Although I didn’t get through 52 books like I did in 2010, last year was still a winner in the reading department. I’ve talked about a few of these already here and there but I wanted to share my favorites from the list in case y’all are looking for new reading material. Since there are a LOT books here, this is going to be a long post. Grab a notepad, a pen, and maybe a cup of tea.
1. Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women
This book was really interesting and raised a lot of good, thought-provoking points about women in American politics, on both sides of the aisle, how we perceive them, and what it means for the future.
2. The Count of Monte Cristo
I read this book when I thought I was going to get through a classic a month. That didn’t end up happening, but as far as classics go this was a page-turning good time.
3. Courtroom 302
If you’re interested in the legal system in Chicago, read this book. It’s nonfiction, but worth it. The author spent an entire year in a courtroom in order to write the book and his dedication and research really shine.
4. A Homemade Life
I loved this book. Recipes preceded by why they were important to the writer. Beautiful prose.
5. Gang Leader for a Day
I found this book, about the public housing projects on the south side of Chicago, absolutely fascinating. I actually read it a few years ago before I moved to Chicago but I re-read it last year and found it just as interesting and relevant.
6. The Little Stranger
If you’re looking for a good creepy book that keeps you wondering long after you’ve read it, you’ll find that in The Little Stranger. If you read it I’d love to hear your take on the ending, which I still occasionally think about months later.
7. Under the Banner of Heaven
This is another rather heavy nonfiction book but I find the topic (Mormonism and its history) fascinating, and the author has a really engaging voice.
8. Bossypants
Tina Fey is really, really funny. Snort/laugh-out-loud funny.
9. Thinking in Pictures
This is Temple Grandin’s biography, and it’s really interesting to read about her from her point of view. She does a very good job of explaining how she thinks, and her life story is so inspiring.
10. Tolstoy Lied
This book, while not particularly uplifting, does a fairly good job of accurately portraying life in academia, which is not something one sees very often. It’s a love story of sorts, but it strikes me as very realistic, which I appreciated, and the ending is hopeful.
11. The American Heiress
Are you looking for a good fluff book to read while curled up on the couch while it rains or snows? Something that’s full of fun descriptions and period details? This is the book for you.
12. Fast Food Nation
Are you looking for a book that will scare the crap out of you and have you vowing to never buy anything not labeled “organic/free range/grass fed/ethically raised” ever again? This is the book for you.
13. The Paris Wife
This book, a fictional account of Hemingway’s relationship with his first wife, was probably the best book I read all year. Almost makes me want to read Hemingway. Almost.
14. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
I’m not usually a fan of young adult fiction but this book was fantastic. A true page turner, it may just leave you scared enough to sleep with the hall light on. I can hardly wait for the movie.
15. Man in the Rockefeller Suit
If you have ever wondered how people could be taken in by a con man, read this book and you’ll understand. It’s amazing and simultaneously unbelievable.
16. Wildflower: A Beautiful Life and Untimely Life in Africa
While nonfiction, this is a very sad yet inspirational story of one woman’s struggle to campaign for conservation in Africa. I highly recommend it.
17. The Ghost Writer
Another creepy book, this is probably the scariest thing I read all year. The end will have you doing full-body shivers. Seriously, if you like scary books you can’t pass this one up.
18. Dirty Secret
Fascinated by that TLC show “Hoarders?” This is that show in book form, but with more information and compassion thrown in. Bonus: it will make you want to clean out all your closets.
19. Snobs
Before Julian Fellows hit it out of the park with Downton Abbey, he wrote a few other things. One of them, Gosford Park, was turned into a fantastic movie. Another of them, the book Snobs, also should have been. Until a savvy producer gets wise to that fact, we can enjoy it in book form. His wit is so sharp you’ll get papercuts.
20. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
This book, a chronicling of a self-professed ordinary life, is an interesting way to do a biography of sorts. Part of the reason I liked it was because the author lives in Chicago.
21. When Corruption Was King
Another nonfiction book about Chicago. I picked this up on a whim while there in December and read almost half of it on the plane home. It’s hard to believe this much corruption and back room dealing was going on while ordinary people were living their ordinary lives all around it.
22. Commencement
This book reads like Curtis Sittenfeld’s female characters from Prep grew up and went to college. It’s sweet and a fun, fast read.
23. Marathon
Hal Higdon hits it out of the park with an encyclopedic knowledge of running and a friendly, approachable, everyone-can-do-it attitude that has me that much closer to actually signing up for 26.2 miles. Maybe.
1. Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women
This book was really interesting and raised a lot of good, thought-provoking points about women in American politics, on both sides of the aisle, how we perceive them, and what it means for the future.
2. The Count of Monte Cristo
I read this book when I thought I was going to get through a classic a month. That didn’t end up happening, but as far as classics go this was a page-turning good time.
