Episode Summary: Season 7, Episode 24 - "Mary and Roxanna's Top Reads of 2024!"

Release Date: January 20, 2025

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of Currently Reading, hosts Mary Heim and Roxanna Kasamkara delve into their favorite books of 2024. As bookish best friends, they share their annual reading statistics, celebrate their top picks, and offer thoughtful recommendations to help listeners discover their next great read.

1. Reflecting on the Year: Reading Statistics

Mary Heim begins by discussing her reading habits over the past year:

• Total Books Read: 84
  • Print: 59%
  • Digital: 24%
  • Audio: 17%
• Genre Breakdown:
  • Fiction: 94%
  • Nonfiction: 6%
  • Adult Novels: 71%
  • Middle Grade: 16%
  • Young Adult: 7%
  • New Adult: 6%
• Diversity in Authors:
  • Male Authors: 14%
  • Female and Non-Binary Authors: 86%
• Own Voices Representation: 18%

Mary emphasizes the importance of tracking her reading habits, noting, “[00:50] Mary Heim: ...I read 84 books this year, which is pretty average for me...” She appreciates the balance between fiction and nonfiction, acknowledging that while most of her reading serves as a comfort and escape, the nonfiction selections were impactful, with two books making her top ten.

Roxanna Kasamkara shares her own reading statistics:

• Total Books Read: 70 (down from 83 the previous year)
  • Five-Star Ratings: 19 (12 were rereads)
  • Genre Breakdown:
    • Fiction: 81%
    • Nonfiction: 19% (primarily memoirs)
    • Mystery: 16%
    • General Fiction: 31%
    • Romance: 17%
    • Fantasy: 14%
• Diversity in Authors: 10% People of Color (PoC)

Roxanna reflects on a challenging year, highlighting personal struggles that influenced her reading choices. She remarks, “[05:07] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...my reading had to serve me more than me serving my reading...” Her selection process favored books that resonated emotionally, with an emphasis on comfort and introspection.

2. Top 10 Books of 2024

Mary and Roxanna each present their top ten books of the year, offering detailed descriptions, personal anecdotes, and alternative recommendations to cater to varied reading tastes.

Roxanna's Top 10 for 2024

1. "Hotel Nantucket" by Ellen Hildebrandt
   A charming tale set in a newly renovated hotel in Nantucket, featuring quirky characters and a ghostly presence. Roxanna praises it as, “[10:51] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...the best book about a hotel that I read.”

   • Alternative Recommendation: "The Home Wreckers" by Mary Kay Andrews
     A delightful summer romp set in Savannah, blending reality show antics with a darker mystery.

2. "10,000 Doors of January" by Alix E. Harrow
   An absorbing adventure with beautiful writing and fantastical elements. Roxanna describes it as, “[20:24] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...a perfect escape. So if you haven't picked this one up, this really is one that's just beautiful and fantastical.”

   • Alternative Recommendation: "The Last Dragoners of Bobasar" by Indra Das
     A coming-of-age story blending cultural identity with magical realism.

3. "Where Are We At?"
   (Details not provided in the transcript.)

4. "Hotline" by Dimitri Nasrallah
   A Canada Reads finalist offering a deep dive into the immigrant experience and personal redemption. Roxanna notes, “[17:11] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...it's one of those books that makes you feel something about the world.”

5. "Fellowship Point" by Alice Elliott Dark
   An atmospheric novel exploring friendship and land conservation among octogenarians in Maine. Roxanna reflects, “[32:02] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...a beautiful saga that just exactly what I wanted to sink into.”

6. "Be Ready when the Luck Happens" by Ina Garten
   A memoir celebrating creativity and overcoming challenges with grace. Roxanna shares, “[62:28] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...her unconventional solutions that lead to a success that was even better than what would have happened if she'd avoided the problem altogether inspired me.”

7. "Matrix" by Lauren Groff
   A powerful narrative about a woman’s rise to power in a medieval abbey, blending historical drama with personal triumph. Roxanna describes it as, “[70:07] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...a short book, but it is so beautifully written and yeah, so powerful.”

8. "A Letter to the Luminous Deep" by Sylvie Cathral
   An epistolary fantasy novel set in an underwater regency world, exploring themes of identity and mental health. Roxanna praises, “[53:35] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...the world building, like I said in this story, was to die for.”

9. "Death in the Dark Woods" by Anneliese Ryan
   The second installment in a Wisconsin-based mystery series, blending local folklore with gripping suspense. Roxanna comments, “[20:24] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...a really fun, under the radar mystery.”

