Book Geeks and Bookniks discussion

What is your top ten for 2011? I love reading over these lists and, of course, it adds to my already too long TBR pile!

In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story and am loving it, but I have only listed the books I finished):

The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story
The Giver
Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture
The Secret History
The Magicians (and its sequel, The Magician King)
Not Without My Daughter (and its sequel, For the Love of a Child)
The Passage
Midwives
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children
Little Children

Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story and am lovin..."

I put Cinderella on my list as soon as I read your review!

Here are my top 10 books published in 2011 (with a few from the tail end of 2010).
10.Caleb's Crossing
9.Doc: A Novel
8. Faith: A Novel
7. Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It
6. When God Was a Rabbit
5. The Widower's Tale
4.The Marriage Plot
3. State of Wonder
2. The Night Circus
1. A Visit from the Goon Squad

It was a very good year in reading. In other respects, I am hoping for better in 2012.

Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading [book:The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story|16..."

Glad to hear it! Do you have a daughter? It's a winner of a book and has totally changed how I view girls' toys, marketing to girls, and in general what I emphasize and don't emphasize to my daughters. I'm REALLY glad I read it while they are little and in the thick of all this. I recommended it to a friend of mine with a daughter close in age to my youngest, and she loved it too.

Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading The Hot Zone: A Terrifyin..."</i>

I do. They're both older, but I think this subject is fascinating and have friends with younger girls. My eldest daughter was in middle school when I read[book:Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence. It was so interseting and really taught me a lot. Now my other daughter is in middle school and I can help her rather than being clueless.

Heather wrote: "Here are my top 10 books published in 2011 (with a few from the tail end of 2010).
10.Caleb's Crossing
9.Doc: A Novel
8. Faith: A Novel
7. [book:Why We ..."

I have 4 on your top 10 that I haven't read yet! I've got some good reading ahead :)

Struggling to come up with ten, so I will submit my top six is below.

6. Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground
5. Still Missing
4. Zeitoun
3. The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie
2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading The Hot ..."</i>

I own Queen Bees... and plan to read that for sure. I also have [book:Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, Come Back: A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Hell and Back, and You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation, all books I feel will benefit me in my relationship with my girls.

Sorry for the tangent, everyone. As you were.

Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am currently reading..."

The last time I asked 'you're wearing that??' was Sun. "Take off those short shorts and try again! We're going to a formal xmas party not a pool party." Most often I can bite my tongue, lol.

Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am ..."

Haha! Good for you for knowing when to bite your tongue! I have a feeling I won't always be so good at that. :/

1. When God Was a Rabbit
2. The Last Child
3. The Murderer's Daughters
4. Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
5. Traveling Light
6. The Book Thief
7. The Thirteenth Tale
8.The Lake of Dead Languages
9. To Kill a Mockingbird
10. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

I know I have complained all year about my reading slump, and it really shows in my Top Ten List of the year, which contains only five books that I really loved:
1. The Passage
2. The Sweet Relief of Missing Children
3. The Marriage Plot
4. Zone One
5. 22 Britannia Road
Although I haven't quite finished it yet, I know I will add:
6. The Beauty and the Sorrow
I'm really looking forward to 2012!

wow - I loved some of the same books you did -
DOC- A NOVEL
FAITH - A NOVEL
STATE IF WONDER
THE WIDOWER'S TALE
(the only one's I read from your list)
I am not finished with the year yet so I am going to hold off until the bitter end..

Vicky wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I know I have complained all year about my reading slump, and it really shows in my Top Ten List of the year, which contains only five books that I really loved:

I haven't posted m..."

Thanks, Vicky, but as you can see from my list, it was an especially weak year for historical fiction for me. But I really did like 22 Britannia Road. And the non-fiction book I'm reading on World War I, The Beauty and the Sorrow, really does read like a novel.

Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Caroline wrote: "In no particular order, these were the best ones I read in 2011 (I only read about 23 books this year, though; I am ..."

LOL- that sounds all too familiar. I think I'd better read that book:)

Oooo good question, think mine are (in no particular order):

1. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
2. Moab Is My Washpot by Stephen Fry
3. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
4. Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton
5. The Bad Beginning (and the rest of the series for that matter) by Lemony Snicket
6. Zombicorns by John Green
7. Recipe for Murder by Esterelle Payany
8. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
9. Flu by Wayne Simmons
10. Heartstone by C.J. Sansom

I'll go with ones I read in 2011...I probably only read one or two which were published in 2011.

