As the end of the year approaches, we asked UVA Library staff to recommend their favorite books they read in 2024. The books could be any genre, published in any year, so long as they were available in UVA Library’s or the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s collections.
Take a look at our extensive list below and check some books out for the holidays (members of the UVA community can even request books ahead of time for easy access). Please note: the publication years listed correspond with the editions in our collections, not necessarily the original publication dates.
Happy reading, and come visit us at any of our six locations before we close for winter break on Dec. 20 … or after we reopen January 2!
Recommended by Carla Arton, Director of Technology Solutions
“The Golem of Brooklyn: A Novel” by Adam Mansbach (One World, 2023)
“The Golem of Brooklyn” by Adam Mansbach, author of the NY Times bestseller “Go the F**k to Sleep,” is a dark comedy that fuses Jewish folklore with modern-day issues. The story follows Len Bronstein, a private school art teacher who, while high, inadvertently molds and awakens a five-thousand-year-old golem — traditionally summoned by a rabbi in times of great crisis. Overwhelmed by his creation, Len teams up with Miri Apfelbaum, an ex-Hasid, and together they embark on a cross-country road trip to give the golem his mission: to defend the Jewish people against rising antisemitism, sparked by footage of the 2017 Unite the Right rally at the University of Virginia. Raunchy, absurd, and profoundly thought-provoking, the novel delves into the enduring struggle against antisemitism while exploring questions of personal, cultural, and religious identity.
“Wit: A Play” by Margaret Edson (Faber and Faber, 1999)
I loved reading “Wit” by Margaret Edson. This cathartic play tells the story of a professor specializing in the works of 17th-century poet John Donne, who has devoted her life to academia. Her world is upended when she confronts the brutal reality of her own mortality after a cancer diagnosis. The transformation of her character — from a strong, independent, and brilliant scholar to a vulnerable patient slowly dying alone — is both heartbreaking and profound. Witty, poetic, and emotionally stirring, it’s an unforgettable journey that can be read in an afternoon.
“The L-Shaped Room” by Lynn Reid Banks (Penguin Books, 1960)
I stumbled upon “The L-Shaped Room” through my love of Lynne Reid Banks’ “The Indian in the Cupboard” and its film adaptation, and I was intrigued to explore her first novel. Set in 1960s London, it follows Jane Graham, a single, pregnant woman navigating life in a rundown boarding house after being cast out by her father. As Jane forms unlikely connections with her diverse neighbors, the story captures the era’s social taboos, prejudices, and the resilience it takes to rebuild. Its raw emotion and vivid realism reminded me of one of my favorite film genres, British New Wave, making it all the more captivating.
Recommended by Ann Burns, Metadata Librarian
“Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy, From William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II” by Tracy Borman (Hodder & Stoughton, 2021)
The British monarchy has fascinated me since I was kid, so I was excited to read this. Although the entries are not long, they straightened out some mistakes in my understanding of British history. It also explains how the monarchy has adapted to the changing times and has maintained the balancing act that keeps it around when so many other monarchies are long gone.
“The Zealot and the Emancipator: John Brown, Abraham Lincoln and the Struggle for American Freedom” by H. W. Brands (Doubleday, 2020)
I had no idea how little I knew about John Brown, or about Lincoln the politician. An excellent and very readable history of John Brown’s life and crusade, and of Lincoln’s rise to the presidency and the thought processes that led to the Emancipation Proclamation.
“The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism” by Tim Alberta (Harper, 2023)
Tim Alberta, a PK (preacher’s kid), was moved to write this book after a member of his father’s congregation challenged his politics at his father’s funeral. He delves into the current climate of and Christian nationalism, personal scandal, and scams that infect a portion of the evangelical movement.
“Riders of the Purple Sage” by Zane Grey (Modern Library, 2002)
This is the classic Western novel, first published in 1912. I wanted to see what made it so popular, and was pleased to note how readable and fascinating it was.
Recommended by Cory Capron, Library Specialist
“Teatro Grottesco” by Thomas Ligotti (Virgin Books, 2008)
H. P. Lovecraft built off Poe while carving out his own voice and aesthetic in horror, and Ligotti has notably done much the same. His stories are seldom so overtly cosmic nor so concerned with aquatic abominations, but rather quietly assault their protagonists with impossible puppets, dilapidating institutions, and other transient forces pessimistically bent on debriding our notions of self.
