Book review of 2024! A Book review blog post that no one asked for :)
Hello you mesmerizing human! I hope that you’re having an amazing day today.
As I’m typing up this intro, my kiddos and I are currently watching the new Sandy Cheeks (Spongebob) movie on Netflix. And Max is helping himself to some neglected chicken nuggets, so it’s a regular evening in these parts :)
If we’ve never met before, HI! (picture a chick resembling “Velma” from Scooby Doo, but with a pixie cut frantically waving and smiling at you!) My name is Melissa and I paint art that is meant to help provoke the mind and stimulate conversation. The topics of odd day dreams. I also believe that every piece of art tells a story, and YOU (yes, you, you awesome soul), get to write the narrative :)
Another one of my joys and passions in life is books! I love writing and reading, there’s nothing like a smell of a local book store, picking up a hard cover, and smelling the possibilities.
The library is one of my favorite places to go! And it helps me to afford my book habit, HA! Libraries are amazing! If you have a library accessible to you, I encourage you to go and get a library card if you don’t already have one. They may have more services available to you then you realize. I also work in a library part-time, so I get the best of both worlds :)
Absorbing knowledge and other’s experiences like a sponge is what I yearn for, and reading is one of the methods that I’m able to do that with. I enjoy reading other’s point of view and learning about all sorts of topics. And you’ll learn from the book review that I enjoy reading all kinds of books; non-fiction, self-help, entrepreneurship, manga, fantasy, thriller, religion, spirituality, you name it!
We have so much to learn from each other and experiences of those all around the world, and I appreciate that books are able to provide that. They also provide a means of escape and unwinding the mind.
There’s nothing that I love more than taking a calming, eucalyptus scented shower at night, slipping into some comfy pj’s, cozying under my weighted blanket, and opening up a book. After 30 minutes or so, it’s time for a melatonin gummy and turning off the light for dream time (aka art inspiration time,HA!) It really helps to ease my mind in a place where it’s ready for sleep.
page from “Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us.”
Okay, I digress! Let’s get started with the list of books that I read in 2024, and a short snippet on my thoughts :)Please keep in mind, I’m by no means a professional book reviewer or anything of the sort. I’m just a gal who loves to read, and loves talking about reading :) I also enjoy connecting with others, and I feel like putting this out there will help with that!
I’m also curious to know if there’s any books that you read this year that you’d recommend, or that you have thoughts on :)
Finally, what you opened up this post for, let’s dive in!…
The Book Review that No One Asked For 2024!
Listed in the order of reading (except for series, manga volumes, etc. due to grouping them together!)
“Full Metal Alchemist (Volumes 1-15) “by Hiromu Arakawa
This series is a Japanese Manga series about two brothers saving their world, while trying to repair themselves and a search for family. I really enjoy this series :) It moves quickly and has a deep rooted center. I’ve made it up to volume 15, and there’s a total of 27. Looking forward to finishing the series in 2025! Definitely a 10/10 for me!
“Soul Boom” by Rainn Wilson
If you’ve been following me for a hot minute, you may know that I LOVE The Office! It’s on my bucket list to visit Scranton, PA. And if I were to meet cast members from The Office, I may low-key pee myself (not hard to do, my pelvic floor is rather weak after 3 kids, but I’ve been working on it!) Anywho, once I started hearing him talk on podcasts that I love about his newest book, “Soul Boom”, I knew I had to read it! I also treated myself to the signed copy edition from Barnes & Noble :) Rainn is an extremely intelligent, knowledge seeking individual, and I really admired that while reading this book. He dove into some personal stories that he experienced, as well as some existential thinking, things of that nature. It was a wonderful read, highly recommend! 10/10
PS….I wasn’t planning on rating things, but apparently that’s what we’re doing! So, we’re rolling with it :)
“The Office BFFs” by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
The fact that this book is on my list shouldn’t be that big of a surprise to anyone, HA! I adore their podcast “Office Ladies”, I’ve listened to each episode at least twice :) It’s a podcast I put on while I’m getting ready, cleaning, or driving around town. It brings me so much comfort and joy :) And the book was no exception! If you enjoy watching “The Office”, or want an insiders look into the tv industry, or life on set, this book is perfect for you! 10/10 for me :)
“Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger” by KC Grifant
This book was written by an author friend of mine that I met via the internet :) I would describe this book as a blend of “Supernatural” (another one of my favorite shows”), and the wild west. It’s full off monster hunting action and you’re rooting for Melinda through out the entire novel. I got hooked into this book quickly, it was hard to put down! And also, always support local and indie authors if you can :) 10/10 my friend! I personally follow KC on Instagram and Threads at the time of writing this, so you should check her out!
“Pokemon Sword & Shield Volume 8” by Hidenori Kusaka
I’ve been a Pokemon lover for as long as a can remember! I collected the cards as a kid, and bawled my eyes out when Ash had his “incident” in the first Pokemon movie (don’t worry friends, if you’ve never seen it, he turns out fine! ) Charmander was, and has always, been my favorite. It’s been fun raising my kiddos and being able to share my love of Pokemon with them. I picked up this particular volume at one of the kiddos book fairs (I LOVE the book fair :) ) It’s a great manga filled with adventure, and I can’t wait to read more volumes :) 10/10 of course!
