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My favorite books of 2024

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
A stack of books on a green background. The books are (from top to bottom) Sandwich by Catherine Newman, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley, Just Like Glass by Amy Wight Chapman, Heartbreak is the National Anthem by Rob Sheffield, and Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.

I’m approaching 20 years of tracking what I read each year, an obsession made easier thanks to bookish social media. (I’m a regular GoodReads user though I really favor Storygraph, thanks to its data visualization and lack of Amazon affiliation. Old habits are hard to break.) Quantity is only one indication of how the year of reading has treated me, but it’s always telling. In 2020, when we had nothing but time, I read 150 books for the first time. And in 2024, when time and attention both felt elusive, I clocked in at 44 books.

Each year my dear friend Rachel Burchfield Appling invites me on her podcast, “I’d Rather Be Reading,” to discuss the year in books. Our fourth-annual year in review is live now. And though this was one of my slimmest reading years since I started tracking, we still found plenty to discuss.

I’m linking to my favorite books of 2024 below, but you’ll have to listen to the full episode to learn why I loved them. You’ll also hear Rachel and I discuss orange cats (of course), the books I reread this year and the books we’re looking forward to in 2025. And I’d love to hear from you! What were your favorite books this year? What’s at the top of your TBR?

Past year in review episodes:

I’ll note that I’ve linked to Bookshop.org whenever possible; they don’t have Just Like Glass. You can select your local store on Bookshop.org and they’ll receive a portion of the proceeds from your purchase. I prefer this to shopping with Amazon, though I recognize that sometimes shopping at a significant discount is the only way buying books is accessible for someone. But my first choice is shopping locally! If you can, do. And don’t forget about your local library!

2024 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
A long catwalk stage with a large diamond stretches across the image. Dancers wrapped in large pink fan-like costumes spread out on the diamond. Thousands of people are gathered in the arena, and blue lights shine from devices on their wrists.
  • Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs Masters of the Silver Screen, Alys Stephens Center, Birmingham, Alabama, April 6, 2024
  • Chris Thile and the National Symphony Orchestra perform “Attention!”, the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., April 23, 2024
  • Maddie Zahm with Leanna Firestone, Saturn, Birmingham, Alabama, May 7, 2024 (below)
Four women and two men gather around a small cocktail table in a bar environment
  • Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs at the Maestro’s Ball, Alys Stephens Center, Birmingham, Alabama, Sept. 20, 2024
  • Gillian Welch and David Rawlings with Paul Kowert, Lyric Theatre, Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 13, 2024
  • Taylor Swift with Gracie Abrams, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, Oct. 27, 2024 (featured photo)

2023 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
  1. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Avner Dorman’s “Astrolatry,” Claude Debussy’s “Nocturnes” and Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” Alys Stephens Center, March 4, 2023
  2. John Paul White and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alys Stephens Center, April 6, 2023
  3. Taylor Swift, (outside of) Nissan Stadium, Nashville, May 6, 2023
  4. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Brian Raphael Nabors’ “Pulse,” Jennifer Higdon’s “Violin Concerto” and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Alys Stephens Center, May 13, 2023
  5. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: VIvaldi’s Four Seasons, Avon Theater, May 18, 2023
  6. Nickel Creek, Avondale Brewing, May 29, 2023
  7. Fleet Foxes, Avondale Brewing, June 27, 2023

Novel recommendations for Emma

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley

I used to blog. I used to blog frequently! But in recent years, that impulse has fallen away in favor of so many other pursuits: writing for money, journaling, obsessing about what I might write, yoga, writing for my book group, cycling, book reviews … The list could go on.

Recently I’ve worked on a couple of book recommendation lists, and I thought, why not share? Why not embrace the impulse to put something out into the world without overthinking it?

(Of course, I’ve thought about this for two weeks.)

So: A post. A list of book recommendations for a friend who took some time off between jobs and was enjoying Emily Henry and some historical fiction.

