10 Books I Read in 2011
December 19, 2011
One of my 27 before 28 goals was to read/listen to 10 books this year. Done! To be honest, most of this reading happened in June and August. Between the lazy pre-B school summer and my brand new Kindle, it was a breeze. I have three weeks off now and plan to get into some more books – any suggestions?
Books I would whole-heartedly recommend to anyone:
- The Family Fang – Kevin Wilson
- Please Look After Mom – Kyung-sook Shin
- A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
- Just Kids – Patti Smith
Totally entertaining reads: 
- SuperFreakonomics – Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
- The Garden of Beasts – Erik Larson
- The Oriental Wife – Evenlyn Toynton
- The Seventh Commandment - Laurence Saunders
Just okay:
- The Abstinence Teacher – Tome Perrotta
- While You Were Gone – Sue Miller
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Thanks for sharing your suggestions and I wish you continued reading pleasures!
Best,
Kevin
Love love LOVE posts like this — so grateful for recommendations from fellow bloggers.
I just got a Kindle Fire, and I’m looking for books to add to the arsenal.
Thank you!
:)
I also loved A Visit From the Goon Squad. I don’t feel it got the exposure it deserved, so I’m glad to see it on your list. Another author recommended it to me, and I’m very glad he did.
I’ll be adding your suggestions to my (ever growing) to-read list!
I liked but didn’t love A Visit From the Goon Squad. I truly appreciated the writing and unique structure of the novel and can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. But it didn’t hit me hard like many other Pulitzer fiction I’ve read.
Best book I read all year: Then by Morris Gleitzman. Fair warning: It’s a tear-jerker.
i like you coment…
I read Superfreakonomics this past year as well and it quickly became one of my favourites of all time. In fact, I’ve re-read it several times since!
Great list and congrats on being Freshly Pressed! :)
Well it’s a shame that I only got to read 3.. and didn’t even finish the other one. Hahaha
If you’re looking for more to read, I would suggest Ian McEwan’s Atonement, or Water for Elephants by Sarah McGruen, or The Kite Runner. Kind of mainstream now, but for good reason, I think.
Thanks for the suggestions! I loved both Water for Elephants and The Kite Runner. I’ll check out Atonement! I certainly don’t shy away from the mainstream. I’ll take my good reads wherever I can find them.
‘Read all three and agree within you; they were wonderful books.
Ronnie
Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns by the same author as The Kite Runner? I, too, think Kite Runner is incredible. A Thousand Splendid Suns is even more incredible.
I am reading the Kite Runner right now, and its Splendid.
Its been a long time since the Kite Runner was written. It’s a little slow.
Recommended: Norgewian Wood by Hakuri Murakami, Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead, Journeys Into Fame and Madness by Neil Strauss, Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer.
10 books, you’re tough. I’m not really a fast reader. What do you do to be one?
I’ve never really thought about my reading speed. I am sure there are classes on speed reading, but don’t have a sense of how useful they would be.
For me it’s about finding time to read. It used to be easier when I had a wicked commute, now I make sure to set reading goals to keep me honest. Cheers!
Congrats on reaching your goal…great suggestions too!
Thanks for the tips!
I read some really inspirational books this year. George Orwell’s ‘Down and Out in Paris and London’ probably tops the list but Haruki Murakami’s ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ is up there too.
I just posted my Resolutions for 2012 on my blog @ http://oracularspectacular.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/12-resolutions-for-2012/ Check it out :)
Katie
I will second “Down and Out in Paris and London” as an interesting read. Though it’s an older book it definitely offers many insights on the lives of people living in poverty that are relevant today. One of the things that stuck with me about that book was Orwell’s statement that one of the worst things about poverty was the boredom. For a writer I can imagine this would obviously be the case.
My reading goal for this year was to tackle all the major works of James Joyce (not as crazy as it sounds, there are only four). I formally started in September and I should be done with Ulysses, my last one, by the new year. If anyone is interested I wrote about the experience on my blog.
http://letmychildrenreadblogs.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/reading-james-joyce-part-one-in-an-ongoing-series/#more-291
Interesting list. I didn’t read any of those. Have a big list of my own, but there are one or two on your list that piques my interest. Thank you :)
val
http://valentinedefrancis.wordpress.com
Thank you for the reading list. I have checked out a few books to read for this time of the year, the Jan Karon Mitford series, and look forward to reading them. Have a great weekend!
I read many books in 2011, but not many news ones. I feel slightly guilty that I didn’t read any of the books on your list, but I did hear author interviews on NPR at least.
I find NPR (Fresh Air especially) is a great source for new, noteworthy books!
I also read Please Look After Mom this year and I found it just ok.
I felt it lost something in the translation perhaps??
That being said, if you enjoyed it then I would suggest you read “Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet” and “The Weight of Heaven”
I will look up SuperFreakonomics especially since I loved the first one!!
I know it is an older book but I read The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan over the summer. It was excellent! The first few chapters were slow but once I got into it I could not put it down.
I think The Kitchen God’s Wife is Amy Tan’s best book..like it so much!! Her other books anyway, are just ok.
From what you’ve selected, you should read Mary Karr.
Always lovely to hear about a great book! Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
If you’re looking to read more, I have a couple suggestions. Just about anything by Neil Gaiman but specifically The Graveyard Book, Water for Elephants, and most of Stephen King’s stuff. That should keep you pleasantly entertained for a while!
Freakonomics is a good one…and Lawrence Sanders is always a nice, entertaining read.
I’ve got to write some of this down. Thank you. :D
I just added “Just Kids” by Patti Smith to my Christmas list. I was thinking of reading it and now, after your recommendation, I really want to read it. Thanks for the list!
Oh wonderful! I hope you enjoy it! My love for this book really took me by surprise. I didn’t know much about the protagonists before picking it up, but I was truly transported.
Yes, my book club chose Just Kids as it’s next book to discuss. I love belonging to this group’s reading group because I read books that I would not ordinary read many of the titles we vote on.
Ronnie
The Shack is a great book http://theshackbook.com/, happy reading!
http://sywsoyouwanna.wordpress.com
A humorous book for office workers/professionals is a suggestion covering the nuances of office life, the very humor of it all and the dream of one day getting out long before retirement. Ok, that was one ugly run-on sentence. But it worked.
“Cubicle Rebel” by yours truly. Wink.
these seem like some nice books, cant wait to read them…are they available online somewhere for download?
-S
Yup! Most of them are available via Kindle e-books on Amazon.com (you can get them even if you don’t own a Kindle). I would also check out Audible.com (if you enjoy audiobooks as I do).
Nice list! I like how you say you’d “whole heartedly” recommend because I read a lot of books I enjoy but wouldn’t necessarily recommend to anyone. It takes a really good book to appeal to everyone.
I recommend Before I Go to Sleep. By the far the best novel I read all year. Here’s a shameless plug to my review ;)
http://brokenpenguins.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/read-before-i-go-to-sleep-before-its-a-movie/
Thanks! What a wonderful blog you have. Just subscribed!
Thanks! You’ve really inspired me – I think I will post my top recommendations from this year too :)
Look at Goodreads.com! Put in your likes and dislikes and they will recommend other books, too.
http://schroedernotes.wordpress.com/
Thanks for sharing, I’ll definitely check out the site!
Great blog! Thanks for sharing. I’ll surely read one of your suggestions. :D
These books look totally interesting! I’ll try to find time to read them…
I’ll have a look at those.
As i don’t know what kind of books they are it’s hard to recommend anything because I don’t know what you like.
My most favourite book of all times is “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood.
I recently finished ” A Moveable Feast” by Hemingway and now I envy anybody who hasn’t read it yet.
I also love Bulgakov’s “Master and Margarita” but I think it shouldn’t be read without some background info about the country of those times first.
I loved “The Master and Margarita”! Thank you for the reminder; maybe I’ll reread it this year.
Really? It’s so great that you did! I reread it many times and I’m sure I will reread it again this year. A magical book.
