Spotlight BOOKS | REVIEWS 10 best fiction books of the year From the 2024 Year in Review series Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune Dec 28, 2024 Dec 28, 2024 Updated May 19, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 'James' "James" by Percival Everett kAmk6>mqJ !6C4:G2= tG6C6EEk^6>mk^AmkAm“y2>6D[” 2 DA:? @? “wF4<=636CCJ u:??[” 5@6D ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJE9:?8 2 ?@G6= 42? 5@] xE DE2CED H:E9 E96 AC@G@42E:G6 :562 E92E wF4<’D 6?D=2G65 A2= y:> WH9@ AC676CD E@ 8@ 3J y2>6DX H2D >F49 D>2CE6C 2?5 36EE6C 65F42E65 E92? 2?J@?6 <?6H] “y2>6D[” H9:49 4=@D6=J 7@==@HD 6G6?ED 7C@> |2C< %H2:?’D @C:8:?2= DE@CJ[ 7:?5D E96 E:E=6 492C24E6C @? E96 =2> 27E6C 96’D 244FD65 @7 >FC56C :? 2 A286\EFC?6C E92E 762EFC6D G:G:5 492C24E6CD[ 3C62E9=6DD A=@EE:?8[ H:K2C5=J 6IA6C:>6?ED H:E9 A@:?E @7 G:6H 2?5 2 >@G:?8 4@?4=FD:@?] tIA64E =@ED @7 2H2C5D 7@C “y2>6D]”k^Am k9amV%:>6 @7 E96 r9:=5Vk^9am People are also reading… Watch: New Iowa running backs coach explains why he rejoined Hawkeyes 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say What Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic said about future after Tennessee game Report: Iowa State fan-favorite Cade Kelderman enters transfer portal Grinnell's Will Slagle recommits to Iowa State, recruiting win for Jimmy Rogers The advice Rocco Becht gave Jaylen Raynor about being Iowa State’s quarterback Former Cyclone Addy Brown commits to reigning NCAA Champs A lot just happened — here’s where WNBA teams stand as camps open Jill On Money: Making sense of stocks at new highs White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami putting on historic HR show An AI bot is running a retail store. 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H92E E96J’C6 E9:?<:?8 H96? E96J 3@I[ H96E96C E96J =:<6 3@I:?8[ H92E 5C6H E96> E@ E96 DA@CE^>:89E >2<6 E96> BF:E[ H92E E96J E9:?< 23@FE E96:C @AA@?6?ED[ 2D H6== 2D H92E EC@F3=6D E96> 23@FE E96:C 72>:=:6D 2?5 7C:6?5D] qJ E96 6?5 @7 E96 3@@<[ J@F 766= =:<6 J@F <?@H E96 4@?E6DE2?ED :?E:>2E6=J — 2?5 =:<6 E96D6 AF8:=:DED 2C6 ?@E 2D 5:776C6?E 7C@> J@F 2D E96J D66>]k^Am k9amV%23=6 7@C %H@Vk^9am "Table for Two" by Amor Towles kAmk6>mqJ p>@C %@H=6Dk^6>mk^AmkAmxE’D >J ?6H 72G@C:E6 %@H=6D 3@@<[ 2?5 E92E’D D2J:?8 D@>6E9:?8 D:?46 9:D “p v6?E=6>2? :? |@D4@H” H2D 2 3=@4<3FDE6C 2?5 9:D “ %96 {:?4@=? w:89H2J” H2D 2 E96J\5@?’E\HC:E6\’6>\=:<6\E96J\FD65\E@ 86> @7 2? 25G6?EFC6] %96D6 D6G6? 4:?6>2E:4 E2=6D :?EC@5F46 FD E@ 6?562C:?8 2?5 4@?7@F?5:?8 A6@A=6 =:<6 E96 E:E=6 492C24E6C @7 “%96 q2==25 @7 %:>@E9J %@F496EE[” H9@ 244:56?E2==J 364@>6D :?G@=G65 :? 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H:== 96=A 9:>n w6 7:?5D @FE H96? 