As we reach the midpoint of 2024, the literary world has already given us an impressive array of books that have captivated readers and critics alike. From thrilling mysteries and heartfelt memoirs to thought-provoking fiction, the first half of this year has been a treasure trove for book lovers. Whether you’re looking to dive into a gripping narrative, expand your knowledge, or simply find your next great read, our curated list of the top book picks from the first half of 2024 has something for everyone.
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
On the morning of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was onstage at the Chautauqua Institution, ready to give a lecture about the importance of protecting writers from harm. Suddenly, a man dressed in black—black clothes, black mask—charged down the aisle towards him, brandishing a knife. Rushdie's first thought: 'So it’s you. Here you are.' What followed was a brutal act of violence that sent shockwaves through the literary community and beyond. Now, for the first time, Rushdie recounts the traumatic events of that day and its aftermath in vivid detail. He shares his journey toward physical recovery, made possible by the unwavering love and support of his wife Eliza, his family, a dedicated team of doctors and physical therapists, and his global community of readers.
You Are Here by David Nicholls
From the internationally bestselling and Booker Prize-longlisted author of One Day, one of the most beloved love stories of its generation, comes a heartwarming and irresistible tale of second chances. When a determined mutual friend and some unexpectedly wild weather force Michael and Marnie together on a ten-day hike, both believe it to be a nightmare scenario. That is, until they stumble upon exactly what they’ve been searching for all along.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is a tribute to the quest for meaning—in faith, art, ourselves, and others. It follows a newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, as he embarks on a journey that leads him to a terminally ill painter spending her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Cyrus Shams, a young man burdened by an inheritance of violence and loss, grapples with the trauma of his mother’s plane being shot down over Tehran and his father's life of menial labor at a factory farm in the Midwest. A drunk, an addict, and a poet, Cyrus’s obsession with martyrs drives him to uncover the mysteries of his past.
Blue Ruin by Hari Hunzru
From one of today's most incisive voices in fiction comes a profound and captivating novel about beauty, power, capital, art, and the people who dedicate their lives to creating it. Jay was once an artist. After graduating from art school in London, he was on the path to greatness, with a promising career ahead. However, that future never materialized. Now, he lives undocumented in the United States, having survived COVID-19, and makes a meager living as an essential worker, delivering groceries in a wealthy area of upstate New York. One day, while attempting to make a delivery to a house surrounded by acres of woods, Jay is confronted by the ghosts of his troubled past.
Until August by Gabriel García Márquez
An extraordinary rediscovered novel from the Nobel Prize-winning author of Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude. Ana Magdalena Bach sits alone by the serene blue waters of the lagoon, observing the men at the hotel bar. Despite being happily married for twenty-seven years, with no desire to escape her life with her husband and children, she follows a unique ritual every August. She travels by ferry to the island where her mother is buried and, for one night, takes a new lover.
Words Platform Desk
Date 30.05.2024