Our favorite books of the year (so far!)

A mid-year check in on this year in reading.

View this email online July 5, 2024 This week, Life Kit is taking a little break in observance of Independence Day. We hope you enjoy this special newsletter on summer reading from our friends at NPR Books. Sign up for their newsletter for more book news and recommendations. by Andrew Limbong Summer Staff Picks Not sure when exactly it happened, but we’re basically at the mid-year mark. And so the NPR Books team has compiled a list of all of our favorite reads from this year so far. You can find our fiction picks here, and nonfiction picks here. It’s a really wide mix of stuff, so you’re bound to find something that piques your interest. But I wanted to shout out one book in particular – which, wow, what a coincidence, happens to be one of my fiction picks – and that’s Victim by Andrew Boryga. Here are the fiction and nonfiction books NPR staffers have loved so far this year Alicia Zheng/NPR In my blurb, I describe it as a novel about "a writer from a marginalized community, who fudges his way into the kinds of rooms where people say 'marginalized' and 'community' a lot." What charmed me most about the book is that, yeah, the satirical novel takes its shots at the publishing industry, and its surface-level attempts at diversifying itself. But it doesn't let its main character off the hook. It's not some sort of one-note screed against DEI-trainings, but a vulnerable and honest and funny critique of the kind of works the publishing industry incentivizes and rewards. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check it out. If not, there's definitely something on these lists that'll be up your alley. But we want to hear from you! Let us know some of your favorite books this year. Heck, it doesn't even need to have been published this year, just let us know what rocked your brain recently. The address is bookoftheday@npr.org. Onto you, Meghan! Newsletter continues after sponsor message TBR Pile We have a couple items from our Fresh Air team that you’ll want to check out. In addition to our NPR staff picks for summer reading, critic Maureen Corrigan has a couple books she’s recommending. She says for summer: “I want books that glimmer like fireflies with dashes of humor and nostalgia.” You can see her two picks here. These two books offer just the right summer mix of humor and nostalgia And you may know that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stepped out of the spotlight a while ago. But now he's back with a memoir about this period that rocketed him to household-name status – and how he got there. (His undergrad alma mater – and mine! – played a role in setting him on the path to a life of public service.) He spoke with Fresh Air's Dave Davies this week about his new book On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service. Mailbag! In previous newsletters, I've waxed poetic about finding a whole set of Punisher comics on the sidewalk. Still glowing about that find! Here are the books you all have found out there. Susan H. wrote “I once rescued a beautiful edition of Tom Robbins’ Still Life with Woodpecker. It came to me on a wild, hot and otherwise miserable day forty years ago, almost to the day. I still have it, complete with an empty Camel cigarette package bookmark. When you know, you know.” Heather M. found a, let’s call it “well loved,” copy of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. “It fits in your hand and makes you feel like the heroine in The Importance of Being Earnest. It is blue with a filigree stamped, smudged cover. It has gold edged pages. And a satin ribbon bookmark. Very sweet. Its cover has some smudges... But that doesn't matter at all.” And sometimes (if we’re honest, most times), you bring a book home and it takes a while for you to actually read it. When Linda R. found Phillip F. Schewe’s book The Grid on a rainy neighborhood walk, it sat on the shelf for months. “I’m glad I brought it home and finally cracked it open. Like other concerned citizens these days, I’m trying to understand how to use energy more efficiently. We take for granted the complicated and fragile system of electrical power that feeds our homes and businesses, and rely on utility companies to keep it running smoothly. It’s a well-written and informative read.” P.S., if a friend sent you this newsletter and you want to sign up, the place to do it is npr.org/newsletter/books. :) Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: bookoftheday@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Pop Culture, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy