Best Reads of 2011

Best Historical Fiction:

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (Completed October 29, 2011)

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (Completed August 27, 2011)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Completed August 1, 2011)

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin (Completed July 19, 2011)

The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown (Completed May 14, 2011)

Best Non-Fiction:

Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan (Completed October 11, 2011)

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (Completed August 18, 2011)

Resistance: A Woman's Journal of Struggle and Defiance in Occupied France by Agnes Humbert (Completed August 9, 2011)

Far and Away: A Prize Every Time by Neil Peart (Completed April 23, 2011)

Spitfire Women of World War II by Giles Whittell (Completed February 26, 2011)

Series I Continue to Love:

Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant Series, Book 6) by Derek Landy (Completed October 7, 2011)

Spell Bound (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 12) by Kelley Armstrong (Completed July 25, 2011)

Empire of Ruins: The Hunchback Assignments III by Arthur Slade (Completed May 8, 2011)

Fables Volume 15: Rose Red by Bill Willingham & Company (Completed April 15, 2011)

River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 6 (Completed March 12, 2011)

A Lesson In Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs Series, Book 8)

Classics That I Loved:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (Completed October 6, 2011)

Favourite Fantasy Reads:

Prince of Thrones: Book One of The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence (Completed September 23, 2011)

The Way of Kings: The Stormlight Archive - Book 1 by Brandon Sanderson (Completed September 1, 2011)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Completed September 10, 2011)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (Completed April 16, 2011)

Daughter of the Forest (Book One of The Sevenwaters Trilogy) by Juliet Marillier (Completed January 15, 2011)

The Fallen Kings Cycle Book 1: The Sworn by Gail Z. Martin (Completed January 10, 2011)

Honourable Mentions:
Among Others by Jo Walton
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (The Inheritance Trilogy #1) by N.K. Jemisin

Best Canadian Read:

The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay (Completed September 3, 2011)

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley (Completed May 15, 2011)

Favourite Graphic Novels:

The Unwritten - Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Company (Completed August 26, 2011)
The Unwritten - Volume 2: Inside Man by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Company (Completed August 26, 2011)
The Unwritten - Volume 3: Dead Man's Knock by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Company (Completed August 26, 2011)

Trilogy I Was Sad To See End:

The Infinity Gate (DarkGlass Mountain Trilogy, Book 3) by Sara Douglass (Completed July 28, 2011)

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb (The Tawny Man Trilogy, Book 3) (Completed June 19, 2011)

Books That Stand-up to a Reread:

Outlander (Outlander Series, Book 1) by Diana Gabaldon (Completed July 10, 2011)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (Completed June 28, 2011)

Best Young Adult Fiction:

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (Completed June 23, 2011)

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger (Completed March 11, 2011)

Book That I Didn't Expect to Love But Did:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Completed May 25, 2011)

Best Short Story Collection:

Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint (Completed April 11, 2011)

Book That I Am Still Thinking About:

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (Completed February 5, 2011)

End of the Year Survey and Book Buying...

I saw this survey on It's All About Books and decided I really needed to post something today, so I went with this... If you get bored the end of my post shows the books I got for Christmas with my gift cards... The event is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner.

Bookish Bests

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

This is a hard question! I really enjoyed many books this year, so I don't think I could pick one. I will have to do a more in-depth post for this question.

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. People seem to love that book and I was very disinterested....

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman. When I read descriptions I didn't think it sounded like something I would really enjoy, but I decided to be 'different'. I am glad that I did!

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

The Night Circus and A Discovery of Witches. They are the ones I gave gifts to, too.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. I really enjoyed the first book and am tempted by the rest...

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Helen Dunmore, E. Lockhart, Erin Morgernstern, Mark Lawrence, Kathryn Stockett, Helene Hanff, and many more...

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

oops, I really need to read down on these things... Probably Everything Began After by Simon van Booy. I probably wouldn't have read this without book bloggers.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

The Night Circus was unputdownable... Maybe not so much thrilling, though.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

River Marked by Patricia Briggs. I love this series!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

um... Among Others by Jo Walton has a pretty cover!

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Good lord... These questions are hard. I know I will answer them and then think of something else... um... Helene Hanff. I know her books are non-fiction, so not really a character, but she sticks with me.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

The Night Circus, I think.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

Little Princes by Conor Grennan in the non-fiction aspect. Probably When she Woke by Hilary Jordan in the fiction department.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

So many! I finally read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books. I finally read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

I have no idea. I don't record this...

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

I don't reread much, so not sure.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Probably either A Discovery of Witches or The Night Circus.

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011?

Oh, wow, there are so many blogs that I started reading this year. Some of them just started blogging, but others have been blogging for years. I couldn't really narrow it down...

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2011?

Man, I don't know. My posts normally all are terrible. I think I have enjoyed all of my buddy reviews, though, because they are always fun to do!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Probably my venting on my Blogiversary post. I still kinda regret saying anything, but most people seemed to sort of agree and those that didn't lead to some interesting discussions.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog?

I think I tend to look at things as a whole. I might read one post and it sort of makes me think, but then more posts about the same sort of thing getting me paying attention. Sometimes I make my own connections, though.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Easy! Virtual Advent. I might be a bit biased, though...

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

um... I finally did a vlog... And then another one... For me that is a HUGE step. I also talked to Marg on Skype...

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

I actually don't pay attention to things like that. I am not even sure how to do that easily, so I just won't.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

There are many... There never seems to be any rhyme or reason to what is popular. I find that more 'personal' posts get the best results. Book posts get attention, but music and things don't usually get much attention...

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I started using Fictfact this year. I find it very helpful...

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I completed challenges, yes. I also read more classics in one year than I have in years. That was sort of a goal. I probably could have done better, but it wasn't terrible either.

Looking Ahead...

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

I think The Wise Man's Fear, the next Kingkiller book, by Patrick Rothfuss, will be read very soon in 2012. <---- I am just going to say DITTO to Suey's answer. I was very excited about this book and STILL haven't read it.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

BITTERBLUE!!! Oh, and FAIR GAME! I don't like that series quite as much as her other one, but still, fun! And the new John Green... And more Fables... And a sequel to A Discovery of Witches... And a new book by Mark Lawrence...

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

I want to get rid of my current template. I am tired of the black, but I am terrible at things like that...


Gift Card Book-Buying:

Bitterblue is a book I have been waiting for FOREVER! (Pre-order)

Finally! Sequel to the Fables spin-off! (Pre-order)

This came out a while ago but I was waiting for my Christmas gift cards...

New Patricia Briggs!!! I have been waiting for years! (Pre-order)

I read the first book in this series earlier this year, so I am excited to see what happens next... (Pre-order)

um, duh? I think I am too late to have it signed, but I still had to have a copy (Pre-order)

Ana (and several other people) loved this book and someone stole the library copy...

I wanted a new Daphne du Maurier book. It was a bit overwhelming, but I just like this title...

I have found I love Brandon Sanderson and this was a good price...

I have heard lots of good things about this book. 

I received a review copy of the second book in this series without knowing it was the second book, so need book 1...

This was a splurge... It just sounds good. (Pre-order)

This sounds like a book you should own... Also a splurge. (Pre-order)

I love this series, so I am very excited to get a chance to read this...

This book is out next year and is the 5th Volume.

This was in the Bargain Bin...

I loved Hugo Cabret, so this was sort of a given...