Top Ripples 2024

A list of books and movies I’ve rated highly in 2024, not necessarily current year releases. Links are to my reviews. The last section lists several books that I bought which I must mention.

MOVIES

His Three Daughters
director Azazel Jacobs, starring Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen

Small Things Like These
director Tim Mielants, starring Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Emily Watson

The Taste of Things
director Anh Hung Tran, starring Juliette Binoche, Benoit Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger

BOOKS

James by Percival Everett

This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

The Hunters: Two Novellas by Claire Messud

Table for Two by Amor Towles

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

Greek Lessons by Han Kang

The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino

MY BEST BOOK BUYS
My favourite book purchases of the year, three at bargain prices, i.e. below $10. I was delighted to have found them, all brand new. What attracted me was first their appealing covers and one with marvellous colour art illustrations. These are examples and reasons why I’m not a Kindle user but still very much into tangible reading materials which I can hold in my hands, flip the pages, savour their content and visuals. I’ve started all of them, don’t intend to read like a page-turner, but for slow reading, or even just for looking up as reference with no pressure to read through from cover to cover. Additions to my long TBR list… come 2025.

A Writer’s Britain by Margaret Drabble, first attracted by the front photo, the feel of the special dust cover in my hands and yes, surprised to find there’s a bookmark ribbon that matched the greenery of the front design. British writers and poets and the landscape that inspired them.

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein, illustrations by Maira Kalman, who contributed numerous full-page colour art illustrations that remind me of the scenes from the movie Midnight in Paris, especially the scenes inside Gertrude Stein’s home. I’ve a feeling that the set designer Hélène Dubreuil must have used this book in her research, for the movie had made these pictures come to life.

Proust’s Duchess by Caroline Weber, the times of Proust’s Paris, and the three women who inspired him to create the Duchesse de Guermantes from his In Search of Lost Time. Extensive research with numerous notes and references.

The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen, a look into the history of the notebook, including journals, field notes, commonplace book… and exploration of those belonging to geniuses and the legendary throughout time. Extensive research by the author. What attracted me was the title. No, didn’t find this on the bargain table, as this is a current year publication, a notable best book of 2024 by The New Yorker and other acclaims.

***

A Happy 2025 to all!

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Arti

If she’s not birding by the Pond, Arti’s likely watching a movie, reading, or writing a review. Creator of Ripple Effects, bylines in Asian American Press, Vague Visages, Curator Magazine.

31 thoughts on “Top Ripples 2024”

  1. Rushdie’s memoir has been on my To Read list since I heard about the release, but so far I haven’t gotten around to reading it . . . maybe in 2025! Happy New Year to you; I wish you many great reads in the year ahead!

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    1. Rushdie’s memoir is in development for a movie adaptation. But I think the book is an authentic account that shouldn’t be missed. Hope you have a chance to read it.
      All the best to you for a fruitful 2025!

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  6. The “History of Thinking on Paper” appeals to me. It reminds me of Flannery O’Connor’s geat line: “I write to discover what I know.” This is the year I finally am going to dedicate more time to reading: probably not fiction, but at least something each week. If I can get myself organized, I may put a “Currently Reading” list in my sidebar. Maybe!

    Happy New Year, Arti! I’m going to put your Christmas card in the mail on Friday. My postal clerks suggested waiting until after the new year — but you might have it by Pentecost!

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    1. Emma you’d love this book. Exhaustive research, lots of photos, and over a hundred pages of notes and index, plus two Appendixes, colour plates, historical photos. There are two book covers. I love this one so I used it to post here but the one I bought is a white cover with fancy red lady’s shoe. Hope you can find the book cover u like. 😉

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  9. Great round up Arti. I haven’t read any of your books, but will be reading James this year. I like Towles but have only read A gentleman in Moscow.

    I’d like to see Small things like these, having loved seeing A quiet girl, and loving her short story So late in the day. I thought of you recently when I saw the Iranian film My favourite cake, which I loved. But I don’t see mention of it here. Have you seen it or plan to see it?

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    1. Go for Towles’ Tea for Two. Also, I really like Messud’s newest, I’ll say better than her previous works.
      No I haven’t heard of that Iranian film and don’t think it will come here to our city or on streaming platforms. But one film I highly anticipate is the Indian film All We Imagine as Light, which is gathering accolades everywhere. Possible Oscar nom.

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            1. At first I wrote down s’ then I changed to s’s. I usually use the former, but don’t know why this time I used the latter. You’re right of course, both are acceptable. 🙂

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  10. Saw All we imagine as light today … enjoyed it … very slow unfolding, so it requires patience, but it is engrossing and expects the viewer to fill in gaps. Loved the three main characters and the different challenges each one faces in terms of women in that culture. Mr Gums would not have liked the dark naturalistic cinematography!

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    1. Haven’t heard of it. BTW, Oscar noms will be announced Thursday Jan. 23 Also, I must share this: watches on Netflix two days ago The Only Girl in the Orchestra. Loved it. It’s shortlisted for this year’s Oscar Documentary Short. Only 35 mins. very inspiring.

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