“Body Gothic: Corporeal Transgression in Contemporary Literature and Horror Film” by Xavier Aldana Reyes (University of Wales Press, 2014)
An excellent work that situates so much of the last 20 years of horror’s more extreme entries into a larger tradition and context. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to understand where things like western torture and body horror genres come from.
“In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians” by Ambrose Bierce (Public Domain, 1927)
Bierce wrote some of the earliest anti-war fiction from the perspective of a war hero. He also helped form some of the early foundations of American Weird Fiction from within the emergent American Gothic tradition. Both are on display here.
“The Girl With All the Gifts” by Mike Carey (Orbit, 2014)
I loved the film and had always meant to get around to reading the sourcebook. This excellent take on the seemingly exhausted zombie genre holds up with the greatest; it’s the kind of zombie apocalypse story that even those who don’t like zombie horror might like.
“The Great God Pan” by Arthur Machen (Books for Libraries Press, 1970)
Following the success of Yorgos Lanthimos’ film “Poor Things,” I found no shortage of reviews calling it a twist on Frankenstein, and while that isn’t inaccurate, I think the film is far more of a twist on the tradition of stories about evil, “unnatural women” such as in Hanns Heinz Ewers’ “Alraune” and this classic predecessor to Lovecraft. It's a weird one for sure.
Recommended by Jean Cooper, Principal Cataloger
“Starter Villain” by John Scalzi (Tor, 2023)
What I liked about this book is that it starts out quiet, and then goes wonky. “Starter Villain” is about an unemployed young man who is currently at loose ends, living in his late father’s house. Then he gets word that his maternal uncle has died. He’s never met this uncle, but all he has to do to inherit part of his estate is attend the uncle’s funeral.
Recommended by Nicholas Cummins, Research Librarian for Economics & Commerce
“Tender Is the Flesh” by Agustina Bazterrica (Scribner, 2020)
A dystopian novel that deftly erases the fine line separating humans and animals and asks how far we, as a species, are willing to go to maintain our current comfort levels. Were I to have read this book any other year, I may have had a harder time accepting the premise; but, with the ongoing violence in Gaza, it suddenly wasn’t very hard to imagine the banality of cruelty and our ability to accept the unacceptable.
“The Glutton” by A.K. Blakemore (Scribner, 2023)
Using the story of a real historical figure as inspiration, Blakemore explores the desperate need for people to feel loved and accepted, and barring that, to be (in)famous. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and its impact on class, religion, and society, this often-stomach-churning novel is full of incredible scenes of both beauty and barbarity.
“The Discomfort of Evening” by Lucas Rijneveld (Graywolf Press, 2020)
For anyone raised in a religious household, this story will be as comforting as the frigid Dutch countryside it depicts. From the opening scene’s scatological details to the soul-crushing ending, this novel leans into the many forms that “discomfort” takes. Notably, this is the first novel written by a non-binary person to win the International Booker Prize.
Recommended by Bret Heddleston, Print Periodicals Specialist
“The Blue Flower” by Penelope Fitzgerald (Flamingo, HarperCollins, 1996)
A fictionalization of the life of the early German Romantic poet Novalis in the strange and whimsically described world of late-18th-century Saxony and Thuringia. If you want more of the “true story,” you can go on to a nonfiction introduction to the era (“Jena 1800”) or to the real “Blue Flower” novel by Novalis: “Heinrich von Ofterdingen.”
“Netochka Nezvanova” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; translated by Jane Kentish (Penguin Books, 1985)
Dostoyevsky left his first masterpiece unfinished when he was arrested for seditious activities and exiled to Siberia. Planned as a coming-of-age story for a great female artist, its two complete sections are dominated by villains as cruel, deranged, and troublingly plausible as any in his mature novels. By the end, the heroine shows personal strength and, escaping, embarks on her unwritten life’s adventure.
“Sanshiro” by Natsume Soseki; translated by Jay Rubin (University of Washington Press, 1977)
The introductory volume in Natsume Soseki’s first trilogy follows the misadventures of an endearingly clueless college student caught in the blistering social change of Meiji-era Tokyo. “Sanshiro” is a surprisingly relatable story of romantic ignorance, intellectual immaturity, well-meaning social campaigns and other behavior still perpetrated by young men in the fast-changing society of 21st-century America.
“And Then” by Natsume Soseki; Translated by Norma Field Moore (Louisiana State University Press, 1978)
The second book of Soseki’s (thematically related) trilogy is probably the most undervalued, but a reason for this may be its slow, dark, and morally heavy story. The plot unfolds the plausible interpersonal and psychological dynamics of an emotional affair between a man and his college sweetheart, who is now married to his best friend.
