2024 Ultimate reading list.
This year has provided a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in a rich tapestry of voices and stories that traverse continents and genres from the latin American author Roberto Bolano to the testimonies of Japanese internment camp survivors in the U.S. or the ones from descendants of Shoah survivors and, the more lightheaded illustrations of French artist Sempé, celebrated for his iconic New Yorker covers.
Saving Italy, the race to rescue a nation’s treasures from the nazis,
Robert M. Edsel
Instead of starting with his New York Times best seller “The monuments men” I decided to dive into Mister Edsel world with “Saving Italy”, the story of how an artist and a scholar embarked in this unique adventure to track art stolen by the nazis who wished they could keep it all.
Japanese American Incarceration,
Stephanie Hinnershitz
A moving first step into the world of Japanese-Americans world during their incarceration in the U.S decided by the president Roosevelt to answer the fears of the American population. This first deep dive has changed my vision of Roosevelt and is a sad reminder of the constant oppression of minorities and the systemic racism in America.
Son odeur après la pluie,
Cedric sapin-defour
The French author takes us through his life and adventures with Ubac, his dog. There is a before and after Ubac and never will understand the deep relation you create with your dog so how could anyone describe it? Defour did, you will not get out without a tear.
Le grand monde,
pierre lemaitre
Another of Lemaitre amazing books where we are following a wealthy family in Beyrouth. None of the kids really wants to follow the father’s example of owning the local soap company. They are the most ordinary people trying to live while Historical events are happening around them from the war in Indochina to the aftermath of World War II.
2666,
Roberto Bolano
When I was 16, my teacher invited us to see 2666, over twelve hours in our local theater and I was in love. This is certainly my favorite book of all times, bigger than your dictionary and recalling the most horrible things humanity did while following a mysterious author through the eyes of lost PhD students firstly before loosing ourselves in the horror of Santa Terresa, Mexico where women are murdered because the patriarchy societies hates them.
La Louisiane,
Julia Malye
The moment,
Douglas Kennedy
Sempe a New York
