11 Best Books Of 2011

We admit, it's difficult to pick the best books of the year, particularly this year, during which it seems there were so many stellar books. However, do it we must. Our list was compiled by the three people on our Books team. Just so you know what we are looking for in a "best book," here's what each of us enjoys reading:

Andrew Losowsky, Books Editor: I like all books that reveal amazing, strange things about familiar places and familiar things about strange places (including my own head).

Zoë Triska, Associate Books Editor: I used to primarily stick to classic literature with a dash of non-fiction from time to time. I've expanded my horizon to contemporary fiction, but I'm just easing into it. I also enjoy YA novels ("Harry Potter" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events"). In addition to this, I love re-designed classics and pretty book design.

Madeleine Crum, Assistant Books Editor: According to Flavorpill, I'm totally twee. This isn't to say that I'm a fan of overly precious plots, but I tend to pick up small, unique stories with authentic characters rather than sprawling sagas. And beautiful language is, of course, key.

What was your favorite book this year? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments

[William1950]

04:20 PM on 01/03/2012

I read The Tiger's Wife ... it is a marvelous book... part fantasy, part biography, part just entertaining fiction... and written in great prose, i love it when a writer says things beautifully.

i also finally got around to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo .. and the other two in the series... good books that I couldn't put down until i read all three... and of course the fire and ice books.. but now i am straying.

[bessielil]

11:04 PM on 01/02/2012

Swamplandia. Usually I tip toe backwards when someone mentions magical realism, but the narrator's voice (age 12, I think) the sense of place (Old Florida, out in the Gulf as New Florida looms) a quest, and truly beautiful writing made this my most memorable read of the year.
http://www.amazon.com/Swamplandia-Vintage-Contemporaries-Karen-Russell/dp/0307276686/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325563397&sr=1-1 but it rates only 3 1/2 stars by other readers. Oh, well.

[lillibet]

11:54 AM on 01/02/2012

Madeleine - yes, there is at least one excellent short story collection that came out in 2011. Jim Shepard's book, You Think That's Bad. And if it's a matter of not having read Shepard before, check out all of his collections. All of his writing. He is one of the most interesting, innovative writers of our time.

[jarkosih]

10:07 AM on 01/02/2012

amazing

[Buny32132]

05:08 AM on 01/02/2012

There's a few here I'll have a look at :) Pulphead, The Night Circus and Sense of and Ending - thanks for the reviews.

[Buny32132]

04:58 AM on 01/02/2012

I'm reading The Tiger's Wife right now, and it's becoming a little to precious for me. I enjoyed the first half but find I'm ready to put it down. Good writing though, although truly good writing would keep my interest the whole book. I've just finished 5 volumes of Virginia Woolf's diaries, so I think this kind of nonsense just isn't palatable for me right now.

[proudHB]

03:07 AM on 01/01/2012

Keith Richards memoir as well as Steven Tyler's. Not that I think they should be in such a list, but if you like rock music these two are just irresistible.

[CaliforniaandtheStar]

03:53 PM on 12/31/2011

This wonderful memoir should be on the 2012 list. Great read.

I do not agree with their choices one bit. Must be very young people.

http://www.amazon.com/Could-Have-Been-Movie-Star/dp/0983708665/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325364393&sr=1-1

[evestar]

02:52 PM on 12/31/2011

Love "The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle" everyone should read.

[karen lyons kalmenson]

02:16 PM on 12/31/2011

here is a good e-read for 2012

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75285555/Dogs-of-my-Heart

oop, did i tell ya i painted/poemed it;-D

happy new year one and all♥

[hlnpayne]

12:02 PM on 12/31/2011

i happen to love reading mysteries and thrillers..i love the whodone its

[lthrnck68]

11:23 AM on 12/31/2011

Maybe if I got paid to read, I might have read one or more of these books. Reading on my own, none of these ever got picked up to even look at. Possibly the one about the chimpanzee will get a read once it hits paperback. Yes, I am a paperback reader. Only way to have enough room for all my books. Once I buy a book, it becomes a permanent part of my library.

[eds123]

04:56 PM on 01/03/2012

I feel really sorry for you.

[lthrnck68]

06:18 PM on 01/03/2012

Why? I have a library of over 1,000 volumes and I'm constantly adding to it. With that much to read and more new reading coming all the time, the list presented by the editors consists of titles and subjects that hold no interest for me.

[Katie Wray]

05:32 PM on 01/03/2012

so....reading is for the rich? the working class doesn't read? i'm very confused with your comment.

[lthrnck68]

06:23 PM on 01/03/2012

I think you did not read my comment at all correctly. There is no way that my comment could be misunderstood if read correctly. I, quite clearly, stated that the list of books held no interest for me. That I would only read them if paid to do so. I also stated that I read paperbacks. What part of my original comment leads you to believe I was saying that reading is for the rich?

[cleylol]

10:56 AM on 12/31/2011

I go to one of the best public high schools in America, and they encourage us to devour books like nobody's business. I suppose some public schools are not good as the one I have the good fortune of attending.

[cynth217]

09:55 AM on 12/31/2011

"The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" was the best book I read this past year. It recounts the odyssey of an old man's last days: his memories of past loves and losses, his relationships with relatives, and neighbors, some wanting to defraud him, others, unexpectedly, to help him., some in rather unorthodox ways. His efforts to live long enough to redeem himself and leave a legacy are poetically portrayed by the author. The author gradually discloses the man's history which leads to his current situation. It's full of surprises (no spoilers here) as the man's complicated past is revealed. Highly recommended for thise who enjoy readign about familial and intergenerational relationships.

[dlplummer]

06:43 PM on 12/30/2011

This is an interesting list. I have only one of them (Steve Jobs) that I have not even read yet. Guess I am not as well read as I thought!

[bigbe]

03:52 PM on 12/31/2011

WHAT???
That makes no sense whatsoever. Do you mean you have only one which you have not read or do you mean you have only read one of them? And what does the even mean? Have you planned on looking at it, eating it or something else after you read it?
If you write that poorly I can't believe you have read many books or understood them if you have.

[magarch1]

05:16 PM on 12/31/2011

I think it is YOU who's mind is muddled.... Her note is perfectly clear - Read it again. She says she has only one of those books, names it, then adds that she hasn't read it yet. One cannot possibly interpret it as your second interpretation unless one is not a good reader....!!! Why so angry...??!!!