3. Courtroom 302
If you’re interested in the legal system in Chicago, read this book. It’s nonfiction, but worth it. The author spent an entire year in a courtroom in order to write the book and his dedication and research really shine.
4. A Homemade Life
I loved this book. Recipes preceded by why they were important to the writer. Beautiful prose.
5. Gang Leader for a Day
I found this book, about the public housing projects on the south side of Chicago, absolutely fascinating. I actually read it a few years ago before I moved to Chicago but I re-read it last year and found it just as interesting and relevant.
6. The Little Stranger
If you’re looking for a good creepy book that keeps you wondering long after you’ve read it, you’ll find that in The Little Stranger. If you read it I’d love to hear your take on the ending, which I still occasionally think about months later.
7. Under the Banner of Heaven
This is another rather heavy nonfiction book but I find the topic (Mormonism and its history) fascinating, and the author has a really engaging voice.
8. Bossypants
Tina Fey is really, really funny. Snort/laugh-out-loud funny.
9. Thinking in Pictures
This is Temple Grandin’s biography, and it’s really interesting to read about her from her point of view. She does a very good job of explaining how she thinks, and her life story is so inspiring.
10. Tolstoy Lied
This book, while not particularly uplifting, does a fairly good job of accurately portraying life in academia, which is not something one sees very often. It’s a love story of sorts, but it strikes me as very realistic, which I appreciated, and the ending is hopeful.
11. The American Heiress
Are you looking for a good fluff book to read while curled up on the couch while it rains or snows? Something that’s full of fun descriptions and period details? This is the book for you.
12. Fast Food Nation
Are you looking for a book that will scare the crap out of you and have you vowing to never buy anything not labeled “organic/free range/grass fed/ethically raised” ever again? This is the book for you.
13. The Paris Wife
This book, a fictional account of Hemingway’s relationship with his first wife, was probably the best book I read all year. Almost makes me want to read Hemingway. Almost.
14. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
I’m not usually a fan of young adult fiction but this book was fantastic. A true page turner, it may just leave you scared enough to sleep with the hall light on. I can hardly wait for the movie.
15. Man in the Rockefeller Suit
If you have ever wondered how people could be taken in by a con man, read this book and you’ll understand. It’s amazing and simultaneously unbelievable.
16. Wildflower: A Beautiful Life and Untimely Life in Africa
While nonfiction, this is a very sad yet inspirational story of one woman’s struggle to campaign for conservation in Africa. I highly recommend it.
17. The Ghost Writer
Another creepy book, this is probably the scariest thing I read all year. The end will have you doing full-body shivers. Seriously, if you like scary books you can’t pass this one up.
18. Dirty Secret
Fascinated by that TLC show “Hoarders?” This is that show in book form, but with more information and compassion thrown in. Bonus: it will make you want to clean out all your closets.
19. Snobs
Before Julian Fellows hit it out of the park with Downton Abbey, he wrote a few other things. One of them, Gosford Park, was turned into a fantastic movie. Another of them, the book Snobs, also should have been. Until a savvy producer gets wise to that fact, we can enjoy it in book form. His wit is so sharp you’ll get papercuts.
20. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
This book, a chronicling of a self-professed ordinary life, is an interesting way to do a biography of sorts. Part of the reason I liked it was because the author lives in Chicago.
21. When Corruption Was King
Another nonfiction book about Chicago. I picked this up on a whim while there in December and read almost half of it on the plane home. It’s hard to believe this much corruption and back room dealing was going on while ordinary people were living their ordinary lives all around it.
22. Commencement
This book reads like Curtis Sittenfeld’s female characters from Prep grew up and went to college. It’s sweet and a fun, fast read.
23. Marathon
Hal Higdon hits it out of the park with an encyclopedic knowledge of running and a friendly, approachable, everyone-can-do-it attitude that has me that much closer to actually signing up for 26.2 miles. Maybe.
Anything I should add? Please don't say Twilight or Game of Thrones. I just can't.
4 comments:
Game of Thrones Game of Thrones!!!
I had to read Courtroom 302 for a class in grad school, and I really hated it (mostly his writing style annoyed me). Maybe I actually just hated that class.
Wow, I need to get reading. I can't even remember the last time I finished a book. Some of these sounds really good too especially the creepy/scary ones. Because you know I need another reason to be afraid of the dark ;)
I own marathon (I actually have a signed copy as I met Hal Higdon at a marathon expo!) and I borrowed Commencement from a friend! I will have to bump those up on the TBR list! And I will have to add these others. You read alot of great books in 2011!!
Ah, this reminds me that I have "Bossypants" in audiobook format (read by Tina Fey herself) and I really need to get on that!
Have you considered "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"? Or maybe re-reading "Lord of the Rings"? Trilogies aren't so long ;)
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