I read a lot. Like. . . I typically read somewhere between 45 and 65 books a year. Mostly, I read contemporary fiction, but I like to mix in some literary classics and non-fiction books for good measure.
When I look over my book list for 2011, I see that I read 48 books. I was on track for 52 (my goal this year). . . but my reading-train derailed when my Mom had her accident in mid-December. (I actually haven't read a page since. . .) In review, I can see that I was heavy on contemporary fiction this year; a little lighter on the classics; and there were plenty of non-fiction books in the mix.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to reading, and I have my own "star-rating" system for rating the books I read. Most of this year's reading fell into my 4-star category (which is typical), but 8 of them were 5-star books (not counting Get the F--- to Sleep, which was brilliant, and definitely worthy of 5-stars, but sort of out of my usual "realm" of categorization).
Here are the five absolute-best books I read in 2011:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I loved this book so much. It actually may be one of my favorite books EVER.
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch. Fabulous! Insightful! AND. . . I now have enough book recommendations to last a good, long time!
Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey. Delightful. Such wonderful contrast in perspectives. (Plus, I sort of have a secret-love for American history.)
On Canaan's Side: A Novel by Sebastian Barry. Lovely writing; compelling characters; heart-tugging story.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safron Foer. So moving; I just loved this book. (But I won't be going to the movie.)
So many great books!
I won't be going to the movie either! It's a little sad to think about a movie, actually. :-( I haven't YET, read "Tolstoy and the Purple Chair", but I agree with you on the other books. I read 59 books last year and hope to reach 62 (or more!) this year.
Posted by: margene | 01/06/2012 at 08:25 AM
I didn't realize that "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" was a book. Bad me! Now I can skip the movie and go straight to the book.
Posted by: Marilyn | 01/06/2012 at 08:42 AM
The books you like have also been popular in my library. Extremely Loud and The Book Thief are both on my list.
Posted by: Carole | 01/06/2012 at 08:53 AM
The curiosity is killing me, why won't you see the movie. I had suspicions that it was a book, but hadn't looked it up. I will have to read it.
Posted by: britt | 01/06/2012 at 09:28 AM
Since your first and last picks are ones I've enjoyed, I'll have to add your middle three to my list.
The Book Thief is a special favorite -- I think I've read it, read it aloud to my kids (one of our last read-alouds) and listened to a CD of someone else reading it. And it just got richer.
Posted by: Pam | 01/06/2012 at 11:27 AM
I loved Purple Chair, which I read on your recommendation. Extremely Loud, not so much: I have tried to read it twice and to listen to it once and never get much beyond about 50 pages. Weird.
58 for me this year :-)
Posted by: kmkat | 01/06/2012 at 01:44 PM
Book Thief and Extremely Loud are also two of my favorites. I just re-read Extremely Loud in order to see the movie -so yes, quite curious why you won't be seeing it!
I'm going to check out those other three... have to select a book for my bookclub to read this March and I'm betting one of those will be perfect. thanks for the recommendations!!
Posted by: Mary | 01/07/2012 at 08:35 AM