It’s the holiday season, which means you might be looking to fill your sleigh — or, shopping cart — with some literary offerings.
Bestselling author Isaac Fitzgerald stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share a few of his book recommendations for the end of 2024.
Fitzgerald is the author of multiple books, including the memoir “Dirtbag, Massachusetts,” which tells a story of self-discovery, family and forgiveness.
For the traveler: “Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman” by Patrick Hutchison
Fitzgerald says his first pick “will have you wanting to quit your job and head to the woods in order to build your own cabin, even if you don’t have a single lick of carpentry skills.”
Author Patrick Hutchinson went from working an office job to restoring a cabin in the woods. The memoir tracks the six years he spent tackling renovations with no experience, learning along the way.
“Filled with belly-laugh-inducing stories alongside grounded sentiment in chapters both short and sweet, ‘Cabin’ is the perfect book to take with you the next time you set out on a great adventure,” he raves.
For the hopeless romantic: “The Days I Loved You Most” by Amy Neff
This moving novel follows Joseph and Evelyn, a couple whose story begins on the shores of a small New England town during World War II.
More than 60 years later, the two receive a life-altering diagnosis that spurs reflection and renewed devotion to one another.
“Easily one of the most life-affirming love stories you’ll ever read,” Fitzgerald shares, comparing it to “The Notebook.”
For the TV buff : “Say Nothing” by Patrick Radden Keefe
Fitzgerald says “Say Nothing,” a nonfiction book about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, is “one of the best books published in 2018, if not the past decade.”
Recently adapted into a limited series on Hulu, author Patrick Radden Keefe explores the legacy of Northern Ireland’s period of political violence and the lasting trauma it left in its wake.
For the suspense seeker: “Clean” by Alia Trabucco Zerán
Fitzgerald calls “Clean” a “brilliant literary thriller.”
In it, a woman tells the story of the family whose house she cleaned for years. Estela tended to this family, keeping a thick web of their secrets. Bearing witness to betrayal and deceit, Estela breaks her silence to reveal the truth of the tragedy that happened in their home.
“’Clean’ is fresh, surprising, and urgent. You’ll never look at housework the same way again,” he says.
For the fantasy fan: “Darkly” by Marisha Pessl
Fitzgerald picked his final choice for “fantasy fans who enjoy a sinister read.”
Arcadia “Dia” Gannon is one of six teenagers chosen to intern for Darkly, a game-making empire with a cult-like following. After head designer Louisiana Veda mysteriously dies, Dia is left wondering the truth about Darkly and the secrets that may lie within.