  1. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson: Lillian cares for her former schoolmate’s two stepchildren, who often burst into flames. She’s trying to sort out what she’s doing with her life, and the kids are just trying to be kids while dealing with their unusual predicament. People often describe this novel as funny. It’s certainly odd, imaginative, but it didn’t strike me as funny. But I loved it. I cried (and that’s a good thing).
  2. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead: I chose this one because of the historical fiction-ish novel Emma mentioned. Great Circle follows Marian Graves’ obsession with flight, a fascination that begins when she’s a kid and ultimately carries Marian around the world. Shipstead’s writing is vivid and well-researched without ever becoming pretentious. This one started slowly for me, but by page 100, I was hooked.
  3. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: I came to this one late, reading it for the first time in 2020–years after I saw Gyasi speak about it at an Aspen Words event! Gyasi follows the descendants of two half-sisters born in Ghana. Each chapter reads like a short story and could stand solo, but the book’s genius is the way these tales portray the generational effects of systemic racism.
  4. Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel: Gosh, I love Laurie Frankel’s books, especially this and “This is How It Always Is.” Sam meets his perfect match, Meredith, after he creates a brilliant algorithm for the dating company where they both work. Of course, that means the company’s members won’t return for continued membership, so Sam has the opportunity to find work elsewhere. After Meredith’s grandmother dies, Sam uses the algorithm to create a computer simulation that allows the two women to reconnect. The results are beautiful and heartbreaking. I wrote about this novel in much more detail for BookPage.

2022 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
Two friends grin outside of a concert venue
  1. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Louise Farrenc’s Overture No. 2, Alberto Ginastera’s Variaciones concertantes and Max Richter’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Recomposed, Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 19, 2022
  2. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: John Adams’ “Christian Zeal and Activity,” Elliott Carter’s Symphony No. 1 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 26, 2022
  3. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Sergei Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, “Linz” and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, “Scottish,” Alys Stephens Center, March 11, 2022
  4. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Aaron Copland’s Orchestral Variations, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Alys Stephens Center, May 6, 2022
  5. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Tania León’s “Batá,” Johannes Brahms’ “Song of the Fates” and Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral” (“Ode to Joy”), Alys Stephens Center, May 20, 2022
  6. Smashing Pumpkins, Avondale Brewing, May 21, 2022
  7. Big Boi, City Walk BHAM, July 13, 2022
  8. The Chicks with Patty Griffin, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, Georgia, July 16, 2022
  9. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’clock Shout,” Maurice Ravel’s “La Valse” and “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand,” Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” Alys Stephens Center, Oct. 1, 2022
  10. Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 2, “Short Symphony,” Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story Symphonic Dances” and Brian Raphael Nabors’ “Hammond Organ Concerto,” Alys Stephens Center, Nov. 19, 2022

2021 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
  1. Nickel Creek via Mandolin.com, Feb. 28, 2021
  2. Chris Thile at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts (Streaming), Storrs, Connecticut, April 17, 2021
  3. Cedric Burnside at Mom’s Basement, June 27, 2021
  4. Trampled by Turtles and Mt Joy at Avondale Brewing, Oct. 11, 2021
  5. Chris Thile at the Alys Stephens Center, Nov. 16, 2021
  6. Wood Brothers with The Dead Tongues, Lyric Theater, Dec. 9, 2021
  7. Behold the Lamb of God (Andrew Peterson Christmas show), Church at Brook Hills, Dec. 17, 2021
  8. Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, The Nick, Dec. 18, 2021

2020 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
Three members of the acoustic string band Punch Brothers perform live, as shown on a laptop set among a candle, watercolor paints and a mug of hot chocolate

