For this year I did not set myself a book goal, but rather a page goal, such that I would not be discouraged to read a longer book. For me, this approach paid off as I read 8176 pages across 20 books, leading to an average book length of just over 400 pages. That’s up from an average of 350 pages per book last year (find all previous book highlights here). Most of those thick books were quite enjoyable – though they all seem to have a tendency to drag on in the third quarter… More on that later!
As per usual, we’ll have a look at my favourite fiction and nonfiction books, as well as memoirs (well, the one memoir I read, which was also one of the thick books). At the very end you’ll find my complete reading list of 2024.
Fiction books
4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
A child is born. What happens next? The possibilities are endless. Well, in this book, they aren’t, there are four of them, to be exact. Four separate, yet interconnected, life stories are woven into one captivating book, inviting you to ponder the “what if”’s. It is addictive and, for the most part, easy to read. My only criticism is that the aforementioned third quarter could have been tightened up – so if you do go for this, brace yourself for the student protest sequence (and consider skimming it). Weighing in at 1070 pages in the paperback, it is a serious commitment, but you are basically getting four brilliant books in one!
The City and the City by China Miéville
In this crime thriller we find ourselves in a somewhat Soviet, Germanic world where two cities coexist in the very same place. This odd situation is not helped by the fact that the two of them are sworn enemies. A murder mystery is just a backdrop to discover the intricacies of logistics, government, and politics of this strange place. It’s a slower read that deserves to be savoured.
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
As a Thursday Murder Club aficionado I was looking forward to Richard Osman’s book, the first in a new series, with some apprehension. Would he be able to continue his success while creating enough distinction to his previous bestsellers? Luckily, my fears were unfounded as the author manages to strike the balance between the comfortingly known and exciting new in just the right way. The characters are expectedly lovable and charming, the adventures become grander and more dangerous.This all-round excellent murder-mystery is a real comfort book!
Nonfiction books
How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
When big projects, from kitchen renovations to infrastructure endeavours, overrun in time and budget, that’s not an exception, it’s the norm. This book showcases the difficulty of such mammoth projects using a variety of anecdotes across many domains. Turns out that Olympic games have some of the worst track records when it comes to overspending! Lucky for us, the authors also provide best practice examples as well as concrete advice on how we can start getting better at big things. If you are in charge of large projects, be it at work or in your home, I recommend you give this fun and entertaining book a try!
Period Queen by Lucy Peach
The period is a recurring theme in the lives of many women. It is often portrayed as something unpleasant, inconvenient, or even dirty. This book, however, celebrates the cycle in all its glory. With her approachable manner, Lucy Peach takes what we so long brushed under the carpet and turns it into a joyous power that we can learn to harness. Based on scientific evidence, she walks us through the four stages of a period and gives us handy, practical guidelines along the way. Are you prone to anxiety? Drink less coffee in a particular week. This book makes you wonder why no one has told you this before. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Lucy Peach’s aptly named show “The greatest period of my life” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and I can confirm, she is just as bubbly and kind as you imagine when reading Period Queen! Her work has seriously changed the way I approach my period.
Memoir
Freiheit (Freedom) by Angela Merkel
Five years after leaving politics behind, Angela Merkel is back with her memoir. At 736 pages (in the German original) this is quite a hefty specimen, but remember that she was chancellor of Germany for over 15 years, so she has a story or two to tell. A serious chunk is dedicated to her youth in East Germany and the start of her scientific career, before we get into the nuts and bolts of German and European politics. Some journalists have criticised the book for being too dry, but what did you expect of a book written by Angela Merkel?! After all, she did not use a ghostwriter (she wrote it with just the help of a close political advisor). Of course such a book is going to be dry! For me, it rather adds to the authenticity and charm. While the recounting of the more recent ongoing feels like an afterthought, the book shines where Merkel linearly retells significant historic events from her point of view. She grants us a rare peek behind the political curtain and what it’s like to be one of the most powerful leaders in the world.
Complete Reading List
| 2024 | Title | Author | Pages | Rating | Language | F/NF/M |
| 1 | The City and the City | China Mieville | 369 | 9 | ENG | F |
| 2 | 4 3 2 1 | Paul Auster | 1070 | 9 | ENG | F |
| 3 | One Day | David Nicholls | 436 | 6 | ENG | F |
| 4 | Same as Ever | Morgan Housel | 192 | 6 | ENG | NF |
| 5 | Blindband | Gilbert Adair | 222 | 7 | GER | F |
| 6 | New York Trilogy | Paul Auster | 308 | 6.5 | ENG | F |
| 7 | The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | 530 | 6.5 | ENG | F |
| 8 | How Big Things Get Done | Bent Flyvbjerg, Dan Gardner | 304 | 8.5 | ENG | NF |
| 9 | The Age of Magical Overthinking | Amanda Montell | 225 | 7.5 | ENG | NF |
| 10 | Skin In The Game | Nassim Taleb | 272 | 7 | ENG | NF |
| 11 | The Overstory | Richard Powers | 625 | 7 | ENG | F |
| 12 | Access Rules | Thomas Ramge and Viktor Mayer Schönberger | 168 | 8.5 | ENG | NF |
| 13 | Period Queen | Lucy Peach | 260 | 8.5 | ENG | NF |
| 14 | We Solve Murders | Richard Osman | 432 | 8.5 | ENG | F |
| 15 | The Goldfinch | Donna Tartt | 846 | 4 | ENG | F |
| 16 | When Women Were Dragons | Kelly Barnhill | 340 | 7 | ENG | F |
| 17 | Frankie | Graham Norton | 288 | 7.5 | ENG | F |
| 18 | Supercommunicators | Charles Duhigg | 320 | 6.5 | ENG | NF |
| 19 | DallerGut Dream Department Store | Miyee Lee | 249 | 8 | ENG | F |
| 20 | Freiheit | Angela Merkel | 720 | 8 | GER | M |
Isabella Deutsch 