2011 « Devourer of Books

2011 – Best Books

It is that time of the year, when everyone and her mother wants to tell you about the best books of the year. Well, let’s be honest, I’m no exception to the rule. I like to go back through what I’ve read for the year and reflect on what has continued to speak to me throughout the course of the year. I did things slightly differently this year, and chose only from the books I reviewed this year, which includes a few read in 2010, and none read in December of 2011. This is actually part of the reason I’m able to write this post before the end of the year, because everything I’m reading right now will be considered for my 2012 list (particularly since I’m mostly reading things with 2012 release dates at the moment).

Because I reviewed over 200 books this year in a variety of genres (not counting Saturday Story Spotlight), I found it difficult to pick just 10, or even 20 best books. Instead, I broke my list into a the genres I read in the most, and picked up to 5 books that most stood out in each. Books marked with an asterisk are back list books, which I read in 2011. Books are listed in the order reviewed.

Continue reading 2011 – Best Books

May 2011 Reading Wrap-Up

May started off really, really slowly as far as my reading went, but I sort of went full throttle at the end of the month and ended up having an amazing month. I finished 22 books including 5600 pages of print and 41 hours of audio. I’m still amazed I read that many books, particularly because the beginning of the month was like molasses, but I finished a book each day from the 13th to the 30th.

I will first be listing the books reviewed over the last month, and will include unreviewed books below, so you can see what will be coming up!

What I Reviewed:

Audiobooks
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor, narrated by John Telfer

Fiction
Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen
How to be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips
The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore
If Sons, Then Heirs by Lorene Cary

Mystery
Murder Under Cover by Kate Carlisle
Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

Historical Fiction
March by Geraldine Brooks
The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene
Doc by Mary Doria Russell

Nonfiction
How Shakespeare Changed Everything by Stephen March
The Convert by Deborah Baker
Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart

Saturday Story Spotlight
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton
Tumford the Terrible by Nancy Tillman

Other Posts:
A Rose by Any Other Name
Oh, D.E.A.R. – Upcoming Books
Getting Excited About Audiobook Week – Audies Winners
Audiobook Week 2011 Info and Discussion Topics
Cool Down with Agatha Christie – Standalone Readalong
High School Book Drive Wrap-up

Pick of the Month:

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

I had trouble choosing just one this month, Doc by Maria Doria Russell and The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips were incredibly strong contenders as well

Devourer of Books

2011 – Best Books

Continue reading 2011 – Best Books

May 2011 Reading Wrap-Up

What I Reviewed:

Pick of the Month:

Other Books Read, Watch for Reviews:

Follow Me!