Best Reads of 2011

I read 101 books in 2011.

 Here are my top 10 listed alphabetically by author's last name.

1. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
A Christmas themed Flavia de Luce mystery. Perfect.

2. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
Gloomy, but I enjoyed it.

3. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
A Story about bigamy and secrets and relationships.

4. The Millennium Trilogy: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Hard to get into at first, but worth the effort.

5. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Definitely deserved the Pulitzer.

6. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
This book got extra points from me for having three fairy-godmother like characters with the last name of Booterbaw. I was sad this charming Christmas story was so short.

7. Resurrection In May by Lisa Samson
A story of redemption and healing. Read it with a box of tissues nearby.

8. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
Quite dark for a children's book, but possibly the best book I read all year. Kind of The Wizard of Oz meets Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

9. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
Book 2 in the series. Penelope and the children go to London. Lots of mysteries uncovered. Hopefully the answers will be in the next book.

10. Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
A beautiful young people's book about hope.