Comments on Best Books of 2011 - page 1

Most of these books haven't been published yet, so why do people vote if they haven't read anything?

I think some of the books are available online as an ebook!? The book called hush hush was available for me to download :)

most are part of a series so if you love a series you vote for the next book

Some get the ARC to read before the actual book is realeased.

Most of these books are genre romance/horror. Hate to think that a reader sticks to one genre so completely when there are other books in other areas of life. Being human is about a lot more than who pretends to love us to get close enough to suck our blood. What about having children, losing jobs, inventing something, reaching out to others, singing, understanding another person's culture. If this is the future of reading, we are in deep trouble as a culture and a life form.

Number One Best Seller by Brian Morley, won't disappoint best book I've read in five years at least.

It would be more helpful to know why you think it's worth reading. We don't know you and so you're loving it is hard to evaluate. Did you write it?

Beryl wrote: "Most of these books haven't been published yet, so why do people vote if they haven't read anything?"

I was thinking the same thing. Unless they were lucky to get an ARC copy.

joyce wrote: "most are part of a series so if you love a series you vote for the next book"

True most are part of series but I'm not voting until I read it. Because every series has that stinker book that's not as good and even if I love the author I'll be honest in a voting.

JenniferY wrote: "joyce wrote: "most are part of a series so if you love a series you vote for the next book"

True most are part of series but I'm not voting until I read it. Because every series has that stinker..."

Honest voting is a good thing. As an author, I consider the feedback from reviews when I edited the next book. While I want my readers to love my characters as much as I do, each reader's experience in life affects their interpretation of a book. And that kind of vicarious living is exactly what books are meant to offer.

Sarah wrote: "Most of these books are genre romance/horror. Hate to think that a reader sticks to one genre so completely when there are other books in other areas of life. Being human is about a lot more than w..."

I pretty much stick to UF and Paranormal Romance genres. Much like when I watch TV, when I read I do it to escape reality. I don't care to read books about having kids (I have one) or other "real" life stuff.
Besides alot of the "fanasty" type books mirror real life. If you look at the plot in UF books and forget that the main character might be a vamp, shifter or something esle nonhuman the underlying confect is usually close to a "real" life confect.

But still, you don't know that the book won't be the worst you have read all year, or the one that ruins the series, or makes you think that the author has lost his/her mind (or all of the above).

Sarah wrote: "Most of these books are genre romance/horror. Hate to think that a reader sticks to one genre so completely when there are other books in other areas of life. Being human is about a lot more than w..."

Amen, sister!!!

Eating Smoke: One Man's Descent Into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong's Triad Heartland

This is, without a doubt, one of the most depressing lists I have ever seen. Wow.

For anyone who prefers non-genre, literary fiction, there is a completely different list featuring some of the best books of 2011 here: www.goodreads.com/list/show/9854

I don't mind genre, but this list is utterly dominated by one very narrow genre. I'll bet there isn't an ounce of difference between 95% of the top 100. I haven't read any of them so I suppose I oughtn't gripe but still...

I agree 100% with Tom. I felt the same way when I saw the list. I only recognized one book on it and it was a youth book my son read.

I can't help but question the integrity of a "best of list" with 548 books on it.

Tiger saga all the way :)

Tom wrote: "This is, without a doubt, one of the most depressing lists I have ever seen. Wow."

I have to agree with you. There are many excellent books that do not feature vampires!

Watch how this works, the list is updated often,only one person has tovote on a book to have it added. The list reflects readers from this site only and they can vote on 100 different books for the year,so you get a list showing the best books read for they year read by the readers from this web site.Many readers dont vote,however those reading series would tend to sway the genre of the list. I have read many from the list and they are as different as they are alike.Yes many do have the same theme but lately have come up with very different rules and ideals to change our thinking on the old thoughts or rules. It is funny one of you wrote they read to get away from the everyday life, so do I as many of us do. I have to laugh then when my husband says why do I complain when he acts like the alpha wolf in all those books I read, its funny his is right it is sexy in the book but not so much in person. Any way my point is the people voteing are the ones reading this genre of books. Lets me point out I have not yet voted so I am not defending my votes. Some of the really good books I have read this year are not for the mainstream readers so I dont vote on them,however if you would like to read about abuse lookup devine( by nora roberts),empty chair,or the courage to heel very good books but only for those with an understanding of abuse and survival otherwise I feel many would not care for them. Also look up dean koontz, clive cusler,or patricia cornwell this will give you a different genre and you cant go wrong with any of there books. Happy reading...

