who seem isolated are never entirely alone.

Here, the best fiction books of 2024.

10. The Coin, Yasmin Zaher

In “The Coin,” a fashionable Palestinian schoolteacher finds herself in the crowded cityscape of New York, tormented by an enormous inheritance she can’t touch because of her domineering brother’s grip. As turmoil engulfs her life, she strives for mastery, seeking to free herself from the adverse effects of American culture that weigh upon her. This struggle manifests in different ways, such as bathing in scalding water and even weeping before her pupils. Over time, Yasmin Zaher’s tense protagonist develops an addiction to cleansing herself of impurities, gradually detaching from reality. With sharp wit and powerful storytelling, Zaher paints a gripping picture of a woman teetering on the brink.

9. The Anthropologists, Ayşegül Savas

Does Ayşegül Savas’ novel The Anthropologists have a storyline? Indeed, it does, but it’s more of a backdrop. The protagonists, Asya (a documentarian) and her husband Manu, are on the hunt for a new home in an undisclosed city, while Asya plans to film a local park for her next project. These events propel the story, but what truly resonates are the vivid depictions of how Asya and Manu interact with those around them – be they neighbors, friends, or family members. As they visit apartments and envision different lives for themselves, Savas skillfully weaves a compelling tale about the everyday moments that shape our existence.

8. Ghostroots, ’Pemi Aguda

12 captivating tales make up Pemi Aguda’s first collection, ‘Pemi Aguda’, which delves into the question of how we can progress while being mindful of our past. All these stories take place in Lagos, the author’s hometown, and delve into the intriguing intersection of myth, recollection, and actuality. The characters grapple with various manifestations of ghosts that appear in the most unusual locations. In “Manifest,” a woman is shocked when her daughter’s face gradually transforms into that of her deceased, abusive mother. In “The Hollow,” an architect is assigned to renovate a house that undergoes constant changes due to the spirits confined within its walls. ‘Ghostroots’ pulses with a tense vitality as Aguda skillfully bends her narratives in humorous and surprising ways.

7. The Book of Love, Kelly Link

In Kelly Link’s first novel, three teenagers miraculously come back to life and are offered an opportunity to rejoin their former lives; however, only two can ultimately return permanently. The group is assigned various magical missions to accomplish in their small Massachusetts town, which was once sleepy, as a condition for their reentry. As they navigate surreal, amusing, and sometimes heart-wrenching experiences, they confront past hurts and gain fresh insights into the people they had left behind. The Book of Love is both humorous and whimsical, showcasing its characters’ use of extraordinary abilities, but it also carries a profound message: everyone eventually reaches their end, even if we can momentarily dodge our fate.

6. Martyr!, Kaveh Akbar

In my journey, I tread the days as an actor within hospital walls, yet there’s a pull towards the Brooklyn Museum where a terminally ill artist has chosen to display herself for her final exhibition. As a man fresh from sobriety and haunted by death’s shadow, I bear the weight of a life marked by loss – my mother being one of its earliest casualties, claimed by a tragic plane crash when I was but an infant. Now, this cancer-stricken artist and her poignant display capture my attention. Kaveh Akbar skillfully weaves these seemingly unrelated characters into a heartrending tale that serves as both a multigenerational family chronicle and a portrait of a young man grappling to comprehend the complexities of life.

5. All Fours, Miranda July

Miranda July, a filmmaker and author, delves into the revival of a 45-year-old artist grappling with her longings amidst the complexities of aging in her second novel, titled “All Fours“. The story unfolds as this anonymous woman departs from her family in Los Angeles for a transcontinental journey to New York City. However, barely an hour into her road trip, she deviates from her planned route, halting at a motel instead. This unexpected detour leads to a passionate romance with a younger man, which takes the protagonist on an exhilarating, unforeseen journey. This romantic entanglement pushes the woman to reassess her perspectives on intimacy, sexuality, and marital norms. July’s writing crackles with raw energy as the woman grows fixated on her newfound love, causing her to disrupt her life dramatically, even as she navigates a body undergoing changes she barely comprehends.

4. Fire Exit, Morgan Talty

For many years, Charles Lamosway has quietly observed his daughter who resides on the Penobscot Reservation, unaware that her father is a white man. Raised by her mother and stepfather, whom she believes to be her biological parent, he occasionally catches glimpses of Elizabeth’s life from his porch overlooking the river. Eager to connect with her, he becomes concerned when she suddenly stops visiting. After several weeks without seeing his daughter, Charles makes the decision to take action, embarking on a journey that compels him to face both his complex past and the life he was denied. In precise language, Morgan Talty’s novel Fire Exit explores themes of heritage and the true essence of family, offering a poignant tale of self-discovery.

3. Beautyland, Marie-Helene Bertino

Marie-Helene Bertino’s creative novel starts with the birth of a baby girl named Adina Giorno in Philadelphia, who is unusually small and jaundiced. Raised by a single mother, her childhood is filled with typical experiences such as attending school and making friends, but she also has an extraordinary talent – communicating with extraterrestrial life through a fax machine, which she keeps hidden from others. As Adina matures, she describes human existence with an amusing clarity: “People often compare their lives to riding a roller coaster, even though they created roller coasters as enjoyable diversions.” Using Adina’s keen observations and her longing to grasp the world, Bertino presents a charming and peculiar examination of what it means to be human.

2. We Were the Universe, Kimberly King Parsons

20-something Kit leaves behind her daughter and spouse in Texas, embarking on a vacation with her closest friend in Montana instead. Initially, the trip is enjoyable, but things take a turn for the worse following an incident involving excessive drinking. The author, Kimberly King Parsons, skillfully portrays her protagonist’s emotional turmoil as she is unexpectedly reminded of the void left by the loss of her dear sister Julie, who passed away. Upon returning home, Kit feels Julie’s spirit everywhere, and her world starts to distort as recollections of their shared teenage experiences – including drug trips and band practice – resurface, feeling almost tangible again. In this novel that explores the transformative power of love, Parsons poignantly depicts Kit’s grief in raw and authentic ways.

1. James, Percival Everett

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but rave about Percival Everett’s modern take on “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” titled “James.” This year, it’s been one of the most talked-about and widely read books, and rightfully so. It won a National Book Award and was even shortlisted for the Booker Prize!

Read More

2024-12-06 17:07

Previous post Celebrity chef Maggie Beer shares health update and harrowing details of her recovery after horror fall at home: ‘I learned what it was to be fed on a tube’
Next post Sonic Rumble, SEGA’s multiplayer party game opens pre-registration on Android and iOS