Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library discussion

What were your favorite reads of the past year? This is the place to list your favorite books read in 2011 (whether published this year or before).

My five favorite books of the past year were:

East of the West: A Country in Stories by Miroslav Penkov : These funny and moving stories depict the effects of historical and political changes on several generations of Bulgarians, from a grandfather who mourns the loss of communism by seeking to buy the corpse of Lenin on ebay to two teenagers separated when the country's borders change.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes : A man's version of his past is called into question when he discovers new truths about an old girlfriend who left him for a friend in this beautifully written novel.

I Knew You'd Be Lovely by Alethea Black : These short stories, mostly featuring young women struggling to find their place in life, are filled with memorable characters and sentences to savor.

All the Devils Are Here: the hidden history of the financial crisis by Bethany McLean and Joseph Nocera : This page-turning non-fiction account explains the origins of the financial crisis in an accessible, but not superficial, way.

Faith by Jennifer Haigh : This sensitive, character-driven novel explores the effects of a scandal on religious faith and the faith a family has in each other.

High honorable mention to the following novels: Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, Stone Arabia by Dana Spiotta, Emily Alone by Stewart O'Nan, and The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson; the short story collections Gryphon by Charles Baxter, You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon and This is Not Your City by Caitlin Horrocks; and the graphic novels Habibi by Craig Thompson and Special Exits by Joyce Farmer.

My favorite this year was The Wise Man's Fear. This is author, Patrick Rothfuss's, second novel and the second in his "Kingkiller Chronicle" series. This book is a BEAST, capping out at a little under 1000 pages, but Rothfuss is a very eloquent writer who incorporates the right amount of sorrow, happiness, frustation, and even humor. If you read his blog, most of the time you've laughed by the end of a post.

Delirium was a shocker for me, and I happened on it by accident. There isn't a clear synopsis on the book (at least not to me and I'm blonde) so I didn't know what it would be like when I picked it up, but the plot of the book shocked the rice cakes out of me. Not to mention fledgling author Lauren Oliver knows her stuffs, and tells a TOO real story in a fiction universe.

Divergent, yes this was named the best book of 2011 on goodreads, and it was one of my own. I need to OWN this book.

The Scorpio Races I wasn't a fan of the "Shiver series, but I'm all up for giving everyone a second chance. I'm glad I did with Stiefvater, because she delivered in this novel. I thought the main male protagonist in the "Shiver" series was really weak, and I don't like weak male characters, but she more than makes up for it in this novel. Not to mention the female counterpart is a girl after my own heart. Very sharp, very smart, very strongwilled...sounds like me.

The most suprising book that I read this year was Finnikin of the Rock. This appeared on the ALA Best Book for Young Adults, it made the top ten, so of course I checked it out. Like most fantasy it was slow starting, but once the ball got rolling you realize that you're stuck in a very complex universe, and this book shouldn't be considered Young adult. No, sir. And the way Australian writer Melina Marchetta writes, you'd think she's been writing fantasy all of her life. Come to find out that this was her first fantasy novel. I think I had a minor heart attack after finding that out. If you consider yourself a fan of fantasy, read this or I'll think you're bogus.

As you can see by my list, my reading tastes are ecclectic as well as old... but here are my favorite reads this year.

1. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

This was a beautifully written book that takes place in a small English village during a plague outbreak. It examines the community's reaction overtime to the horrible circumstances they face as well as the pastor's duty and waning beliefs.

2. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

This is book 3 of the Song of Ice and Fire series. I easily immerse myself into this fantasy world when I read it and find myself constantly changing my loyalties to certain characters. This book contained a lot more warfare than the first two which helped me devour it as quick as possible.

3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

This was my favorite book in the trilogy. I enjoyed the trial as well as the exposure of the political cover-up against Lisbeth. It was slower in pace compared to the other two but I liked trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I never read this book in school and figured since so many people who have read it rave about it that I should give it a chance... and I'm glad I did. I loved her strength and character she showed when she battled the various situations life threw at her.

5. Boozehound: On the Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overated in Spirits by Jason Wilson

This is a great book for those wanting to discover new/old recipes for cocktails. It has some interesting stories about the marketing in the industry as well as a look at the differences in flavor in new and old world palates. It also has some great travel stories.

I would have to agree with Kara on one of her books: Divergent was one of the best books that I have read in quite some time. It was one that I could not put down and downloaded for my Nook because I had to have it. I can’t wait for the sequel to be released in 2012!

I really enjoyed the final book of the Inheritance Cycle (sometimes better known as the Eragon books), which was called Inheritance. It concluded a series that started in 2002. It wraps up the story of Eragon and the question of whether he can defeat the evil king Galbatorix.

The Making of a Royal Romance: William, Kate, and Harry--A Look Behind the Palace Walls (previously published as William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls) was a fun read. It gives a great look into the lives of the Princes William and Harry as they grew up and the updated version also includes through William’s proposal to Kate. It is a wonderful read for anyone who has ever wondered what it might be like to grow up as a member of the royal family.

Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot: The Life and Times of a Sportscaster Dad is a funny look into the life of ESPN sportscaster Mike Greenberg. This book is for more than just sports fans. His humor brings a great quality to his writing. This book never fails to make me laugh.

Peculiar Treasures was also a great read. It is the first book in a spin-off series called “The Katie Weldon Series” by Robin Jones Gunn. I read “The Christy Miller Series” which is the series that this series branched out from and Katie was always one of my favorite characters because she is so spontaneous and funny. I love that this set can be read as part of the overall story started in the Christy Miller books or they can simply be enjoyed on their own.