Well, we made it through another year. We loved, we laughed, and just as importantly, we read. My reading tally for the year was a rather paltry 36, but I had a baby and so my reading time was once again limited. I can accept that, especially since so many of the books turned out to be good. Let’s take a closer look at what I read in 2011.
Biggest surprise: The biggest surprise is how much it bothered me to leave books unreviewed. I had resolved not to write reviews for the majority of books I read, but I found that it left me with a feeling of incompleteness, of important tasks left undone. The thing is, no matter how many times my husband tells me that he dislikes my book posts and thinks they’re a waste of time, and no matter how many times I feel like I agree with him, it still just bugs me to say nothing about my reading experiences. So in the future I resolve to write at least one sentence for each book. I will allow myself that much and demand no more.
Favorite book for the year: My favorite book this year was Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. I loved it and I gave it an A+. It was one of the richest reading experiences I have had in a while. Murray’s prose created the most vivid pictures in my mind, and he imbued the story with quite a bit of wisdom.
Book most likely to be gifted to others: I already gave James Thurber’s Many Moons to my friend K. It is a well-constructed and very sweet children’s story, just the type of thing to read when your spirits are low. I will keep it in mind as a gift for other people in the future, and I will be sure to give a copy to Livia one day. BTW, before I read it, I wasn’t expecting much from it, because some of Thurber’s stuff is only so-so. This book was very nearly the Biggest Surprise for the year.
I hope the new year brings more reading surprises and favorite books and bookish gifts!
Wishing everyone another great year of reading in 2012,
Chick