My TBR pile has been growing in the last few weeks, mostly because I have been out doing more shopping than usual for Christmas. Or maybe my book-buying habit has reached new heights. Either way, these are the books I'm most excited to pick up and read in 2011:
1. The Night Bookmobile (Audry Niffenegger): I haven't been able to track this book down yet, but once I do I'm going to jump right in. I read the first few chapters online and so far it's a great story.
2. Middlesex (Jeffery Eugenides): I've heard great things about this Pulitzer Prize winner and I've been saving it for my classics challenge that starts in January.
3. Everything is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer): I loved Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and named it as my favorite book read in 2010. I'm so excited to read more Safran Foer.
4. Room (Emma Donoghue): I saw this on many favorites of 2010 lists, but am waiting for the paperback edition.
5. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Dave Eggers): I've had this on my TBR pile for awhile. I know it's going to make me really sad so I'm waiting to pick it up, but I'm also excited because Dave Eggers is pretty great.
6. More Margaret Atwood: I've been on a roll with Atwood lately and she is quickly becoming my favorite author. I'm excited to continue. In 2011 I hope to tackle The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace and Cat's Eye.
7. The Unnamed (Joshua Ferris): I really liked Then We Came to the End and look forward to Ferris' second work.
8. The Old Man and the Sea (Earnest Hemmingway): Another Pulitzer I'm saving for my classics challenge.
9. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Junot Diaz): I picked up this book this weekend and can't believe I haven't read it sooner.
10. Freedom (Jonathan Franzen): Once this baby becomes a paperback, I am going to succumb to the hype.
Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for hosting Top Ten Tuesday. Image via Things She Loves.
Josie read a translation of Safran Foer and hated it. I think it's the translation though. I also give you thumbs up for Hemingway and Franzen!
ReplyDeleteBen, That's terrible. I feel like maybe Foer is a hit or a miss with people. He is pretty post-modern and that isn't for everyone. Which one did she read?
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great 2011 list. I need to check out Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close soon.
ReplyDeleteOscar Wao was good and strange. Don't read the Spanish words out loud in public, if you don't speak Spanish that is. If you do, then you know what you're doing :)
Red, I've never taken a lick of Spanish in my life - just a bunch of French. Thanks for the heads up! I hope my not knowing any Spanish won't take away from the book.
ReplyDeleteLOVE JSF! As you probably already know! P
ReplyDeleteI really need to pick up Room as well! Lots of good picks on this list!
She read Everything Is Illuminated. But her complaints had to do with the vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteJamie, I just want him to write more books!
ReplyDeleteBen, Hmmm... That sounds like it could be due to the translation (yes I am trying to defend a book I've never read).
I liked #1 and loved 2, 3 and 9. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteNymeth, Thanks for letting me know! I think I'll start with one of those.
ReplyDeleteNice choices! I really enjoyed Middlesex and The Old Man and the Sea was a pretty good read too.
ReplyDeleteUhhhh we have almost the exact same 'excited about' list. 'Everything is Illuminated 'Brief life,' 'Heartbreaking work' 'and anything atwood' is on the top of my 2011 list. Get out of my head.
ReplyDeleteNot knowing Spanish won't take away from the book because it's just curses & insults that are in Spanish. Here's how my Spanish lessons a la Oscar Wao went:
ReplyDelete::on crowded subway::
"Hey Boyfriend, what does [offensive Spanish insult] mean?"
"It means you should probably point to the words instead of yelling them out when you don't know what they mean."
Middlesex is a really good read. The story stays with you even after you read the last page. Those are always my favorite kind of books to read.
ReplyDeleteGreat list. 1 and 9 are on my TBR list for next year too, as well as reading more Atwood. I love 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Old Man is an interesting one. I can't bring myself to read Freedom, because I couldn't stand The Corrections, maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteExcellent list! Room is one of my favourite books of the year, it was incredible! Middlesex is awesome too. I'm also planning to read more Atwood next year, I've only read 2 of her novels so far and hoping to get through the other 4-5 that are sitting on my shelves. I bought Freedom this year and haven't read it yet so I'm hoping to get through that next year too!
ReplyDeleteTwobibliomaniacs, I can't wait for those.
ReplyDeletePadfoot, I'll try :)
Red, That's really funny. I'm sure you got some dirty looks.
Melissa, I've heard wonderful things about it.
Avid Reader, It sounds like we have the exact same taste in literature.
1girl, I'm dying to read Room! So many people have listed it as their favorite for 2010.
Middlesex is one of my absolute favorite books! I also loved Freedom (and blogged about it) and anything by Margaret Atwood... I didn't know Audrey Niffenegger had a ne wnovel, but I hope to get to that one by the end of 2011! too
ReplyDeleteI like your list. I plan to read Freedom from your list.
ReplyDeleteMy post: http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-ten-books-im-anticipating-for-2011.html
I welcome recommendations.
Middlesex, Cat's Eye and Freedom would also be on my list for 2011...along with about a gazillion more :)
ReplyDeleteI want to read Room as well! Middlesex wasn't my favorite I will be interested to see what you think of it!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited there is a new Niffeneger book coming out! And Middlesex was really great-you should enjoy it. I need to read some Safran Foer and Franzen both, if only so I can figure out what all the fuss was about earlier this year with the Picoult/Franzen debate.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to The Old Man and The Sea as well but I might just finish it this year. I look forward to reading some Persephone Classics next year along with Margaret Atwood! I have heard wonderful things about "Room" too, so that will be a book I will be picking up. Have fun with your list. I would like to borrow this topic for a blog post as well!
ReplyDelete