Thanks, Bob!🌷I’ve only read two of the books you mention: My Friends (also one of my best reads for 2024) and Enter Ghost (one of my best reads for 2023). I’m intrigued by Ghost Mountain, since the way you talked about the role of the Mountain in this novel makes me think of Elif Shafak’s Fig Tree in The Island of Missing Trees. If I only consider books published in 2024 (or at the end of 2023), I think my best reads have been Playground, Orbital, Ordinary Human Failings, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, River East River West and also the first two books part of the septology On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle. I’d love it if you also made a video with your overall favourite reads for 2024, I mean also books published longer ago😊. Happy Holidays!!!🎄🎅🏻📚
Thank you! And yes! I almost compared Ghost Mountain to Shafak’s book but couldn’t remember the name on the fly! Ooh, I keep seeing those Solvej Balle books around and I’m so keen to check them out!
Ahhhhh, Praiseworthy. I’m so glad to have this book raised up again. I was surprised to see what a chunkster it was when I saw it at the library. I do want to jump into it. I had forgotten about the new Baltasar and I adore her work. Ronan Hession! I’m actually talking about Leonard and Hungry Paul on my faves this year all because you talked about it! 😊. Happy happy New Year to you, Bob!
Aha, yes, it’s a big one, but it sort of pulls you into its orbit, I think, so I read it surprisingly quickly. Oh yay, so glad to see love for Leonard! Happy new year and I hope you have a fantastic 2025!
This is a stunning list Bob. So much to think about. I’ve read some of them but will follow up those I haven’t read. I have just received a copy of Praiseworthy so no excuses now. Thanks 😊happy reading.
great list...many appear on my list and i definitely KEEP SPENT LIGHT AND NIGHT ALPHABET AS TOP OF THE YEAR BOOKS....anyway, well done...and agree about ghost mountain and especially mamouth...well done bob cheers, happy christmas
Aha, yes! I was really tempted to make a top 15 just to make sure they were included, as both were such exciting reads for me! And thank you! I hope you’re having a lovely break!
This is an outstanding list! Leonard and Hungry Paul is in my best list this year; I've somehow still not gotten to Ghost Mountain. I loved James, My Friends, and Enter Ghost but didn't get on with Mammoth. The Extinction of Irena Rey is still on my TBR, too. This was fun!
Our tastes overlap, so I always look forward to hearing about your favourites. Last year, I picked up Riambel and Stillborn because they were on your list and loved both. This year, we overlap on James and Enter Ghost. I probably didn’t give enough time to My Friends and Extinction of Irena Rey because I dnf’d both. I think the rest of your favourites were already on my TBR, including Gliff-which I am very excited to read next. Happy holidays Bob!
Brilliant list, Bob. I also really loved James, and I just recently read Ronan Hession's Leonard and Hungry Paul, which is on my top ten for the year. I will seek out Ghost Mountain next. Thank you. Happy Holidays to you, Bob.
Enjoyed your descriptions of these titles. Just subscribed from New England. Independent reviewers are so much more inviting to listen to, or read than say The NY Times.
Wonderful list and the three that I have read would be on my top books list too (Mammoth, Gliff, James - do we detect a trend of one word titles?). Fortunately I have six more of them on the shelf to read - including Praiseworthy!
Merry Christmas, Bob! Thank you so much for your list! Ghost Mountain was already on my list for next year and you sold me on This House as well. Thank you so much for your thoughtful reviews throughout the year. As someone who turns more and more to the books on my shelves and therefore to the backlist, I know I can rely on you to give me trusted direction in what frontlist to consider. Plus I love your retro Booker shortlist reviews too and Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald stands out as a book you read and loved that I in my turn read and loved also. All that to say I wish you much joy in the coming year.⭐️🕯️
I'm almost alarmed that I have only read four of these. All the others will have to lurk on my TBR. How will I force myself to embark on Praiseworthy despite resistance to its length?
Thanks, Bob!🌷I’ve only read two of the books you mention: My Friends (also one of my best reads for 2024) and Enter Ghost (one of my best reads for 2023). I’m intrigued by Ghost Mountain, since the way you talked about the role of the Mountain in this novel makes me think of Elif Shafak’s Fig Tree in The Island of Missing Trees. If I only consider books published in 2024 (or at the end of 2023), I think my best reads have been Playground, Orbital, Ordinary Human Failings, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, River East River West and also the first two books part of the septology On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle. I’d love it if you also made a video with your overall favourite reads for 2024, I mean also books published longer ago😊. Happy Holidays!!!🎄🎅🏻📚
Thank you!
And yes! I almost compared Ghost Mountain to Shafak’s book but couldn’t remember the name on the fly!
Ooh, I keep seeing those Solvej Balle books around and I’m so keen to check them out!
Great list Bob
Ghost Mountain and Mammoth are both so good. Your description of Everett’s construction of James and his writing is the best I’ve heard.
Yes! So glad to see more love for Ghost Mountain! And thank you- that’s very kind of you. Have a wonderful break and 2025!
Ahhhhh, Praiseworthy. I’m so glad to have this book raised up again. I was surprised to see what a chunkster it was when I saw it at the library. I do want to jump into it.
I had forgotten about the new Baltasar and I adore her work. Ronan Hession! I’m actually talking about Leonard and Hungry Paul on my faves this year all because you talked about it! 😊. Happy happy New Year to you, Bob!
Aha, yes, it’s a big one, but it sort of pulls you into its orbit, I think, so I read it surprisingly quickly.
