What I Read In 2011
Favorite Books of 2011
(No, they are not in order.)
The Duff by K. Keplinger: Oh so funny and delivers a wise message about adolescent dating and sexual behavior.
The Healing War Trilogy (Shifter, Bluefire, & Darkfall) by J. Hardy: Page turner. Great world building. Page turner. Adore the characters. Page turner. Great story. Did I mention that it is a page turner? No? Well…it is.
Anna & the French Kiss by S. Perkins: This book makes me want to be a better storyteller. Funny and heart-warming and romantic. It’s just well done. Period.
Divergent by V. Roth: In a year bubbling over with dystopian novels, this one stood out. This book made me think. (Contrary to popular belief, I like thinking every now and again. J) I love the premise and the characters.
The Help by L. Stockett: The characters were well-developed. The story shed light without being preachy. And it got people talking and laughing and crying. Surprisingly, the movie was well done.
Lolita by V. Nabokov: (Yes, I know it is older than dirt. But I read it for the first time this year.) Beautifully written depiction of a VERY flawed protagonist.
Hourglass by M. McIntire: Time travel and electric love and murder mystery and great kissing. And the cover is wicked. My cup runneth over.
Still Alice by L. Genova: This was great fuel for my nerdy, neuropsychology side. If you are around someone with dementia….YOU. MUST. READ. IT. Though it’s fiction, you will learn something.
The Near Witch by V. Straubb: This made me feel like a kid at a sleepover, curled up under a blanket as a girl tells a ghost story with the obligatory flashlight trained on her face. I love this story and the writing. I could not read it fast enough.
Daughter of Smoke and Bones by L. Taylor: Okay, I finished this book and woke up the next morning with this thought, “I can’t believe I have to wait a year.” Such a unique spin on angel and devil mythology. And the love story . . . STARCROSSED.
Scorpio Races by M. Stiefvater: It presented a new mythology to me: water horses. I could practically smell the ocean feel the water and sand lick at my skin as the horses galloped by. I loved the characters.
The Lover’s Dictionary by D. Levithan: I think dog-earing approximately 1/3 of the pages because the writing is so amazing catapults a book onto the “favorite list.” It is hard to believe you can understand a relationship in less than 200 pgs with mere definitions…but you can…and do.
One of my criteria for landing a spot on this list is that I want to shove the book into as many hands as possible. Books on this list become gifts. Or I slip them into a friend’s bag and strongly encourage them to read it. In honor of that obssession tradition, answer the question below, and you will be entered to win a book of your choice from above. Each place you spread the word (Facebook, Twitter, LJ, two aluminum cans and a string) is another entry. Contest ends December 24, 2011 at Midnight CST. I will draw post the name December 26, 2011. (Open to people in the US only.) (Leave contact info if you're not on LJ.)
What was one of your favorite reads in 2011?
(No, they are not in order.)
The Duff by K. Keplinger: Oh so funny and delivers a wise message about adolescent dating and sexual behavior.
The Healing War Trilogy (Shifter, Bluefire, & Darkfall) by J. Hardy: Page turner. Great world building. Page turner. Adore the characters. Page turner. Great story. Did I mention that it is a page turner? No? Well…it is.
Anna & the French Kiss by S. Perkins: This book makes me want to be a better storyteller. Funny and heart-warming and romantic. It’s just well done. Period.
Divergent by V. Roth: In a year bubbling over with dystopian novels, this one stood out. This book made me think. (Contrary to popular belief, I like thinking every now and again. J) I love the premise and the characters.
The Help by L. Stockett: The characters were well-developed. The story shed light without being preachy. And it got people talking and laughing and crying. Surprisingly, the movie was well done.
Lolita by V. Nabokov: (Yes, I know it is older than dirt. But I read it for the first time this year.) Beautifully written depiction of a VERY flawed protagonist.
Hourglass by M. McIntire: Time travel and electric love and murder mystery and great kissing. And the cover is wicked. My cup runneth over.
Still Alice by L. Genova: This was great fuel for my nerdy, neuropsychology side. If you are around someone with dementia….YOU. MUST. READ. IT. Though it’s fiction, you will learn something.
The Near Witch by V. Straubb: This made me feel like a kid at a sleepover, curled up under a blanket as a girl tells a ghost story with the obligatory flashlight trained on her face. I love this story and the writing. I could not read it fast enough.
Daughter of Smoke and Bones by L. Taylor: Okay, I finished this book and woke up the next morning with this thought, “I can’t believe I have to wait a year.” Such a unique spin on angel and devil mythology. And the love story . . . STARCROSSED.
Scorpio Races by M. Stiefvater: It presented a new mythology to me: water horses. I could practically smell the ocean feel the water and sand lick at my skin as the horses galloped by. I loved the characters.
The Lover’s Dictionary by D. Levithan: I think dog-earing approximately 1/3 of the pages because the writing is so amazing catapults a book onto the “favorite list.” It is hard to believe you can understand a relationship in less than 200 pgs with mere definitions…but you can…and do.
One of my criteria for landing a spot on this list is that I want to shove the book into as many hands as possible. Books on this list become gifts. Or I slip them into a friend’s bag and strongly encourage them to read it. In honor of that obssession tradition, answer the question below, and you will be entered to win a book of your choice from above. Each place you spread the word (Facebook, Twitter, LJ, two aluminum cans and a string) is another entry. Contest ends December 24, 2011 at Midnight CST. I will draw post the name December 26, 2011. (Open to people in the US only.) (Leave contact info if you're not on LJ.)
What was one of your favorite reads in 2011?