“The Destination of Man” by Johann Gottlieb Fichte; Translated from the German by Mrs. Percy Sinnett (Chapman Brothers, 1846)
Although he was accused of atheism, the philosopher J. G. Fichte did technically “believe in God” — but not in a world outside your mind. This popular presentation of his Transcendental idealism abounds in fascinatingly counterintuitive arguments that it’s meaningless to speak of reality outside of the mind. Our Special Collections copy lets you follow them with annotations from the book’s former owner, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Ellen Glasgow.
Recommended by Jeff Hill, Creative Director
“The Innocent Voyage” by Richard Hughes (The Modern Library, 1932)
Later renamed “A High Wind in Jamaica,” “The Innocent Voyage” was a bestseller and award-winner when it was published, but it feels obscure now. I had no idea what I was in for when I picked it up. A group of children are captured by pirates. Deep weirdness ensues. A curious, disturbing, and surprising novel. I found it wholly original.
“The Insufferable Gaucho” by Roberto Bolaño (New Directions, 2010)
“If you like Borges, you’ll love Bolaño!” said a friend. Expecting to be underwhelmed, I began with his book of short stories, “The Insufferable Gaucho” (the title story is an homage to Jorge Luis Borges’ story “The South”). I was not underwhelmed. Obviously, familiarity with the Argentine writer’s work is not necessary to appreciate “The Insufferable Gaucho,” but if you love Borges, you’ll probably like Bolaño.
“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith (Penguin Press, 2023)
A wonderful historical novel set in 19th-century England. The central character is Eliza Touchet, the housekeeper, cousin (by marriage), and lover of William Ainsworth, a now relatively unknown but once popular novelist. I was engrossed from beginning to end. “The Fraud” was my introduction to Smith’s work — I somehow overlooked her, even with the splash of her 2000 debut “White Teeth.” I have a lot of catching up to do.
“Family Ties” by Clarice Lispector (University of Texas Press, 1972)
I don’t know quite how to describe these stories. Lush, brittle, formal, wild, surreal, confused, constrained? Some or all of the above at once, as the inner lives of the protagonists are revealed? A remarkable and insightful collection.
“The Narrow Road to the Deep North” by Matsuo Bashō (Penguin, 1966)
“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” The short-but-monumental book of poetry and travel sketches written by the Japanese wanderer and haiku master Bashō, first published in 1702. Bonus: Richard Flanagan’s incredible 2014 work of the same name.
Recommended by Ervin L. Jordan Jr., Research Archivist: Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
“The Space-Age Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A Rare Photographic History” by John Bisney and J. L. Pickering (University of New Mexico Press, 2019)
President Kennedy’s (1917-1963) support of America’s space program (concurrent with military missile development in the backdrop of the Cold War with the Soviet Union), is documented in this pictorial chronology. Transcript excerpts of speeches, telephone conversations, news conferences and once-secret White House recordings accompany 500 photographs highlighting his commitment to an American on the moon by the end of the 1960s and humanity’s exploration of the cosmos. During facilities tours, JFK’s proximity to engine test firings and unfueled rockets on launchpads deeply concerned the Secret Service, although in some photographs of presidential motorcades he stands up or sits on top of backseats in open convertible limousines. Ironically, Kennedy’s last aerospace facility tour (San Antonio, Texas) occurred the day before his Dallas assassination.
“Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World” by Wil Haygood (Alfred A. Knopf, 2021)
From “Birth of a Nation” (1915) to “Black Panther” (2018) this comprehensive history assesses American cinema’s century-old influences on African American culture, blaxploitation, racial politics, the Academy Awards, and the Hollywood film industry in the context of artists, filmmakers and audiences “on-screen and behind the scenes.” Haygood’s authoritative research as a cultural historian offers groundbreaking perspectives and cautionary tales of marginalization, defiance, and incremental self-determination. This timely book’s cast of legendary actors and directors includes Harry Belafonte, Halle Berry, Ava DuVernay, Lena Horne, Spike Lee, Gordon Parks, Sidney Poitier, Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson, Melvin Van Peebles, and Denzel Washington.