1) A Confederacy of Dunces
2) The Elegance of the Hedgehog
3) Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
4) People's History of the United States, A: 1492 to Present, Revised and Updated Edition
5) WEB OF DEBT: The Shocking Truth About Our Money System -- The Sleight of Hand That Has Trapped Us in Debt and How We Can Break Free
6) Cutting for Stone
7) Truman
8) Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
9) Retirement Heist
10) The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

Dan wrote: "I'll go with ones I read in 2011...I probably only read one or two which were published in 2011.

1) A Confederacy of Dunces
2) The Elegance of the Hedgehog
3) [book:Bo..."

Definitely what you read in 2011! I'm reading A Confederacy of Dunces right now. I'm about 50pgs in and just getting into the quirky characteristics of Ignatious. I have a feeling I'm going to love it when I'm finished.

Stacey wrote: "Dan wrote: "I'll go with ones I read in 2011...I probably only read one or two which were published in 2011.

1) A Confederacy of Dunces
2) The Elegance of the Hedgehog..."

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. If you like unique characters, Ignatious is your man.

My top books read in 2011:

State of Wonder
Still Alice
Henry's Sisters
Water for Elephants
The Help
The Patron Saint of Liars
All This, and Heaven Too
Every Last One
A Spot of Bother
A Thousand Splendid Suns

Aaaa! I always wait til New Year's Eve to pick my favs. And I usually only pick 3. I'll get back to you on the 31st.

If someone had told me back in January that my favorite book this year would be a western, I would have said...well, nevermind. It was The Sisters Brothers, hands down.
I also liked State of Wonder. Not only was it an exciting trip down the Amazon, it made me think about - 1) how old is too old to have a baby?
2)just because science makes it possible, is it morally right to get pregnant in you 60s? 70s?
3)and how far would I have been willing to go to conceive?

Other favorites for the year, in no particular order:
Serena
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Case Histories
The Brothers K
The Poisonwood Bible
The Wheelman
and
The Prospect of My Arrival

Stacey wrote: "What is your top ten for 2011? I love reading over these lists and, of course, it adds to my already too long TBR pile!"

Hey Stacey - I know I've been MIA this year, but I'd love to compile the annual list! It just might take me a couple of weeks to do so - I'm in desperate need of reading recommendations, so my offer is really self-serving! LOL

And I'll add my top 10:


The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (A Flavia de Luce Mystery, #1) by Alan Bradley
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (A Flavia de Luce Mystery #2) by Alan Bradley
Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Oh, good, Miranda is doing her list! Here's my top 10:


Unbroken
Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksThe Night Circus
Vaclav and Lena
Still Missing
Silver Sparrow
Breakfast with BuddhaOne Amazing ThingOne Amazing Thing
Blame: A Novel (Michelle Huneven)

Happy New Year, all!

Oops, just realized it was only 8! Then I'll add:

State of Wonder
Before I Go to Sleep

my top ten:OOPS ELEVEN:

SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT - HOFFMAN
WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN - GODWIN
WORLD & TOWN - GISH
THE WIDOWER'S TALE - GLASS
POPE JOAN - CROSS
FAITHFUL PLACE, FRENCH
STATE OF WONDER - PATCHETT
DOC - RUSSELL
MATTERHORN - MARLANTES
FAITH A NOVEL - HAIGH
THE KITCHEN HOUSE - GRISSOM

Thanks for compiling our list again, Miranda! I only have seven for the list.


The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
Bossypants
The Women's Room
The Last Time I Saw You
Left Neglected
WThe Weird Sisters

Miranda wrote: "And I'll add my top 10:


The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
The Hypnotist by Lars Keple..."

I'm reading Let Me In (mine is under the title

Let the Right One In) and love it. I'm a little more than halfway through.

Miranda, I was hoping you'd volunteer again to compile the list! Thank you SO much for doing this! I can't tell you how much I look forward to our annual list!

Here are my paltry few favorites of the year for you to include (not totally in order, though the first 3 were definitely my tops):
FALLING TOGETHER (Marisa de los Santos)
LEFT NEGLECTED (Lisa Genova)
THOSE WHO SAVE US (Jenna Blum)
MAINE (J. Courtney Sullivan)
THE LOTUS EATERS (Tatjana Soli)
STILL MISSING (Chevy Stevens)

I have an appt, but when I get back I'll post my top 10!

Mary wrote: "Miranda, I was hoping you'd volunteer again to compile the list! Thank you SO much for doing this! I can't tell you how much I look forward to our annual list!

Here are my paltry few favorit..."

Yay! Another fan of Those Who Save Us!

Theresa wrote: "Mary wrote: "Miranda, I was hoping you'd volunteer again to compile the list! Thank you SO much for doing this! I can't tell you how much I look forward to our annual list!