The year the music went online

  1. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture, Carols Izcaray’s Stringmaster Cello Concerto (world premiere) and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Alys Stephens Center, Jan. 18, 2020
  2. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Danielpour’s Clarinet Concerto from From the Mountaintop and Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 1, 2020
  3. Amanda Shires, Saturn, Feb. 8, 2020
  4. Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Lopez’s Fiesta, Lieberson’s Neruda Songs, Piazzolla’s Tangazo and de Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 15, 2020
  5. UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band, Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 27, 2020
  6. “Y’all Come: The Ballad of Big Jim Folsom” with music, Thank You Books, Feb. 29, 2020
  7. Marc Broussard, Lyric Theatre, March 11, 2020
  8. Josh Ritter, The Silo Sessions on Facebook Live, March 24, 2020
  9. Josh Ritter, The Silo Sessions on YouTube, March 31, 2020
  10. Lee Bains Gospel Hour, Facebook Live, April 1, 2020
  11. Josh Ritter, The Silo Sessions on YouTube, April 7, 2020
  12. Lee Bains Gospel Hour, Facebook Live, April 8, 2020
  13. Lee Bains Facebook Live, April 11, 2020
  14. Lee Bains Gospel Hour, Facebook Live, April 15, 2020
  15. Lee Bains, Facebook Live via Druid City Brewing Company, April 25, 2020
  16. Van Hollingsworth, YouTube via AARP Alabama, Sept. 10, 2020
  17. Punch Brothers, Live at Bluebird via Mandolin.com, Nov. 15, 2020
  18. Patty Griffin, Live at The Continental Club via Mandolin.com, Dec. 5, 2020
  19. Alabama Symphony Orchestra Maestro’s Ball online, Dec. 31, 2020

2019 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
  1. Fort Atlantic and War Jacket, WorkPlay, Jan. 17
  2. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Rite of Spring and Carmina Burana, Alys Stephens Center, Jan. 18
  3. The Magic Math, Dirty Lungs and Soul Desert, The Nick, Jan. 25
  4. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Der Freischutz Overture, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (with Joyce Yang), Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 2
  5. Me and My Knife and The Burning Peppermints, The Nick, Feb. 9
  6. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde prelude and liebestod, Martin Kennedy Piano Concerto and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite, Alys Stephens Center, Feb. 15
  7. Terry Ohms, Taylor Hollingsworth and Results of Adults, Mom’s Basement, Feb. 16
  8. Great Lake Swimmers and Native Harrow, Avondale Brewing, Feb. 19
  9. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: William Grant Still’s Darker America, Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Anton Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6, Alys Stephens Center, March 23
  10. Patty Griffin with Scott Miller, Iron City, March 27
  11. The Magic Math and Matthew Carroll, The Nick, April 1
  12. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: William Grant Still’s Serenade, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 and No. 5, Alys Stephens Center, April 5
  13. Derek Webb, Seeds Coffee, April 12
  14. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture from Le nozze de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Antonin Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral, Alys Stephens Center, April 19
  15. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy for violin and orchestra and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Alys Stephens Center, May 10
  16. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Johannes Brahms’ Tragic Overture, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, Rhenish, Alys Stephens Center, May 17
  17. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Great Fugue, Johannes Brahms’ Haydn Variations and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Alys Stephens Center, June 1
  18. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Seasick Records, June 15
  19. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Birmingham Museum of Art, Aug. 9
  20. Beck and Cage the Elephant, Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Aug. 27
  21. The Brummies and Funk You, Avondale Brewing, Sept. 13
  22. Riley Moore and Bea Troxel, Laura and Graham’s backyard, Sept. 19
  23. Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Alys Stephens Center, Oct. 5
  24. The Wandering Hearts and Justin Townes Earle, WorkPlay, Oct. 9
  25. Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, Loam Lands and Dree Leer, The Nick, Oct. 19
  26. Com Truise and altopalo, Saturn, Nov. 9

