2011 has been a huge reading year for me. Although I still don’t read as much as I need and want to, I’ve probably read more this year than I have since I was nine or ten years old, when I had time to devour every book in sight.
And it has been glorious.
Not only have I read a lot of books (and again, many of you out there would probably scoff at the number in comparison to your own, were I to tally them all up), I’ve read a lot of good books; nay, a lot of GREAT books. Basically, there is a ridiculous, tremendous amount of talent out there.
So, I want to dedicate this post to my favorite books of 2011. These are not necessarily books that came out in 2011 (although some of them are), but are all books I have read this year, regardless of publication date.
They are, in no particular order:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
This is a book about angels and demons, about wishes and hope and a brutal magical war (and if you’re rolling your eyes because you feel like the whole angels thing is overdone in YA or whatever, stop right there; okay, actually, finish out the eyeroll because you’re kind of freaking me out with your eyes frozen at the ceiling like that; and then, rest easy, because this book is fresh and original and the exact opposite of cookie-cutter). This book is about Karou, a fierce girl with blue hair and a mysterious past, and Akiva, a tormented warrior. It’s a sweeping, terrifying, literary fantasy that made my heart race, my palms sweat, and my jaw drop in complete awe. And, on top of all of that, it’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Laini Taylor’s prose is exquisite, the kind of writing that makes me want to both throw in the towel and strive to be better. If you haven’t read it yet (or read any of the countless rave reviews), do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.
Beautiful prose, distinctive in some way, is 99% of the time a requirement for me to truly, deeply love a book, and Kristin Cashore (like Laini Taylor, Erin Bow, Neil Gaiman, Franny Billingsley, Peter S. Beagle, and Robin McKinley) is one of those authors whose words make me gasp aloud from the sheer beauty of them. The way she weaves together words astounded me, first when I read Graceling, and even more so when I read its companion book, Fire. Added to that beauty is original world-building (the monsters! such a fantastic idea) that seems as organic and well-developed as though Cashore is simply describing to me a place that already exists; characters that grab hold of my heart and refuse, tenaciously, passionately, to let go; and romance that feels real and nuanced and raw. Fire is a complex, strong heroine the likes of which I aspire to create in my own stories, and Brigan — okay. Let me just say that I don’t easily get swoony over literary heroes. I have extremely high standards, and one misstep here or there will garner only an eyeroll from me. But Brigan. I loved him so much. I swooned for Brigan. Me. This book is definitely in my top five favorite books ever, and I don’t love books lightly.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Isn’t her name cool, by the way?)
Cool name aside, and in all seriousness, this perfectly crafted example of magical realism (one of my favorite genres, and also, in my opinion, one of the hardest to write) is one of the best books I’ve ever read. In fact, I read it entirely in one sitting, because I just couldn’t bear to part with this book. I started it one night and stayed up until 3:00 in the morning or something ridiculous because it was just that good. Ivey’s prose is pristine, enchanting perfection, her characters unforgettable, her story heart-wrenching in all the best ways. The premise is simple, haunting, and gave me chills when I first read the flap at this year’s BEA: A middle-aged couple, grief-stricken and starting a new life in 1920s Alaska, make a child out of snow and longing and heartache one night . . . and then they start seeing a mysterious child flitting through the trees. A child wearing the same scarf their snow child wore, with golden hair and sky-blue eyes. I love the way the book trailer puts it: “Is she the answer to their prayers? Or a strange, magical dream?” You can, if you so desire, read my official Goodreads review here, but suffice it to say that you should really just go pick up a copy of this book when it comes out in February. It will stay with you for a long time after you finish that last, aching page.
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Surely by now, you have heard of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, beginning with A Game of Thrones, which was adapted into an HBO television series this past spring. But have you read them? They’re not for everyone, I admit, and if you’re anything like me, you get really intimidated by huge, elaborate series that you know you’ll probably love but hesitate to commit to. (This is why I have yet to start Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, for example.) But I’m so glad that I finally put that fear aside and started these books because they are absolutely fantastic. When I read A Game of Thrones, I feel like it completely changed my writing life, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that. I didn’t know fantasy could be like this; or rather, I did on this sort of vague intellectual level, but I hadn’t yet experienced it myself. This series is gritty, raw, brutal, populated by ambiguous, flawed, and often not-very-nice characters, and can be, at times, extremely hard to stomach. Martin doesn’t pull any punches with his characters’ various perversions, nor with their at times untimely fates. This is why I say this series isn’t for everyone, but, oh, do give it a try if you even have the slightest inclination toward fantasy. You won’t be able to tear yourself away, once you get into it. You’ll need to see the twisted fates of this huge array of characters through to the end — whatever tragic, maybe triumphant, maybe heartbreaking end that might be. You’ll be Team Stark or Team Lannister, and you will love them and hate them. You’ll want to go around saying, “Gods be good,” and “Winter is coming.” And you will absolutely THROW YOUR BOOK ACROSS THE ROOM in shock and horror about three-fourths of the way through the first book, A Game of Thrones, when you realize what just happened, and that it’s not getting miraculously changed at the last minute for a nice happily ever after, and that you are forever, irrevocably hooked.
