A Few of My Favorite Things
NPR guest spot, favorite books of 2024, & more
Ah! The glittering sparkle that is a new idea for your blog. The glorious unknown of all the things that you could write and share with the world. It’s the digital age’s equivalent to salivating over the pristine white sheen of the first page of a brand new notebook.
But we’re here to talk about writing with a clunky, bruised brain. And the first rule of brain recovery is to pace yourself. If you push too hard today, you won’t be able to write tomorrow (maybe even the next day). So even if you’re having a good day where you feel inspired and everything is flowing smoothly, proceed with caution.
To ease into things, let’s start out with something simple, my 2024 favorites.
Guest Spots and Articles
Best Audiobooks of 2024 | NPR Weekend Edition
I was over on NPR Weekend Edition to talk about some of my favorite audiobooks of the year!
Why Every Appalachian Writer Is an Environmentalist | Book Riot
In my most personal piece of the year, I wrote about my experience in the aftermath of hurricane Helene. Most of my tiny town was without power. Trees were down everywhere. Gas was in short supply. But people kept going.
15 Books About Appalachia to Read Instead of Hillbilly Elegy | Book Riot & Appalachians divided over Hillbilly Elegy | WYMT
I had a post go viral shortly after a certain guy from Ohio was named as a Vice Presidential candidate. I happened to be visiting my parents at the time, and WYMT, an Eastern Kentucky local news station, asked me to come on the news to talk about why I disliked Hillbilly Elegy. I gotta tell ya, what an exhausting, wild week.
My Favorite Things
If there’s anything that I’ve learned this year, it’s that I’ve reached my senior years early. This year’s favorites tended to fall along the veins of cleaning supplies, fancy Olive Oil, and blankets. But ultimately, I seemed to have embraced my inner granny and fell in love with some super basic household items. And I’m okay with that. (I’ve tried to include links to where you can find all of these items, but none of them are affiliates.)
Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal + Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Is there anything more romantic than giving each other a Dyson for Valentine’s Day? When you have two Corgis, I’d say a Dyson is swoon worthy. After our old, refurbished upright Dyson started struggling to keep up with the ever-present Corgi glitter, we decided to buy this cordless Dyson from Costco. We use it everyday, and every time, I get a few container’s worth of floof. It’s a never-ending battle.
LEVOIT Core Pet Care Air Purifier
When you have two Corgi in a small-ish living space, it can be difficult to keep up with all of their hair and who knows what else. No matter how many times I switched out their blankest and kept them bathed and groomed, I still caught notes of their musky perfume. So for my birthday, I broke down and bought a new air purifier. I LOVE it. My house smells less like a Corgi cave and more like a little library bungalow. Success.
My Grandmother’s Desk
My grandma was always the writer in the family, and after she passed away in 2021, I inherited her desk. In 2024, my parents were able to drive it down to South Carolina. Now it’s filled with all of my journaling supplies and other stationary. It’s the perfect little addition to my living room.
Decorative Bird Plates
Awhile back, I also inherited some of my grandma’s decorative china, including her winter cardinal pieces. This year, I received a collection of bird plates from a friend’s aunt’s estate. I ended up bringing them all home and setting them up with my grandma’s pieces. They all look right at home. My spouse says I’ve truly embraced my inner old lady, and I‘ve never been more proud.
My Favorite Books of the Year
I read 160 books this year, and overall, I’d have to say my reading year was pretty mid. Lots of “okay” and “just all right” books. While some books jumped to the forefront of my mind, for the most part, I struggled to figure out what books I wanted to include in my favorites. I combed through my Storygraph, reread portions, and otherwise spent a ridiculous amount of time making lists. But eventually, I rounded up my top ten.
Normally, I gather my favorite books of the year, put them in order, and chat about them on BookTube. But this year, we’re using categories. Are these categories arbitrary? Perhaps, but we’re going to roll with it. Here are eight of my favorites in no particular order:
All book titles are affiliate links for bookshop.org.
