Episode 39: Editors' Choice 2024

About this episode

The Booklist editors share their favorite reads of the year, including top titles and personal favorites.

It’s that time of the year again, when the Booklist editors gather ‘round the proverbial fire and share some of their favorite reads of the year. Covering everything from our Top of the List titles to personal faves, this episode has a little something for every reader. Here’s what we talked about: Donna: We Loved It All: A Memory of Life. By Lydia Millet. (Adult Nonfiction Top of the List) The Morningside. By Téa Obreht. Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar. My Black Country: A Journey through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future. By Alice Randall. The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth. By Zoë Schlanger. Annie: Wandering Stars. By Tommy Orange. (Adult Fiction Top of the List) Donna Seaman interviews Tommy Orange for One Book, One Chicago All Fours. By Miranda July. Susan: The Wedding People. By Alison Espach. One of Us Knows. By Alyssa Cole. The Cottage around the Corner. By D. L. Soria. Sarah: A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond. By Elizabeth Rusch. (Youth Nonfiction Top of the List) Dispatches from Parts Unknown. By Bryan Bliss. Ash’s Cabin. By Jen Wang. Art by the author…

People in this episode

Guest: Tommy Orange

Topics covered

• book recommendations
• literature
• reading
• editorial choices
• yearly reviews

Keywords

• Editors' Choice
• Top of the List
• Adult Nonfiction
• Youth Nonfiction
• Graphic Novels

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Top of the List, We Loved It All, The Morningside, Martyr!, My Black Country: A Journey through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future, The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence, Annie: Wandering Stars, Chicago All Fours, One of Us Knows, The Cottage around the Corner

More episodes of Booklist's Shelf Care

• Episode 49: Audiobook Listeners Tell All · May 25, 2026 · 39 min
• Episode 48: Summer Scares 2026 · March 23, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Episode 47: Three Conversations about Reading · January 26, 2026 · 48 min
• Episode 46: Editors' Choice 2025 · December 22, 2025 · 41 min
• Episode 45: Once Upon a Fairy Tale Retelling · November 25, 2025 · 57 min
• Episode 44: A Tale of Two Sara(h)s · September 29, 2025 · 37 min