As the year winds down, I’d like to share and discuss the books I read this year that stood out from the rest. Throughout 2024, I worked my way through sprawling novels, Russian classics, modern translations, and blistering short stories. This has not only broadened my horizons as a reader, but also sharpened my ability to absorb and engage more deeply with what I read. With that said, you can’t go wrong with any of the recommendations below and you can find full written review for them on my Substack.
Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu
This book left an indelible mark on me, both intellectually and spiritually. Its labyrinthine stream of consciousness unfolds like origami, intertwining existential questions, metaphysical investigations, and a surreal, Kafkaesque narrative that teeters between reality and fiction. Told through the diary of a nameless schoolteacher in Romania, the story explores his melancholic, disturbed childhood, nightmarish dreams, and desperate attempt to rebel against death. The narrator’s search for escape is a poignant reflection on human suffering, our ephemeral existence, and the innate desire for salvation. Cărtărescu masterfully blends absurdist and fantastical elements with reflections on art, reality, and human existence. It’s a dazzling, thought-provoking masterpiece, brought to life through Sean Cotter’s brilliant translation and it’s an absolute must-read.