If you haven’t already done so, I recommend anything by Barbara Kingsolver. POISONWOOD BIBLE is her magnum opus. It’s the story of a missionary family in Congo, told in the voices of five women. I also loved THE LACUNA, a story of a writer living part time in Mexico and in the US during the McCarty era. The third really knock out book is PRODIGAL SUMMER, three seemingly unrelated stories of life in Appelacha that all come together in the end. She has other really good books but these are my favorites.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve had The Poisonwood Bible on my list for a while, but now I am definitely going to read it.
I liked While I Was Gone, I read it as an Oprah Book Club selection. I finished Roses by Lelia Meacham, it was a great read!
Suggestion: The Camel Club-By David Baldacci. Interesting book about Washington D.C. and different spy agencies, terrorist groups, and secrets. Pretty sure it was a New York Times Best Seller.
From what I’ve read and heard of the Goon Squad, it sounds terrible and incredibly over-hyped. In any case, thanks for the list.
Thanks for taking the blogs to a higher level. I like to read a print book at home, and listen to a Book on Tape in the car. I get twice the reading time that way, and I think listening to a book beats anything that’s on the radio.
Ronnie
Nice Review! ♥
I’d recommend MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden, BOY’S LIFE by Robert McCammon, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO trilogy by Stieg Larsson (if you enjoy thrillers), THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE (as well as the rest of the Flavia De Luce mysteries) by Alan Bradley, and anything by Laurie Notaro.
Hi all:
This is my first post on this site. It’s always great to read. Ten books a year is very good. There are loads of people who won’t even pick up one book. At any rate, I am an enthusiastic reader myself. In my field, that is as an amateur writer of intellectual pursuits, I have to read loads of books. It comes with the territory. Strangely though, again part of its nature, I may not read the entire book, unless I find the entire book useful for my research. It is often that I request a book at the library, only to realize it’s not what I am looking for. Oh well. Keep reading. Chow
Always looking for new reads. Ive had In the Garden of Beasts on my shelf for a long time, I just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but I’ve loved Erik Larson’s other books
Right now, I’m loving “The Night Circus” and mostly read it late at night. Quite magical. Great listens included “Cutting for Stone” and “World without End” both listened to on my long commutes as they make time & traffic disappear. Happy reading!
Yes, I agree. Books about foreign places, like “Cutting for Stone” are wonderful subjects for Books on Tape, because the accents are true, and the pronunciations of names and places are pronounced properly.
Ronnie
Thank you for your suggestions! :)
Thanks for adding even more books to my list! Reading and writing is my passion, and I hope to write a novel just as great as these one day!
Hi, I’m doing a survey from the perspective of ‘author’ and would like to know what would you as ‘reader’ enjoy on a writer’s website and/or blog? I’m assuming you’d be interested in whatever books are available to buy, but what if the book isn’t on shelves yet? I guess, bottom line question is what would you find interesting on author’s blogs. Your answers will help me as I develop my own blog to reflect what readers want to see. Thank you and any of your readers for pitching in with you opinions, even if just to say you don’t visit writer’s blogs ;)
If I’m reading a blog buy an author I want to see good ideas on how to develop plot, create characters, ect. I read books for two reasons: pleasure, and a curiosity to see how a ‘real’ author writes. I enjoy collaborating with other writers.
If you get a chance I’d like your opinion on my blog
A Visit From the Goon Squad is the worst book ever to win a Pulitzer. I have read more interesting stories written by 6th graders. Please do not buy that piece of mediocre writing!
Havent read any of these books…
Though i have read few books recommended in the comments…
Will try to read the other books soon enough..
http://www.randomflix.wordpress.com
Men Into Boys: The Making Of Modern Immaturity By Gary Cross And Generation Me By Jean Twenge is as well awesome cultural books on modern life in America.
I also enjoyed The Lonely American as well
i loved the help and room!!!
I wholeheartedly recommend 1Q84. It is a long book, but it is totally worth it! And i still refuse to use Kindle and Co. Thanks for the recommendations! Keep them coming!
sory, feel realy guilty,,,,,, I haven’t read any of them yet…….. bt now am serious……. Thanx.
Happy writing!!!
Great list, thank you!
Three books I recommend (you may have already read):
1. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides (or if you haven’t, read his Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, Middlesex).
2. Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
3. Dracula in Love by Karen Essex
Please Look After Mom is such a touching poignant story. Totally changed my life.
Thanks for this share and the recommendations! I love reading and books. http://mademoisellesnow.wordpress.com
Thanks! I’ll be sure to post a list of the recommendations. I think I pretty much have my reading list for the next year+ !
great post. thanks. Though I am still trying to get through the last dan brown. I know! What can I say?
Homespice, have you read Night Circus? Absolutely it is my favorite read this year. I’ll have to check out the books that made it to your recommended list.
Thanks for the suggestion! Haven’t picked it up yet, but I’ve seen it on several lists. I am swayed by your enthusiastic reco and will be sure to check it out!
Thank you for the list. I have been wanting to read Please Look After Mom and hopefully will get to it soon. I am currently reading 22 Britannia Road, and find it pretty good. I would recommend hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet by Jamie Ford.
Thanks for the suggestions!!! None of these books are something I would generally read so I would have never looked into them. So, now I must look into them! :D I love my NOOK, especially since I live in a country where English books aren’t that accessible. So thanks!! :D
Cheers from Serbia!
If you haven’t read works by Haruki Murakami, dive into his amazing books! Really something! Fascinating imagination! Your brain will go places you didn’t even know existed! Make sure you start with “Kafka on the shore”, you’ll get hooked and buy every book he ever wrote without even bothering to read the plot and reviews!
Enjoy :)
Hi Elizabeth! I have read Kafka on the Shore and absolutely loved it! I haven’t read anything else by Marakami. . .yet! After ‘Kafka’, what’s your next favorite? Thanks for the suggestion.
Norweigan Wood is also amazing! And ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ too, but I’d go for Norweigan Wood first!
Glad you liked it! I’ve read “Dance Dance Dance” and it was so wonderful it made me cry! I think all his books are so moving! I’m currently reading “Norwegian Wood” and planning on reading “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman”. My advice, go for them all! You won’t regret a single one! :) Have a good read!
Thanks for good tips! I’m looking for a good book right now, so this was perfect!
Congrats of Freshly Pressed!
A good quick post to read.
I’ve not read any, although I am most intrigued by the titles: Please Look After Mom, and the The Family Fang, that I might just look more into the book!
I love books recommendations because I never know what to get… I’m reading Mrs Dalloway, but I’ll have to stop because I’ll start studing to get a job… They have a test… Hope I can find that Patti Smith book.
I’m reading and loving The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
It’s inspiring me into action, and I know it inspired a growing social movement in California among Sikh Youth, and a social justice focused rapper in Toronto, among others.
Some very interesting choices. I would add three: ‘The Glass Room’ by Simon Mawer, ‘Bird Cloud’ by Annie Proulx and… just before the year is out, I’ve discovered ‘The Etymologicon’ by Mark Forsyth – has anybody come across this one? It’s delectable!
wonderful list, thanks for informing
I’m adding these to my to-read list for my winter break! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on getting in 10 books! Thats a feat in a year for a lot of people including me. :)
Einstein’s Telescope, a great book.
I am a retired US Navy SEAL and I served my country honorably from 1969 to 1993. I retired as a chief petty officer, and I am a combat veteran of three wars. While in government service, I personally participated in, and led numerous covert operations, and numerous classified missions worldwide in support of U.S. and foreign governments, militaries, and other official agencies.
My book “When the Bullet Hits Your Funny Bone – The Essence of a U.S. Navy SEAL,” falls somewhere between “Rouge Warrior.” and “The Psychology of Military Humor.” The Ebook can be purchased from Twilight Times Books, and the Paperback can be purchased from Barnes & Noble.
I feel that my book will add clarity to, and give an overall picture of, the type of person that makes up a US Navy SEAL. My book offers the reader a personal glimpse into the minds of America’s most elite warriors, and explains how SEALs bond with each other to become brothers-in-arms, and why SEALs use extreme humor to cope with a job that places these professional warriors face to face with death on a daily bases. This is a unique angle, because of the serious nature of a SEALs profession, and it also answers the question, “How do these guys live with the daily pressures of mayhem and death, and not loose their focus or sanity through it all?”
