12 New in 2011 Challenge

For Play Book Tag, I will be reading a book a month published in 2011; preferably in the month that it is published! This is my attempt to actually have read at least some of the books that end up on the "Best Of" lists at the end of the year.

50 Book Challenge - 2011

As always, I will be attempting to read 50 books.

11 in 11 Challenge

The stated rules of this challenge are to read 11 books in each of 11 categories in 2011 - that is 121 books just for this challenge! I am not willing to commit that much to one challenge so I am modifying it a bit: I am going to attempt to read at least 5 books in each of 11 categories during 2011. That is still 55 books but I am going to give it my best :)

I have a couple of books in mind for some of the categories but they haven't been read until they are linked to a review.

Science

1. The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes

2. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

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Published in 2011

1. Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts (April)

2. The Next Always by Nora Roberts (November)

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Classic Literature

1. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

2. Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

3. Dracula by Bram Stoker

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Continuing a Series

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Romance

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Non-Fiction History

1. The Big Burn by Timothy Egan

2. 1776 by David McCullough

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Biography/Autobiography

1. Truman by David McCullough

2. Team of Rivals by

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Thriller/Suspense

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Paranormal

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Young Adult

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New Authors

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Science Book Challenge 2011

I am once again participating in the Science Book Challenge! My goal this year is to read 5 science books, which will also be cross-posted to the "science" category of my 11 in 11 challenge. I have a couple of books in mind but, in general, will be reading whatever strikes my fancy :)

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Top 10 of 2010

Okay, I couldn't resist making a list any longer! Other than my #1 book, they are in no particular order:

10. Room by Emma Donoghue - Room told a side of a story that we don't often think of when it actually occurs in real life. Not only was it an interesting perspective, it was heartfelt and realistic. Being told through the eyes of 5 year old Jack added innocence and honesty that would have been lost in an adult narrator.

9. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen - Freedom was definitely one of the most hyped books this year but, to me, it was completely deserving of it! This is a book that is not for everyone, and I can definitely see it being on just as many "not worth it" lists as "top 10".

8. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - Middlesex was one of my surprise favorites this year. Reading about the coming of age of a hermaphrodite was never at the top of my reading wish list but this book was so much more than that - it was really just the story of a teenager struggling to become comfortable with himself and his sexuality. And who can't relate to that?

7. The Ark by Boyd Morrison - The Ark is the best thriller I have read in a very long time...possibly ever. I love thrillers with a bit of science thrown in and are led by hunky leading men :) Morrison's sophomore publication - Rogue Wave - is out now but not available on kindle :(

6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Henrietta Lacks has an amazing story, and it is only just that someone finally told her story. Skloot did a phenomenal job of weaving together the Lacks family history with scientific information on medical research, creating a unique biography that has you appalled at what this family has gone through but also shamefully thankful because it led to so many medical revelations.

5. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson - The Gargoyle is part Romeo and Juliet, part Dante's Inferno, and 100% riveting! The characters are distinctly odd and not easy to relate too, but them being so different is part of the appeal.

4. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - a single aspect resulted in this book making my top 10: the writing. Brennert literally made this story come to life for me. I was taken on a roller coaster of emotions as I followed the main character, Rachel, to Moloka'i to live in the leper colony. Brennert's writing is seemless and he paints the picture so vividly it feels like you are not actually reading but watching it unfold in real life.

3. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson - The second book in the Millenium Trilogy had it all: love, hate, mystery, intrigue, and two story lines that danced around each other until coming together in a breath-taking and shocking ending. By far the best book in the trilogy.

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling - Even the third reading of this book could not diminish the magic of Hogwarts, the suspense of Lord Voldemort continuing comeback, and the bravery of Harry as he learns more about his family and is forced to fight a battle that is his destiny.

But, my favorite book by a million miles in 2010 was:

1. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - The classic antebellum novel of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler is a masterpiece - all other epic sagas pale in comparison to the amazing storytelling of Mitchell. I was completely obsessed with all things GWTW for WEEKS after reading this and it cast a long shadow over books for months to come, nothing could compare. I will definitely read this again one day. And again. And again. And again....

Knowing less going in is more

Room

Emma Donoghue

I will not be giving a synopsis of this book. I went in having absolutely zero idea what it was about (my blind faith in Linda led the way) and discovering everything with 5 year old Jack was by far the best part.

I will say that this book was brilliant - some people have thought that the dialect (is "child" a dialect?) threw them off but I found that it added immensely to the story by stripping away the verbose detail and forcing you to see things for exactly as they were.

I laughed, I cried, I became outraged, and finally I came to terms with the story. I highly recommend this book and, if anyone wants to discuss it further, drop me a message :)

Third read for an eschewer of re-reads

I'm pretty sure this book does not need any synopsis; by this point it is probably one of the most recognized books in the world! I am an eschewer of re-reads, there are just too many books out there to spend time reading the same one again; however, there is something about the Harry Potter series that I just can't resist - this is my THIRD time reading them!

Each time I pick them up, I am transported back to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to battle evil and safe the wizarding world. I LOVE these books....

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Year 1)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Year 2)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Year 3)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Year 4)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Year 5)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Year 6)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Year 7)