Ryanne Molinari

I read a wild variety of books, from sci-fi to biography, Christian living to classic literature, memoir to investigative journalism, books on aging to books for middle-grade readers…

That said, there’s probably something on this list for everyone!

For a fun challenge, I decided to review every book I read in 2024 in ten or fewer words. Here goes nothing!

Science & Dystopian Fiction

*Clearly this was my go-to genre throughout 2024! Not sure what this says about me…

1. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Who doesn’t love sentient space spiders?
2. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel – An all-time favorite sci-fi wrestling with theodicy.
3. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks – Best audiobook ever, nothing like the movie.
4. Dawn, Adulthood Rites, & Imago by Octavia Butler – Intriguing sci-fi trilogy featuring DNA manipulation.
5. Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler – Fascinating dystopian fiction.
6. Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler – Sequel, a bit on-the-nose.
7. The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin – Mind-boggling, good fun.
8. Vicious by Victoria E. Schwab – Comic-book-style brain candy.
9. Kindred by Octavia Butler – Time travel meets historical fiction. Powerful.
10. Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. – A low-risk way to experience utter insanity.
11. Contact by Carl Sagan – Same ending mood as Interstellar, oddly spiritual.
12. The Eye of the Heron by Ursula K. Le Guin – Excellent world building.
13. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – GoodReads loved it…I did not.

Historical Fiction

*I used to read more of this genre. Not sure what happened this year!

1. Epitaph by Mary Doria Russel – Mostly excellent Western that should have ended sooner.
2. Marmee by Sarah Miller – Delightful and well-researched retelling of Little Women.
3. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – My former-English-teacher mother’s current favorite novel.

Classics

*Books worth reading and rereading and rereading! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Emma and Pride and Prejudice.

1. Emma by Jane Austen – My favorite Austen novel forever.
2. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen – Much better the second time around!
3. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – Hilarious and charming.
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – I love it most ardently ever time.
5. Persuasion by Jane Austen – Even my least favorite Austen is worth reading!
6. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell – Characters that will stick with you.
7. Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot – Three novellas with major morals for ministers.

Mystery

*Who doesn’t love a good mystery?

1. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie – Who doesn’t like Agatha Christie?
2. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie – Marvelous, Marple-ous!

Pulitzer-Winning Novels

*It’s a goal of mine to read most Pulitzer-winning novels. I say “most” because I tend to like the older ones much more than the newer ones and this is a soft goal.

1. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty – Gripping, epic tale of the American West.
2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker – Pulitzer winner but not my thing.
3. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson – Beautiful and reflective—featuring Iowa!
4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy – Interesting but not as profound as expected.

Children’s & Young Readers

*Because you never age out of good writing.

1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson – Only psychopaths don’t like this classic.
2. The Story of Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom by Gretchen Ronnevik – Middle-grade biography of a tough, resourceful lady.
3. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – Aren’t you glad you live in a world with Anne?
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Maybe I’m just aging, but Marmee is the real MVP.

Theology

*I cannot recommend #1 here enough! So good!

1. Beholding the Triune God The Inseparable Work of Father, Son, and Spirit by Matthew Y. Emerson and Brandon D. Smith – So very helpful! Theologically precise and accessible.
2. Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition by Bruce L. Shelley – Insightful and accessible overview.
3. Union with Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church by J. Todd Billings – A more academic book on the subject.
4. Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning by James W. Fowler – Interesting premise, unnecessarily pedantic, secular perspective.

Bible Study

*Because books are great, but especially when they help you dive into the Book.

1. Ruth and Esther: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible Series) by Kathleen B. Nielson – Incredibly helpful in leading my first women’s Bible study.
2. Ecclesiastes: Finding Meaning When Life Feels Meaningless by Lydia Brownback – Excellent, all-in-one Bible study.

Ministry

*I get to review books for a few publishers now, which is so fun. Below are two of my recently-reviewed books.

1. Send: Loving Your Church by Praying, Giving, or Going by Jim Essian – Insightful for leaders and laypeople.
2. What is a Healthy Church (9Marks Series) by Mark Dever – Very helpful primer; love this series.

Christian Living

*Because we should always keep pressing ahead and seeking to think well about life and faith!

1. Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care by Kathryn Butler, MD – Compassionate and clarifying, nuanced and informative.
2. Union with Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne – Engaging, practical introduction to a core doctrine.
3. Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life by Sinclair B. Ferguson – Full of excellent nuggets.
4. The Scuttlebutt Letters: Words to a Wild Tongue by Natalie Brand – Good message, but not The Screwtape Letters.
5. You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith – Excellent insight into our nature as creatures of habit.
6. The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges – Good illustrations and nuggets.
7. Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in the Hope of Heaven by Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage – Compassionate answers and practical advice on facing death faithfully.
8. Beautiful Freedom: How the Bible Shapes Your View of Appearance, Food, and Fitness by Stacy Reaoch – A good primer on the subject.

Memoir

*Because other people’s “POV” is more than a TikTok trend.

1. The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever: Transcendence, Psychedelics, and Jesus Christ by Ashley Lande – Memoir dealing with an emerging cultural battle.
2. How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key – Tragic and funny and hopeful.
3. Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar – Gracious. (By a ghostwriter, which shouldn’t bother me but does.)
4. Ghost Boy: My Miraculous Escape from a Life Locked Inside My Own Body by Martin Pistorius – Tragic, inspiring, and redemptive.
5. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance – Eye-opening, heart-breaking, and moving.
6. I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart – Not my cuppa, but I’d listen to Miranda read anything.

Biography

*Because we are made to seek and imitate exemplars.

1. The Sacred Flame: A Biography of Hannah More by Kevin Belmonte – Good if you like primary sources.
2. House of Dreams by Liz Rosenberg – Delightful middle-grade biography of L.M. Montgomery.
3. Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen – Insightful and unique consideration of Dr. Keller.
4. Jane Austen (Christian Encounters Series) by Peter J. Leithart – Good short biography, but possibly biased.

Writing on Writing

*Because even the most bookish among us need encouragement to keep putting word after word.

1. Rooms of Their Own: Where Great Writers Write by Alex Johnson – A perfect gift for writers and readers.
2. Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury – Like a cozy chat with an eccentric professor.
3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – Good writing advice, questionable life advice.
4. Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese – Charming pep talk for artists.

Journalism & Social Issues

*Prepare to be uncomfortable…but in a very good and important way.

1. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe – Shocking, gripping exposé of the opioid crisis.
2. When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Movement by Ryan T. Anderson – Foundational work on the topic.
3. Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement by Katy Faust – Should be mandatory reading for all adults.
4. Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier – Definitely worth reading and reckoning with.

Weird Niche Interest

*Because I have weird side interests, okay? (Not me listening to a Bigfoot podcast while I put together this post…)

1. UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government’s Search for Alien Life Here—and Out There by Garrett M. Graff – Refreshingly measured and factual.
2. In Plain Sight: A Fascinating Investigation into UFOs and Alien Encounters by Ross Coulthart – For those with a niche interest in UFOs.

Conclusion

See any books you’ve read before? Or any you’re curious about? Let’s make 2025 a good year for good reads!

New year, new reads! Cheers!