“Building the Book From the Ancient World to the Present Day: How Manuscript, Printed, and Digital Texts Are Made” by Barbara Heritage and Ruth-Ellen St. Onge; Terry Belanger [foreword], Michael F. Suarez [afterword] (Legacy Press, 2022)
The Rare Book School at the University of Virginia (in Shannon Library) and its teaching collections are featured in this profusely illustrated and edifying exhibition catalogue, “Building the Book from the Ancient World to the Present Day: Five Decades of Rare Book School & the Book Arts Press” (The Grolier Club, September-December 2022), commemorating the 50th anniversary of RBS and the Book Arts Press. Across three millennia of recorded history, from cuneiform clay tablets, papyrus scrolls and codices, to the invention of paper, woodblocks, movable metal type and e-texts, this volume extolls the “shared cultural heritage” of bookmaking and books as illuminating works of art and human memory. An exceptional glossary reads as a book unto itself and complements this handsomely case-wrapped page-turner’s attractiveness for bibliophiles.
“Writings” by Thomas Jefferson, edited by Merrill D. Peterson (Literary Classics of the U.S., 1984)
This single-volume comprehensive collection of Jefferson’s (1743-1826) public and private writings include his “Autobiography 1743-1790,” “Notes on the State of Virginia” (his only full-length book published during his lifetime), addresses, nearly 300 letters, explanatory editorial notes, and a biographical chronology. Readers will appreciate the attached blue-ribbon bookmark in perusing this book’s 1600 acid-free pages.
“100 Things to Do in Charlottesville Before You Die” by Marijean Oldham (Reedy Press, 2018)
As the holidays approach, Charlottesville-Albemarle residents will appreciate this practical guide’s tips and trips for entertaining out-of-town guests. Topics include food and drink (breweries and vineyards), music and entertainment (theaters and shows), sports and recreation (hiking trials), culture and history (museums and presidential homes), and shopping and fashion (clothing stores and bookstores). For day-trippers wishing to explore “culture on a budget” this compact resource offers seasonal activities and itineraries.
Recommended by Carla Lee, Deputy Librarian
“The English Understand Wool” by Helen DeWitt (New Directions Books, 2022)
This is barely more than a short story, but I really enjoyed it. A 17-year-old girl is suddenly without her parents and is finding her own way. It’s sharp and at times wryly funny and for some reason, puts me in mind of “Killing Eve.”
“What you are looking for is in the Library” by Michiko Aoyama (Popurasha, 2020)
What’s not to like about a collection of interwoven short stories that demonstrate that libraries change lives? I’m in the bag for “slice of life” fiction, so this book was a good match for me.
“Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett (Harper, 2023)
This novel is on a lot of the best of the year lists and for good reason. Besides the wonderful character development and reflections on relationships, the story is set in the Northern Michigan cherry orchards and arts camps of my childhood summers. It’s like Ann Patchett wrote it just for me …
“The Wedding Party” by Liu Xinwu (Amazon Crossing, 2021)
This is the story of a day in a Beijing hutong (alley) in 1982. There is a chapter for each hour in the day — each following a different character as they navigate life in a changing Beijing. It’s funny, informative, and reflective — I’ve recommended it all over the place this past year!
Recommended by Bethany Mickel, Teaching and Instructional Design Librarian
“The Appeal” by Janice Hallett (Atria Books, 2021)
Fans of epistolary storytelling and immersive mysteries rejoice! I loved this invitation to shift gears to piece together clues and solve a murder in a small-town theatre group.
“Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea, and the Shipwreck of the Titanic” by Daniel Stone (Dutton, 2022)
Seeking something to satisfy my craving for all things maritime, Sinkable is a blend of science, history, and deep-sea exploration that tackles our collective fascination with the granddaddy of all shipwrecks, the Titanic.
“Her Fearful Symmetry” by Audrey Niffenegger (Scribner, 2009)
This is a second read for me as I wanted to relive this haunting novel that weaves together the themes of love and loss. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of London's Highgate Cemetery, the supernatural vibe is transportive. Best read on a rainy day with ample tea at hand!
“Landlines: The Remarkable Story of a Thousand-Mile Journey Across Britain” by Raynor Winn (Pegasus Books, 2023)
On the heels of a year marked by loss, “Landlines” was the perfect, meditative exploration of healing, resilience, and transformation. Steeped in the rich and rugged landscape of Britain, it was easy to lose myself in the sweeping descriptions of nature while challenging me to reconnect with it myself.
“Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman” by Lucy Worsley (Hodder & Stoughton, 2022)
The Queen of Crime is credited for igniting my love of mystery writing. Worsley unravels the woman behind the writing and sheds light on Christie’s personal struggles and the challenges she faced as a female author, and dives into why she is still read and studied as a cornerstone of mystery plot mastery.
