2024 rewind: Books we loved

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this year, I discovered Kristin Hannah’s books. Set in France during World War II, the novel introduces us to 18-year-old Isabelle and her long-estranged sister, Vianne. After Isabelle is expelled from boarding school, her father sends her to live with her sister in the quiet village of Carriveau. As the story progresses, the two sisters go down separate paths as they to try to survive and resist the German occupation.

— Jeannie Putnam, editorial assistant, Greenville Journal and Upstate Business Journal

This year I really enjoyed reading “Planet Walker” by John Francis. He is an author, traveler, student and teacher who has traveled from coast to coast across the United States, visited Antarctica and sailed through the Caribbean. He has done this all without the use of motorized travel. During a heavy year of traveling myself through various methods of transportation, I found his geographical and environmental awareness inspirational. In 1971, he witnessed an oil spill in California’s San Francisco Bay, which was the catalyst to his life’s work and journey. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to gain a greater understanding of activism and stewardship to our planet and those around us.

— Tori Skelton, marketing consultant, Community Journals

This 2012 book is a gruesomely engaging look at humanity’s exceptionally long history with rabies. From ancient Babylon to 19th century America, stories of this virus through history are probably the source of some of our deepest fears and folklore about vampires, werewolves and zombies. The book even presents a pretty good case American author Edgar Allan Poe succumbed to rabies in 1849.

— Jay King, senior staff writer, Community Journals

If you’re interested in reading a book that is part mystery (who is this guy?) and part message of how people in small towns come together, this is your book. “Theo of Golden” is the first novel by Allen Levi, a former attorney, traveling musician and children’s book author. Set in a small town in Georgia named Golden, Theo arrives as an unknown, quickly develops friendships, does good deeds, and creates a purposeful life for himself and others in Golden. You’ll find it is hard to put down until the end.

— Lynn Greenlaw, editor-in-chief, atHome magazine

heard an interview with this author, Coleman Hughes, and was compelled to read the book. It sounds like a controversial topic, but he gives us some history lessons that are not part of the mainstream talking points, and he makes reasonable and persuasive arguments. In the United States, we are in an era of intentional division of people. As a counterpoint, the author reminds us that we are all just human beings. We don’t experience life as an “average” based on how we could be grouped by some arbitrary measure like color, religion, or heritage. Each individual experiences life in his or her own unique way; we should be regarded as individuals. I like reading books or articles from a variety of perspectives, because it gives me the opportunity to form my own opinions. An interesting and introspective read.

— Margaret Louv, accounting manager, Community Journals

I read “When Cicadas Cry” on a freelance assignment earlier this year. In particular, I loved that it was set in the Lowcountry but written by an attorney about two inextricably linked legal cases. Its author, Caroline Cleveland, wrote the bulk of the novel in four months and managed to weave in historic places in the Lowcountry while masterfully commenting on race-related topics and even tackling relatable professional insecurities through its main character, Zach Stander. Despite those heavy overtones, the story is a gripping legal thriller.

— Tiare Solís, staff writer, Community Journals