I adore Patti Smith. I would enjoy reading “Just Kids.” Thank for sharing. Excellent list!
I think you would enjoy “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” by Dai Sijie.
Here are 10 great picks from amongst the books I read this year.
1. We Are All Weird by Seth Godin
2. That Hideous Strength (really, the whole Space Trilogy) by C.S. Lewis
3. The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
4. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
5. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris
6. King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard
7. Freedom by Daniel Suarez
8. Live and Let Die by Ian Flemming
9. The Adventures of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets by Hergé
10. A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones Book 1) by George R.R. Martin
I purchased Visit From the Goon Squad over the summer but still haven’t gotten around to reading it!
My favorite book I’ve read this year was Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food.
Brilliant – I’ve not read ANY of these. And I’ve got a Kindle. Will have the 10 read by February….not saying which year. Here are a few more – http://anne-whitaker.com/2009/10/23/bite-sized-book-reviews/
Happy Xmas!
The written word rules!
If you haven’t already, you should read The History of Love by Krauss. One of my favorite books!
Hi everyone! Thanks for all the suggestion. Feel free to keep them coming! I have culled together a list of what’s been suggested so far on the blog. http://homespicelife.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/book-recommendations-for-2012-sourced-by-you/
There’s a SuperFreakonomics?! Was it as good as the first one?
-MTO
There is! Personally, I liked the first one better, but that may just be because the form was new to me then. It is still worth a read and made me think!
Love to know what you think of mine – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005Z284A6
Ooohh I thought I was a book worm but I haven’t read any of the books you suggested. I’ve got a busy year to come i guess so. Thanks a lot.
http://www.dubaimumz.wordpress.com
I too enjoyed Just Kids this year and loved The Hunger Games Trilogy! Thanks for the post!
You have just skimmed the surface of a wonderful collection of books. I agree with you that “The Abstinance Teacher” was just “ok” yet “The Garden of Beasts’ was a definite page turner. Since you are asking for suggestions I would add “Story of Beautful Girl” to your list as well as “The Hunger Games” trilogy some of Lori G Armstrong’s books too. Fore more book suggestions please feel free to check out my blog: sweetweetreads.wordpress.com
“Miles from Nowhere” by Nami Mun…
I would suggest:
The Divine Ryans – Wayne Johnston
Dharma Bums – Jack Kerouac
The Sentimentalist – ?
Room – Emma D?
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathan Safran
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
Most of these are my fav’s and summer reads of summers past lol
I have other suggestions on my blog if you ever check it out.
One suggestion for a really good thriller based very accurately on true events: “Alone in Berlin” by Hans Fallada – my review: http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/alone-in-berlin-hans-fallada/
Congratulations on reaching your goal. I may fail by 2 books from reaching mine – 100 books. But that’s ok, I read fantastic books this year.
My favorite audiobook fiction of this year was Before I Go To Sleep, an easy but fantastic story. See my review here, you might enjoy it. And you can look on my right bar for tons of suggestions. http://wordsandpeace.com/2011/11/21/83-before-i-go-to-sleep/
Happy new Reading Year! Emma
I find that listening greatly increases the number of books I “read”. There’s so much time, like getting dressed, making the bed, cooking, folding laundry, that lends itself to listening.
I agree! My older sister got me hooked on audiobooks and I am a total convert. In fact I’ll be listening to one while I bake for Christmas today!
Great post! I loved Visit from the Goon Squad, but I’ll have to check out the other three. A few other highlights of my own reading year were Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels, and Lark & Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips. They’re probably not everyone’s, but I absolutely loved them. (Also, people have been telling me to read Cutting for Stone…it’s on my list but as yet unread.)
I read a fair amount of factual books, but I really want to get back into reading fiction as well. I think stories actually broaden your mind in a way fact cannot. In a more subtle way.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions! :)
Good for you
I read only three this year .. feel ashamed !
