Jay's Best of 2024

Yes, just last week I said I had posted my last blog for 2024.  However, my brother, Jay, who has guest spotted here a few times, told me he didn't have anything to do. So, I picked up the ball of that challenge and asked him to give me HIS Best of 2024.  And here it is . . .  I promise this is the last blog for the year.  Happy Holidays!

"First, I must thank Dianna for asking me to contribute thoughts on my favorite read this year.  Secondly, I must apologize to you for contributing my thoughts on my favorite read this year.

I’m clearly not as voracious a reader as Dianna and most of you.  I had set a meager goal of 30 books for the year.  As of today, I have read 31 with 19 days remaining in the year.  Congratulations to me!  Here's a list of a few books that were part of making this goal:

The Afternoon of Christianity: The Courage to Change

Tomáš Halík

Hold Strong

Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, Chris Crabtree

Ordinary Grace

William Kent Krueger

Go as a River

Shelley Read

The Earthburst Saga #8 - The Reckoning

Craig A. Falconer


All I rated as 4 stars or better.  Now I have to admit I read a few that did not rate nearly as well, and looking back on them the question arises, WHY?!  But let’s not dwell on my poor choices.

For me, this year is a toss-up between two books.  Go As A River by Shelley Read.  Dianna spoke about this wonderful book in her recent blog post so I won’t rehash other than to say, the writing was so beautiful and such a joy to read, I would have enjoyed reading it even if the story had been a technical manual.  Shelley is a truly gifted author.


After #4 - Five Years After by William R. Forstchen.  As the title implies, this is the 4th installment of the One Second After Series.  The series walks (no runs) us through, the dystopian aftermath of an EMP attack, the loss, the struggles of everyday life, and the rebirth of community.  I was so drawn into the story that I feel the loss of some good friends after completing this series.  It is seldom that I give a 5 star rating to a book and unheard of for an entire series.  Here is the one where I have done just that.  Regardless, if you enjoy the dystopian genre, I would encourage you to pickup this series. The author has done such a great job building the characters that they become family.  What can be better than to read about family?"


One Second AfterOne Year After The Final Day Five Years After


SEE YOU IN 2025!


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