The Best Books of 2011 (64 books)

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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 3.91 avg rating — 210,523 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 4.44 avg rating — 7,676 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 — 1,076,703 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	The Shadow Sect (Netherdei #1) by Peter Hackshaw (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,438 ratings score: 200, 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
5	The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 308,723 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) 3.70 avg rating — 257,261 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) 4.03 avg rating — 2,276 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	Unsouled (Cradle, #1) by Will Wight (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 64,334 ratings score: 197, 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	A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor 4.19 avg rating — 9,660 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
10	Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1) by Ransom Riggs 3.92 avg rating — 1,384,409 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
11	The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life by Ann Patchett 4.20 avg rating — 2,139 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
12	Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Goodreads Author) 3.29 avg rating — 61,576 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
12	Then Again by Diane Keaton 3.51 avg rating — 13,240 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
12	The Darkest Core (Netherdei #2) by Peter Hackshaw (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 350 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
12	Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu, #1) by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù 4.57 avg rating — 51,853 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
16	The Burning God (The Poppy War, #3) by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 199,673 ratings score: 191, 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	The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (Goodreads Author) 3.42 avg rating — 103,792 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
18	Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean (Goodreads Author) 3.55 avg rating — 5,127 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
19	The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 1,144,565 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
20	Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 282,535 ratings score: 187, 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
21	The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 17,477 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
22	Horoscopes for the Dead by Billy Collins 4.01 avg rating — 4,689 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
23	The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone On The Media by Brooke Gladstone 3.86 avg rating — 3,120 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
24	Things I Wanted to Say, But Never Did (Lancaster Prep, #1) by Monica Murphy (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 69,415 ratings score: 100, 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
25	Path of the Berserker (Path of the Berserker, #1) by Rick Scott (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 2,950 ratings score: 99, 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
25	Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 27,483 ratings score: 99, 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
27	Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 519,073 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
27	The Emperor (The Emperor, the Son and the Thief, #1) by Robert Reid (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 4,935 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
27	Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 45,270 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
30	The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2) by Rick Riordan (Goodreads Author) 4.40 avg rating — 692,584 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
30	Nagasaki: The Massacre of the Innocent and Unknowing by Craig Collie 4.23 avg rating — 142 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
30	Ghosts by Dolly Alderton 3.86 avg rating — 169,514 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
33	The Forgotten Islands by Michael Veitch 3.90 avg rating — 161 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
33	Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 3.92 avg rating — 557,468 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
35	The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 42,575 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
35	The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 116,304 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
35	Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 4.46 avg rating — 922,560 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
38	Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 75 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
38	My Dyslexia by Philip Schultz 3.72 avg rating — 1,222 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
38	Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (Hoid's Travails, #2) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 137,649 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
41	Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 95,764 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
41	Velva Jean Learns to Fly (Velva Jean, #2) by Jennifer Niven (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 1,434 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
41	The Blood Legacy (The Divine Elements #1) by Daman (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 1,656 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
44	The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.62 avg rating — 33,422 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
45	40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering by Alice Waters 4.13 avg rating — 173 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
46	Codependent No More Workbook by Melody Beattie 4.31 avg rating — 702 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
47	The Submission by Amy Waldman (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 12,782 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
47	Lost Voices (Lost Voices, #1) by Sarah Porter (Goodreads Author) 3.60 avg rating — 7,320 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
49	Life Itself by Roger Ebert 3.92 avg rating — 6,805 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
50	Badd by Tim Tharp 3.29 avg rating — 198 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
51	Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 3.95 avg rating — 4,667 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
52	A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 5,235 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
53	Wendy and the Lost Boys: The Uncommon Life of Wendy Wasserstein by Julie Salamon (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 1,003 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
54	The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 25,838 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
55	Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 119,757 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
56	A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs, #8) by Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 28,320 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
57	Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano 3.78 avg rating — 567 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
58	Deadly by Julie Chibbaro (Goodreads Author) 3.59 avg rating — 1,913 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
59	The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure (Goodreads Author) 3.48 avg rating — 8,082 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
60	Bumped (Bumped, #1) by Megan McCafferty (Goodreads Author) 3.12 avg rating — 13,125 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
61	Unless It Moves the Human Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing by Roger Rosenblatt (Goodreads Author) 3.73 avg rating — 606 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
62	The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma 3.68 avg rating — 6,887 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
63	American Weather by Charles McLeod 3.61 avg rating — 64 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
64	A Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 8,277 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