10. "Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Knight" by Stephen Banbury
    A magical middle-grade novel perfect for the spooky season, featuring a heartwarming father-daughter relationship. Roxanna enthuses, “[58:30] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...it is such a special reading experience and also it is such a special book.”

Mary's Top 10 for 2024

1. "Sandwich" by Kathryn Newman
   An emotionally resonant narrative exploring parenthood, aging, and the complexities of family dynamics. Mary shares, “[71:18] Mary Heim: ...everything about this was a perfect experience to me and I think the reading of this book is one of those really special ones that's going to stick with me for the rest of my life.”

2. "A Letter to the Luminous Deep" by Sylvie Cathral
   (Also Roxanna’s topic #8.)
   Mary highlights its immersive world-building and nuanced depiction of OCD, stating, “[65:00] Mary Heim: ...it really is and I can't wait to see how the story wraps up in book two.”

3. "Be Ready when the Luck Happens" by Ina Garten
   (Also Roxanna’s topic #6.)
   Mary emphasizes Ina’s approach to problem-solving, noting, “[49:28] Mary Heim: ...this is one that is probably most recommended to my therapy clients.”

4. "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach
   A transformative story that begins bleakly but evolves into a quirky and hopeful narrative about authentic living. Mary remarks, “[51:39] Mary Heim: ...it falls into that category that I love, which is stories that make you feel something about being human.”

5. "Total Left Turn" by Rufi Thorpe
   (Roxanna mentions an alternative recommendation but details for Mary are limited in the transcript.)

6. "The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
   (Also Roxanna’s topic #4.)
   Mary notes its research-backed strategies and compassionate tone, saying, “[48:22] Roxanna Kasamkara: ...it's 100% research backed. These are two very smart women.”

7. "The Lost Story" by Meg Shafer
   A compelling narrative reminiscent of Narnia, exploring themes of found family and forgiveness. Mary shares, “[36:12] Mary Heim: ...it has major Narnia vibes, but in the more adult way.”

8. "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" by Kate McKinnon
   (Also Roxanna’s topic #2.)
   Mary praises Kate McKinnon's performance in the audio version, describing it as, “[14:29] Mary Heim: ...it is especially, especially pick up on audio because the performance from Kate McKinnon herself reading the book is probably what tipped the scales.”

9. "Bit Much" by Lindsay Rush
   A poignant and accessible poetry collection capturing the nuances of being a woman in today’s world. Mary states, “[30:14] Mary Heim: ...a perfect place to start to add to your poetry TBR.”

10. "Total Left Turn" by Rufi Thorpe
    (Roxanna lists it as #5, but Mary’s position isn't explicitly detailed in the transcript.)

3. Notable Insights and Recommendations

Throughout the episode, Mary and Roxanna emphasize the importance of:

• Diverse Representation: Both hosts value books that feature a variety of voices and perspectives, whether through author diversity or thematic exploration.

• Emotional Resonance: They prioritize books that offer emotional depth, whether through personal memoirs or fiction that mirrors real-life struggles.

• Accessible Storytelling: Many of their top picks are praised for their accessible writing styles, making complex themes approachable for a wide audience.

4. Concluding Thoughts

Mary and Roxanna wrap up the episode by expressing gratitude for sharing their literary journeys and encouraging listeners to explore the recommended titles. They highlight the joy of discovering under-the-radar gems and the comfort of revisiting favorite reads.

Mary Heim concludes with a heartfelt endorsement, “[75:36] Mary Heim: ...May your coffee be hot and may your book be unputdownable. Happy reading.”

Roxanna Kasamkara echoes the sentiment, “[75:41] Roxanna Kasamkara: Mary. Happy reading.”

Notable Quotes

• Mary Heim: “[00:50] ...I read 84 books this year, which is pretty average for me.”

• Roxanna Kasamkara: “[05:07] ...my reading had to serve me more than me serving my reading.”

• Mary Heim: “[70:49] ...the reading of this book is one of those really special ones that's going to stick with me for the rest of my life.”

• Roxanna Kasamkara: “[62:28] ...she has such a verb for life.”

Final Recommendations

Mary and Roxanna encourage listeners to engage with their favorite selections, explore alternative recommendations for varied tastes, and utilize tracking tools like the Currently Reading Podcast Reading Tracker to enhance their own reading experiences.

Tune in to Season 7, Episode 24 of Currently Reading to immerse yourself in Mary and Roxanna's literary reflections and discover books that could become your next favorites!