The best book I read in 2024 is actually nonfiction: Good Energy by Dr Casey Means. A how to live healthier and happier page-turner.
I’d love a 2026 slow read on Middlemarch. It’s a good candidate, I think, based on its length, literary significance and dauntingness factor. I have tried to scale Middlemarch more than once, but on my own, I gave up.
The Count of Monte Cristo. What a book. I cannot stop thinking about it and loved the feeling of engaging with this book. It gave me the courage to try another ‘big’ book and led me to the W&P readalong.
I also read Catch 22 (brilliant) this year and have Middlemarch on the shelf to go.
I re-read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in May and that's one of my very favourite books. A modern classic that reads like a classic classic; truly magical. And because it's over 1000 pages a lot of people are put off reading it so I think it would be a fabulous slow read. Plus it has its very own footnotes, which would work perfectly!
One of my favourite reads of this year was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Wondering if you have read it?
There is just so much in it, and a lot which I didn't feel educated enough to understand, but I loved it even though it took me weeks to read. I feel like someone who knows Russian literature better than I do would have a lot more insight into it.
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is a book that I’ve gifted to many friends. It reminds me of my favorite childhood books, THE LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN — orphaned children who have to re-make a life in reduced or restricted circumstances. And in that way, it’s universal. All of Amor Towles’ novels remind me of other, classic novels!
Thank you for this! I haven't read Amor Towles but want to—who knew this title is reminiscent of two of my favorite books from childhood (especially, The Little Princess)? I would probably have started with the first big book of his (agh—I can't remember the title—I have this book), but with your recommendation maybe Gentleman will come first!
I will have to at least reread the Cromwell expanded posts even if I don't manage to repeat the books. The additional content sounds great. But I will be with you for your new selection
I can’t believe 2025 is the last year of War & Peace! I was all set to join Wolf Crawl, but now I feel like I should turn around and do War & Peace again, too!
Hi Simon and fellow readers. My name is Louise and I am from New Zealand. My all time favourite read is ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexander Dumas. A long, profound and unforgettable book. I hope ‘War and Peace’ will match it. Happy reading. LD
My favourite reads of 2024 were Caledonian Road and The Bee Sting. I think they’d both make good slow reads. I’d also love to see F&T do Les Miserables and Anna Karenina!
I LOVED THE BEE STING. When I finished it, I needed to talk about it. It felt urgent, and I realized there should be book therapists — professionals who can help readers process a book without worrying about spoilers. It shattered me.
Book therapist -- what a great career aspiration for a bookish, introspective teenager. A pity my guidance counselor never suggested this route to me oh so many years ago.
Seconding Middlemarch! I'm not sure if it's quite the thing for this, but I'd absolutely love a slow read of Simon Armitage's translation of Gawain and the Green Knight, which is absolutely incredible. Perhaps Pat Barker might be another option - the Life Class and Regeneration trilogies are fantastic, both WW1 historical fiction.
I loved W&P this year & am going to do Wolf Hall in 2025. You deserve it all Simon! I’ve toyed with starting a short stories bookclub and a bleak house group read. From one extreme to the other!
For best 'new' (as in I'd not read before, not as in 'only just published), I was going to say The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, but I've just finished 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson and now it's a toss-up.
I think if the Olympic high-jumpers can declare a tie, I can.
Agreed! I read The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet this year and loved it. I read the Aubrey/Maturin series a while back so any time naval terminology showed up I felt like an expert.
I'm so glad I signed up for your subscription and will be reading some amazing books. Current writers have an entirely different cadence and language. I'm looking forward to diving into some good literature!
I'm all set for Wolf Crawl, and going through the list of other read-alongs I'm thinking if I shouldn't revisit Invisible Man - I wrote my undergrad thesis on it. And my top read of this year was Shogun, hands down. With Antifragile and Skin in the Game, both by N N Taleb, as runners-up.
The best book I read in 2024 is actually nonfiction: Good Energy by Dr Casey Means. A how to live healthier and happier page-turner.
I’d love a 2026 slow read on Middlemarch. It’s a good candidate, I think, based on its length, literary significance and dauntingness factor. I have tried to scale Middlemarch more than once, but on my own, I gave up.
We could call the group Slow March. (?)
Middlemarch is high on the list, and I think you may have found the perfect name for it!
That is a fab name!
I have tried to read it too! Very daunting.
Middlemarch without a doubt. A hefty read but a great world to spend time in.
The Count of Monte Cristo. What a book. I cannot stop thinking about it and loved the feeling of engaging with this book. It gave me the courage to try another ‘big’ book and led me to the W&P readalong.
