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 29, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter 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… Franklin County administrator to step down Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Boones Mill obtains grant for new park project 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Rocky Mount asks residents to voluntarily conserve water Judge Michael Urbanski to retire after long tenure on the federal bench Sale of Hotel Roanoke Conference Center finalized as Virginia Tech prepares to sell whole building Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast What is the regulatory future of Mountain Valley’s Boost project in Elliston? "Time of the Child" by Niall Williams kAmk6>mqJ }:2== (:==:2>Dk^6>mk^AmkAm(6 5@?’E 86E ?6H ?@G6=D 7C@> E96 “u@FC {6EE6CD @7 {@G6” 2?5 “%9:D xD w2AA:?6DD” HC:E6C 2D @7E6? 2D x’5 =:<6[ 3FE H96? 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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 :? A=28:2C:D> 2?5 7C2F5] ~C D>2==\E:>6 24E@C tG6=J?[ H9@ H2D :? %@H=6D’ D?2AAJ “#F=6D @7 r:G:=:EJ[” 2?5 C6EFC?D 7@C 2 ?@G6==2 :? “%23=6” E92E’D 42==65 “tG6 :? w@==JH@@5]” |@DE @7 E96 DE@C:6D ?@5 E@ D4C6H32== 4@>65J 2?5 @E96C >@G:6 86?C6D @7 E96 ‘b_D[ 3FE “tG6 :? w@==JH@@5” :D 2? 2E>@DA96C:4 5:G6 :?E@ ‘c_D 7:=> ?@:C] t249 @7 E96 E2=6D :D D@ C:49 E92E :E 766=D =:<6 “%23=6” :D 8:G:?8 J@F D6G6? 3@@<D :? @?6 92?5D@>6 A24<286]k^Am k9amV%96 w62CE :? (:?E6CVk^9am "The Heart in Winter" by Kevin Barry kAmk6>mqJ z6G:? q2CCJk^6>mk^AmkAm$@>69@H[ x 925 ?6G6C C625 2?J @7 q2CCJ’D C2>3F?4E:@FD 7:4E:@? WH9:49 :?4=F56D “}:89E q@2E E@ %2?8:6C”X F?E:= x A:4<65 FA E9:D 4@>A24E >2CG6=[ 2 H6DE6C? A@H6C65 3J 3@E9 C@>2?46 2?5 2 4C:E:BF6 @7 4@=@?:2=:D>] ~FC “w62CE :? (:?E6C” 96C@ :D 2 C6AC@32E6 H9@ 3F>D 2C@F?5 =2E6 `hE9\46?EFCJ |@?E2?2[ G@H:?8 E@ H2=< E96 DEC2:89E 2?5 ?2CC@H H9:=6 7C6BF6?E=J 3=24<:?8 @FE 7C@> E@@ >F49 5C:?<] |2J36 E96 =@G6 @7 2 8@@5 H@>2? 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 "Sipsworth" by Simon Van Booy kAmk6>mqJ $:>@? '2? q@@Jk^6>mk^AmkAm%96 BF:6E6DE[ DH66E6DE 3@@< @? E9:D =:DE 766=D =:<6 :E 4@F=5 92G6 366? HC:EE6? 2E 2?J E:>6 :? E96 =2DE 46?EFCJ] xE’D 23@FE 2? t?8=:D9 H:5@H H9@ D66>D E@ 92G6 =@DE E96 H:== E@ =:G6 F?E:= D96 F?H:EE:?8=J =6ED 2 >@FD6 WE96 E:E=6 492C24E6CX :?E@ 96C =:76] pD E96J 364@>6 A2=D[ '2? q@@J W2 ?@E65 2FE9@C @7 3@@<D 7@C 49:=5C6?X C6G62=D DFCAC:D:?8 E9:?8D 23@FE 3@E9 @7 E96>[ C6>:?5:?8 FD E92E H6 >2J E9:?< H6 <?@H H92E’D 8@:?8 @? H:E9 C2?5@> A6@A=6 H6 6?4@F?E6C 3FE H6 2C6 D6=5@> C:89E] uF??J[ A@:8?2?E[ H2C> 2?5 A6C764E H:E9 2 4FA @7 E62]k^Am k9amV~3=:82E:@?D E@ E96 (@F?565Vk^9am "Obligations to the Wounded" by Mubanga Kalimamukwento kAmk6>mqJ |F32?82 z2=:>2>F<H6?E@k^6>mk^AmkAmz2=:>2>F<H6?E@VD DE@C:6D D?62< FA @? J@F] w6C 492C24E6CD — =:<6 2 H@>2? H9@ EC2G6=D E@ +2>3:2 E@ G:D:E 96C >@E96C @? 96C 562E9365 2?5 7:?5D E92E AC@E64E:?8 96CD6=7 ECF>AD 72>:=J E:6D — 3692G6 :? H2JD E92E >2J D66> :?6IA=:423=6 F?E:= E96 A6C764E 56E2:= 96=AD FD 7:8FC6 @FE H96C6 E96J’C6 4@>:?8 7C@>] %96D6 2C6 E@F89 DE@C:6D[ 7F== @7 A9JD:42= 2?5 6>@E:@?2= G:@=6?46[ 3FE z2=:>2>F<H6?E@’D F?7=:?49:?8 82K6 2?5 F?6IA64E65 H:E 96=A FD 2AAC64:2E6 96C 492C24E6CD’ @7E6? :>A@DD:3=6 5:=6>>2D] tG6? H96? E96:C D:EF2E:@?D 2C6 D@ 6IEC6>6 E92E E96J’C6 5:77:4F=E E@ C6=2E6 E@[ E96:C 9F>2?:EJ D9:?6D E9C@F89]k^Am k9amVw:89H2J %9:CE66?Vk^9am "Highway Thirteen" by Fiona McFarlane kAmk6>mqJ u:@?2 |4u2C=2?6k^6>mk^AmkAmp? pFDEC2=:2? D6C:2= <:==6C =FC<D 369:?5 2== @7 E96 =:?<65 DE@C:6D :? |4u2C=2?6’D 49:==:?8 4@==64E:@? 3FE :E’D ?@E 2 D6C:2= <:==6C 3@@< :? E96 H2J “$:=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 Books 10 best nonfiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune In this Series 2024 Year in Review Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top sports images from 2024 Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top images of 2024 Updated May 29, 2026 PHOTOS: The top images from the US in 2024 7 updates Previous 0 comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! 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Books 10 best nonfiction books of the year Chris Hewitt and Laurie Hertzel The Minnesota Star Tribune
Need a quick fix of joy? These books will make you smile Sometimes you just need to escape. These books can help.
