Best book I read in 2011: Can’t tell you yet. Will be revealed when I do my Top 10 Books I Read in 2011 countdown in a few weeks…
Most disappointing book I read in 2011? The worst book I read was easily Night Fall, but “disappointing” implies that I was expecting it to be good, which doesn’t apply to De Mille (I knew it was going to be garbage). The most disappointing book I read in 2011 was either The Surrendered, by Chang-rae Lee, or The Tiger’s Wife, by Tea Obreht. I had such high expectations for both of them. The Surrendered ended up being strangely dull, with a string of totally useless deaths, and The Tiger’s Wife was neither compelling nor whole. Both had bright moments, but neither were excellent.
Most surprising book of 2011? What the Living Do, poems by Marie Howe. Outrageously beautiful and heartbreaking. Also The Sheltering Sky, by Paul Bowles, which was upsetting and shocking and mind-bending. But great.
Book I recommended to people most in 2011? Moonwalking with Einstein, Joshua Foer’s narrative of the history of memory and how he went on to become the U.S. Memory Champion after a year of training. Our minds are more powerful than we think.
Best series I discovered in 2011? Dog training books by Patricia McConnell? Probably? Does that count?
Favorite new authors I discovered in 2011? Marilynne Robinson, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Marie Howe.
Most thrilling, un-put-down-able book in 2011? Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson.
Book I most anticipated in 2011? Maybe The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides? But I still haven’t read it yet. I’m in position no. 1 out of 113 holds at the library, so I’m getting there! Finally.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?
Here’s a few I liked:
Most memorable character in 2011? Ruth from Housekeeping or Patty Berglund from Freedom.
Book that had the greatest impact on me in 2011? Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
Book I can’t believe I waited until 2011 to finally read? The Divine Comedy (Dante) or Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh).
Book I read in 2011 that I’d be most likely to re-read in 2012? Housekeeping, or the poems of Marie Howe and Maxine Kumin.
Survey courtesy of Literary Musings.
How about you? Any memorable books that fit into your year of reading survey?
Little Stories 
so much housekeeping 😦
it’s ok. I’ll get over it.
Yeah. You’d better. 😉
I’d be curious to hear your take on this survey. I think I could probably guess a few of your answers…
Your take on The Surrendered is interesting, since I have it here and was hoping to read it soon. Chang-rae Lee is a judge for the Man Asian Literary Prize, and reading one of his novels was something I wanted to do before they announce the shortlist in January. Maybe one of his other books would be a better choice. Say, Native Speaker.
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