Review of my favourite books I read in 2024
Last year I caught myself in a reading slump. After finishing University, I didn’t want to look at another book. Then with time, I picked up a book called ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho and I was so back. So I didn’t read as much as I wanted to last year. That is okay, shit happens. After I started reading again, I did have a distressed moment, that consisted of realising there are so many excellent books out there I might never read. But again, I moved. The only way forward is by reading, so I will be more of an avid reader in 2025. First, I want to talk about my favourite books I read in the latter half of 2024. All of these books you won’t be wasting your time reading, I consider them to be excellent.
Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
This novel was given to me as a graduation gift from my sister, who liked the book a lot and wanted to share it. I didn’t read it straight away but on a random day, I picked up the book. It was a short read and something about the ‘forward’ struck me; Paulo Coelho explained that when he first published the book no one bought it. He then said “But I never lost faith in the book or ever wavered my vision. Why? Because it was me in there, all of my me, heart and soul” (Coelho, 1993, VII). I was interested. At first, when I started the book I was confused why we were following a boy who was a shepherd. Not relatable to me in the slightest. I wasn’t deterred, I trusted my sister and I also was intrigued. I sensed quickly that there was wisdom buried in this story. Readers needed to read between the lines to get everything out of it. Never in my life had I read a book with such a simple story but with so much meaning. The book follows a boy who was on a quest to find treasure (aka following his dream). Suddenly it wasn’t that unrelatable anymore. I want to acknowledge the brilliance of Coelho in writing a story that followed a boy who was a shepherd and made it relate to someone who has a completely different life. There is truly some hidden treasure within this novel. Treasure that I haven’t found in any other book. As this book was passed on to me, I now pass it on to you.
Patti Smith - Just Kids
There are lots you could write about Just Kids, truthfully you could read it many times and still not subsume every single detail. You could break up each chapter, finding all the elements that make it a great novel. Though something you will find every time you read is Patti’s love for Robert. This novel felt as if I was reading a love letter. In this novel, Patti Smith writes sort of a tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe after he passes away. A memoir that was their story. Just Kids was made of all the complexities and idiosyncrasies of Robert and her own life. It captured art, expression, struggles, friendship and love in the form of her experience. When they met they were just two kids who happened to be artists taking on the world, not sure of what was to come. Smith captured a rawness that I can’t name in another novel. Not only was it a love letter to Robert and Smith’s friendship but it was a love letter to Art. This was the first quote I underlined in the novel “But secretly I knew I had been transformed, moved by the revelation that human beings create art, that to be an artist was to see what others could not. I had no proof I had the stuff to be an artist, though I hungered to be one” (Smith, 2010, pg11). Everything Patti and Robert did was for art and each other. She wrote with incredible details and thoughtfulness that I could feel the inspiration and love they had for each other. Robert was something to be in awe of, Patti loved him and she knew he was special. Almost an artwork himself. The very best one, Patti’s favourite.
Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic
Big Magic changed my life, for the better. This book was gifted to me on Christmas when I was 16. I picked it up at the time but I wasn’t in a place to read it. I found it on my bookshelf this recent year and was drawn to it. It was exactly what I needed. I think we find books when we need them the most. I read this book around the time I was working on a personal writing project and it resonated so deeply with me. The way Elizabeth Gilbert talks about creativity was life-changing. The way creativity exists in our everyday lives, how it shows up, why it matters and why it doesn’t matter. I nearly underlined every sentence in this book. One of my favourite lines was “because, in the end, creativity is a gift to the creator, not just the audience” (Gilbert, 2015, pg72). Creativity is not just for who gets to consume your art but it’s for you. We should remember that when we show up to make our art, others can enjoy it, very much so. Yet the creating itself is magical, we get to take part in the process of experiencing inspiration. We get something out of it. Continuing to show up to create art is part of being human. It should be fun and it’s worthwhile.
References (Books):
Coelho, Paul. (1993). The Alchemist. HarperCollins Publishing.
Gilbert, Elizabeth. (2015). Big Magic. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Smith, Patti. (2010). Just Kids. Bloomsbury Publishing.