I’m done with
1) Animal Farm – Gorge Orwell
2) Kafka on the shore – Haruki Murakami
3) totally Arabic book called “times of white horses”
My favorite book this month is Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds by Scott Berkun. It is a series of essays about life, living, thinking about stuff in new and creative ways. I found it inspiring and thought provoking. Read it on the kindle fire, which I love beyond all description.
here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Mindfire-Ideas-Curious-Minds-ebook/dp/B0062F5QO2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324778878&sr=1-1
Great work and feel proud of your accomplishment! With so many distractions swooping into our life every day it’s no small feat to get through 10 books and enjoy yourself while doing so.
I recommend that you read the book “Kafka on the Shore” by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It gripped my soul and wrangled out emotions I cannot easily explain. While I was reading it I had an astounding clarity of vision that I have been unable to achieve since, although as I set down the book for the final time I realized that doors opened for me that I didn’t realize even existed. Thoroughly entertaining and introspective, “Kafka on the Shore” is perhaps my favorite piece of fiction and ranks as one of the most surreal works I’ve ever encountered. Do enjoy yourself wherever your curious mind leads you and good luck.
Thanks Tyler, what a beautifully written recommendation! Yeah, I think I mistakenly said earlier in a response that I had already read it, but it turns out I had read the “Wind Up Bird Chronicles” and not “Kafka on the Shore”. I’ll have to read it this year, it has been recommended a couple times. I hear you on the distractions of everyday life. Hope you have a wonderful end to your year
I have to read “Just Kids” for one of my college classes next semester! I’m looking forward to it now :) As for recommendations, I’d suggest basically anything by Sir Terry Pratchett. He writes satirical fantasy, and he’s one of the funniest writers alive today. “Thief of Time” and “Mort” are particular favorites of mine.
Great suggestions .. I read a couple of books this year among which I liked
1. Animal Farm – George Orwell
2. 1984 – George Orwell
3. Victoria and Abdul – Shrabani Basu (Since I have always been fascinated with Royal families I really liked this book :) )
Great post! Thanks for sharing !
You all should read one of my favorites. Unbroken by Larua Hilenbard. ( I Hope spelling is ok there) Its about a WWII pilot who is shot down and survives on a life raft until he is taken prisioner by the Japaneese.
I love your books :) Wish I have a list of the books I am reading. Just too lazy to make a list.
Nice selection…
I would recommend the following:
http://cynicseyeview.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/the-rule-of-three/
A delightful group of books! Congrats on the press!
Nice Recommendations!!!
My goal is to read 50 books 2012, well let me see if i can achieve,any good recommendations to start it?could be non fiction as well. Right now reading emperor of all maladies which is pretty good stuff
Wow, 50 books! You put me to shame. Of the ones I recommended, I would say the Family Fang would be a fun place to start. Happy Reading!
Being the avid reader I am I love reading books especially ones that peak my interest or are out of my realm
Congrats on completing this goal that you set for yourself and thanks for the good recommendations !
Happy Holidays !
http://wp.me/p1UOCa-C
Nice reads. I have all of the above on my TBR list.
I personally enjoyed reading ‘A Visit From the Goon Squad’ a lot.
I’m currently reading ‘The Family Fang’ and enjoying it.
My resolution for 2011 was to read 200 books and now I’m at 216 and hopefully your recommendations will see me through a couple more. Thanks for it!
I second Erick Larson’s in the Garden of Beasts. It is really great non fiction which reads like a novel. The number of anti-Semites in the ranks of FDR’s cabinet and advisors is pretty scary.
Definitely should read “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. I haven’t seen the movie yet – but it can’t possibly capture the wonderful personalities of the women described in the book. I usually read mostly Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Andrew Greeley (yeh, I know, a really weird mix) – but I took a chance on this book when it first came out – and it is definitely worth the read. The other one is The Little Giant of Aberdeen County By Tiffany Baker – such a fun book to read!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Wow! Love your pics–I loved Visit from Goon Squad and I actually have copies of a few others waiting to be read! Excellent!
@graylinsample
yepindeed.wordpress.com
whoops and I meant *picks
So many great recommendations… I am love loving anything by Brian Selznick, he is a children’s author but Wonderstruck is an amazing book!
