My 5 Favorite Books of 2024

 My requirements for being chosen as favorite book of the current year: 

• The book must be published and read currently 
• I must learn something new or different about the protagonist or characters 
• The story touched my soul in some way
• The book wholeheartedly stands out above anything else I’ve read

 1)

You know that saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Well, unbeknownst to Charlotte, she had enemies disguised as friends who were very jealous of her since the publication of Jane Eyre. Sadly, it was Elizabeth Gaskell and Harriett Martineau who were the worst 'friends' taking every opportunity they could find to badmouth Charlotte in the press. I will say Harriett was 'evil' towards Charlotte and leave it at that. Graham Watson does a wonderful job giving varied information covering the rest of the lives of these three women up until and including their deaths. There is a lot to learn about  Arthur Nicholls as well and you see a side to Rev. Patrick Bronte that I don't think is usually covered.

 2)   

I’ve come to expect elements of the gothic in subject matter, tone, and character from Sarah Perry reminiscent in her previous book, Melmoth. You find these elements in Enlightenment with the characters of Thomas Hart, The Macaulay girls, and Nathan. Thomas’s obsession with the haunting’s in Lowlands Park in Bethesda Chapel and one astronomer Maria Veduva were my favorite chapters. This could’ve been the whole book for me. The misty rainy nights set the perfect atmosphere in the Essex town of Aldleigh and I was hooked!

 3)  

I loved this book partly because I could identify with the young girl Eadie was in the 80s. She wanted her freedom but differently than most teenagers longed for. Be careful what you wish for you just might get it. What Eadie  didn’t count on was what her freedom would cost her. 

Freya North has created a wonderful birth to death telling of, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne. I for one am happy to have read it.

There are high moments in Eadie’s adulthood and low moments in her life. What I loved about her character was her tenacity and her fragility. She never lost sight of who she was.

4) 

The myth of Cupid and Psyche told with love and beauty as only Kate Forsyth can.  Greek mythology comes to life as we follow ‘Psykhe’ from birth to falling in love with Cupid.  

I love the authors writing style. Her passion for telling a good story based upon impeccable skill and research. Nobody writes fairy tale and myth better than the author herself. 

What sets this tale of Psykhe apart from the others is the use of holistic medicine, herbs, tinctures. I am going to try some of them myself. I enjoyed the chapters about the birth of Venus being made from seafoam, the chapters with Ambrose in the tower, and Psykhes trip to the underworld to meet with Prosperina! Page turning stuff.

5) 

I am such an avid fan of Barbara Erskine and her time slip novels. The Story Spinner is no different. You have the authors meticulous research for Welsh history shown in major character Cadi, a poet who is writing a book influenced by Welsh folklore as found in The Mabinogion. I was thrilled to see the use of The Mabinogion throughout The Story Spinner. I read The Mabinogion years ago back in college and the author reminded me how much I loved Welsh folklore.

This is a wonderful novel with strong characters and the connection between history and folklore and time and place existing on another plane. Wonderful escapism.