“Capital Gaines” by Chip Gaines
This book was seriously the breath of fresh air that I didn’t know that I needed! It was centered along creating and pursuing life from a place of love and connection vs. fear. The importance of relationships with others and what truly matters in life. As an entrepreneur and business owner, I resonated so much with what he wrote, and his compassion and empathy jumped off the page. I’ve enjoyed everything from this family; I remember watching “Fixer Upper” marathons with my husband, I subscribe to their magazine, and I read the book that him and his wife, Jo, wrote together. However, this book really touched me and was exactly what I needed to read. I read this book during a difficult season, and it really helped to relight my spark, and encourage me that it’s okay for me to not follow the norm and do all actions from a place of love and kindness. An absolute 10/10 for me!
“Financial Feminist” by Tori Dunlap
I’ve been listening to Tori’s podcast for about a year now, and it’s another podcast I enjoy listening to while doing all the daily things. I appreciate that she provides financial insight and education from a shameless place, and I love that. She also advocates for giving a voice to those that may not otherwise be heard, and I admire that. This book contained a substantial of technical finance information that I may need to revisit, and I appreciate that if you’re having financial questions and are craving that knowledge, this book is a great resource. That’s how I feel about these types of books (ie. education about certain topics, etc.) It provides you with a tool to have at your disposal, and then you can cater your personal finance journey from a variety of tools and resources. A 9/10 read for me :)
“No Pain, No Gaines” by Chip Gaines
Just like “Capital Gaines”, this read was a breath of fresh air. I love how his books are conversational, and you can sense the authenticity coming off the page. That’s a quality that I appreciate; authenticity. I never need to 100 percent agree with someone (because news flash, we’re human beings. It’s impossible to agree on everything)! Also, agreeing with someone just isn’t necessarily that important to me. But, anywho, back to the book! This book was centered around following your passion and appreciating those around you. I truly loved it, 10/10 :)
“Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life” by Rory Sutherland
This book was recommended to me by a family member of mine, so I knew that I had to give it a go. If you’ve never heard any of Rory’s Ted Talks, the title may deter you if you’re not into things “magical”. Truthfully, this book does not contain magic or spells, if that’s something that would deter you. This book focuses on the importance of not basing all your decisions on rationality or logic. That your life and business should have a dose of creativity, or “magic”. It also dives into the psychology of purchasing, why people buy things, why we use the products we use, and basic human behavior. I thoroughly enjoy learning about philosophy and psychology, so if these topics intrigue you, this book may be up your alley. I’m not sure if I’ll read it again, but I’m glad I read it. 8.5/10
“Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane
This was my first time reading this psychological thriller, and it did not disappoint! I saw the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio over 10 years ago, and it acted as a gateway into this genre of film and books for me. Of course, I preferred the book, and the twist at the end was incredible! 10/10 for sure!
“Scarcity Brain” by Michael Easter
This book reminded me of a philosophy course that I took during my freshman year of college, and I mean that in the best way! I was drawn to this book while browsing Pinterest, and I thought that it may be about how to defeat the fear of scarcity. While the book did touch base on that, it was more so focused on that we can thrive, be happy, and have our needs met without so much necessary “stuff”. Very interesting read. He also has a book called “Comfort Crisis” that I would like to read at some point :) 9/10!
“Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transforms Us” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
This book spoke to my brain in all the amazing ways possible! If you love knowing the science and nitty gritty details behind things, this book is for you. It talked about what goes on in our brains, and the rest of our body, while consuming and creating art. This book was right up my alley, I enjoyed learning and soaking up every word like a sponge. 11/10 :)
“The Courage to be Disliked” by Ishiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
My soul and brain thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s written in a conversational style between a philosopher and university student, and it has a way of being easy to absorb yet diving into difficult topics. This book helps you to focus on what’s really important in life and realize that people’s decisions and actions are not your responsibility. I think that everyone should take the time to read this book, it was very freeing. 11/10 :)
“Who Owns the Ice House?” Eight Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur by Clifton Taulbert and Gary Schoeniger
This book was a part of a course that I took this year called “Mindset For Success”, and I’m so grateful that this book was a part of it! It was a fresh, fulfilling, bucket of knowledge! It quenched my thirst for actual applications for how to grow as both a person and entrepreneur. This is a book that I will keep as a lifelong reference. 10/10!
“And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie
Believe it or not, this was my first time reading an Agatha Christie novel! I’ve enjoyed watching various film adaptations of her work, and I’m glad that I was able to FINALLY dive into one of her works. She’s known for writing intense murder mysteries with a twist, and let me tell you, I guessed the ending wrong! I did not see the satisfying ending coming; this book was a quick read for me because it is so smoothly written, fast paced, and keeps you interested and on your toes. 10/10 for sure!
Thank you for diving into the world of reading with me :)
As I’m typing this, I’m coming off my first week of being back to work after winter break.
I’m ready for a cup of tea, some fuzzy pajamas, a good book…..and then, a nap!
I’m looking forward to the world that books will open up for the year of 2025. I love that we can be transported to a new world, learn about a new culture, explore different viewpoints, learn about infinite subjects, all just by opening up a book.
Which, by the way, the smell of a new book is one of the best smells! So is the smell of a well preserved, vintage book :)
Take care my friend!
Melissa