Recommended by Ellen Catz Ramsey, Project Manager
“James” by Percival Everett (Doubleday, 2024)
My favorite of the recent books that reimagine a well-known story from the point of view of a character who was marginalized in the original. This book won the 2024 National Book Award for fiction.
“The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics” by Daniel James Brown (Viking, 2013)
If you have a rower in your life, you have heard of this true story of the 1936 Olympic rowing gold medal team. Read the book, then watch the movie.
“The Book of Salt” by Monique Truong (Houghton Mifflin, 2003)
This story reimagines well-known celebrities/authors (Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas) from the point of view of a character who is both fictional and marginal. To tell more is to give away the beautiful experience that unfolds as you read.
Recommended by Amber Lautigar Reichert, Director of Content Strategy
“The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press, 2024)
“The Ministry of Time” has just enough sci-fi to keep you off-balance and intrigued, and lovely characters who’ll help you see old things with new eyes (and vice versa). The best book about government bureaucracy and time travel that I’ve ever read.
“Emergent Strategy” by adrienne maree brown (AK Press, 2017)
Emergent systems are complex patterns that emerge from a confluence of other (often simple) activities. (Think: forest floor.)
Emergent Strategy is the process of tapping into those dynamics in an attempt to build equitable, human-friendly, sustainable systems. Influenced heavily by Octavia Butler’s visions of the future, this is an easy-to-approach handbook for considering small patterns and big impacts.
“The Venture Alchemists” by Rob Lalka (Columbia Business School Publishing, 2024)
Capitalists, big tech, J.D. Vance … this book is way out of my normal wheelhouse but I’m so glad I gave it a chance (full disclosure: I grew up with the author). It’s beautifully written, deeply researched, rich with human stories, and so relevant to our moment in history.
“Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Large Print, 2022)
“Demon Copperhead” was easily the most riveting book I read all year. Rooted in Appalachia, Kingsolver imparts her reader with a true fondness for her characters as they come of age. Since finishing the book, I’ve often found myself wondering what these — completely fictional — characters are up to now, as though they’re old friends who have fallen out of touch.
“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020)
This is such a weird little book, I had to mention it. It’s a strange and confusing little story, in a good way, and if you read it I recommend just going along for the ride and not googling too much beforehand. At least — that’s how I came to it, and I enjoyed that experience very much.
Recommended by Jennifer Roper, Director of Digital Strategies and Scholarly Communications
“Open Throat” by Henry Hoke (MCD / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023)
On the surface this is the story of a mountain lion attempting to survive in the Hollywood Hills told from his perspective. Underneath that premise, this story is a commentary on the search for connection in modern society.
“The Searcher” by Tana French (Viking, 2020)
A retired urban American police detective moves to Ireland in search of a tranquil rural setting. After getting drawn into a local missing person case, he learns about the social politics of the small town and the relative powerlessness of being an outsider.
“The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson (37 Ink, 2023)
Intertwined stories of two young Black women living in cities in 1950s America, and their paths to adult and family lives. Features Dorothy B. Porter as a side character — the librarian at Howard University who created a new classification system to overcome the racist and colonialist approach of the Dewey Decimal System with regard to Black authors.
“The Last Tale of the Flower Bride” by Roshani Chokshi (William Morrow, 2023)
A modern-day Gothic novel featuring an increasingly isolated unnamed protagonist, a plot that obscures illusion and reality, and a twist at the end. This book weaves together the story of the present-day, unnamed husband of Indigo with the tale of her childhood best friend.
Recommended by Douglas Ross, Database and Markup Technologies
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen (Ignatius Press, 2008)
So, I waited until I was in my late 50s to read Jane Austen. Now I understand what all the fuss has been about. Great story telling. Fun characters.
“Emma” by Jane Austen (Macmillan, 1992)
More great story telling and fun characters. Suspenseful circumstances, and hilarious dry humor.
“White Teeth” by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2000)
I cannot believe this book was written by a 24-year-old. The author is obviously a genius.
“The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton (Oxford University Press, 2006)
I was not expecting to like this book. I liked this book a lot. I think it may be my favorite for the year. The dialog is sublime. Up next: “The House of Mirth.”
“In the Twilight” by Anton Chekhov (Alma Classics, 2014)
That’s 16 Chekhov short stories down, 504 to go!