I read this little gem of a book with a lump in my throat and an ache in my chest, due to a combination of the sheer beauty of Oliver’s prose, her perfectly timeless middle grade voice, and the simple, heartstrings-tugging power of her story about a grieving girl, a lonely ghost, and a friendless boy apprentice (and a good-hearted security guard, who will absolutely steal your heart; and an evil alchemist; and a sad, gray world devoid of joy, magic, and sunlight). I teared up several times while reading this book because how Oliver explored the loneliness of these characters, their grief and loss and longing for companionship, felt so damn real. When I heard Oliver speak on a BEA panel this year, she spoke of writing this book during an extremely difficult period for her, personally, and the truth of that rings through every page. It is a book that isn’t afraid to talk to its target audience about such adult, mature issues as loss and grief, and it is also a book unafraid to be unabashedly, wildly, imaginatively beautiful. The Other Side, Po’s home, and even the bleak, A Little Princess-esque attic in which Liesl lives, are vividly described, and how all the little pieces of characters and plot intertwine like clockwork is immensely pleasing. The perfect book for curling up with on a chilly, cozy night — or on any night, for that matter.
Wow. That’s what I kept thinking as I read this book, which Agent Lady basically thrust into my hands, saying, “You. Will. LOVE. This.” And she was right. I loved this. Nay, I LOVED this. Chime is dark, scary, hilarious, and exquisitely written. Billingsley does things with her prose that I would never have expected, that made me read certain lines over and over, just to soak up all the pretty. It’s about Briony Larkin, who is a witch (or is she?), who killed her stepmother (or did she?), and who is definitely one of the most clever, wittiest, most interesting YA heroines out there. She will (and does) do anything for her twin sister, Rose (who “prefers not to” do a lot of things she should, and “prefers to” do things Briony wishes she wouldn’t), who falls mysteriously ill. She harbors deep anger at her father, who prefers talking with God to talking with his daughters. She falls, reluctantly at first, for the “lion boy” Eldric, who brings smiles and sunlight into her world — and he can never, ever know her terrible secrets. This is a beautifully crafted fairy tale that puts a whole new spin on things like imps, brownies, and witches, and the setting of Briony’s village, Swampsea, is so vivid you’ll feel like you’ve grown up there, too, by the book’s end. Chime is one of those books I pick up occasionally, flip to a random page, and just read for a bit — for excitement, for inspiration, to recapture that sense of skin-chilled wonder I experienced when first reading this dark, gorgeous fantasy. Highly, fervently recommended.
Don’t these books sound fantastic? And the crazy thing is (again, so much talent out there), I read many more incredible books this year. Like Victoria Schwab‘s haunting, lovely The Near Witch, Catherynne Valente‘s unbelievably imaginative The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of Her Own Making, and Julianna Baggott‘s terrifying, breathtaking Pure (coming out in February).
I recommend all of them, heartily (like a good soup!) and with much fangirlish flailing.
Thank you, 2011, for introducing me to such fantastic books!
And you, dear blog readers: What are some of the best books you’ve read this year? Feel free to share in the comments!
Like this:
Tags: 2011, A Game of Thrones, Adult Fiction, Beautiful Prose, Best Books Ever, Books, Catherynne Valente, Chime, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Eowyn Ivey, Epic Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Favorites, FAVORITES SHELF, Fire, Franny Billingsley, George R. R. Martin, Ghost Stories, High Fantasy, Julianna Baggott, Kristin Cashore, Laini Taylor, Lauren Oliver, Liesl & Po, Literary Fantasy, Magical Realism, Middle Grade Fiction, Pure, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In a Ship of Her Own Making, The Near Witch, The Snow Child, Victoria Schwab, YA Fiction
Claire is a Texan living in New York City! She writes fantastical stories, and her daemon is an ocelot but sometimes a unicorn. When presented with the choice to high five or not to high five, she will always choose TO HIGH FIVE. Her first novel, 
Haha, funny that you mentioned Outlander, because I just started the first book today. I have no idea what I’m getting myself into…
I know what part in A Game of Thrones you’re talking about. I threw my book, too, and haven’t been able to bring myself to read the next one. Another one I read this year that made me throw the book across the room was Lauren Oliver’s Delirium. It was the first of her books I’ve read, and now I need to read the others, like, now.
I understand your reluctance to continue with A Song of Ice and Fire (and there are many more book-throwing moments in later books), but I promise, it’s so worth it!
I really need to read Lauren Oliver’s other books, too. The only one I’ve read so far is Liesl & Po!
Started Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind and got the second in the series for Christmas. I am definitely hooked now–in fact I’m about to go read some more!
Ooo I definitely need to read some Patrick Rothfuss. Thanks for the recommendation, Katy!