96 :?DE2?E=J 72==D 7@C 2 >2:=\@C56C 3C:56 2?5 C6D@=G6D E@i p] #6D4F6 96C 7C@> 96C 9FD32?5\E@\36[ 2?5 q] |2<6 96C 9:D] %96J E2<6 @77 7@C $2? uC2?4:D4@[ H:E9 =2H>6? 2?5 @FE=2HD @? E96:C EC2:=] q2CCJ’D 3@@< >@G6D =:<6 4C2KJ[ H:E9 @?6 25G6?EFC6 27E6C 2?@E96C E@ 96=A E96 A2:C W2?5 C6256CDX 4@?7:C> E92E E96:C =@G6 :D 3@E9 C62= 2?5 C62==J 52?86C@FD]k^Am k9amV$:ADH@CE9Vk^9am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts "Sipsworth" by Simon Van Booy kAmk6>mqJ $:>@? '2? q@@Jk^6>mk^AmkAm%96 BF:6E6DE[ DH66E6DE 3@@< @? E9:D =:DE 766=D =:<6 :E 4@F=5 92G6 366? HC:EE6? 2E 2?J E:>6 :? E96 =2DE 46?EFCJ] xE’D 23@FE 2? t?8=:D9 H:5@H H9@ D66>D E@ 92G6 =@DE E96 H:== E@ =:G6 F?E:= D96 F?H:EE:?8=J =6ED 2 >@FD6 WE96 E:E=6 492C24E6CX :?E@ 96C =:76] pD E96J 364@>6 A2=D[ '2? q@@J W2 ?@E65 2FE9@C @7 3@@<D 7@C 49:=5C6?X C6G62=D DFCAC:D:?8 E9:?8D 23@FE 3@E9 @7 E96>[ C6>:?5:?8 FD E92E H6 >2J E9:?< H6 <?@H H92E’D 8@:?8 @? H:E9 C2?5@> A6@A=6 H6 6?4@F?E6C 3FE H6 2C6 D6=5@> C:89E] uF??J[ A@:8?2?E[ H2C> 2?5 A6C764E H:E9 2 4FA @7 E62]k^Am k9amV~3=:82E:@?D E@ E96 (@F?565Vk^9am "Obligations to the Wounded" by Mubanga Kalimamukwento kAmk6>mqJ |F32?82 z2=:>2>F<H6?E@k^6>mk^AmkAmz2=:>2>F<H6?E@VD DE@C:6D D?62< FA @? J@F] w6C 492C24E6CD — =:<6 2 H@>2? H9@ EC2G6=D E@ +2>3:2 E@ G:D:E 96C >@E96C @? 96C 562E9365 2?5 7:?5D E92E AC@E64E:?8 96CD6=7 ECF>AD 72>:=J E:6D — 3692G6 :? 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E96 H2J “$:=6?46 @7 E96 {2>3D” :D] p 76H @7 E96 DE@C:6D 92G6 DFDA6?D67F= 6=6>6?ED 3FE E96J’C6 >@DE=J E6?D6 >6=@5C2>2D 23@FE E96 G2C:6EJ @7 H2JD 2 4C:>6 7:=E6CD :?E@ E96 =:G6D @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 E2?86?E:2==J 27764E65 3J :Ei (92E 92AA6?D E@ E96 72>:=J H9@D6 9@FD6 :D 24C@DD E96 DEC66E 7C@> E96 <:==6C’Dn w@H 5@6D E96 G:4E:> H9@ 6D42A65 42CCJ @? =:G:?8n |4u2C=2?6’D 492C24E6CD 6IA=@56 @77 E96 A286 E@ 2DD6CE E96:C >6DDJ[ 4@?7@F?5:?8 6I:DE6?46]k^Am k9amV%96 #F>@C v2>6Vk^9am "The Rumor Game" by Thomas Mullen kAmk6>mqJ %9@>2D |F==6?k^6>mk^AmkAmu6H a_ac 3@@<D H6C6 2D >F49 C:A\C@2C:?8 7F? 2D E9:D q@DE@?\D6E E9C:==6C 23@FE EH@ =@?6CD H9@D6 =:G6D 2C6 FA6?565 3J (@C=5 (2C xx] p??2[ H9@ :D y6H:D9[ 766=D :?E:>2E6=J 4@??64E65 H:E9 E96 42FD6 @7 E96 H2C 2?5 :D 7CFDEC2E65 E92E D96’D DEF4< HC:E:?8 9F>2? :?E6C6DE DE@C:6D H96? E96C6’D >@C6 :>A@CE2?E DEF77 8@:?8 @?] uqx 286?E s6G@?[ 2? xC:D9>2?[ :D :?G6DE:82E:?8 >@3 2EE6>AED E@ 56C2:= E96 H2C 677@CE] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96J 72== 7@C 6249 @E96C] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96:C :?5:G:5F2= :?G6DE:82E:@?D :?E@ :==:4:E 24E:G:EJ 8:G6 E96> C62D@? E@ 36 DFDA:4:@FD @7 6249 @E96C] |F==6? F?DA@@=D 2 8@@5[ @=5\72D9:@?65 J2C? E92E <66AD J@F @? E96 6586 @7 J@FC 62DJ 492:C]k^Am k9amV%96 v@5 @7 E96 (@@5DVk^9am "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore kAmk6>mqJ {:K |@@C6k^6>mk^AmkAm“v@5 @7 E96 (@@5D” C67=64ED @? AC:G:=686 2?5 :?;FDE:46 2D :ED 492C24E6CD ECJ E@ 86E E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 5:D2AA62C2?46D :? EH@ E:>6=:?6Di p 3@J ?2>65 q62C G2?:D965 2E 2 DF>>6C 42>A >2?J J62CD 367@C6 E96 ?