So today is giveaway day over at Armchair BEA, and while I would love to be all generous and shit, I am both extremely poor, and extremely English, and since most of my followers/readers are American, this poses a slight postage charges problem. I could of course cheat and make sure that my friend Frances won the giveaway, but that really wouldn't be on, am I right? I've already given her books anyway...
So, instead of the excitement of a giveaway, what I have to offer you is so much better- a rundown of the very best books I've read this year! Who wouldn't rather have that?! I have read a lot of pretty great books this year, so I'm just going to give you a top 5, I think- and limit that to books I've actually read for the first time this year (which rules out To Kill A Mockingbird, basically one of my favourite books ever ever ever, and which you really should read) And so, here it goes!
1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy- I'm almost positive you've heard of this, and you might even have picked it up, read a few chapters, then decided it was too long and run away from it (or was that just me?) Anywho, I was brave enough to pick it up again this year, and I am so very pleased that I did- it's probably one of my favourite novels ever, and really it has just cemented my belief in the incredibleness of Russian authors (Nabokov anyone?) Also, I just have to say, I LOVE YOU LEVIN! That's all.
2. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides- I wrote Eugenides off at the beginning of the year when I read The Virgin Suicides and that was a big mistake- Middlesex is honestly so awesome that it defies any kind of explanation, you just have to read it to really appreciate its brilliance. So go and do it!
3. Room by Emma Donoghue- I have probably gushed enough about this already, but seriously Room still haunts me- I can't get over how well written it is, and how many angles it is able to consider even with just one, five year old narrator. Just, really really awesome writing.
4. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell- I've just finished this, but I can really recommend it if you like blogs/cooking/swearing a lot (and I like all these things, I've gotta say!) Julie Powell has quickly become one of my favourite people having read this, because I think we could really be friends- and she could totally cook for me too.
AND
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- I can't get over how much I already love this book, as if it got me through my teenage years, or helped me out in a really difficult adolescent situation, but I only read it this year. It's so incredible, and I honestly can't recommend it enough- it's one of my favourite ever books already.
hahaha love your post and your favourites. Middlesex is on my tbr list and I have Room coming up soon. I loved Julie and Julia too (and for all the reasons you did)
ReplyDeletePlease come check out my faves
http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/2011/05/armchair-bea-giveaway-best-of-2011-so.html
Room is def. on my to-read list, and now the Wallflower book, too! Thanks for great recommendations, hope you are enjoying Armchair BEA!
ReplyDeleteLol! That's EXACTLY what I did with Anna Karenina. But I'm reading War and Peace right now and simply enjoying it. I've decided to give AK a second chance once I'm done with W&P.:)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm beginning to think I ought to pick up Middlesex sometime. I have read a single negative review on it!
Great choices! I've always wanted to read Middlesex and Perks of Being a Wallflower. I tried Julie and Julia but the swearing really bugged me (and usually it doesn't), so I couldn't finish it.
ReplyDeleteI love Perks and someday soon I am going to read Room. The wait list for that title is ungodly long. But you've raved about it so often that I have to read it.
ReplyDeleteHow about you just give me a book instead?
ReplyDelete@Frances- come and see me and I'll totally let you borrow Room! Hehe. But seriously, everyone MUST read that book!
ReplyDeleteLove your selection of favorite books of 2011. I am happy to find your blog through BEA. Room is an exceptional book, I also have it on my list. GMTA! I am also doing a giveaway for the book, Room by Emma Donoghue
ReplyDeleteHope to stay connected, glad to have a new blog to follow. Happy BEA week!
I'm in Canada so I know what you mean about postage. I too loved Anna Karenina. I think I read it twice, back in the day when I re-read books.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm in the States I'm not doing any giveaways either. Postage is beyond my budget at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIn 2009 I decided to step away reviewing for publishers and publicists. I felt like I was losing my focus and drifting from my mission statement of sharing the joys of reading. Call it taking a librarian's approach to blogging. Come see what I mean.
I loved Room and Middlesex! I hope to read Anna Karenina soon but the length has been off-putting.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like Room but I really want to read Perks of Being a Wallflower and Middlesex. I started Anna Karenina but haven't got around to finishing it yet, but it is wonderful indeed! :) As far as Julie & Julia, I've only seen the movie. Have you? Did you like it?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree with you on Room ... it was one of my favorites (and made it onto my list) too.
ReplyDelete