Disability Lit: Sex with a Brain Injury by Annie Liontas
Adam Vitcavage of Debutiful asked me to share one of my favorite books of the year, and after the year I’ve had, Sex with a Brain Injury immediately came to mind:
“Sex with a Brain Injury found me at the perfect time after I’d just hit my head (again), and I couldn’t have needed it more. While my brain crackled and frizzed, Liontas was there reminding me that a life with a brain injury is complicated, yes, but it’s still beautiful.”
You can read the full blurb here, and be sure to check out other writers’ favorite reads. You can also hear more of my thoughts on Sex with a Brain Injury on this episode of AudioFile Magazine’s Behind the Mic podcast.
Historical Fiction: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden’s latest novel is a ghost story that delves into what happens when people are haunted by war. I loved how this novel combines the horror of war and supernatural horror into something complex and heartbreaking.
You can hear more of my thoughts on The Warm Hands of Ghosts on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Audiobook: James by Percival Everett
Let’s talk about Dominic Hoffman, the narrator of James’ audiobook edition. His stunning performance of James draws you in and doesn’t let go. A key point in the novel is how James code switches throughout the novel, so for the audiobook, it is vital that the narrator have an ear for dialogue. And Hoffman delivers. His narration captures every tiny nuance of the characters’ voices, making the story come alive in such a special way.
You can hear more of my thoughts on James on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Young Adult Novel: Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
I listened to Naudus’s performance of Gay the Pray Away in one day. I found myself pausing my weekend cleaning to sit down on the edge of the couch as tears ran down my face. Riley’s story is personal, so meaningful for the people who see themselves in her story. I interviewed Naudus for Read Appalachia, and loved hearing more about how Gay the Pray Away came to be.
You can hear more of my thoughts on Gay the Pray Away on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Gift Book of the Year: Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Nezhukumatathil previous book, World of Wonders, stands as one of my most recommended books of all time. Anytime someone ask me for a gift book recommendation, I always suggest World of Wonders. And it looks like Bite by Bite is going to be the same. It’s stunning and beautifully illustrated by Fumi Nakamura.
You can hear more of my thoughts on Bite by Bite on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Favorite Road Trip Novel: Housemates by Emma Copley Eisenberg
There’s just something special about the way that Copley Eisenberg portrays her characters. They are fully-formed, complex, and messy in all of the best ways. I loved the road trip portion of the novel especially as our two protagonists head out in rural, Appalachian Pennsylvania. Copley Eisenberg treats the region with the same care as she did Southern West Virginia in her multi-model memoir The Third Rainbow Girl.
You can hear more of my thoughts on Housemates on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Novel about Friendship: Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
Ever since my Reading Women days, books about female friendship have drawn me in like catnip. I can’t help myself. What’s more, I love Lisa Ko’s writing, and she just keep getting better and better.
You can hear more of my thoughts on Memory Piece on this episode of Behind the Mic.
Mystery: Guide Me Home by Attica Locke
I’ve LOVED the Highway 59 trilogy, but I was anxious about the end to the series (aren’t I always?). But I shouldn’t have worried. Attica Locke stuck the landing and created an incredible ending to Darren Mathews’ story.
These final two are my favorites of the year, standout books I can’t recommend enough.
Favorite Fiction: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
I’m still pretty new to the world of horror novels. But in the short time I’ve been reading them, I’ve found myself drawn to books in the genre that combine the horror of very real experiences with the supernatural. And Tananarive Due is the master of just that.
You can hear more of my thoughts on The Reformatory on this episode of AudioFile Magazine’s Behind the Mic podcast.
Favorite Nonfiction: Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson
Wilkinson culinary memoir is a stunning piece of family history combined with a love of food. The book itself is a beautiful object, filled with family photos and gorgeous food photography. I interviewed Wilkinson on Read Appalachia, and I adored hearing her describe her writing process for this genre-defying book.
Love your book suggestions. I would love to see photos of the old lady bird plates and the desk!!