Carol Van Den Hende's 3 favorite reads in 2024

• 2023
• 2024

As a kid, I loved the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for transporting me to another time and place.

Percival Everett has taken this well-known tale and shone new light on our assumptions by retelling this favorite from Jim's point of view.

In it, enslaved Jim rebirths himself as James, and along his journey, demonstrates his resilience, resourcefulness, and ability to surprise those around him. Come to think of it, I love books with an epic call to adventure, like Amor Towles' The Lincoln Highway, and V.E. Schwab's Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Which is why my fourth novel will take my most unique character yet on a journey across the country and more importantly, within her own being.

Don't miss the unforgettable trip that "James" will take you on. It's beautifully written, beautifully imagined. A stunning, enlightening tale.

14 years ago, I accepted the opportunity of a lifetime. My company moved me to Beijing for a 2 year assignment as Marketing Director for our chocolate gifting business. Before then, I'd never even been to China. During this time of adventure, I learned to navigate the cultural differences, how to speak Mandarin, and new perspectives on my home country of the U.S.

I loved Mobility because it took me back to that time of being an expat. Although Lydia Kiesling's main character doesn't travel to Asia, she beautifully captures the unsettling feeling of being in a foreign place, being aware of one's privilege, and being made aware of heretofore unseen currents moving the world of politics and diplomats. In fact, this time period was so formative that my Goodbye Orchid series sends my character Orchid Paige on a journey to China to feel closer to the memory of her mother.

But the expat experience is only part of why I loved Mobility. I also appreciated the climate message. In the book's acknowledgements, the author more directly shares her thoughts on the crucial climate actions we can all take. Climate fiction is important. Kiesling has crafted a powerful piece with an urgent message.

The older I get, the more that I appreciate my Asian American heritage. Books set in Asia give me glimpses into Eastern philosophy, customs, and history.

So I really loved the quiet, delicate storytelling in What You Are Looking For Is in the Library. Beautifully wrought, each chapter tells a vignette of a Japanese citizen whose life lacks something: meaning, purpose, love, et al.

The thread that ties all the stories together is a reference librarian who unlocks insight by simply asking "what do you want?" With a keen ear, then rat-a-tat-tat against her keyboard, she produces a list of books, most of which answer the surface question. Then, the last recommendation seems randomly out of place. Yet they each lead to deeper understanding of life, and oneself.

For a shop girl, this question unlocks the desire to learn to cook, which connects her romantically to a coworker.

A 30-year old graphic artist is embarrassed to return for his high school reunion, since he isn't the famous artist that he thought he'd be. Time at the library re-sparks his desire to draw and even lands him a job. I love that his mom never makes him feel bad about living at home. His renewal is uplifting.

The last story helps a retiree find meaning in his time, and reconnects him with his daughter. When he questions the purpose of his final years, the librarian asks "how are the remaining 2 cookies different than the others?" This helps him see that his last years are still full of possibility.

The stories are linked lightly. The whole reading experience is penned with a light touch, and simply illuminating.