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I'm a Minnesota Girl, living in the south. I tell my friends I try not to talk and think like a Yankee, but sometimes I slip up!

Monday, January 30, 2012

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

3 comments:

Kelly said...

I've not read any on your list this year, Quid. "Unbroken" sits on the shelf waiting, though. I gave it to my husband last year and he enjoyed it.

Too many books and so little time!! (still working on clearing some of my TBR stack)

Serena said...

I've only read a few on your list. I always read the latest Connelly and Grisham. Love those guys -- and Robert Crais. I looked up "Defending Jacob" and I am going to get that ASAP. Sounds terrific.

Anonymous said...

Quid,
I have already added #2 to my TBR list.and what you shared about #1,3,4,7,8,9 and 10 definitely piqued my curiosity!
Raven