Top Reads of 2011

[Viola]

We're now heading into the last quarter of the year, so I thought it'd be a good time to start this thread.

What were your Top Reads of 2011? (To clarify: among the books that you read in 2011; the books do not need to have been published in 2011.)

My top reads (in order) are:
1.) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
2.) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
3.) Still Alice

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Very good, Viola!

There are 6 books I've rated 5 stars so far this year:

1. The Sound and the Fury
2. Postcards
3. The Age of Innocence
4. What Is Left the Daughter
5. Night Soldiers
6. All Quiet on the Western Front

As I look at it, it seems an eclectic list, but each of them is well-written and strikes an emotional chord.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I liked:
1)Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and that series.
2) the Stephanie Plum series
3) Room
4) Unwind
5) Beastly
6) Breaking Night
7) White Cat
8) Dead Reckoning
9) Sing You Home
10) One Good Dog
11) The Guersmey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
There are alot more. I read many books I rated 5 stars.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I loved The Passion of Artemisia. I read that for my book club last year.

[Michelle]

Here are the ones I've really enjoyed in 2011

- The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset
- Generation Loss
- The Lonely Polygamist

There were others, but these spring to the forefront.

[Shelli]

These are my top reads so far for 2011....copied this from my other group!

JANUARY:
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption Honorable mentions:
Starvation Lake and Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China.
FEB:
The Kitchen HouseHM:Poison Study
MARCH:
RebeccaHM:Monkeewrench
APRIL:
The Forgotten GardenHM:The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes
MAY: The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksHM: Halfway to the Grave
JUNE: A Nail Through the Heart...HM:The Count of Monte Cristo
JULY: 3 way tie The Hypnotist: A Novel, City of Shadows: A Novel of Suspense, Incarceron.
AUGUST: Cleopatra's Daughter, All the Pretty Horses HM: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell and A Game of Thrones
SEPTEMBER:
The Lords of Discipline HM: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

[Adrienne]

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Cosmos by Carl Sagan
Camp Nurse: My Adventures at Summer Camp by Tilda Shalof
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Y: The Last Man - The Deluxe Edition Book One - though I'm not finished that series yet

[Kiana]

Still my reigning favorite book of 2010-2011: CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese. Magnificent! A heart-rending story that gifts readers with the meaning of our human existence. Also a great love story. Compares to Chekhov, Tolstoy, Dickens, and yes Shakespeare.

Happy reading! Kiana Davenport, author of CANNIBAL NIGHTS, PACIFIC STORIES, Volume II.

[Kathleen]

I'd put in a bid for Kiana's Cannibal Nights.

I also loved The Paris Wife, The Sea Captain's Wife, Arcadia Falls, and The Day the Falls Stood Still. All of those books took my breath away.

[Shelli]

Kiana wrote: "Still my reigning favorite book of 2010-2011: CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese. Magnificent! A heart-rending story that gifts readers with the meaning of our human existence. Also a great l..."

I read this book in 2010 and really loved it!

[Julie]

Cutting for Stone, The Kitchen House, and Room are my top 3 reads for 2011. I feel that Cutting for Stone might be my all time favorite!

[Michelle]

I just added Cutting for Stone to my TBR pile. Thanks for the recommendation :)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I hope you like it, Michelle. It's a very good - and different - story.

[Jennifer]

I had a lot on my list:

The Weird Sisters
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
The Red Garden
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Just Kids
The Book Thief
and The Hunger Games triology

[Irene]

So far this year, in no order:

Cutting For Stone
The Shadow of the Wind
The Book Thief
The Grapes of Wrath
Never Let Me Go

[Nell]

My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
The Air Between Us: A Novel by Deborah Johnson
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
The Lincoln Lawyer by Micnael Connelly

[Sherin]

In no specific order :)

Anne of Green Gables
Life of Pi
Paradise
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Book Thief
Match Me If You Can
84, Charing Cross Road
Twenties Girl
HICKORY DICKORY SHOCK
The Green Mile
Aathi
AADUJEEVITHAM ആടുജീവിതം
The Great Gatsby
Guards! Guards!
Pollyanna
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time
A Discovery of Witches
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

[Jennifer]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Very good, Viola!

There are 6 books I've rated 5 stars so far this year:

1. The Sound and the Fury
2. Postcards
3. The Age of Innocence
4. [book:What Is Lef..."

I'm kind of surprised Gulliver wasn't on there ;p

[Lori]

I only have 3 that I can think of:

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

The Three Weissmanns of Westport

The Invisible Bridge

Loved them all.

[Mandy]

I know I'm feeding the hype when I write this, but in this case, the hype is well-deserved.

was one of the best books I have read in YEARS, not just 2011.

[Julie]

The best books I've read so far this year, which I gave five stars to:

Downward Dog, Upward Fog

Yoga Bitch

The 19th Wife

Night

The Last Lecture

[Allison]

In no particular order....

The King's Speech
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
State of Wonder
These Things Hidden
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's AdversitiesMoonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Sarah's Key
"The Girl Who" series (Stieg Larsson)

[Georgiana]

My favorites so far:


The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Angela's Ashes
Truth and Beauty: A Friendship
Lives of Girls and Women
Nobody's Fool
Risk Pool

I'll start Empire Falls next week though, and knowing how much I like Russo, this book might end up among my favorites as well.

[Michelle]

I love Richard Russo. "Nobody's Fool" is my second favorite next to "Empire Falls". And if you haven't seen the movie of "Nobody's Fool", I'd recommend that one as well. Jessica Tandy and Paul Newman are outstanding.