Beryl wrote: "Most of these books haven't been published yet, so why do people vote if they haven't read anything?"

that's exactly was what I was gonna say. Every list people vote the way they're not suppose to and it is annoying 8/

I think it is really hard to read when people don't use punctuation. I'm just sayin'...

I don't see my favorite pick for 2011.
Harvest of Hope by Gene Needham...simply amazing and an instant classic!

One that I would have chosen that wasn't listed:

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

I've learned so much about the inner workings of the Nazi regime prior to WWII and from an American perspective. Very interesting piece.

Dead Reckoning is listed twice. Dead Reckoning

I agree with Tom Where are all the "happy"books?

Kristie, Sarah, Tom, et al.,

Ditto!!

And thanks, Phillip...

My favorite this year is Ready Player One!!

You add books to the list at the top of the page, at the tab next to "all votes."

I tried to add my Book "The Chrysopoeia Revelation" to the list using the tab next to the all votes, but it didn't work. I'm new to this, so what mcan I do to add books to Listopia. Stan
Susanna wrote: "You add books to the list at the top of the page, at the tab next to "all votes.""

You hit the tab "add books to this list," and then you will have a choice of searching the books on your bookshelves, or of doing a search for the title from the GR database at large. When you see the title you want, click on "vote for this book," which is under the title and author information.

This list says you've voted for it; the info about "lists with this book" on the individual book pages isn't always accurate.

ETA: It's currently on page seven.

Lexze wrote: "I don't see my favorite pick for 2011.
Harvest of Hope by Gene Needham...simply amazing and an instant classic!"

You are allowed to add your fave books
:)

Does anyone know when voting ends??

wow, so many books here... can't even think where to start

And this is why unfiltered consumer reviews produce total crap.

I think this list is very, very slated. It really does not seem to reflect anything but one or two genre. Really. Can't there be a way to filter this? I am disappointed and am considering ending participation.

Oh my gosh, I can not believe this list. Where has the good literature gone? Pathetic.

If this list is any indication, literature is really going down the toilet

Re Nina, I'd agree, except I was lucky enough to read "The Ballad of Young Tam Lin" by Patricia Leslie (on Amazon, or as a Kindle). Great story, clearly-drawn characters - humor, drama, pathos, and romance with sensuality, but no graphic descriptions - leaves just enough to the imagination to make it more erotic.

My favourite books of 2011 aren't on this list: The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson and The Legacy by Katherine Webb. I'd say they fall into the genre of women's fiction but both have a link to the past and The Lantern has the suggestion of a ghost lingering. Both good reads which I'd recommend.Song of the Phoenix

The Ballad of Young Tam Lin, historical fantasy romance, based on an old Scottish ballad. Set in 1790, Lady Janet Dunbar is seduced by "Tam Lin," a knight of Summerland (one term for Elfland). She loves him, is pregnant by him, but he's the consort of the Queen of the Elves. What chance does Janet have? If you hate romance or fantasy, don't read this. If you like the genre, you'll love it.

Lexze wrote: "I don't see my favorite pick for 2011.
Harvest of Hope by Gene Needham...simply amazing and an instant classic!"

did you add it to the list? I added a couple of books I thought totally deserved to be there.

Several of my favorite books of 2011 either aren't on this list or they're surprisingly farther down that I'd expected ('The Night Circus' I LOVED loved loved). Props to 'A Discovery of Witches' - now let's get part 2? Pretty please? Added a few of my personal faves to these lists as well (worth a look if you're like me and your favorites don't always match the 'best of' lists):

http://www.ranker.com/list/best-novel...
http://www.ranker.com/list/best-non-f...

Where could I actually buy poster prints for these book covers?

Was it just me or were most of the books ones you didn't know? I read frequently, and read plenty of young adult books. Now, I did recognize some of these from the shelves, but I had no desire to read any of them. I only voted for one because it was the only one I had read. And it was good, but not top 100 good.

Wow. Most of these books would never make it on my best of 2011 list. There are more genres around than romance/horror (which most of these books are in). Some people need to widen out their reading.

terrible list. How come the first page has nearly only romance, vampire stuff. All series books. I am not even going to bother voting. And the one who started this list has been deleted? Wonder why?