It was a great year in books!
The staff at KAXE shared their favorite reads of the year. These books represent all kinds of genres: new books and older classics, and a sampling of Minnesota authors, as well.
We hope you had a great year of reading, too! Let us know your favorite reads this year over on our What We're Reading Facebook group or text us at 218-326-1234.
Jennifer Barr, Morning Show host and producer
Recipe for a Good Life, by Lesley Crewe (2023). I heard about it when Heidi Holtan and Kari Hedlund interviewed the author on a Thursday KAXE Morning Show. I didn’t love the main character at first, but I quickly fell in love with the setting and supporting characters, and eventually that main character, too. There was such a sense of a caring community among the characters, I felt at home with them, too.
Sarah Bignall, CEO/general manager
The Wedding People: A Novel, by Alison Espach. The Wedding People is a heartfelt and engaging novel about Phoebe Stone, who unexpectedly finds herself thrown into a wedding she wasn’t invited to. Mistaken for a guest, she connects with the bride and other characters, and the story explores the surprising complexity of people and relationships.
What starts as a setup of a classic rom-com evolves into something deeper, touching on themes of identity, connection and life’s unpredictability. Espach’s sharp wit and relatable characters make this a fresh take on familiar tropes. The Wedding People is a delightful read that lingers long after the final page.
First Lie Wins, by Ashley Elston. Such a fun and engaging book that had me hooked from the start. The story follows Evie Porter, a woman living a double life. Her real identity and work start to be at risk when she starts falling for her mark. You know everyone is lying about something, but figuring out what’s true keeps you guessing until the very last page.
What I loved most was how the book blends rom-com and mystery. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another secret was revealed. If you love mysteries that don’t take themselves too seriously, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Tammy Bobrowsky, producer of What We're Reading
I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger (2024). This story is set in a not-too-distant America that is run by a malignant billionaire ruling class, and the people increasingly desperate and illiterate. Society is lawless, infrastructure crumbled. During his journeys, the protagonist Rainy encounters the best and worst of humanity. Despite its dystopian undertones, I Cheerfully Refuse is whimsical and hopeful, a well-crafted story and a big adventure.
Erasure, by Percival Everett (2001). I recently discovered Everett's writing and Erasure is such an interesting work. Thelonious "Monk" Ellison is an English professor and writer whose books just don't sell. Monk pens a crude and violent book about the "ghetto" under a pseudonym, and to his dismay, it's a runaway hit. Erasure is satirical and smart. Everett has written several books since the 1980s and it's great to see him get wider recognition for his writing, especially with his 2024 novel James.
Megan Buffington, Grand Rapids area reporter
Montana 1948, by Larry Watson (1993). I picked this novel up the Pequot Lakes Library bag sale because I am a sucker for historical fiction. While initially my dislike of beginnings slowed me down, the next thing I knew I read 75% of the book in one afternoon because I just had to know what happens next.
It's a wonderfully quick read that evokes Wallace Stegner and Norman Maclean. As to why it's so engrossing, a note by 1993 National Fiction Prize Judge David Huddle put it best: "Part family memoir, part psychological drama, part historical adventure tale, part elegy to a place and a lost way of life … I can neither purge from my mind the truth it delivers nor ignore the deliverance its truth brings to my mind."
The Nordic Theory of Everything, by Anu Partenen (2016). This is a great read to kick off the New Year. The first book I finished in 2024, it's mixture of fun fact, explanation, analysis and personal reflection left me with the refreshing feelings of new life insight — and a bit envious of life in the Nordic region. It was a bit more research-heavy than I initially expected, but to me, that's a good thing. One difference between the U.S. and Finland (which the book focuses on) stuck out to me: Teaching programs are among the most selective university majors in Finland. Partenen compares becoming a teacher to becoming a doctor in America.
The Women, by Kristin Hannah (2024). I had to get at least one new book on this list. My mom demanded I read The Women, and read it I did — all 464 pages in one day. Like I said, I'm a sucker for historical fiction. But Hannah has a way to draw you into a scene and connect you with characters in almost a cinematic way. There's a reason this book blew up this year.
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez (2020). I grew up steeped in evangelical media figures like Mel Gibson and the Duck Dynasty clan, which is why this book grabbed my attention. Du Mez meticulously details the evolution of an intersection of religion, politics and culture in America over the last 75 years, guiding readers to understand how these have developed alongside each other to get us where we are today. I think many readers in rural Minnesota will be able to connect with various elements of this book, and it serves as a fascinating and important contextual piece for the history we are living in.
Andrew Dziengel, host/producer - Area Voices
Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Change Movies Forever, by Matt Singer (2023). Being it was their show that got me into films in the first place, it was fascinating to hear the history of how Siskel and Ebert started their film criticism journey. It made me feel nostalgic for the Sunday afternoons I spent growing up watching their program, and made me feel sad that a program like this doesn’t seem possible in today’s TV landscape. Recommended for any aspiring film critic or film fan.
