FAVS OF 2024: BOOKS

Poetry, Non-Fiction, Fiction

Besides music, I also like books. In 2024, I read 50 books :D Since I was finishing up my MFA, I really wanted to spend my free time reading as much as possible and taking advantage of WUSTL’s library. As research for the poetry manuscript I’ve been working on, I did a lot of reading into the history of electronic music. I also got into the New Narrative movement as I planned to and eventually made my return to the Bay Area, specifically Oakland/Berkeley. Poetry-wise, I read pretty widely (though I got pretty into the publisher Song Cave), and quite predictably the majority of books I read this year were in this genre (28/50).

Anyways, enough rambling. I’m going to name my top book in each genre (do I believe in genre?) and then some honorable mentions. Unlike my music favs, these books will not all have come out this year.

Fiction

This year I read 15 novels. My fav was I Love Dick by Chris Kraus, which was published in 1997 by Semiotext(e). I think this was maybe the first New Narrative book I read which perhaps biased me towards astonishment, but I think I would be just as astonished if it were the millionth. I haven’t watched the tv series they made of the book bc I don’t want it to ruin it, but lmk if any of u have seen it.

Honorary Mentions:

The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li (2022)

Jack the Modernist by Robert Glück (1985)

Nicolas Pages by Guillaume Dustan (1999 tr. 2023)

Non-Fiction

This year I read 9 books of non-fiction. My fav was A Year With Swollen Appendices by Brian Eno, published by Faber and Faber in 1996. The book is in two parts: his diary from 1995 and then a collection of essays, short stories, and correspondence. I got this book from the music library as part of my electronic music research, but man I just fell in love with Eno’s voice. He’s so funny!! And smart. There are so many little tidbits I’ve kept with me. I was into Eno before this, but this book made me appreciate his genius in a lot of new ways and cemented him as one of my heroes.

Honorary Mentions:

Lou Reed’s Transformer by Ezra Furman (2018)

Bee Reaved by Dodie Bellamy (2021)

Poetry

This year I read 28 books of poetry. My fav and probably my favorite book of any genre that I read this year was Our Air by Nora Treatbaby, which was published by Nightboat in February (2/27/24). I wrote about it in my May Wrap Up, so I won’t rehash, but this book is so so so good.

Honorary Mentions:

Fierce Elegy by Peter Gizzi (2023)

In Lieu of Solutions by Violet Spurlock (2023)

A Sand Book by Ariana Reines (2019)

Pink Waves by Sawako Nakayasu (2023)

Natch by Sophia Dahlin (2020)

Stranger by Emily Hunt (2024)

Yay!!! Cheers to great books.

PS. I do realize how many of these writers are white. Much to consider for my consumption in 2025…