Top Books of 2011

In Order:

1. Unbroken - still selling like hotcakes, Laura Hillenbrand's sophomore effort about a hero of

WWII. Beautifully researched and written.

2. Defending Jacob - crime novelist William Landay's account of a murder in suburban

Massachusetts, and its aftermath on the family of the accused

3. Catherine the Great - Robert Massie's great biography that reads like a novel

4. The Buddha in the Attic - Otsuka's sophomore effort; a unique insight into the women of

Japan who helped colonize California

5. The Art of Fielding - Chad Harbach's debut novel of baseball at fictional Westish College; captivating in its wording, not altogether well-received by the critics

6. The Drop - Michael Connelly's entertaining instalment in the Harry Bosch series; 2 cases; a

new love interest, some reflections of how Connelly will recast the series in the

future, when Harry's daughter Maddie is grown.

7. The Lost Wife - Alyson Richman; a love story set in and after the Holocaust. Difficult

passages about conditions in Terezin and Auschwitz

8. Bossypants - Tina Fey - a totally entertaining autobiography

9. Last to Fold - debut novel, David Duffy; an interesting lead character (Turbo Vlost) from

the Gulag, writing is crisp, series shows a lot of promise. Nominated for an

Edgar award.

10. The Litigators - John Grisham; his best and most entertaining in a long while - three

dimensional characters

Doubtless, had I had time to read the autobiography of Steve Jobs that I got for Christmas, it would have made the list. It goes in as a leading contender for 2012, however!

Prior years:

http://livingimperfectly.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-books-of-2010.html

http://livingimperfectly.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-best-books-of-2009.html