Books I Read in 2024

I got to read a lot of books in 2024. This year, I was on over forty flights and since reading is my favorite airplane activity, I got to read hours and hours worth. Here are the 10 books I read this year:

⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤ ⏤

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Video Edits by Joan Kim @joanday

Camera & Equipment

FTC: This video is NOT sponsored.

[esemac]

Please do more book videos in 2025! I used to live in Korea (for 5 years) but it was a bit less accessible for finding English books at libraries and I often had to order online. So it’s refreshing to see you reading, collecting books from other countries and even being gifted books 🎉📚

[GoodOldCinema]

As a Rosé fan I love and appreciate you, Joan. Thank you for supporting Rosie through thick and thin.
I enjoy watching your YouTube videos. Please keep them coming.

[saikathassan]

This is fantastic! Happy new year to both of you.

[Lawrencedimayuga]

Thanks for the recommendations, Joan! Take care.

[oumaiss]

we share 3 common books this year !! the little prince, the alchemist and the norwegian wood ! .. always a pleasure watching your videos, hope you enjoy the end of this year and have a good time with your loved ones ✨💖 stay healthy !!

[Elesra.]

I was waiting for this video impatiently

[shafiahmmad]

Amazing book, and thank you for sharing everything 💝

[kellyku]

Yayyy thank you for filming this video I love you Joan❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[khadijatoud]

Love this format! Thanks for the recommendations.
The books I loved reading in 2024 were:
- As long as the lemon trees grow by Zoulfa Katouh : heartbreaking story about a young nurse in the middle of the Syrian war. In the middle of death, chaos and trauma, she still manages to find hope and love.
- Convenient store woman by Sayaka Murata : story of a young woman working at a konbini who is pressured by her friends and family to find a decent job and start a family; Naturally she will start to question her situation and think maybe her family are right... But are they really ?
- 10 minutes and 38 seconds by Elif Shafak : a young Turkish prostitute is assasinated and left for dead in a public bin in the streets of Istanbul. The 10 minutes and 38 seconds following her death bring her back to the most memorable parts of her life, from her traumatic upbringing in a strict polygamouse household, to the beginning of her adult life and the 5 friends she made - all outcasts - that actually became her new family.
- The will to change by Bell Hooks : patriarchy is a pathology that needs to be cured through feminism. In order to do that, men need to be willing to decline their power of domination, and women need to be ready to give a helping hand to men. Both need to collaborate in order for both to develop a healthier relationship (not necessarily romantic).
- Before the coffee gets cold : loved it as well, it was very heartwarming and makes you realize that you don't actually get a second chance to fix things from the past...

[MCallsen]

I have about 7000 books here at home. Maybe not all in your language set, but if you are in Paris or Herzogenaurach next, I'd love to hand over some English books that I feel would fit :D Herzo would be easier as my parents moved there!

[christina]

Joan, I love it when you recommend books, and I cannot agree more on what you have mentioned. I read all of these books and they were all great! “If I Had Your Face” is a thought provoking and interesting read. It made me go through what I have observed, how the society is, beauty standards, and so forth. “The Little Prince” is a book that hits you differently in each stage of life, in my humble opinion. Thank you, thank you for the book talk, Joan! Take care and stay warm! 📖✈️💝💕🩷

[ThoughtfulTomes-channel]

Thank you for sharing good books and I am motivated to continue reading and more than that is to share knowledge, develop myself comprehensively through good books 📕. Merry Christmas everyone ☃🎄

[oranges]

NGL i saw you in nyc at the pop up and felt more excited to see you since ive been watching ur vids for years so sad i couldn’t say hi 😭❤️

[АйкуиГабриелян]

I like it. Thank you. I read some books this year based on your stories

[quanphitakraxanti]

Just ordered two of your book recs! I normally read fantasy/ young adults fictions, so my usual tastes are completely opposites from you but it would be fun for some changes and I can't wait to receive them. Thanks, Joan!

[ale.ivx]

you did so well with your book reading goal! i had the same one, but I only managed to read 7 out of 12. hopefully, i’ll do better next year. :) anyways, I loveee this content! my recommendation for you would be "sweet bean paste" i think it's precious, and I learned so much from it. <3 I’ll definitely add If "if had your face" to my to-read list.

[RicketyG]

I read Yellowface after seeing Ashley's post about it and I'm glad I did! I get how the later parts and the ending could be off-putting for some people, but it was a crazy ride and I honestly enjoyed it too.

[geekdiggy]

your take on books is interesting to me. books as a memento never occurred to me, and boarding passes as bookmarks just seems so smart! a book a month is...a lot. lately i've been fascinated by others' book recommendations, to the point i've bought several of them...and haven't read a single one.😝but i buy them because i'm a sucker for people who describe things well. your video inspires me to start digging into the pile i've got. i'll try (ish) to check out a couple of these you talked about. "a little life" and "yellowface" sound like my style.👍

[ckbobae]

Please do theses kind of video again!!!!❤❤❤

[lilliechull]

Joan I feel like you'd really enjoy The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. It's about a writer who lives on an island where things disappear from the world and their memories. Her editor is someone who never forgets and she has to help protect him from the memory police