@G6=’D AC6D6?E 52J 2?5 ?@H 9:D 25@=6D46?E D:DE6C 92D 8@?6 >:DD:?8] %96C6 2C6 A=6?EJ @7 DFDA64EDi %96 <:5D’ H62=E9J 72>:=J :D ;2>\A24<65 H:E9 A6CGD[ 2 E@H?:6 3692G65 DFDA:4:@FD=J 27E6C q62C G2?:D965 2?5 E96C6’D E2=< @7 2? 6D42A65 <:==6C H9@ >2J DE2=< E96 H@@5D ?62C E96 42>A] |@@C6 92D 6?@F89 DFCAC:D6D E@ 4C27E 2 D2E:D7J:?8 >JDE6CJ 3FE D96 2=D@ 86ED E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 A@H6C DECF4EFC6D 2?5 >@?6J E92E 42? 4@??:G6 E@ >2<6 D>2==\E@H? ;FDE:46 :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 249:6G6]k^Am News 10 best nonfiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune News Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later ED WHITE Associated Press In this Series 2024 Year in Review Updated Sep 19, 2025 PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 Updated Jun 8, 2025 PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 Updated Jun 10, 2025 PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 12 updates Previous 0 Comments Related to this story Need a quick fix of joy? These books will make you smile Sometimes you just need to escape. These books can help. George M. Johnson's 'All Boys Aren't Blue' tops 2024 list of most 'challenged' US library books The American Library Association has unveiled the 10 most "challenged books" of 2024. Most have LGBTQ+ themes. Other objections involved refer… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories April 25 Iran rules out talks with US unless blockade of ports lifted Iran rules out talks with US unless blockade of ports lifted Rising tensions between Washington and Tehran as the US proposes a plan to seize Iranian uranium Rising tensions between Washington and Tehran as the US proposes a plan to seize Iranian uranium Donald and Melania Trump's MEME Coins Have Lost Almost All Their Value Donald and Melania Trump's MEME Coins Have Lost Almost All Their Value
News Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later ED WHITE Associated Press
Need a quick fix of joy? These books will make you smile Sometimes you just need to escape. These books can help.
George M. Johnson's 'All Boys Aren't Blue' tops 2024 list of most 'challenged' US library books The American Library Association has unveiled the 10 most "challenged books" of 2024. Most have LGBTQ+ themes. Other objections involved refer…