The Best Books I Checked Out from the Public Library

2024 was a very good year in the stacks

I’m a patron of the Santa Cruz Public Library.

This year, I checked out hundreds of books. In my gluttony, I’d like to share a few of my favorites.

FICTION

The Shred Sisters, by Betsy Lerner

• Betsy is that rare bird— a remarkable agent and editor who is a top-notch author. Her new novel, about a family whose oldest mercurial daughter specializes in whirlpools no one can survive, is a one-sit reading. I know this will be made into a movie, and you might as well read it now and make your casting choices!

James: A Novel by Percival Everett

• Yes, the novel that’s winning everything. Rightfully. I can only say, I would read whatever Everett puts out, even if he claims it’s the phone book. In fact, An Everett Phone Book would be GREAT. I discovered the author with Erasure, which you may remember was adapted into last year’s finest film, American Fiction.