This Tolkien Day “tradition” turned from honoring Tolkien’s literary legacy to a full blown “books I’ve read the previous year” list. I may have gone a bit overboard with quantity rather than quality for 2024, but in this sea of books I’ve read and listened to, I’ve come to a few realizations:
a. No one can top Tolkien’s mastery of language. While his worldbuilding is foundational, other fantasy and sci-fi authors have gone beyond Tolkien’s constraints. This isn’t a dig at him; Tolkien was at the cutting edge at the time so credit where it’s due. But if there is something that modern fantasy authors lack, it’s the prose. Reading Tolkien’s prose reminded me of why I enjoyed reading Romeo and Juliet a lot back in the day. Tolkien’s mastery of English helped in conveying the playfulness, despair, melancholy, ane hope in his legendarium.
b. I do not like Robert Jordan. While I thought that first 3 books of The Wheel of Time was decent at best, the succeeding book was such a frustrating slog of misandry and aimlessness with occassional (and regretfully sparse) moments of poignant writing that I wondered “If this supposedly fan favorite book in the series is a mind numbing and frustrating read, I doubt I can get past the actual ‘slog’ books later on”. There’s only so many times I can bear a man being called a “wool-headed idiot” or reading how Nynaeve “pulled on her braids” when she’s feeling anxious. Not even the tease that Branderson Sanderson finished the series is enough to make me power through the books. And speaking of Brandon Sanderson…
c. I like his books for how unpretentious he is. Does his prose suck? Not really; it could be better but in terms of conveying exactly he wants to convey to the reader, it’s functional. Is he the best fantasy author of all time? Hell no, Tolkien is. But like J.K. Rowling at one point in my life, Brando is an excellent gateway to fantasy fiction, particularly epic fantasy. If you prefer to know how magic works in a particular fantasy work, this guy is for you.
Anyways, I’ve rambled long enough: here’s the list of books I’ve read (and listened to) for 2024. Like I said; quantity over quality. Here’s to a more meaningful 2025 to y’all. Happy New Year, and Happy Tolkien Day!
1. Nyarlathotep, The Nameless City, The Music of Erich Zann by H.P. Lovecraft
2. The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft
3. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
4. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
5. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
6. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
7. The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
8. Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski
9. The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
10. The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski
11. The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft
12. At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
13. The Confessions of Saint Augustine
14. The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft
15. The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski
16. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
17. The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
18. Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock
19. The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
21. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
22. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
23. The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
24. The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard
25. The Conquering Sword of Conan by Robert E. Howard
26. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Vol. 1
27. Attack on Titan Vols. 2-5 by Hajime Isayama
28. First and Only by Dan Abnett
29. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
30. Berserk Vol. 10-12 by Kentaro Miura
31. Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 1 by Nobuhiro Watsuki
32. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
33. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
34. The Iliad of Homer, translated by Robert Fitzgerald
35. Spawn Origins Vol. 1 by Todd McFarlane
36. The Drawing Lesson by Mark Crilley
37. Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson
Commentary by a Jaded Idealist 