Lawrence Saunders – Try his Deadly Sins Books.
Wilbur Smith – South African novelist. Writes adventure tales that take place in South Africa. Books are action packed masterpieces .His love of his home country is evident in all of his novels. He goes to great lengths to not only tell a great yarn, but also deftly captures the essence of the beauty of South Africa.
Robert Ludlum – His earlier works. The Matlock Papers , The Scarletti Inheritence,etc. Great spy novelist.
Irwin Shaw – Rich Man, Poor Man . A lengthy but timeless epic of an american family. Also can recommend The Young Lions, Nightwork,Evening in Byzantium.
Cool thanks for the recs! I’ll be traveling to South Africa for the first time this spring, so I’ll have to check out a Wilbur Smith book before then!
I also read ‘A Visit From The Goon Squad’ and thought it was very good. You might want to take a look at ‘Snowdrops’ by A D Miller (see my blog for a review). Or ‘A Sense of an Ending’ by Julian Barnes. Happy Reading and a Happy New Year for 2012.
sadly, i don’t remember reading any this year. :( do cookbooks count?
Cookbooks totally count! I am actually trying to rebuild my cookbook collection after a move. Any suggestions?
Some of the books i really loved reading this year are:
-Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, -Paula by Allende, -The Help by Stockett,
-Island Beneath the Sea by Allende, -The Feast of the Goat by Liosa,
-Armageddon in Retrospect by Vonnegut
The Family Fang looks interesting.
Congratulation and thanks for sharing! 10 books! Hats off to you!
If I may, may I suggest the following, if you haven’t read them yet:
“The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery
“The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera
“The Infinite Plan” by Isabel Allende
“Saving Fish from Drowning” by Amy Tan
And if you’re interested to read on some Filipino writers, may I suggest the works of F. Sionil Jose. He’s one of the acclaimed writers of in our country, especially the Rosales Saga novels (a five-novel series that spanned 300 years of Philippine history under Spanish rule, with “Po-on”, “The Pretenders”, “My Brother, My Executioner”, “Mass” and “Tree”).
Happy New Year and Happy Reading! :)
Ohh interesting suggestions! I have read ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ and liked it a lot. I don’t know any Filipino authors, so thanks for sharing those especially!
The Family Fang and Please Look After Mom, catchy titles and book cover. I think they are both interesting to read, hope they’re available in the Philippines. Might as well read them this early 2012. Great suggestions by the way! :)
American Gods is a classic by Neil Gaiman. :) Amazing book.
Tigerheart by Peter David. It made me miss my imaginary friend very dearly.
I will try to give these books a look!
I’ll try some of these books. Thanks for the recommendations!
I recommend Aleph by Paulo Coelho or The Geography of Bliss. Those two are my last two books and I loved them!
love the way you write. This post is juicy :D
I’ve heard so many people say that “Just Kids – Patti Smith” is good. I need to put in on my reading goals list. Thanks for these great book ideas.
Hey There Homespicelife,
I take your point, I need to read other books, preferably fantasy, to heal my damaged eyes from reading twilight *cringe* You see, friends recommended this wretched book and I was completely disappointed in it.
But anyways, I want to read fantasy books that is just a “fun read” like the Phantom Tollbooth or Alice in Wonderland. What other books are like this? Something that is a feel good book?
BTW great blogpost
I really enjoyed Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From The Goon Squad. It might just be me, but it seemed quite fitting that I ended 2011 with this book. :) I’ve been trying to look for a copy of The Family Fang, it looks so interesting!
Hi There Homespicelife,
Cool Post, I am a Business Administration student at the University of Oregon and want to start reading more than just my course books. I have read some classics like “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu and more recent business books like “The Little Red Book of Selling” and “Good to Great.” What are some other books that every business student should read before going into the real world. Thanks.
Nice One!
I read a lot of Self Development books. The one I have just finished is “25 ways to win with people” by John C. Maxwell & Les Parrott
Self development books have helped me and my business a lot in 2011. 2012 will be our Olympic year!!!
A good list made ! The time spent worth ! I say just a thank you and will add them to me to-read list !