As someone who is almost always reading - whether it's listening to an audiobook while commuting or sitting in my library with a physical book in my hand - I experience a lot of different quality books. I'd also like to say I'm quite critical of the books I read (I very rarely give 5-stars to books unless they TRULY leave an impact on me).
Therefore, I'd like to say that the below books are pretty top quality (well, disclaimer here: top quality in my eyes, obviously). They're books that I still think about to this day, that made me cry or react in shock. These books truly made me feel something (which is what I usually rate my books based off).
So, without further ado, out of the 170 books (48,035 pages), here are my top ten (ranked).
10. Ripe by Sarah Etter Rose
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, where glass towers gleam over streets shadowed by tent cities, this book captures the surreal clash between prosperous tech empires and the struggle of those who can’t afford the city’s spiralling rent costs. It is told from the perspective of a young woman landing a coveted position at a rising tech start-up—a dream job many envy. Yet, while she’s reached the pinnacle of ambition in the eyes of others, her chronic depression - symbolized through the metaphor of an ominous black hole - magnifies the bleakness, the inequalities, and the dehumanizing effects of corporate America. It's definitely upsetting - especially because it's a very ordinary story that many can even relate to - but it does such a good job of portraying depression as well as raising many existentialist questions.
9. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Until this book, I had never thought about what it would be like to be one of the few women working on the oil sands. This graphic novel memoir, which reveals the author Kate Beaton's personal experience going to work in Fort McMurray, is an extremely bleak and revealing tale of the sexist, lonely, and mentally distressing culture that is common in the oil fields. Super interesting and revealing - and very necessary.
8. Uzumaki by Junji Ito
I WANT A SPIRAL TATTOOED ON MY BODY NOW. I think that this book was so well-executed that it almost cast its evil spell on me to make me also simultaneously obsessed with spirals. Now, I can't look at a spiral without feeling slightly unnerved and haunted. The art, the story, the weirdness, the body horror - I felt like this book was destined for me. It was everything I've ever wanted. My favourite kind of horror is the "horrification" of ordinary elements of this world. We don't often think about spirals, nor would we ever view them as scary, but after reading this book... I dunno man, I don't think I ever wanna see a spiral again.
7. Recitatif: A Story by Toni Morrison
BRILLIANT. Toni Morrison is a genius for this one, telling the story of two friends, one white, one black, but never revealing who is who. Over time and history, we see the dynamic of these friends shift and change, never knowing the true context of the events that are occuring. It is so interesting how it plays into our desire to attribute characteristics and interests based on race, overall exploring and revealing how limited and stifling race essentialism is. It's a fascinating and short read, and the amazing introduction by Zadie Smith adds so much to think about.
6. Ballad for Sophie by Filipe Melo
Everything I could possibly want in a book: pianos, history, cats, love, drama... This absolutely stunning graphic novel is a beautiful experience, telling the story of a piano competition that escalates into a story of shame, jealousy, revenge, and love. It's like a graphic novel adaption of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo except instead of a famous actress it's a famous piano player and his story is even more compelling. INCREDIBLE (and there's even a piano piece that was composed for the book which is absolutely beautiful!)
5. The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay
Everything I ever needed in a book and more - so heartwarming and speaks to the curious, delighted person inside of me. Life is so whimsical when you want it to be and when you notice the small things. It's truly a meditation on the beauty of life and the importance of finding sanctuary and delight! in your day-to-day life. Even the smallest gestures, moments, experiences, sights can have an impact on you if you open your mind and take note. But I especially love how it doesn't try to sugarcoat the realities of life, especially when it comes to issues such as racism, as Ross Gay is a black man living in America. It's truly a beautiful book which inspired me to look at the world differently.
4. Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I love this book so much, and I already feel like re-reading it. Something about it was so comforting, heartwarming, thoughtful, and humanizing. The central idea of this book is something that is so necessary for today: the idea that it's so easy to make snap judgments of other people that completely disregard their wholeness and who they really are. Whether we judge people with addictions, young girls who get pregnant, or sex workers, it's easy for us to use stereotypes that end up dehumanizing the people in these circumstances. This book explores the multifaceted nature of humans and all the messy realities of life whilst bringing you face-to-face with people that, from the outside, you might be inclined to judge. The book really made me think differently about the judgments I make about people, too.
3. Hour of the Heart by Irvin D. Yalom
I'm not gonna be the first person to say that Irvin D. Yalom renewed their passion/motivation for becoming a therapist... but it's a common occurrence for a reason! I ended this book with tears in my eyes, thinking, maybe I am on the right path, after all. Sometimes, I do struggle wondering if I went into the right field or if I'm actually "fit" ever to become a therapist. After reading this book, it made me realize that this is truly what I want to do with my life, and so I thank Irvin D. Yalom so much for being such an incredible example of a kind, compassionate, wise, and extremely courageous person and for revolutionizing what therapy can be, as well as the way so many people view therapy. A truly incredible book!
2. Open Throat by Henry Hoke
My top pick and my review for it on Goodreads was simply: I am forever crying over this beautiful story of this beautiful gay mountain lion. It's a story of humanity through the eyes of an animal struggling to understand the way we are. Through its eyes, we see the oddness and intricacies of human behavior. As I read this short book all in one sitting in my bathtub, I did indeed cry, and thinking of it, even a year later, I'm still overwhelmed with adoration.
1. Flower for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
This is my favourite book of all time, and I will stand by that. I sob every time I reach the end. Even the title "Flowers for Algernon" fills me with existential hopelessness. Will I ever again read such an impactful book with such a powerful format? A book labelled "science-fiction" but with the type of stunning humanity and emotionality I rarely see in the genre? This book confronts what it means to be on various sides of the "intellectual fence" but does so with such stunning symbolism and so much empathy that my heart aches from the first page. It's a story with a basic premise, but it raises many questions about intelligence, humanity, consciousness, what it means to live, and the ethics of psychological experimentation. I will leave it at that, hoping everyone reads this book, even at the risk of breaking your own heart.
STAY TUNED FOR THE TOP TEN MOVIES I SAW IN 2024! And hope you enjoyed the list!
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