BETHLEHEM, Pa. — If reading more books is one of your resolutions for the new year, start with this list.
Bethlehem Area Public Library employees — think "big readers" and "trustworthy recommendations" — have announced their favorite books of 2024.
"At the Bethlehem Area Public Library, we don’t just love books — we love sharing them," BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk said.
"Each year, our staff compiles a list of their favorite reads, celebrating the joy of discovering new stories.
"The book doesn’t have to be new, just new to us. These selections are a reflection of our diverse literary tastes and our passion for recommending great reads.
"Here are some of the books we fell in love with this year — each one waiting to be shared. Check them out!"
"Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science" by Catherine McNeur. Recommended by David.
"This book details the lives and contributions to American science in the 19th Century of two sisters from Germantown, Pennsylvania: Margaretta Hare Morris (a passionate student of insects) and her elder sibling Elizabeth Carrington Morris (a botanist). Their lives and work are fascinating in and of themselves, but the author does a splendid job at clearly showing how women's contributions to "men's" fields of study have been belittled, dismissed or entirely ignored. Books as well-written as this one serve to remind us that our historical perspectives (and perhaps our perspectives in general) are often too narrow — and too sexist."
"Air Raid Book Club" by Annie Lyons. Recommended by Ellie.
"The story starts in 1938, in London, with a recently widowed woman, Gertie, who is ready to close her bookshop and retire. A friend convinces her to shelter a young Jewish teenager to protect her from the Nazi army. Over the course of the war, Gertie and Hedy form a strong unshakable bond as they survive the horrors of the Blitz.
"Blood Test " by Charles Baxter. Recommended by Josh.
"This new novel by the brilliant Charles Baxter has an interesting speculative premise: What if a blood test could accurately predict your future? But is somehow also a deeply realistic look at modern life in America. Straight-laced Brock Hobson, the main character, is flawed but lovable and the story takes many unexpected twists and turns. There are both many deep thoughts and laugh-out-loud moments. A wonderful book that stayed with me long after reading it.
"I couldn't put this book down. The story is over 280 years old but somehow still suspenseful."Lauri, Bethlehem Area Public Library employee and avid reader
"The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" by David Grann. Recommended by Lauri.
'The most interesting stories being told these days are non-fiction. This is a riveting account of an 18th-century shipwreck by New York Times best-selling author David Grann. I couldn't put this book down. The story is over 280 years old but somehow still suspenseful."
"Foster" by Claire Keegan. Recommended by Matthew.
'''Foster' is a masterful novella that captures profound emotion in spare, elegant prose. Set in rural Ireland, it tells the poignant story of a young girl sent to live with relatives, discovering warmth and care in unexpected places."
"The Ministry of Time" by Kaliane Bradley. Recommended by Max.
"After the British government discovers time travel, a civil servant is selected to watch over a time-displaced Commander Graham Gore, a naval officer from the ill-fated Franklin Expedition of 1845, and she slowly begins to fall for him... with unforeseen consequences. A charming science-fiction romance novel defined by its blending of genres, colorful characters, attention to historical detail and tasteful handling of thematic issues surrounding identity, history, trauma, personal values, and love."
"There Are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak. Recommended by Michelle.
"My introduction to Elif Shafak was through 'The Island of Missing Trees,' and I eagerly dove into her other works. 'There Are Rivers in the Sky' surpasses them all. Shafak intricately weaves together a tapestry of stories bound by a single drop of water, leading the reader on an unforgettable journey across time and space. Shafak’s lyrical prose and masterful storytelling are on full display. The sheer amount of research that must have gone into this novel is staggering, and yet it never feels heavy-handed. Instead, Shafak uses the simplest of objects — like water droplets and snowflakes — to tie these diverse characters together in an inventive, seamless way."
"Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted" by Suleika Jaouad. Recommended by Regina.
"If you were to tell me that I would find a book about cancer and its harrowing treatment and aftermath beautiful, I would not believe it. Yet 'Between Two Kingdoms' is just that —beautifully written, compelling, vivid and hopeful. At age 22, with the hopes of being a war correspondent in Paris, author Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. In a matter of weeks, her life is upended with grueling, unending treatments. She begins to chronicle her saga in a column for The New York Times. Five years later, after her desperate pursuit to survive cancer, she realizes she has no idea how to live. And so begins another journey of self-discovery as she embarks on a 15,000-mile road trip across the country."
"The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon. Recommended by Sarah.
"Totally engrossing, this is one you won’t want to put down to do the dishes. The story begins as a murder mystery, is categorized as historical fiction and is filled with drama, suspense and sprinkles of romance. It's based on the real-life midwife, Martha Ballard, from the late 1700s. Lawhon is a born writer and obviously talented. She shares her research and methodology at the end of the book with a spoiler alert warning."
"Before the Devil Knows You're Here" by Autumn Krause. Recommended by Vicki.
"'Before the Devil Knows You’re Here' is a twisted, gothic Young Adult adaptation of the Johnny Appleseed folktale. The story follows Catalina trying to find her young brother, Joseph Luis, in the Wisconsin wilderness who was taken by the Sap Man. Krause beautifully weaves together historical information of what living in 1800s America was like for Mexican-American citizens with the folktale many of us grew up with. Highly recommend to anyone who loves dark, historical fiction, but also tales of familial love and heartbreak.
There are one or more copies of these titles in the Lehigh Valley Library System. To find these and other titles, visit http://bethlehem.sparkpa.org/.