I also read Catch 22 (brilliant) this year and have Middlemarch on the shelf to go.
I read it as a teenager, I think I need to reread it
I re-read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in May and that's one of my very favourite books. A modern classic that reads like a classic classic; truly magical. And because it's over 1000 pages a lot of people are put off reading it so I think it would be a fabulous slow read. Plus it has its very own footnotes, which would work perfectly!
Agreed
In 2024, I finally read The Overstory by Richard Powers. It was fascinating. I think it would make a great footnotes & tangents slow read.
If you enjoyed Overstory you should check out Pod by Laline Paull, shortlisted for last year’s Women’s Prize.
Loved this book.
One of my favourite reads of this year was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Wondering if you have read it?
There is just so much in it, and a lot which I didn't feel educated enough to understand, but I loved it even though it took me weeks to read. I feel like someone who knows Russian literature better than I do would have a lot more insight into it.
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is a book that I’ve gifted to many friends. It reminds me of my favorite childhood books, THE LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN — orphaned children who have to re-make a life in reduced or restricted circumstances. And in that way, it’s universal. All of Amor Towles’ novels remind me of other, classic novels!
Thank you for this! I haven't read Amor Towles but want to—who knew this title is reminiscent of two of my favorite books from childhood (especially, The Little Princess)? I would probably have started with the first big book of his (agh—I can't remember the title—I have this book), but with your recommendation maybe Gentleman will come first!
My sister and a friend liked RULES OF CIVILITY even more than GIM. That first one has Great Gatsby all over it! You can’t go wrong with Amor Towles.
The Rules of Civility—I remembered the title, of course, after I posted! Thanks, Evelyn
I will have to at least reread the Cromwell expanded posts even if I don't manage to repeat the books. The additional content sounds great. But I will be with you for your new selection
I am planning to do the same! FOMO!
I can’t believe 2025 is the last year of War & Peace! I was all set to join Wolf Crawl, but now I feel like I should turn around and do War & Peace again, too!
Well my notes and the chat threads will stay up in future years, I probably just won't launch it again. So take your pick!
I'm doing War & Peace again! I fell behind in 2024. It's so fun to start over—I recommend it!
Hi Simon and fellow readers. My name is Louise and I am from New Zealand. My all time favourite read is ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexander Dumas. A long, profound and unforgettable book. I hope ‘War and Peace’ will match it. Happy reading. LD
My favourite reads of 2024 were Caledonian Road and The Bee Sting. I think they’d both make good slow reads. I’d also love to see F&T do Les Miserables and Anna Karenina!
Going to take a break from Tolstoy in 2026 I think, but maybe it is time to scale Les Mis!
I LOVED THE BEE STING. When I finished it, I needed to talk about it. It felt urgent, and I realized there should be book therapists — professionals who can help readers process a book without worrying about spoilers. It shattered me.
Book therapist -- what a great career aspiration for a bookish, introspective teenager. A pity my guidance counselor never suggested this route to me oh so many years ago.
Seconding Middlemarch! I'm not sure if it's quite the thing for this, but I'd absolutely love a slow read of Simon Armitage's translation of Gawain and the Green Knight, which is absolutely incredible. Perhaps Pat Barker might be another option - the Life Class and Regeneration trilogies are fantastic, both WW1 historical fiction.
I loved W&P this year & am going to do Wolf Hall in 2025. You deserve it all Simon! I’ve toyed with starting a short stories bookclub and a bleak house group read. From one extreme to the other!
Deacon King Kong by James McBride and Beyond the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo.
For best 'new' (as in I'd not read before, not as in 'only just published), I was going to say The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, but I've just finished 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson and now it's a toss-up.
I think if the Olympic high-jumpers can declare a tie, I can.
David Mitchell NEVER disappoints!
Agreed! I read The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet this year and loved it. I read the Aubrey/Maturin series a while back so any time naval terminology showed up I felt like an expert.
I haven’t finished watching Shogun, but THOUSAND AUTUMNS is sitting next to me on the couch.
I'm so glad I signed up for your subscription and will be reading some amazing books. Current writers have an entirely different cadence and language. I'm looking forward to diving into some good literature!
I'm all set for Wolf Crawl, and going through the list of other read-alongs I'm thinking if I shouldn't revisit Invisible Man - I wrote my undergrad thesis on it. And my top read of this year was Shogun, hands down. With Antifragile and Skin in the Game, both by N N Taleb, as runners-up.
Shogun is great. Another book with a whole world in it!