12.22.2011

My Favorite Books Read in 2011


2011 was a good reading year for me. My goal was to read 60 books and at this moment I've got 58 down. I think I can manage two books in 9 days if I choose short books kick it into gear. With that said, below are my favorite books I read this year. Some are new releases others were published before I was born.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami: At it's root this is a love story, but it involves so much more. Murakami examines loneliness and sorrow in this coming of age story. The characters are memorable and the writing is incredible. (1987)

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach: I didn't think I would ever read a book about baseball that I couldn't put down, but Harbach did it. His novel focuses on relationships; those we have with others and more importantly, the the one we have with ourselves. (2011)

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides: This Pulitzer Prize winner follows three generations of a Greek-American family living in Detroit and the genetic secret and later identity crisis of Calliope. (2002)

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: The Namesake examines the immigration experience of a Bengali family and speaks to the physiological disjuncture and cultural displacement that results from belonging to two very different culture. This book is captivating, heartwarming and depressing, all at once. (2003)

The Submission by Amy Waldman: This novel challenges the fears of post 9/11 America and forces us to consider to what extent those fears are sensible and to face how much we are hurting Muslim-Americans. (2011)

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood: A book about growing up and going back home, Cat's Eye examines women's relationships and the repression we inflict on one another. (1988)

them by Joyce Carol Oates: Part of the Wonderland Quartet series, them follows two generations of the Wendall family and explores the forces that keep them in poverty and struggling to achieve happiness. (1969)

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides: Among other things, this novel examines the confusions and angst of recent college graduates and how we get where we do in life, without really knowing where we want to go. (2011)

The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster: My favorite Auster to date, this story is abotu redemption and second chances and the power of human connections. (2005)

The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer: A riff on the publishing industry's literary fakes, this book follows a down and out writer and the web of lies in which he gets tangled. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. (2010)

Honorable Mentions: On Beauty by Zadie Smith, The Painted Veil by M. Somerset Maugham, How I Became A Famous Novelist by Steve Hely

16 comments:

  1. Great books you've listed here -- some I've read, others I'm just lusting after. I'm ALWAYS glad to see some Paul Auster in the mix, and I have The Brooklyn Follies waiting on my shelves! Woohoo!

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  2. Great list. After reading your reviews I've put pretty much all of them on my tbr pile. Too much to read, not enough time

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  3. I really loved The Art of Fielding too. Great list!

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  4. Okay, fine, fine, my next read will be The Art of Fielding ;) Great list.

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  5. I love your choices! I was a huge fan Middlesex, The Brooklyn Follies and The Marriage Plot. I've added The Submission to the top of my list. It sounds so good!

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  6. Good luck for reaching your reading goal, I'm sure you can do it.
    Aside from Middlesex, which you know I loved as well, I also loved Cat's Eye when I read it.

    The Marriage Plot is on my Christmas list, I really hope I get a copy...

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  7. Eugenides is excellent - I'm glad you liked both Middlesex and The Marriage Plot. I'll be reading Norwegian Wood next month, so I'm looking forward to that.

    And I guess I'm going to have to read The Art of Fielding since it's on half the best-of lists that I've read.

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  8. Only read Norwegian Wood (which put me off Murakami for year and until now) and The Namesake (which I love), Have you see this last one's adaptation?

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  9. Ahh, Middlesex and The Marriage Plot. So much greatness :). I'm so happy that you like Norwegian Wood, because I'm so excited to read it in Alice's readalong in January now :). And I really must read them!

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  10. Great list! The Brooklyn Follies made my list last year and Norwegian Wood is one of my favorite Murakami novels. I'm now looking forward to The Marriage Plot, The Submission and the Art of Fielding even more since you have them on your best list.

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  11. Wonderful list- most are on my wish list already, but I just added the Auster at your recommendation.

    I can hardly wait for my library reservation of The Art of Fielding to come up!

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  12. I just added a few of these to my Amazon wish list!

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  13. This all looks like wonderful reading. I liked the 2 of those I've read (The Art of Fielding and The Marriage Plot) and I've really been wanting to get to Norwegian Wood. Looking forward to it more now!

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  14. List looks great, really intrigued by The Submission - might just have to check it out.

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  15. Great list! I read The Namesake this year and really enjoyed it. I was just thinking about The Art of Fielding last night when I watched Moneyball. Can't imagine loving a book about baseball but so many people seemed to enjoy it this year. Happy new year!

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  16. I've just written my review for The Art of Fielding in which I said people who love The Marriage Plot will love The Art of Fielding - this post confirms that! I enjoyed both, but they weren't favourites. Jhumpa Lahiri is one of those authors I've been meaning to try for a long time - I need to try to get to her in 2012. I hope you have a wonderful 2012!

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