[Rebecca]

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

Summer by Edith Wharton

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy

[Michelle]

I'm adding Never Let Me Go to my previous list! In fact, I'd put that one at the top.

[Gaynor]

There are others, but these are my favourites so far:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
My Name Is Mary Sutter: A Novel by Robin Oliveira
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Sipping from the Nile: My Exodus from Egypt by Jean Nagger
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt Beth Hoffman
Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell
City of Veils: A Novel by Zoe Ferraris
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
There are others, but these are the ones I have enjoyed the most.I may not have given them all 5 stars, but they are all 4 stars and above.

[Rachel]

Ok, if I don't count rereads ...
Bee Season - Myla Goldberg Bee Season
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak The Book Thief
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides Middlesex
The Help - Kathryn Sockett The Help
Cats in the Belfrey - Doreen Tovey Cats in the Belfry
If I Stay - Gayle Forman If I Stay
Still Alice - Lisa Genova Still Alice

[Julie]

Two more books that I need to add, and I am going to go out on a limb and say they have been my all-time favorite reads:

by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

[[deleted user]]

Gonna jump in on the band wagon! My favorite books of 2011:

Leaving Unknown: A Novel

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture

How to Bake a Perfect Life

These Things Hidden

[Nancy]

My favorites of 2011 thus far - no particular order:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Empire Falls by Richard Russo

[Linda]

Here is a list of my favorites of 2011:

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
22 BRITANNIA ROAD by Amanda Hodgkinson
ONCE UPON A RIVER by Bonnie Jo Campbell
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by S. J. Watson
SWIM BACK TO ME by Ann Packer

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Linda wrote: "Here is a list of my favorites of 2011:

SWIM BACK TO ME by Ann Packer "

I like Ann Packer, I'll be sure to add this one to my ever-expanding wish list.

[Linda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Linda wrote: "Here is a list of my favorites of 2011:

SWIM BACK TO ME by Ann Packer "

I like Ann Packer, I'll be sure to add this one to my ever-expanding wish list."

These are short stories and also a novella...loved her style and I don't normally read short stories; these are so well written and I enjoyed each one.

[Becky]

Viola - Thanks for starting this! Here are my 5 stars for 2011, which makes me realize what a great year of reading I've had. And I have 1.5 months to hit my 100 books!

Ulysses by James Joyce
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
A Room With a View by E.M. Forster
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

[Julie]

Gaynor wrote: "There are others, but these are my favourites so far:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
The Help ..."

WE have lots in common!

[Irene]

Becky, I absolutely loved "Their Eyes Were Watching God" when I read that about 6 or 7 years ago.

[Abby]

Gaynor and Julie, I ADORED "Cutting for Stone". Absolutely the best book I read this year. I'm already planning a second read (which I pretty much never do) when my mother-in-law returns it. Awesome book.

[Becky]

Irene wrote: "Becky, I absolutely loved "Their Eyes Were Watching God" when I read that about 6 or 7 years ago."

Irene - this year I've been having fun reading books that are classics and finding such treasures as this one. Loved it.

[Becca]

I love you guys! Been so busy haven't been on here but about to head to Thanksgiving with my in laws (who can be difficult). This is my first Thanksgiving without my mother and I'm feeling very raw and needed some good books to hide in while I am away. I was looking for 1 or 2 and now have a list of over 10. Thank you! Happy turkey day!

[Becky]

Becca - I hope you enjoy the reads, and that it helps soften a little the hurt of going into the holidays without your Mom. I hope you find some joy in the day.

[Linda]

My favorites so far this year:

Mystery - The Scent of Rain and Lightning

Historical Fiction -The Dovekeepers

Light read - Emily and Einstein

[Julia]

Kathleen wrote: "I'd put in a bid for Kiana's Cannibal Nights.

I also loved The Paris Wife, The Sea Captain's Wife, Arcadia Falls, and The Day the ..."</i>

I read The Day the Falls Stood Still [bookcover:The Day the Falls Stood Still at the very end of 2009 and absolutely loved it.

[Julia]

Sherin wrote: "In no specific order :)

Anne of Green Gables
Life of Pi
Paradise
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Book Thief
[book:Match Me If You..."

84 Charing Cross Rd might be my favorite book of all time. <3 <3 <3

[Julia]

I don't give 5 stars to many books, but so far in 2011 I've given 5 stars to these:
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walling
The Help (fabulous on audio) by Kathryn Stockett
De Rerum Natura (The Way Things Are) by Lucretius

And since there are only 4, I'm going to add a 5 star I read in December of 2010 that you might have missed,

The Blind Contessa's New Machine by Carey Wallace.

[[deleted user]]

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Paris Wife

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

Persuasion

[Lori]

I'm going to say my favorites this year have been:

The Invisible Bridge AND

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand AND



Case Histories

All were new authors for me and were very, very good reads. I wish that I had read more than 3 that were of this quality. Maybe they were more exciting because they were new authors for me.

[KrisT]

I think I have a nice variety of the best for the year:
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
3. Ready Player one by Ernest Cline
4. October sky by Homer Hickam
5. Signs of life by Natalie Taylor
6. Z is for Zachariah by Robert C O'Brien
7. Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
8. Made for you and me by Caitlin Shetterly
9. Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (a reread)

[Misty]

I started back to school in January, so the bulk of my reading this year has been textbooks (so entertaining! LOL). I have read a couple of great books this year though. My favorite is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (and reading through this thread I see I'm not alone!). I also really enjoyed I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, and by "enjoyed" I mean the book was inspiring and heartbreaking all at the same time.

[Allison]

My favorite reads of the year have been:

The Pillars of the Earth
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the rest of the series
The Night Circus
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help