2018 in concerts

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley
  1. Steve’s Guitars (I’ve got to remember the name of the band!)
  2. Ordinary Elephant and Man About A Horse, house show, April 13, 2018
  3. Sloss Fest: Jason Isbell and Arcade Fire, July 14, 2018
  4. Journey and Def Leppard, BJCC Arena, Aug. 20, 2018
  5. The Dexateens, The Nick, Aug. 27, 2018
  6. Blues potluck, The Jaybird, Sept. 22, 2018
  7. Iron Horse and Will Stewart, Vulcan AfterTunes, Oct. 7, 2018
  8. Chris Thile, Alys Stephens Center, Oct. 10, 2018
  9. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires with Me & My Knife and Shaheed and DJ Supreme, The Nick, Dec. 28, 2018

A year in reading

Posted on by Carla Jean Whitley

It’s just after 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and I’ve completed my reading goal for the year.

I’m a list maker, and so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I’ve kept track of my reading habits for more than a decade. GoodReads has simplified that process, and also made it easier to identify how my reading correlates to my well being. That’s more intriguing to me than the number of books assigned to each year; when my numbers dip, I’m usually consumed by some hardship. As Anna Quindlen wrote, “Reading has always been my home, my sustenance, my great invisible companion.” When we’re not together, I’m off.

2017 was a year of reconciling Colorado’s beautiful days and abundant outdoor opportunities with my passion for books. I’ve made my peace with the fact that I can’t engage in the physical practice of yoga while reading, but this year I also had to choose between skiing and reading, or riding my bike and reading, or hiking and reading.

Still, I was able to read 75 books.*

And what books they were. I am stingy when assigning stars on GoodReads; if I thoroughly enjoyed a book, it starts out with a three-star rating. If it was good enough but not memorable, the book is likely to snag two stars. Because of that, I was surprised to realize I rated 21 books with four or five stars this year.

These are my standouts of 2017. What were yours?

FIVE

  1. “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster (I can’t believe it took me 36 years to get to this one! What a delightful book.)
  2. “Looking for Alaska” by John Green (reread)
  3. “When Women Were Birds: 54 Variations on Voice” by Terry Tempest Williams (My favorite author 2017 introduced me to.)
  4. “Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” by Chimama Ngozi Adichie
  5. “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur
  6. “The Futilitarians: Our Year of Thinking, Drinking, Grieving, and Reading” by Anne Gisleson (I’m still thinking about this one.)
  7. “A Child of Books” by Oliver Jeffers
  8. “My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues” by Pamela Paul
  9. “Noah Webster and His Words” by Jeri Chase Ferris
  10. “White Girl in Yoga Pants: Stories of Yoga, Feminism, & Inner Strength” by Melissa Scott (I helped edit this one, and I’m so proud of my dear friend for sharing her stories and insight!)

FOUR

  1. “Our Short History” by Lauren Grodstein
  2. “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory” by Caitlin Doughty
  3. “Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton
  4. “Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs” by Beth Ann Fennelly (Merits a re-read, and may merit another star!)
  5. “On the Teaching of Creative Writing: Responses to a Series of Questions” by Wallace Stegner
  6. “The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying” by Nina Riggs (I may bump this one up to five stars if and when I reread it.)
  7. “Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After” by Heather Harpham (This too was close to a five-star read. I had a great year of reviewing, clearly.)
  8. “The Giver” by Lois Lowry (Reread. I intend to revisit this fantastic book on Sept. 14 of each year, in my sister’s memory.)
  9. “Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks” by Mark Woods
  10. “The BFG” by Roald Dahl
  11. “May Cause Love: An Unexpected Journey of Enlightenment After Abortion” by Kassi Underwood

*Please note, I would never want someone to feel shamed because I read more than he or she does. I prioritize reading because it’s one of the most important things in my life. It is part of what makes me me. I do encourage everyone to read, but I also recognize that we all have different priorities. For example, one of my girl friends aims to spend times on trails each day. I … do not. I admire her drive, and it’s similar to how I feel about books. So, you do you. But if you want reading recommendations, I’ve got ’em!