This year has seen a diverse range of outstanding books across various genres. From fiction to non-fiction and beyond, here are some highlights:
Fiction
The literary world was treated to numerous inventive debuts from authors such as Sally Rooney and Percival Everett, with Justine Jordan praising their work.
Children’s Books
Imogen Russell-Williams delves into a fox’s quest in new children’s fiction, featuring Oliver Jeffers, Maggie O’Farrell, and more.
Young Adult Books
Imogen Russell-Williams selects five of the best teenage reads, including a graphic novel adaptation of Lord of the Flies.
Crime and Thrillers
Laura Wilson recommends page-turning crime novels, including Ian Rankin’s Rebus and John le Carré’s Smiley.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Adam Roberts chooses science fiction and fantasy books that explore post-apocalyptic dystopias, time travel, and more.
Translated Fiction
John Self picks five of the best translated fiction books, featuring indigenous epics and Aztec adventures.
Romance
Jenny Colgan selects top romantic novels, including wedding mayhem and fake-relationship comedies.
Biography and Memoir
Fiona Sturges chooses compelling personal histories from Salman Rushdie, Al Pacino, and more.
Science and Nature
Anjana Ahuja recommends science books on life on Mars, trees, Marie Curie’s genius, and heart transplants.
Sport
Emma John selects top sports books, including tales of Ohio hoop dreams and climate crisis effects.
Ideas
Steven Poole picks the year’s best books about ideas, featuring Richard Dawkins’ greatest hits.
Poetry
Rishi Dastidar chooses poetry books that showcase Caleb Femi’s talent, including house parties and estate agent emails.
Graphic Novel
James Smart recommends graphic novels, featuring Arthurian legend, dark family secrets, and Russian detectives.
Music
Alexis Petridis selects the year’s highlights in music, from queer artists to Tupac and Biggie biographies.
Food
Bee Wilson picks five of the best food books, including Singaporean street food and capers.
Note: The article content is condensed to focus on genre-specific highlights, while maintaining essential information.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/dec/07/the-best-books-of-2024