Here are my paltry ..."

Good to see Those Who Save Us on people's lists; it's on my to-read list.

Melissa, move THOSE WHO SAVE US to the top of your to-read list. It is SO worth your hurrying to get to it!

I recommend Stones from the River to all of you who loved Those Who Save Us.

Mary wrote: "Melissa, move THOSE WHO SAVE US to the top of your to-read list. It is SO worth your hurrying to get to it!"

Great, I actually own a copy so I'll have to move it up on my list.

Heather wrote: "I recommend Stones from the River to all of you who loved Those Who Save Us."

Yes! Stones is another of my favorites. I often take it when I am traveling.

*Loved* Those Who Save Us!

My 10 in the order tha I read them.


Left Neglected
This Is Where I Leave You
Child 44
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Rainlight
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Iron House
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Breakfast with Buddha
The Lonely Polygamist

Miranda, thank you SO MUCH!!

I read a lot of books in 2011. It was hard to narrow down to 10.

Melissa wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Mary wrote: "Miranda, I was hoping you'd volunteer again to compile the list! Thank you SO much for doing this! I can't tell you how much I look forward to our annual list!

Her..."



Those Who Save Us is on my all-time favorite list. Enjoy - it's fabulous!

Miranda - you're awesome - thanks for doing this again:)

Here is my list in no particular order except the first is absolutely hands down my favorite:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
A Game of Thrones series books 1-3 (haven't read the others yet)
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
TheJohnathon Strike/ Serena Dial series by Brian Freeman
The Paris Wife
The Magicians
The Red Queen
The White Queen
The Girl Who Chased the Moon

These Things Hidden

Annika wrote: "Miranda - you're awesome - thanks for doing this again:)

Here is my list in no particular order except the first is absolutely hands down my favorite:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of ..."</i>

I LOVED The Magicians. Be sure to read the next in the trilogy, [book:The Magician King. :)

Everyone's lists look so interesting, many new books to discover.

It's hard just remembering what was read in the last year, let alone ranking the books. Here's my list in order of preference. Devil in the White City may be so high because my son lives in Chicago now, so there is a personal connection to the Windy City.

Steve Jobs

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America-then watched the movie expo-magic in the white city via Amazon streaming ,and feel as though I visited this Chicago 1893 World's fair.

Emily, Alone- a little gem

The Hunger Games -only read first one, am I the only one who didn't go further?
People of the Book discovered Geraldine Brooks this year. followed this with her Year of Wonders

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
State of Wonder-discovered Ann Patchett this year, read Bel Canto first, liked State of Wonder more.
Cutting for Stone
Before I Go to Sleep

JZ wrote: "Everyone's lists look so interesting, many new books to discover.

It's hard just remembering what was read in the last year, let alone ranking the books. Here's my list in order of preference. Dev..."

Are you going to read the next in The Hunger Games trilogy? I found all three books to be equally good.

JZ wrote: "Everyone's lists look so interesting, many new books to discover.

It's hard just remembering what was read in the last year, let alone ranking the books. Here's my list in order of preference. Dev..."

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Year of Wonders:)

@ Caroline, Interesting that you found all three Hunger Game books equally good. I think I will pick up the second one soon. A few people I know thought the second book was the best, and those people also didn't care for the ending in the third book.

@ Annika-I, too, LOVED Year of Wonders. Some books leave a lasting impression, and I'll never forget the true historical basis that this little English village quarantined themselves during the plague, and what that must have been like.
Which reminds me of another book I loved-
Polio: An American Story- won pulitizer for history 2005,, and I learned so much about American History from this book. It should be ranked second on my list.

It's my pleasure to compile the list! Honestly this year has been a bit of a slump year for me so I haven't read nearly as much as I wanted, and seeing everyone's lists provides a much needed spark at the beginning of the year!

Stacey wrote: "What is your top ten for 2011? I love reading over these lists and, of course, it adds to my already too long TBR pile!"

Does anyone else have a top 10 list to add? I've got all the ones listed tallied into two lists - Fiction and Non-Fiction and there are definitely some clear favorites this year!

JZ wrote: "@ Caroline, Interesting that you found all three Hunger Game books equally good. I think I will pick up the second one soon. A few people I know thought the second book was the best, and those peop..."

They were equally good to me in that they all were just as suspenseful and kept you turning the pages. The last book is a bit different in tone, I would say, but I didn't see that as a negative. I know people have complained about how the trilogy ended, but I was fine with it, for the most part. Maybe Collins rushed to tie up loose ends toward the trilogy's end, but that's JMO, and the last book is still incredible.