Fire’s the only one on this list I read this year but it made my top 5 of the year as well. It was so amazing and like you, it totally inspired me to the same standard.
So glad you loved it, too, Lissa!
So agree about Fire. The reason we all love Brigan is that he isn’t an adolescent, he’s a man.
And Chime – I MOSTLY loved, but I thought that the keeping of the secret at the end being revealed was sort of contrived, but the writing makes that forgivable! I have DoS&B and L&P on my shelf to read soon, but have never heard of SC. Need to talk to you about GoT though. My favorite books post goes up next Monday. I, uh, still have to compile it. Oh, I know what books go on the list, just sitting down and making the post, ugh.
Oh, you MUST read The Snow Child. I think you would really love it. And I can’t wait to hear what you think about DoS&B and L&P! Curious about what GOT stuff you want to talk about . . .
P.S. You’re spot-on re: Brigan. <3
I gave up on Song of Ice and Fire after Storm of Swords, because I feel like the series has gotten bloated and Martin is just crassly padding it now, but I still think Game of Thrones is still an excellent, riveting book.
Yeah, I haven’t enjoyed Feast For Crows and Dance With Dragons as much as Game of Thrones and Storm of Swords, but . . . at this point, I HAVE to see the series through to its completion so I can find out what happens!
Wow, several on here I haven’t had the chance to read. Now they’re added to the list!
Yeah, these end-of-the-year lists are killer, aren’t they? As if my TBR list wasn’t bloated enough . . .
Myy faves this year: glass castle,guernsey literary and potato peel pie society, mazerunner final book, sarahs key, matched, hamlet, shakespeares secret w 66 sixth graders
I’m sad to say I haven’t read any of these except for Hamlet! Although The Maze Runner and Matched are on my TBR list.
Fire and Chime are two of my favorites of the past five years — very rereadable. I’ll look for the others because I think you and I are on the same page…
Sounds like it! So glad you enjoyed Fire and Chime!
Fire is the only book on your list that have read, and it was definitely one of my favorites as well.
Will definitely have to look into reading Lisel & Po, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Chime. All of which have been on my wishlist for months on end. =)
I have a feeling that if you loved Fire, you will love the others as well!
One of the best books I read this year was definitely Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta–I normally never so much as shed a tear and I absolutely bawled at this book. Red faced, blurry eyed, the whole shebang. For about an hour. I reread it about two months later–exact same reaction. And yet it was a tearjerker, not literally jerking the tears out of y eyes because that was its purpose. It was just something that spoke to me so deeply and made me just sad to the core.
I have heard SO many fantastic things about this book. I bought a copy a while ago, but just haven’t had the chance to read it yet. Must move it closer to the top of the TBR pile! Thanks for reading and commenting, Reut!
Oh, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE… *swoons* *weeps*. So lovely I thought I should hang it up, because who else could write words like these. I also loved Divergent, Shatter Me, and Red Glove. I agree–2011 was a tremendous year. I plan to pick up Chime now as well!!
Absolutely. DoS&B needs to be, like, tattooed onto my body. So good! I’ve read DIVERGENT and SHATTER ME (also good!), but haven’t red RED GLOVE or WHITE CAT. I really must! And I hope you enjoy CHIME!
I loved CHIME. And DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. And NEAR WITCH. And FIRE. *gets out TBR list and adds the others*
Yay! I hope you enjoy these newest additions to your list!
I read all of the Fire and Ice books and loved all of them. I hope Martin is planning another book. He left us in the lurch in the last one. What’s going on with Bran? What’s Tyrion up to? Did that really happen to Jon? Gotta know!! Also, the Outlander series was great. The latter stories were a bit repetitive, but still good. I know Eowyn Ivey personally and have read the Snow Child. What a great read. I would have loved it even if I didn’t know and love Eowyn!
As far as Jon goes . . . I think that really DID happen to him. But what happened AFTER that, is the question. How cool that you’re friends with Eowyn! THE SNOW CHILD is sublime and she has been nothing but kind in my experiences with her online.
Eowyn is one of the kindest people I know. She is awesome! What happens next in the Fire and Ice series is what I want to know! Looking forward to his next book.
Oh, I love reading these lists! CHIME and FIRE are two of my all-time favorites now. And I loved DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE and THE NEAR WITCH too.
Hi, fellow Apocalypsie!
*waves*
Yes, aren’t those books fantastic? I kind of want to go re-read a bunch of these, after crafting this post . . . *gives bookshelves the side-eye*
Here’s to many more favorites in 2012! (If you know what I mean. And I think you do.)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone has long been accumulating excellent reviews by the bushel, and until about halfway through the novel I was willing to join the chorus. The writing happens to be astounding, not merely because it’s heightened and beautiful but because Taylor manages to blend her beautiful prose with some of the most extremely natural, captivating teen dialogue that I have read in a very long time. Karou’s chit chat with her closest friend Zuzana is surely an complete joy to read, witty and care free, smart and silly.