Mid-Year Book Roundup: The Best of 2024 (So Far)
June is here, so I’d like to share my mid-year book roundup with you all! I will share what I read and discuss in detail what my favorites are so far, such as Beautiful World ,Where Are You by Sally Rooney (Literary Fiction), Lucky Me by Rich Paul(Memoir/nonfiction), and La Plus Secrète Mémoire des Hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr (French Literary Fiction- English: The Most Secret Memory of Men). Technically, I am not done with this last one but only 50 pages or so from finishing it.
We are already halfway through the year! I can’t believe this! I love the month of June because it is my birthday month! I’m currently deeeeeep into drafting a new book and it’s going so well! I’m having fun and am lost in it! I’m briefly snapping out of my fictional world, so….ready?
JANUARY READS 2024
Someday Maybe, Onyi Nwabineli
(Literary Fiction)
Lucky Me, Rich Paul
(Memoir/NonFiction)
Love Across Borders, Anna Lekas Miller
(NonFiction)
Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma —(Fun fact, I went to grad school with Nisha Sharma, and I’m so proud of the bad a$$ writer she’s become today!)
(Romance)
Before I Let Go, Kennedy Ryan
(Romance)
Favorite Read (s): Lucky Me by Rich Paul
There is so much more to Rich’s story than what the media runs with! Rich Paul, an entrepreneur, is mainly known as LeBron James’ sports agent. As he says in his book, being lucky also means putting in the work. He was already a hard-working man by the time he met LeBron James; thus, his work ethic spoke for itself, which led to greater opportunities. He created his luck by grinding hard—determined to succeed! Then he happened to be at the right place, at the right time, which led to meeting Lebron James. I especially love how he talks about breaking generational cycles of poverty. That hit home!
Favorite quote(s):
Love Across Borders came in second!
As an immigrant, I could relate to a lot of the struggles discussed in this book. I have witnessed many families and loved ones affected and separated by borders, immigration laws, and deportation.
Favorite quote(s):
“The border might not have yet physically divided people the way that it does today, but it institutionalized the white supremacist culture that continues to influence the way that Mexican and Mexican-American communities are treated in the United States to this day.”
“Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people migrate for better work opportunities. But often, I find myself wondering why a European or US citizen who moves to Abu Dhabi or Dubai is often called an expat, typically earning an inflated salary, while a Nigerian or Gambian trying to leave their country to make more money is a “migrant.” Both people are trying to make a better life for themselves. One is risking human trafficking and being sold in slave markets. The other doesn’t have to pay taxes.”
FEBRUARY & MARCH READS 2024
Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(Literary Fiction)
The House of Eve, Sadeqa Johnson
(Historical Fiction)
The Paris Library, Janet S Charles
(Historical Fiction)
Beautiful World, Where Are You, Sally Rooney
(Literary Fiction)
The Other Americans, Laila Lalami
(Literary Fiction/Suspense)
Favorite Read (s): Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney.
This novel is pretty much about a group of friends in their 30s who live in Ireland and are trying to figure out this thing we call life: career, friendship, love. My love for this book came as a surprise. I’ve heard of Rooney, of course, and I even binge-watched Normal People years ago on Hulu. I didn’t know what to expect with this one, but, wow, she is by far my favorite fiction read of the year. It’s one of those books where I saw myself in a character so clearly! People like me who have a big heart and want or expect people to show us the same love we give them in our own “love language.” But not everyone is built like us. Sometimes, we have to meet people where they are and try to understand **how** they love—in platonic and romantic relationships!
Favorite quote(s)
“Maybe we’re just born to love and worry about the people we know, and to go on loving and worrying even when there are more important things we should be doing. And if that means the human species is going to die out, isn’t it in a way a nice reason to die out, the nicest reason you can imagine? Because when we should have been reorganising the distribution of the world’s resources and transitioning collectively to a sustainable economic model, we were worrying about sex and friendship instead. Because we loved each other too much and found each other too interesting. And I love that about humanity, and in fact it’s the very reason I root for us to survive—because we are so stupid about each other. ”
P.s. Americanah was a re-read. I was curious to know if I’d still see it as my all-time favorite book after 5 years. The verdict: It’s strange how time changes us. Reading this book now felt different, and there were many scenes I had forgotten even happened. I kept wondering if this was a new edition with new scenes. I realized that I am not the same person I was 5 years ago when I first read it. My thoughts on the book have changed! It is still an amazing novel—without a doubt! But I wouldn’t call it my all-time favorite.
