The Best Books of 2011

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit from the Goon Squad, to amazing reads for lovers of non-fiction, memoirs, fantasy and everything in between – we selected some of our favorite titles from 2011 across all genres to share in a two-part blog beginning today. What did you think were some of the best books of 2011?

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1	State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 3.88 avg rating — 176,961 ratings score: 497, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965 by William Manchester 4.42 avg rating — 6,461 ratings score: 400, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Bossypants by Tina Fey 3.96 avg rating — 940,670 ratings score: 397, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 192,207 ratings score: 287, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 286,602 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 196,747 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Paris Without End: The True Story of Hemingway's First Wife by Gioia Diliberto (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 2,130 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor 4.20 avg rating — 8,249 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1) by Ransom Riggs 3.91 avg rating — 1,147,745 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life by Ann Patchett 4.18 avg rating — 1,979 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Goodreads Author) 3.27 avg rating — 55,728 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Then Again by Diane Keaton 3.44 avg rating — 10,191 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (Goodreads Author) 3.41 avg rating — 97,742 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean (Goodreads Author) 3.52 avg rating — 4,595 ratings score: 189, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 841,076 ratings score: 188, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 11,642 ratings score: 182, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Horoscopes for the Dead by Billy Collins 4.03 avg rating — 4,091 ratings score: 178, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone On The Media by Brooke Gladstone 3.87 avg rating — 2,917 ratings score: 173, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 466,834 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2) by Rick Riordan (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 505,255 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Nagasaki: The Massacre of the Innocent and Unknowing by Craig Collie 4.23 avg rating — 123 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Forgotten Islands by Michael Veitch 3.90 avg rating — 101 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 38,040 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 68 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	My Dyslexia by Philip Schultz 3.75 avg rating — 907 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 84,007 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Velva Jean Learns to Fly (Velva Jean, #2) by Jennifer Niven (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 1,283 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 28,242 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering by Alice Waters 4.16 avg rating — 161 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Codependent No More Workbook by Melody Beattie 4.29 avg rating — 541 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Submission by Amy Waldman (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 12,630 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Lost Voices (Lost Voices, #1) by Sarah Porter (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 6,839 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Life Itself by Roger Ebert 3.91 avg rating — 6,049 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Badd by Tim Tharp 3.27 avg rating — 187 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy by Jacqueline Kennedy 3.95 avg rating — 4,335 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 4,772 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Wendy and the Lost Boys: The Uncommon Life of Wendy Wasserstein by Julie Salamon (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 969 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 21,972 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 117,744 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs, #8) by Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 21,630 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano 3.77 avg rating — 450 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Deadly by Julie Chibbaro (Goodreads Author) 3.59 avg rating — 1,818 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure (Goodreads Author) 3.47 avg rating — 7,883 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Bumped (Bumped, #1) by Megan McCafferty (Goodreads Author) 3.12 avg rating — 13,037 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Unless It Moves the Human Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing by Roger Rosenblatt (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 548 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma 3.67 avg rating — 6,414 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	American Weather by Charles McLeod 3.61 avg rating — 61 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	A Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 2,143 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars