Amazon has revealed its list of the 10 best books of 2024 so far.
Taking the No. 1 spot was Percival Everett’s James, a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the point of view of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck down the Mississippi River. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “One of the noblest characters in American literature gets a novel worthy of him.”
Al Woodworth, an Amazon editor, said, “Rip-roaringly American, wry, and hard-hitting, Everett’s retelling of the classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a knockout, which is why it was unanimously voted as our #1 pick.”
In an Amazon news release, Everett reacted to his book’s selection, saying, “I’m always thrilled to hear that someone somewhere in this country is reading any book. I’m especially moved when I imagine that book might be mine. I love books. I sort of like writers. But none of this happens without readers. So, thank you.”
At No. 2 was Kristin Hannah’s Vietnam War novel The Women, followed by Phil Elwood’s All the Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians; Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time; and Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr!
Annie Jacobsen took the No. 6 spot for Nuclear War: A Scenario, with the top 10 rounded out by Chris Whitaker’s All the Colors of the Dark; Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings; Scott Carson’s Lost Man’s Lane; and Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
