With Christmas fast approaching, it is time to reflect on the progress we made in 2024 while planning new projects and fresh goals for 2025.
At the start of this year, I set out to increase the number of arts, cultural and literary events featured in the ‘Passion for Prose’ column, focusing on topics about literature and literacy that are relevant to communities across Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges.
Consequently, only 19 book reviews were published in my column this year.
The top 5 books featured here are selected from this list.
(As I continue to read for pleasure, the remainder of my 40 plus book reviews this year were published elsewhere, mainly online. But the print media is and will always be my favourite.)
Below are my top 5 books reviewed in 2024. These titles have mesmerised me with their ingenuity, complexity and imaginativeness.
1: Babel by American author R.F. Kuang: A fantasy novel on language, friendship and revolution, tackling issues of translation between words and worlds, with passion and compassion.
2: Runt by Australian author Craig Silvey: A magical, delightful book. The cleverly written story is all about being true to yourself and respecting other people’s rights to walk their own paths.
3: What I Would Do to You by Australian author Georgia Harper: An intense, confronting novel delving into “things that may never happen, and sometimes should never happen”.
4: A Hunger of Thorns by Australian author Lili Wilkinson: A vivid, wild and captivating fantasy tale about missing girls who don’t need handsome princes to rescue them.
5: The Silence Factory by British author Bridget Collins: A fascinating story exploring the nature and significance of silence, exquisitely written and highly intriguing.
And, finally, there are three honourable mentions.
These titles have surprised me with their breadth, depth and innovativeness.
The Ledge by Australian author Christian White
The Desert Knows Her Name by Australian author Lia Hills
Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise by Taiwanese author Lin Yi-Han
So, here is a heartfelt thank you to all our readers who have been supporting the ‘Passion for Prose’ column since February 2021.
Would y’all please also give a round of applause to The Star Mail’s hardworking editors, page layers and designers!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I shall return in January 2025 with more reviews and recommendations of interesting books and literary events across Australia and overseas.