Oh yay, so glad to see love for Leonard!
Happy new year and I hope you have a fantastic 2025!
This is a stunning list Bob. So much to think about. I’ve read some of them but will follow up those I haven’t read. I have just received a copy of Praiseworthy so no excuses now. Thanks 😊happy reading.
Thank you so much! And ooh, I hope you like Praiseworthy! It’s such a gem, I think.
Have a fab 2025!
great list Bobert, added some to my ever expanding tbr :-)
@@LarryHasOpinions thank you! And let me know if you want to borrow any!
Definitely checking some of these out. Thanks for your reviews. Enjoy the holidays!
Thank you so much! And right back at you- I hope you are having a good break!
Praiseworthy sounds phenomenal, happy Christmas 🎄
Happy Christmas! And it’s such a fantastic read! I hope you like it!
Grateful for this fantastic list! Thanks for what you do here, Bob. Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much! And I hope you’re having a lovely break!
great list...many appear on my list and i definitely KEEP SPENT LIGHT AND NIGHT ALPHABET AS TOP OF THE YEAR BOOKS....anyway, well done...and agree about ghost mountain and especially mamouth...well done bob cheers, happy christmas
Aha, yes! I was really tempted to make a top 15 just to make sure they were included, as both were such exciting reads for me!
And thank you! I hope you’re having a lovely break!
@@BobTheBookerer i will tell Lara, she will be most pleased as will joelle ...have a lovely book day bob....i mean, boxing day hahah...cheers, bob
@@bluewordsme2 aha, yes! And thank you! I hope you’re having a lovely break!
This is an outstanding list! Leonard and Hungry Paul is in my best list this year; I've somehow still not gotten to Ghost Mountain. I loved James, My Friends, and Enter Ghost but didn't get on with Mammoth. The Extinction of Irena Rey is still on my TBR, too. This was fun!
Oh, four of these are among my favourites from the year too, and three are on my tbr. This makes me think I should add the rest of them as well!
Aha, the dangers of TBRs! I hope you enjoy them!
Happy Holiday ! Thanks for giving us your reviews of current books.
Thank you! And happy holidays right back at you!
Was waiting for this! Such a good list!! Happy Chirstmas, Bob! :)
Thank you so much! And have a fab Christmas break!
Ghost Mountain sounds interesting. Thanks for the recommendation and review.
Thank you, and I hope you have a great holiday season! And that you enjoy Ghost Mountain!
Our tastes overlap, so I always look forward to hearing about your favourites. Last year, I picked up Riambel and Stillborn because they were on your list and loved both. This year, we overlap on James and Enter Ghost. I probably didn’t give enough time to My Friends and Extinction of Irena Rey because I dnf’d both. I think the rest of your favourites were already on my TBR, including Gliff-which I am very excited to read next. Happy holidays Bob!
Oh yay, so glad to hear it!
And totally fair! I hope you enjoy the rest, and that you’re having a good break!
Merry Christmas! Great selection of books. My favoutites this year are Enter Ghost by Hammad and Martyr! by Kaveh Akvar
Thank you, and merry Christmas to you!
Yes! Martyr! is such a wonderful book- I almost made the list bigger just to put it properly on there.
such a thoughtful review, and many books that were absolutely off my radar but look fantastic. subscribed, and thank you very much! 🎉
Ahh, thank you so much! That’s very kind of you, and I hope you have a fab 2025!
Nice to see Enter Ghost making another appearance.
Yes! I think about that ending a lot! Such a bold piece of writing!
Brilliant list, Bob. I also really loved James, and I just recently read Ronan Hession's Leonard and Hungry Paul, which is on my top ten for the year. I will seek out Ghost Mountain next. Thank you. Happy Holidays to you, Bob.
Thank you so much! And so glad you loved Leonard so much! It’s such a special book.
Happy holidays, and I hope you have a fab 2025!
Enjoyed your descriptions of these titles. Just subscribed from New England. Independent reviewers are so much more inviting to listen to, or read than say The NY Times.
Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a great new year!
I loved Irena Rey and starting Stoneyard soon.
Wonderful list and the three that I have read would be on my top books list too (Mammoth, Gliff, James - do we detect a trend of one word titles?). Fortunately I have six more of them on the shelf to read - including Praiseworthy!
Aha, yes! Got to love a short title!
And exciting, I hope you like them!
Merry Christmas, Bob! Thank you so much for your list! Ghost Mountain was already on my list for next year and you sold me on This House as well. Thank you so much for your thoughtful reviews throughout the year. As someone who turns more and more to the books on my shelves and therefore to the backlist, I know I can rely on you to give me trusted direction in what frontlist to consider. Plus I love your retro Booker shortlist reviews too and Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald stands out as a book you read and loved that I in my turn read and loved also. All that to say I wish you much joy in the coming year.⭐️🕯️
Merry Christmas!
Oh yay, glad to hear it- I hope you like them!
And thank you so much for your very kind words- that’s greatly appreciated! :)
I've read 4 of these and now want to read the other 8!
Yay! I hope you like them!
Wow I want to read them all that’s a great list.
Thank you so much! All my best, and I hope you’re having a good break!
I'm almost alarmed that I have only read four of these. All the others will have to lurk on my TBR. How will I force myself to embark on Praiseworthy despite resistance to its length?
Aha, no pressure! And I’m scared for my TBR to double in size once everyone else’s ‘best of year’ videos come out!
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