April/May Reads- 2024
Dominoes, Phoebe McIntosh
(Literary Fiction)
At Night, Claire Daverley
(Romance)
A Knock at Midnight, Brittany K. Barnett
(Memoir/NonFiction)
When I Think of You, Myah Ariel
(Romance)
Last Place Seen, Alessandra Harris— (My writer friend wrote this book!!! If you’re into thrillers and suspenseful novels, please check it out! Page turner!)
(Thriller/Suspense)
Favorite Read (s): A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K Barnett
My mind is blown. Brittany Barnett, a young attorney based in Dallas, Texas, fought for the freedom of her clients, some serving life sentences without parole. This was a difficult read, but I’m glad I read it. This book is a fierce look into America’s broken justice system (based in Texas). It is not an easy read, so please start the book expecting to get angry, frustrated, and heartbroken. The stories shared sometimes felt so hopeless and unjust. I now have a better understanding of the justice system and how broken it is. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, if I may add. The work she has done is phenomenal and inspiring. As someone who grew up in Texas, it felt almost personal! Highly recommended!
June Reads
June has been SOLID! I’ve been reading like there’s no tomorrow and I’m loving it. Here's what I read in June:
The Exception to the Rule, Christina Lauren
(Short Story/Romance)
How to Say Babylon, Safiya Sinclair
(Memoir/NonFiction)
The Sun Sets in Singapore Kehinde Fadipe
Book club/women's fiction)
La Plus Secrète Mémoire des Hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
(The Most Secret Memory of Men)
The Poisonwood Bible by Barabara Kingslover. I wrote a full separate review for this one.
Favorite Read(s): La Plus Secrète Mémoire des Hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr | (The Most Secret Memory of Men)
Now and then, I try to read French novels to keep my French fresh! Also, I simply enjoy books written by French writers. They have a different flair than American or UK writers. Technically, I’m still reading this one, and I have taken my sweet time. I’m savoring it, highlighting it, and am amazed by this talent of a writer.
It is about a young Senegalese writer based in France who discovers a mysterious but profound book written and published in 1938 by a young African writer. The book in question caused a lot of commotion in the book scene in Paris, France. Literary professionals claimed that an African writer couldn’t have possibly written it because it was too well written! One day, all traces of the author have disappeared, so now decades later this young Senegalese writer goes on a journey to find out what happened to him.
One of the reasons I love it is because I can see myself in it, as a writer/reader of African descent. I love how we get to know the different types of writers he meets along the way—French writers and those with origins from the motherland: Congo, Mali, Senegal, Cameroun, etc. Just so amazing. As a US-based writer of Congolese descent who was born in Paris, France, I kept thinking “Wow, I found my people—only I’m not there.” In the States, I have yet to meet another fiction writer with a similar background as me. Those I have met are mainly West African writers, so, this book has been so comforting—just knowing that I am not alone in this literary lifestyle I have chosen. I just need to go to France to find my people…haha.
On a serious note, writers are very unique beings! We are not easy to understand, love, or be friends with, yet we continue to do what we do…write…read…because we can’t see ourselves doing anything else.
I LOVE THIS BOOK! This French writer is so talented! I will read anything he writes!
Favorite quote(s)- Citation Francais:
“Un grand livre n’a pas de sujet et ne parle de rien, il cherche seulement à dire ou découvrir quelque chose, mais ce seulement est déjà tout, et ce quelque chose aussi est déjà tout.”
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren came in second.
It was a well-written short story! I ate it up, and finished it in one sitting—in bed on a cozy, Saturday morning! I wish it could be developed into a full-length novel. This romance short story gave me all the feels!
