Westerly Sun Column | What Was on Your ‘Best Of’ List for 2024?

The end of the year is a great time to reflect on the books, movies, and even songs that you’ve loved over the previous 12 months. In addition to doing this myself, I enjoy persuading my coworkers to do the same, so I can share all of our favorites with you! Here is a little snapshot of what the staff at Westerly Library and Wilcox Park have been reading and watching in 2024.

A lot of fantastic books were published this year, from favorite authors like Sally Rooney and Kristin Hannah, to brand new writers hitting the scene. Youth Services Associate Casey really enjoyed Elizabeth O’Connor’s debut novel “Whale Fall,” a coming-of-age tale set on a remote Welsh island in the 1930s. Another great first was “Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?” by Crystal Smith Paul, which our executive director, Brigitte, recommends. Our custodian, Teresa (who hails from Ireland), loved “Long Island” by Colm Tóibín, the story of an Irish immigrant who returns to her home country after 20 years away. This is a follow-up to Tóibín’s first book, “Brooklyn”, which was also made into a film starring Saoirse Ronan in 2015. Our business manager, Sara, particularly enjoyed “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach, and “James,” by Percival Everett, both of which spent time on the New York Times Bestsellers list this year!

We also enjoyed catching up on books we missed when they first came out. Technology Associate Penny absolutely loved “When Women Were Dragons” by Kelly Barnhill (2023), a feminist tale set in 1950s America, while Head of Adult Services Caroline was enthralled with the biography “Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune” by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. Kim, from our Collection Development Department, loved “The Rachel Incident” (2023) by Caroline O’Donoghue, another charming Irish novel about navigating the world in your twenties. This one has been recommended to me numerous times over the last year, so I’m definitely adding it to my list for 2025! For myself, most of my reading has revolved around kids’ books (I truly enjoyed “Here Comes the Garbage Barge” by Jonah Winter the first 40 or so times we read it, but it is starting to get a bit old), but I also liked “Good Material” (2023) by Dolly Alderton.

For movies, Caroline recommends “Wicked Little Letters” (2024), a black comedy starring the wonderful Olivia Colman, while Sara loved “Thelma” (not to be confused with “Thelma the Unicorn”!). Reference Associate Claire finally enjoyed watching “The Holdovers” (2023) during the Christmas season. And Keara, in Circulation, heartily recommends “The Mummy” (1999), which she says she watches nearly monthly!

As a whole, though, I think we enjoyed more books than movies this year, which is not a bad thing. If you have goals to read more in the new year, join our Adult Winter Reading Challenge, which runs from January 1-31, to get started on the right foot. And, check out some of these great reads from the library!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian