Three page-turning January releases for your TBR
Plus the most anticipated book releases of 2024
Hey, readers!
With some big things coming up on our family calendar, I’ve been struggling to stay focused on books recently. Luckily I had some backlogged reads to share and I was able to find a book that captured my attention—a thriller…who am I?! I’m hoping that my reading brain comes back to me soon, but I’m not putting pressure on myself or forcing myself through books. I’ve started a couple of books that I know are great, while simultaneously recognizing that I’m not giving them the attention they deserve. One of my goals for this year is to be mindful when that happens. Last year I had several experiences where I came back to a book I’d previously set aside and ended up loving it when I was in the right mindset. I believe that books and readers make meaning together, and I know I have to be in the right headspace for that when it comes to more ambitious reads.
This week in books.
This week I read…
The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. This book has one of the best opening chapter I’ve read in years. It was original and captivating and high stakes…I couldn’t look away! From there the book slows down a bit but the plot remains compelling. The story is told in two primary timelines about 80 years apart interspersed with excerpts from a centuries old book telling the story of the cursed Sonora family. The characters are complicated, though this is novel is driven much more by its plot and themes than character development. What I loved about this book is how seamlessly it plays with genres and themes to create something that feels both timeless and completely different. While the themes of redemption and revenge can verge on the heavy-handed, that worked for me here because of the Western genre conventions and touch of magic. Those magical or supernatural elements are integrated naturally into the story in a way that expanded my thinking and reminded me what story telling can be. If you love plotty books that are still invested in structure and themes, this is a great one to pick up. Amazon | Bookshop
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. This is the first 2024 book I’ve seen buzzed about in my corner of the book world, and it did not disappoint. The novel follows Cyrus Shams, a young man who has become obsessed with the idea of martyrdom and hopes to collect his musings into a book. We follow him on this physical, philosophical, and historical quest to uncover his views on martyrs as well as his forgotten family history. Ultimately, Cyrus’s story becomes about the ways we feebly attempt to imbue our lives with meaning, and suggests an answer that feels more hopeful and human than the big ideas of the book initially suggest. Akbar is a poet and you can tell. The writing ranges from lyrical to base and back again in a way that beautifully captures the range of human experience. This novel is doing a lot and there were parts of the story I didn’t necessarily enjoy and even elements that I typically struggle with, but as a whole, it’s so cohesive, so itself, and so effective, that it all blended into an extremely powerful reading experience. Akbar is pulling from conventions outside of the Western canon. That made for a hell of a reading experience that forced me to question what I expect from the characters, stories, and narrative arcs I encounter in books—which is one of my favorite things about reading. (P.S. this is yet another book that made me glad I’ve read Craft in the Real World so I’ll just put that here as a plug—once again—to read that book ASAP, especially if you review books). Amazon | Bookshop
Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody. This book was sent to me way back in the summer of last year. I love it when a book from a smaller press gets some buzz and I could feel the excitement around this one, so I picked it up although it is not my typical read. Rabbit Hole a dark and gritty mystery that explores internet sleuthing and the culture of true crime. The story centers around Teddy, a young woman in her mid-twenties whose sister Angie disappeared ten years prior. After her father commits suicide, Teddy discovers how deep he was in the Reddit pages of Angie’s unsolved disappearance and she herself becomes entangled with this rabbit hole. I decided to pick this up because I’ve been much too distracted to enjoy anything introspective or literary, and (as someone who reads very little of this genre), I think this was a well-done book. I cared about Teddy’s character arc both within the world of the mystery and in other aspects of her life. Teddy is a high school English teacher at a Catholic school, and I think Kate Brody nails the depiction of that career. I found the ended to be satisfying without having to rely on a big twist or massive coincidence, and I thought the commentary woven into the story was compelling without being over done. While I didn’t love it, I know that’s because I just don’t love this genre, even especially well-done versions of it. This book kept me reading and distracted, which I greatly appreciated, and it was a great diversion to dip into something completely different. Trigger warnings abound for this one. Check Storygraph or message me if you want to know more. Amazon | Bookshop
Now I’m reading…
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton. I am completely smitten with this classic. You can subscribe to our Novel Pairings Patreon for weekly recaps of the novel starting January 12th!
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. I was absolutely delighted by the first book in this series, and I’m thrilled to be back in this world.
If you are an international reader or just prefer UK covers, you can also order books through my Blackwell’s affiliate page!
Links I love.
The two biggest anticipated books of the year lists came out this week: The Millions and Lit Hub. Wait to open these until you have some time carved out to read and explore, because they are both a wealth of information on what’s coming up this publishing year.
For smaller a anticipated books list, I really like the one from Vulture.
Test your fantasy worlds knowledge with this NYT quiz.
I’m currently reading the new book in the Emily Wilde series, so this essay on artistic renderings of fairies was super fun to come across.
End notes.
This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.
This is a great little listen about making the most of your library membership.
I watched the first two episodes of the new Percy Jackson series, and I think it’s a lot of fun!
My dad visited this week and it’s always so much fun to see Louise love on her people.
FictionMatters Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. If you’d prefer to support my work with a one-time “tip,” consider visiting my Buy Me a Coffee page.
For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!
This email contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. That’s a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!
Happy reading!
Sara
I didn't know either of those lists were out and I've been eagerly awaiting them – thank you for sharing them here!
Added all of these to my list, thanks!