Larissa Donovan, Bemidji area reporter
A Thousand Ships, by Natalie Haynes (2019). This is a historic fiction novel about the women cast in the great epic, the Trojan War. The stories of Clytemnestra, Helen, Hecuba and Cassandra are immortalized in Greek tragedies written by men, where everybody dies, but this novel demonstrates a uniquely feminine perspective before everyone dies.
Dan Gannon, volunteer coordinator
Rebecca Roanhorse’s books have become my favorite and I don’t really get into fantasy or trilogies at all. Great world-building and she craftily sneaked a love story in between all the magical stuff. Looking forward to more from her!
Tommy Orange’s Wandering Stars also stood out. His ability to span generations and decades to tie themes together is remarkable.
Angeline Boulley’s characters are similar to many people we actually know in Northern Minnesota and she gets into difficult issues that enhance her story instead of bogging it down!
We Go Where They Go: The Story of Anti-Racist Action (2023) details the history, impact and influence of Anti-Racist Action (ARA), a group I was heavily involved in for most of the '90s. From driving white supremacists out of music scenes to organizing Copwatch patrols to protecting access to reproductive health care ARA was a force in the U.S. and Canada — ARA was hugely influential on me personally. The fact that multiple books are being written about our activities, especially since 2016, is mind-blowing. We were just a bunch of kids!
Kari Hedlund, music director
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk, by Kathleen Hanna (2024). I listened to this book by Bikini Kill frontwoman and Riot Grrrl pioneer — loved her writing! Could listen to it again, so good (also the '90s punk scene was messed up for women).
Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez (2024). First time reading Jimenez and plan to do more. I liked her writing style — very easy to get into. A "beach read" with substance.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last, by Xochitl Gonzalez (2024). One of my favorite books ever! Before reading, I had listened to a podcast of the true story of Ana Mendieta’s death, which this story is based on. It was part historical fiction, part fantasy. Great read.
Paris: The Memoir, by Paris Hilton (2023). Another woman from the '90s and early 2000s who was entirely misunderstood in media and pop culture. Listening to her read the book was eye opening and challenged my preconceived notions about Hilton in a major way.
Power & Light, by Will Weaver (2023). Loved the early 1900s era Weaver covered in this book. Strong characters with family as a main focus. Great writing and easily captured my attention.
Heidi Holtan, director of content and public affairs
Among Heidi's favorite reads of 2024 include: How Lulu Lost Her Mind, by Rachel Gibson (2020); Power & Light by Will Weaver (2023); and Recipe for a Good Life by Lesley Crewe (2023).
Jen Kellen, development associate - community sponsorships
Power & Light by Will Weaver (2023). I was immediately drawn into this story about the Haugen family and rooted for them from start to finish. This was the ultimate page-turner that exceeded my already high expectations. I recommend this book to everyone.
James, by Percival Everett (2024). This retelling of the Huck Finn story from Jim’s perspective is one of the most meaningful things I’ve read in a very long time. Everett’s ability to skillfully turn a story that is so familiar, and so much a part of our cultural history, completely inside out and shift the reader’s perspective is art. This book left a significant lasting impression on me, and, again, I recommend this book to everyone.
Malachy Koons, producer of Centerstage Minnesota
Rebel Girl: My Life As A Feminist Punk, by Kathleen Hanna (2024). It was helpfully selected as a new librarian's choice nonfiction at the Grand Rapids Public Library, and it immediately jumped out to me because I love Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. And also music memoirs are right up my alley. She has a very brisk yet descriptive writing style that I really like; it only takes her a few pages to paint a vivid picture of each pivotal moment in her life.
I went into the book hoping for behind the scenes stories and tips on unknown bands of the era that I could check out (and Rebel Girl has plenty, from stories of the author's friendship with Kurt Cobain to the transformative experience of seeing L7), but what really stuck with me is Hanna's remarkable resilience in the face of unfathomable tragedy and violence. Warning: there is a lot of heavy subject matter.
Steve Neu, IT/broadcast engineer
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams (1980).
I picked it up while I was picking up the first book in this series for my oldest child. I was hoping that Douglas Adams’ humor would jive with their off-the-wall personality. The jury is still out on that, but I am still enjoying this one! I really resonate with the books’ particular flavor of British humor, which specializes in randomness and the unexpected.
My favorite scene in this — the second entry in the series — is when Ford is drunkenly trying to explain the nature of the universe to Arthur. His mindless repeating of the phrase “the clever bit” never fails for me. The whole setting of the “restaurant at the end of the universe” is a fun concept.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoyed the first book, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and who wants more. It is a great addition to what is already established. It is a style of humor that takes some getting used to, though with surreal narratives and ironic (by the word’s literal definition) outcomes.
Looking for a good book recommendation? Want to recommend a book you've just read? Check out our What We're Reading page on Facebook, or text us at 218-326-1234.
What We're Reading is made possible in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
