I found this survey at The Avid Reader's Musings and had to participate!
1. Best Book You Read In 2011?
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint: A Novel by Brady Udall - It's hard to really say this is my favoritest but if I have to pick...This story just sucked me in and was unpredictable sometimes from chapter to chapter.
2. Most Disappointing Book?
The Magicians: A Novel by Lev Grossman - People are singing this book's praises all over LibraryThing which is usually a good sign, but I felt like it was a complete rip-off of Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and Lord of the Rings. I chose it for my book club to read and they hated it too. How humiliating. Not really. We had a fun bitch session.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane - I did not see the end coming, although when Corey and I watched the movie together he figured it out about 25% of the way in. Very engrossing story.
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - probably the book everyone recommended the most in 2011
5. Best series you discovered in 2011?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Spurred on by Corey's desire to see the movie in the theater, I finally started this series and it is awesome. I can't wait to read The Girl Who Played With Fire this year.
6. Favorite new (to me) authors you discovered in 2011?
Helen Simonson, Kathryn Stockett, Brady Udall, Susan Vreeland, Markus Zusak
7. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King - There aren't any chapters and it's all told from Dolores's point of view as she gives her confession to the police. Without any chapters to stop me I just kept going.
8. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman - This had been on my wishlist for a couple of years so I was excited to finally read about The Darwins. Fascinating couple.
9. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
The cover is the cover of Life magazine, March 27, 1924. Cool!
10. Most memorable character in 2011?
Sweetie from Sweetie by Kathryn Magendie - Sweetie is a magical girl who loves nature. I felt like she would be a good friend to have in real life.
11. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
On the Road by Jack Kerouac - This was a reread for me, but I just love his descriptions. One quote even inspired a scrapbook page:
12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland - I can never look at Luncheon of the Boating Party the painting the same again, in a good way, because of this book. I even read a non-fiction book about Renoir because of this book.
13. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper - My friend Angi loaned this to me about 2 years ago, but I didn't read it because I couldn't handle reading a true story where the cat dies at the end. You find out at the beginning of the book that the cat is still alive today! Silly me.
14. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?
Also difficult to pick just one, but this passage was handy. Without further ado, from The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg:
There is a story about a Navajo grandfather who once told his grandson, "Two wolves live inside me. One is the bad wolf, full of greed and laziness, full of anger and jealousy and regret. The other is the good wolf, full of joy and compassion and willingness and a great love for the world. All the time, these wolves are fighting inside me." "But grandfather," the boy said. "which wolf will win?" The grandfather answered, "The one I feed."
15. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor - I probably would never reread a book so soon, but if I have to choose I would say this one. We had a very revealing discussion about this book at our book club meeting, which made me look at many of the stories in a new way. It would be fun to reread them with that knowledge.
16. 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!
The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson - It's hard to pick out just one scene from the whole year, especially without spoiling anything, so I chose this one because it's one I shared with Corey. The Horse Boy has autism which causes him to have tantrums. Right before he has his most intense tantrums he always shouts out, "Giraffe!" which I found amusing since I love giraffes. I'm sure his parents thought it was cute too. Not.
gratuitous giraffe pic:
P.S. Lessons in Dreamtime is from Art&Ghosts which can be found here: http://artandghosts.bigcartel.com/.
P.P.S. I don't remember where I found the giraffe photo, but I didn't take it.
1 comment:
That's really good to know about The Magicians. I've heard great things about it and I had high expectations. If I end up reading it now I will have MUCH lower expectations.
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